Meh.....I will keep my plain looking piano black finish.
Shakey |
Apparently the Nextel looks very good - but it is easier to photograph a gloss veneer finish. Eventually the entire range will have the new finish. |
So, I ordered the replacement, Beryllium tweeters from Reference 3A (birthday present to myself). Once I have them installed in my De Capo's, I'll report back. |
Catama,
I was in touch with Tash at Reference 3A earlier in the week and it turns out that upgrade parts (like the new, beryllium tweeter) are available to end-users to upgrade their speakers. So all is not lost if you decide to go the upgrade route, eventually. Don't get me wrong your new speakers are wonderful as they are. |
Oh no! I'm breaking in a used pair of de capos and don't want to upgrade yet! |
Anyone ever heard the Reference 3A La Suprema speakers?
Those were great speakers from the 90s.
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I wonder what that finish looks like in person. If it absorbs light the way it's supposed to, then it may not be so easy to photograph. Maybe the photos don't do it justice. |
I wonder why the Veena, GV and Episode are the only speakers that aren't offered in that finish. It is ugly to be sure, but the performance of the 3A speakers is beyond reproach.
Shakey |
After months of research for efficient bookshelf speakers, I was ready to pull the trigger on the DeCapos. That is until I saw the new line. The tweeter and extra bracing are nice upgrades. Far more important than the exterior coating. Curious why they decided not to incorporate the tweeter lens like the Nefes speaker. For me, the Nextel gray aesthetic is a deal breaker. There is no way I would put those ugly gray speakers in my living room. Maybe in a studio, but IMO the gray is truly ugly. If they offered them in other colors - maybe. I prefer veneers or better cabinet material not just a one color exterior coating. I'll guess I'll have to pay more attention to used. |
I was lucky enough to grab a used pair of De Capo i in high gloss red cherry from a member here on Audiogon. According to the seller, who owned them for less than 6 months told me they were of a late production, 2010/2011?
When I unpacked them, I was quite taken by the lustrous finish, the black drivers and brass screws gives out a nice contrast against the high gloss finish.
I'm also curious to hear any feedbacks from anyone attending THe Show!
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Mezzanine,
I think they are convinced that the Nextel really does something for the sound and they decided to go with that conviction for the whole line.
Yeah, if you can get a pair of the Dulcets in one of the wood finishes, go for it. Maybe Reference 3A still has some of those cabinets in stock. I when I had mine they were gloss black and looked gorgeous.
As for the BE tweeter, I'm curious to see how they sound. Wish I could get to Vegas for THE Show, but I just can't. |
they don't look like much, but i heard a pair of 3A's many years ago and they sounded amazing. i don't know too much more about them, but they were very musical and very well made. and very small... |
Thanks for the info. Nice speakers. |
I'm kind of wondering about the switch from a cloth dome tweeter to a beryllium tweeter. Fairly or unfairly, metal domes often get a bad rap for imparting a harshness to the high end, so I'd love to hear the revised models, too. |
Rebbi,
I think I'm disappointed in 3A. I just looked on their website. Their speakers are ugly now. Do not want prison grey! I was seriously considering buying a pair of the Dulcets in high gloss red maple.
But besides the ugly concrete grey I am also very skeptical of the new tweeter. There was no reason to upgrade as they were getting rave reviews the way they were.
I have a feeling 3A is going for more definition and clarity like everyone else in the industry seems to be doing these days. Chasing that elusive goal of trying to give us more. Usually in this process it just means a brighter and more fatiguing sound for us.
I think I'll try to grab a pair of the old Dulcets before they're gone. |
Nextel's been around for years. Dahlquist used to use it on their Monitor Series. I believe it was in the early eighties. |
Couldn't be happier with my Grand Veenas.
I see they decided to go with the Murata tweeter again. The prototype I saw in a show report had only the BE tweeter. Bet the new models sound sweet.
Shakey |
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Nice!
Maybe more older versions will come up for sale on Audiogon now! I still need to replace my Triangle Titus so I can donate those to my sister. |
