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My Room: 19 ft wide (speaker wall); 26 ft long; 9 feet high.
Primary components: Small Green Computer Server > Sonore Signature Rendu SE Renderer > Denafrips Terminator DAC > T+A PA 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier > Tekton Design Double Impact SE Speakers.
Musical preferences are approximately 40% Jazz / small ensemble acoustic; 40% world/fusion acoustic~electronic; 10% Pure Electronic; 10% Orchestral Classical.
(Note: most of my classical listening is solo instrument or small group, counted in the first category and I am counting Pop/Indie/Rock in the second category). |
@nonoise It's quite a review, for sure. I'd love to be able to listen to them in person, prior to committing.
A trusted audio friend is advising that the sound of a specific full-range driver is so specific, it's mostly about personal taste and whether that particular driver will be fully acceptable to me. |
@acresverde Thanks! I have the same concern. From the review it would likely mean moving to another preamp and amp in my chain. Srajan preferred First Watt over the 30.8 and I would think it would only get worse with the T+A with respect to the Cube speakers. |
@roberjerman Thanks! The Ohm Walsh speakers are well regarded and I’m somewhat familiar with them. My brother-in-law has a pair.
Since you state that they are the ’best’ iteration of the concept, can you give me a feel for where they excel, in your opinion? Also, what other single driver speakers did you compare them to and how did those fall short in comparison? Thanks.
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@erik_squires Yes, yes, yes...in time. : )
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@bache Thanks. The thread you linked did come up in my search and I'll take a look at it.
I just looked at your website and the Skylar is your primary full range single driver speaker, correct? |
@bache I looked at your Bache - 002.
I like the design and if I can get to the NYC area, I'd be happy to give it a listen.
For now, I'm leaning towards a true single driver design, primarily to experience and learn from something I have not had or worked with, within my own system.
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@blueranger Thank you. I deleted my post because it was late at night and I figured I should invest more time reviewing Ohm's website, before asking you questions. I think I'm fine on room size and placement (even if I need to move them out into the room). And Ohm's 120 day trial period is extremely generous and enticing.
My main concern is not around the speakers themselves (similar to what I posted in response to Bache), but on my goal...which is to get a single driver unit in here.
You've got a strong thread for Ohm speakers so I'll take a look over there also. |
@lowrider57 Thanks. It is a great thread.
@atmasphere and @clio09 The driver can be purchased directly and thanks to @acresverde , who introduced me to a cabinet maker here in New Orleans, making that an option as well. |
@dmance Thanks for sharing your experience with Voxativ and how you've set them up and supplemented them. My room is a normal (largish) living room so what you've done and are suggesting will definitely work.
@rodge827 Charney is a speaker builder I'd love to meet in person and visit his shop in NJ. On my list of things to do when I get up there...though the audio related list is getting fairly long...might require two trips. : )
@larryi Thanks for the informative post on the GIF and vintage Jensen drivers; as well as the suggestion to consider Horning and Rethm. I came close to acquiring a Rethm product in the past but couldn't commit.
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@kalali Well put! I agree! And yes, I will (most likely) need to factor in the cost of a preamp and amp, plus cabling, isolation, etc. should I go with the Cube speaker, or something similar. Expense will be a factor.
I've always wanted to have tubed amplification in the chain, even while building this current system...so despite the cost, it's a worthwhile goal for me. All solid state, which I have now, happens to be new for me.
As I'm close to my original and overarching goal of having a system that can serve as a benchmark and reference (for me), it's now a matter of being patient with building something different that stands in contrast to what I have.
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@douglas_schroeder The very point of the exercise... 😊 |
@douglas_schroeder
I love your point: "you will question everything you think you know"
Your post immediately above has so much wisdom in it. Thank you.
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Hi everyone. This has been taking the time I expected it to. Reminds me of my move to ’slow food’ cooking, years ago. Fantastic results, by the way. I made my first component choice to start off on this new pathway. It is Scott Sheaffer’s Found Music 2A3 monoblock amplifier. Here is some discussion of it, as well as photos: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/found-music-2a3-amplifier.4279/Horn speakers leap out as an obvious pairing. There are other options also. Given the amp, any changes or additional guidance regarding speaker choice? Thank you. |
@rodge827 Charney has been recommended and is on my list. A great choice. Let us know your impressions (I am assuming you will be there) of their room. |
@mlsstl That's great to hear. Glad you are enjoying your Ohm 1000s so much.
Unfortunately, given my amp choice the Ohm's are no longer a viable choice for me. |
@mlsstl Good points. The speaker first approach is clearly preferred by most folks. In this case I did and do have a speaker in mind, though I am not sure it will end up being the final choice.
I also know full well that this amp limits speaker choices. As you point out, this is about experimenting with a different chain and learning from it and seeing where it leads.
With respect to the Cube Audio Nenuphar, I have been in touch with the designer and he feels very comfortable pairing a 2A3 amp with it. He presented the Nenuphar at the Munich Show paired to Tektron (Italy) 2A3 and 45 amps.
I've been in touch with @almarg and Al has recommended more power, for obvious and valid reasons. Something along the lines of an 845 or 211 amp (with respect to the Nenuphar). In the case of the Found Music 2A3 amp, it is an all out effort from the designer and he feels confident that it will perform extremely well with the Nenuphar.
Whether the Nenuphar is my final choice is still unknown and up in the air.
My choice of Sound Lab (as stated in the OP) is no longer a viable option.
Horns were a maybe a month and a half ago when I started the thread...now they are a very likely option. |
With jazz, folk, girl and guitar, they are just about perfect. Add a SET amp, it is spooky real, band is playing in the room sounding. @seanheis1 Thanks. What I am looking for! |
@shkong78 Thanks for bringing this to my attention. |
Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. Re-reading the thread has reinforced the wisdom and the on-point contributions shared in September and October of last year.
It's been a slow process, as expected, but with a ton of learning and growth as well as actual experience within/across portions of our hobby.
The Cube Audio Nenuphar speakers were delivered this past Wednesday and I am closing in on 100 hours of run time on them. I've been running them overnight on my solid state gear.
I also added the Grandinote Genesi Preamplifier ahead of Scott Sheaffer's Found-Music 2A3 amp. Since the Genesi is a fully balanced design, I am using a custom Cardas XLR adaptor to allow for 'correct' SE IC connections.
Jeffrey Catalano of High Water Sound has been and continues to be wonderful to work with and helped arrange an audition of the Horning Hybrid Eufrodite Ellipses through one of his clients. The audition was exceptional. The Eufrodite is a speaker I can see myself being very happy with and I am working on a follow-up audition. His client has recently added and broken in a Kuzma 4-Point 14" arm and an Air Tight Opus-1 cartridge and is getting fantastic results.
Holger Adler of Voxativ has been tremendous as well. I am working on getting to Dallas to audition his full line.
Axpona is a fall back option, though it may be tough for me to coordinate with my schedule.
I am also planning on a future trip to NYC/NJ to get my ears on Horning, Charney, Grandinote, etc.
@acresverde Once the Cubes are broken in (which they are...I'm giving them longer than the 40 hours Jon Ver Halen, the Cube Audio U.S. importer, advised), and I've worked on placement/ positioning, etc. I'd love to get your opinion and feedback on them within the context of my system and room.
A MAJOR shout-out of thanks to Charles ( @charles1dad ) for his extraordinary support and guidance throughout the journey.
There are others who have helped in major ways, and I'll recognize all of you formally and express my gratitude once I get a mini-write-up organized.
The original articulated goals remain the same. To have a 'bifurcated' system. My front end through DAC remains the same. What may change is my full-range speaker choice. Horning Hybrids and Voxativ's full range 'system' or moving up the Tekton Design line are all viable options, as part of the 'two speaker' system journey.
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@exlibris My early findings and impressions track Srajan Ebaen's 6moons review. |
@exlibris I now have over 550 hours on the Nenuphars and they are stunning, within the context of my system.
Placement and some system related changes / improvements have helped enhance performance. I'll be moving from JJ to EML (SP) tubes for the Found-Music 2A3 monoblocks, by the end of the week. Other system level applications are also breaking in.
I'll start a dedicated thread, in a few weeks, once the system is settled.
Thanks to all for your help prior to, and along the journey. |
Don[']t be afraid to consider higher powered SET amps (8W plus) OR lower powered SET amps... If you have a high quality amp paired with a preamp with sufficient gain. |
[don’t] restrict the type of music used I’ve been running Club music for the past few hours, at high volumes for me (Avg SPL at listening position High 80s to ~ 90db) Armin van Buuren, Kraftwerk, Biosphere, Jes, Amon Tobin, Primal Scream, The Orb, Massive Attack, Tricky/Martina, etc. System was tested with Opeth, Deadmau5, Egyptrixx, etc. : ) |
Hi Joe. Thanks for your feedback. You know I'll take you up on your offer when I schedule my trip, your way.
Yes, the 3.5 - 4 Watts from my 2A3 amp is more than sufficient. I'm finding the Nenuphars easy enough to drive that I'm also open to a robust build 45 amp.
Coincidently, I've been exchanging emails with Jeffrey and he will have the NA debut of the latest version of the Horning Hybrid Eufrodite Ellipses at Axpona.
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