Hsitz, I has the original 3200 driving the original DCM Time Windows, with an analog set-up. Let me tell you, that the Classe DR 70(which came from the original poster of this thread) was far superior. I also want to say that the Nuforce amps killed this Classe(are you listening Classe?). |
Has anyone tried to tighten the drivers on these speakers? They are fairly old now. Anyhow, I am a little wary, because of the yellow chalkmark on the tweeter plate. There are also two possible tighteners on the tweeters. What type of screw holds down the base drivers? |
This is all great bs. I am interested(since I have the original DCM's) in how to get the best from them. My current situation is about 2 feet from the back walls. My understanding is that 3 feet are proper. Let's get some life into this situation. Are you guys dead out there? Controversy is great(I'm the "When is digital going to get the soul of music guy.)! BTW, I am a horn guy. I bought Ferrari's Classe amp. The Nuforce amp is so superior, it's unbelievable. |
I haven't read all the responses here, but I recently got the okay to tighten the drivers from DCM. |
I'm not sure of the crossover frequencies(and, hence, I cannot help you identify your particular version.), but I have always suspected that they were different from each other, let's say on just one speaker. I, myself, wonder what the chalkmarks mean. |
Islandbird, I really appreciate your comments on DCM's distance from the back wall. I apologize for my previous comments-they were meant to extract information, such as yours. This thread has gotten those most comments on Audiogon that I've ever seen(I've only gotten about 6,000 on mine.). I agree with Ferrari's last comments(I'm actually a horn-guy, but off-axis response of the DCM's allows me to listen to music.). To help people to get the best from the original Time-Windows, I have them on maplewood, with some isonodes under them, a little further than 2 feet from the back wall(one is a corner-one has an opening). I tried those stands that elevated them about 9-inches. I hope you don't care about the bass. Actually, those stands weren't rigid, at all. |
Maybe I should e-mail DCM about this, but just moving my original DCM's less than an inch, brought about a hugh difference in the sound. I was thinking that since this has gotten the most response on Audiogon, that someone can give some pertinent information on speaker placement. I currently have my speakers a little more than two feet from the back walls(one near a corner, one near an opening). The speakers are on mapleboards(Mapleshade)with Isonodes under them. Hit me with information, please! |
Islandbird, I appreciate your response. I was hoping to move the discussion into the present realm. I know there is some benefit into elevating the DCM's, as those unstable stands that we had proved. I agree that imaging in the sweet spot is not that great, but with all the responses on this site about DCM's, I'm sure that many knowledgeable people can give information-even though it might come from their memory. You'de be suprised how much their input could provide! I would guess that my speakers are at least 10 feet apart with dissimiar backings(one's a corner, one's an open doorway). I might be able to move them closer together and get a more uniform backing? |
I probably should e-mail DCM about this, as they are answering now, but if I remember correctly, they recommend 3-feet from the back wall. Any ideas here(I'm currently about 2 feet from the back wall, but with 2-inch maple under them{Mapleshade} and maybe some isonodes{Bright Star Audio} under the maple.)? My sound is a little dark, but the tracking force of my cartridge is a little higher than originally set(although with the correct parameters). Argonaut, the toe-in,out point is well taken, as it seems like one of my speakers is not correct in this area. |
This is just slightly off subject. I'm really a horn(not horny) guy, but I live with someone who needs to hear off-axis. The DCM Time Windows excell at this. Does anyone have a recommendations in this area? Maybe later DCM's. I find the normal sweet spot of the original Time Windows a little lacking. |
Rolando, have you read the AVS forum on DCM's? There are some problems with the 3's. |
Hauser, I may have been mistaken about the TW3's. It's just what I thought I had read. Actually, I have a problem that was said to be cured(or reduced) by the 3's. One speaker is close to a corner, and the other has no real side wall and an opening close to it's back. I apologize for any misinformation. |
Kagalmf, we took off the foam outer covers many years ago. I wouldn't worry about how they affect the sound, as I'm sure that they improve the sound of the original Time-Windows. |
I contacted DCM, asking them about tightening the drivers. I believe that MTX(or that car-stereo company with similar initials) owns DCM now. Anyhow, they said tighten away. I wasn't sure about the tweeters, as they have two tightening areas plus a chalk mark, but I am sure about bass drivers. The problem is this. All I could find was phillips screws on the horizontal axis, and when I got to 4th(the last one on my right, while facing the speakers), I didn't even see phillips screws. Actually, it looked like the fourth bass unit was glued! Now, I'm not asking anyone to take off the outer stocking to check this(although, we determined many years ago, that the DCM's sounds better without that stocking), but those that have the stocking off-could you let me know what you see, in terms of tightening those bass drivers? |
Thanks, paulhbenson. It looks like my bass drivers are as tight as they will go. Now, I guess I will look to bass traps as further improvements. I'm going very cheap here. One speaker is close to a corner. I've tried moving it away, but, so far, it hurts the sound. 2dhunt, did you read my post on the speakers sounding better without the cloths? I don't remember where I read it, but I thought that question about cloth replacement was answered elsewhere-and it's a common question with DCM Time Windows. |
I don't know if I've stated this. I have my Time Windows about 18 inches from the back wall. They sit on a maple board, but I would suggest that is the minimum distance from the back wall-period. |
I have to repeat this. The Time-Windows sound better wilthout a cloth covering. This was determined over 20 years ago. |
After listening to Wilson Alexandria's, I wonder about the accuracy of DCM Windows. Oneobgyn was gracious enough to let me hear them. One song, The Pretender's, "Private Lies(?), sounded like a completely different song on the DCM's. Although it still sounded good, I knew that it was not same song. I believe it has to do with dynamics. The DCM's lack it, and they are much more inefficient than their specs would have you believe. Yes, tonally they are good. Yes, off-axis response is great. No, they aren't correct. |
Only $135,000 a pair. I agree about the drivers' technology being better now. Also, the attachment of the drivers on the DCM's drive(pun?) me nuts. Some drivers can be tightened. One of the four bass units is glued in. |
