Review: DCM TimeWindow 1 Speaker


Category: Speakers

This review covers the orignal DCM Time Windows. Not the subsequent versions.

I remember the first time I heard these. Their unique shape and sound where unlike anything I had heard before. Here was a speaker that really delivered the promise. It was driven by a PS Audio Amp and PS Audio LCC PreAmp. At the time I had the Large Advents,and while those speakers were very good indeed, the Time Windows were clearly superior. The music just seemed to come alive in a way that's hard to describe. There was just a seamless transparency to them. Not overly bright or accentuated on the bass. The balance was right on. It didn't really matter what the program material was, the Time Windows clearly and with authority brought the music to life. If they had any real weakness is for some peoples taste the bass may have been on the light side. But for my taste it was as it should be. The orginals used Philips drivers using a transmission line and the cabinet construction contributed to the overall sound. In the late 70s these were not cheap at about $800.00 but were indeed worth the price of admission. I was finally able to acquire a pair of these and have them to this day. Few things one purchases in life have enduring value and the Time Windows truly are in that category. Of all the reviews I have read on these speakers not one reviewer has clearly defined the sonics of this fabulous speaker. Use all of the adjectives you want and one will still come up short in the description. Best way to describe them, if you love music and have better than average components connected to them, the Time Windows will deliver the music with a verve that will astound you.

Now these speakers are some 20 years or more in age and continue to deliver the music. And that's what this hobby is all about. DCM no longer produces the Time Windows,having opted for the HT route. This is a true shame as these speakers deserve continued production. Timeless design is just that.

Specifications:

  • Dimensions:36"H x 14 3/4"W x 11 3/4"D
  • Weight:32 Pounds
  • Power Requirements:10 Watts Minimum per channel 89 dB/watt at one meter;200 Watts Maximum
  • Impedance:5 Ohms minimum/6-8 Ohms nominal
  • Frequency Range:25Hz to 18 kHz
  • Dispersion:180 degrees horizontal/60 degrees vertical.

    Specifications do not tell the whole story,listening does. The Time Windows due to their configuration can be literally tuned to any room. That is due to their shape. This was a brilliantly executed design that has remained faithful all these years.

    Associated gear
    Click to view my Virtual System

    Similar products
    Polk SDA 2,Large Advent,Infinity,Boston Acoustic.

  • ferrari

    Showing 13 responses by ferrari

    A respondent to this ad has some foam coverings. check the geraldgasser line and contact him
    A friend of mine has the Aerial 7 and they are fabulous. Whereas the Time Windows work very well with any quality amp,the Aerials are very unforgiving with less than very good amps. They need at least a mosfet output amp and at least 75 watts per channel to really perform. Threshold,Forte,Classe,Bryston,Levinson and other amps in this league is what you will need to really bring the Aerials alive. At the time I heard them they were being driven with a Classe 70 amp. He now has them connected to a Bryston 4 SST amp. I bought the Classe 70 from him for my second system,which is now listed on Audiogon.

    While the Aerials are very good and would love to have them.I still find the Time Windows just magical for me.
    Thejapelvis - Try using a Class A output preamp along with your Sumo Nine Class A amp. This should really open up the Time Windows another level or two. While the Adcom tuner/preamp is a fine unit, it may be holding back the Sumo amp. Just a thought on my part. Have powered the Time Windows with a Forte Class A Amp and Forte Class A preamp and really found this to bring the Time Windows to a very high level indeed. Enjoy those Classic Time Windows, they are special indeed.
    The DCM Time Windows Original and 1a used Philips drivers and they have butyl surrounds for the drivers, not foam. I do not see any need to service those drivers, unless of course one over powers them and frys the voice coils. Other than that sit back,relax and enjoy.
    Be careful on the Rogers LS3/5A. If memory serves me correct they are a 16 ohm speaker!
    If remember correctly the Time Frame 250 were the start of the TF series. Used primairly for 2 channel audio where space is a consideration. Had a pair of the TF 350 and liked those very much. Time Frames were mirror image speakers. Make sure the small DCM logos on the front of the speakers are to the inside when viewed from front for
    proper imaging.

    link below:

    http://www.dcmspeakers.com/manuals/TF250.pdf
    Nominal impedance for the Time Windows is 6 ohms. Not really knowing how much muscle the Onkyo really has,makes me think that one should proceed with caution.Because the ohm load will drop based upon program material. A lot of the newer AV gear just pukes at the lower impedances. Trying to combine a music system with home theater system usually doesn't work very well. Unless of course one spends a lot to do this such as the products from Lexicon and some others that have high current amps. If possible set up a Home Theater system and a Two Channel Audio system in separate rooms, if that is an option. If not then one has to make the choice HT or Music.
    Remember that Pioneer SX 1250 very well, one of Pioneers best receivers. Good design with external heat sinks. Built like the proverbial tank, that came out during the stereo receiver wars of the late 70s early 80s. Few high power receivers were built and designed correctly, but this one was. This was about as good as it gets in high power receivers. Not quite in the same league as the McIntosh 1700,1900 or 4100 or the Marantz 18 or 19, but those were not high power receivers. All of these were statement receivers from the golden age. Well worth keeping and restoring and updating from time to time.

    Todays receivers can't even remotely come close to these great vintage receivers, that forever changed the design and performance of the stereo receiver into a viable medium.
    If your going to keep the SX 1250 I would definitely have
    someone go through the unit and do a complete check out. No doubt some of the caps have dried out, only good for about 20 years or so. It is worth the effort to keep in good shape.
    You might want to check out this fellow audiogon member. Specializes in great vintage gear. Was going to have him update my Luxman 1070 receiver. But ended up selling it to
    a local audiophile who just had to have it. But I did speak with him prior to that. He does know what he is doing and has good feedback to back it up. Link below.

    http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?miscrcvr&1141413458
    Wasn't slowhand, was my initial review of the Time Windows that members are posting to here. No worries it is a public domain review. He must have like what I wrote on these. But other sellers have used this review before. About six times by my count this review has been used to help sell time windows. Oh well at least it gets the word out on these very great speakers.
    I can't help but think that the current owners of DCM have thier head up their butts. Since I posted this review there has been over 14,000 hits on this post and over 120 posts to this review. These are strong numbers on a dedicted site such as Audiogon.

    Clearly with these numbers in mind, it warrants DCM to once gain offer the Time Windows from this period of time.There new Time Windows are sad commentary to the originals that were produced.

    It is very apparent by this thread and posts that the market continues to exist for the original Time Windows.

    Although DCM produces speakers in the already crowded market of HT. Their home audio is not on par. For a company has to grow its revenues by 10% per year to remain viable, I do not see that in the HT speaker field that is already over populated with HT speakers.

    If anyone from DCM reads this thread, here is a perfect way to reintroduce a classic you already own, with an existing market built in. I know what I would be doing if I was sitting in the DCM Presidents chair. Its a no brainer.
    If mine I would take to a quality cabinent shop and see what they recommend. More than likely there is some type of filler that can be used to stop the splintering. Also some of the guys at Home Depot or Lowes are good at coming up with ideas that are cost effective as well.

    Good save on the Time Windows, enjoy them.