Dunlavy SC-IV vs. Aerial 10T characteristics

Please take this with a grain of salt. I auditoned these on the same day in different rooms with different electronics. My impression was that the Aerials were more dynamic and the Dunlavys more coherent. The soundstage of the Aerials was more gounded, the sound stage of the Dunlavys more ethereal. I enjoyed both. My prejudice puts much emphisis on coherence. IMHO for home theatre: Aerial, for music: Dunlavy.

I heard the Aletha's on the same day as the SClV's. I felt they were more tactile but less coherent than the SClV's. Aletha's might have a higher WAF.

Whknopp, I agree with you almost word for word. I found the Dunlavys more coherent. I could live with any of them despite their differences. They all have srong suits with out gross sacrafices. I have my prejudices, and as such given the choice I'd go Dunlavy, Maggie, Aerial in that order. I could respect anybody's decision to pick any one of these fine products. I'd really like to hear the last two again before commiting to their placement. I'm very familiar with the Dunlavys and like them very much, would love to move up to a lVA.

Porschecab, I too like the Dunlavy's very much. Dunlavy makes a center channel to match. Unless you often use software with a dedicated center channel, I don't think you'll need one. As much as the driver array is veriticaly symetrical for the listener, I don't believe they are symetrical relative to top and bottom of their respective cabinets. Therefore, turning a standard SClV on it's side might not be ideal.

Let me preface this with an admission of prejudice. I'm not a big fan of surround sound. The only times I've heard it work is with 3 identical speakers, cables and amplification all set up the same way in front (all vertical and equidistant from listener) playing 3 discrete (not 2 channel stereo) with out any video monitor or rear channels. Judging by the quality of your equipment you probably have a lot more experience than me with surround sound. I suspect that for surround sound to work there needs to be as little difference in sound from each channel as possible. IMHO this requires a very large room with listener in the center, speakers circular and equidistant from listener(roughly 4 meters from listener in every direction with Dunlavys) and much room treatment or correction to compensate for the different side and rear speaker to wall relationships that usually accompany favorable sounding rooms. These problems would not exist in a square room, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you about that "box" of worms (haven't heard a round room yet). I would be concerned about three vertical Dunlavys sitting in front of me playing back two channel stereo. The sheer size (height)of these cabinets would appear to get in the way. Sorry if this was a bit "winded" and I didn't mean to rain on your parade. In as much as we seem to share similar appreciations of some things, perhaps you'd be better off with advise from others with a more similar pursuit. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to your assesment.

There has been a change in ownership. The new SCIII's appear to have similar design characteristics as the Aletha/Cantata (MTM array w/ down firing woofer).

That "Bow Tie" may be the shape of things to come. John Dunlavy told me that he is just waiting for consistent high quality high bit digital chips, so that he he can mass produce such a speaker. The shape is supposed to present a better sound stage. More interestingly it will do away with his patented stepped driver array. The drivers will be time aligned via digital cross-overs with digital tri-amplification. This new baffle will help reduce lobbing effects. The new approach will cut the time and labor it takes for him to bring speakers to his quite demanding specs. At first these will be cost no object, statement products. But, the trickle down effect might be fast and furious. We may be on the horizon to better, more consistent products at a markedly lower price. I hope and wait with baited breath.

Bulldogger, you might want to check out what TacT is doing beyond "the current state of digital chips".

Congratulations, sounds like your going to be happy! Yes the A's go down deeper and better. I think the Aerial's might still be better in this regard. As I've said before I'm more of a 2 channel guy, but if I were to go your route I think I'd do the same and go with the Aerials. Enjoy.