Dunlavy and Meadowlark were true time/phase correct speakers (although, in a Stereophile review of a Dunlavy speaker, the designer hedged whether the crossover is truly a first-order filter). Vandersteen is pretty much the last one standing and RV has really achieved something special with his carbon drivers. If he can ever bring that technology to a real world price point . . .
Avalon is not time/phase coherent. A top priority was avoiding distortion from out of band break up. The original Avalons (designed by Charles Hansen, Neil Patel, and Jeff Rowland) did this by using steep filters, low XO points, and small midrange drivers. The 3-way Ascent had a 2" titanium midrange. IMO, Jim Thiel was able to control, if not eliminate, out of band ringing by using small midrange (3.5" in my CS2.4 coax) or the wavy diaphragms of the X.7 models despite the slow roll-off filters.
None of the megabuck speakers I know of are time/phase aligned (certainly not Magico). That said, some of the best systems I’ve heard had speakers with steep filters. The TAD Ref 1 and Vivid Giya are standouts in my experience. I hope to soon have another listen to some megabuck speakers and compare their sound to my modded 2.4s.
The new Stereophile reviewed Dutch and Dutch active speakers that pretty much have time, if not phase, alignment. In fact, all of JA’s measurements were eye-popping. I can’t imagine I’ll ever own active speakers but I would love to hear those!
Avalon is not time/phase coherent. A top priority was avoiding distortion from out of band break up. The original Avalons (designed by Charles Hansen, Neil Patel, and Jeff Rowland) did this by using steep filters, low XO points, and small midrange drivers. The 3-way Ascent had a 2" titanium midrange. IMO, Jim Thiel was able to control, if not eliminate, out of band ringing by using small midrange (3.5" in my CS2.4 coax) or the wavy diaphragms of the X.7 models despite the slow roll-off filters.
None of the megabuck speakers I know of are time/phase aligned (certainly not Magico). That said, some of the best systems I’ve heard had speakers with steep filters. The TAD Ref 1 and Vivid Giya are standouts in my experience. I hope to soon have another listen to some megabuck speakers and compare their sound to my modded 2.4s.
The new Stereophile reviewed Dutch and Dutch active speakers that pretty much have time, if not phase, alignment. In fact, all of JA’s measurements were eye-popping. I can’t imagine I’ll ever own active speakers but I would love to hear those!