| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3020 Registered: 6-2002 |
I was sent a link to this company to check out their hi fi speakers and stereo systems. http://www.avantgarde-acoustic.de/horn-loudspeaker-en.html Price list: http://www.avantgarde-acoustic.de/trio-prices-en.html Jazzyvee | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 311 Registered: 5-2005 |
Yo Jazzy, look at the Basshorn at their web site. What a rotund beefy bass unit! | ||
| poor_nigel
Advanced Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 246 Registered: 11-2009 |
I'm an old speaker freak, and I have some Altec multi-cell 5000B's and JBL 2495 plate horns, and 35 pound Altec drivers and JBL neodymium 2455 drivers for the plate horns. I have old horned cabinets for dual 15's with Gausss 15 drivers in them (The old original Hollywood shop line. I will admit the horns and drivers go for some inflated prices on eBay these days, but not into the five digit range, and certainly not close to $84,000 Euros or whatever the price list stated, and I am probably sure my speakers will reproduce whatever theirs will within 5% tolerance of their specs, especially if I toss in a couple pairs of D-120F 12" JBL's for midranges, or 10's, even. I love JBL mid-sized cones for midrange at short throw-ranges, and in horn loaded boxes for long-range apps. I do not like horns squaking out the midranges much. I often think speakers were perfected in the 50's/60's and went down hill after that. Ignorant? Me? Maybe, and maybe I am getting deaf, as I still think my old stuff sounds GREAT. Note that I do use new high tech preamps, crossovers, and power amps, as improvements to those (Electronics) did happen at significant levels over the years. Lighter, better, cleaner. I may not think someone a fool to pay 84,000 whatevers for a pair of horns, but I won't envy them either. Stupid is as stupid does, Ms. Bubba. | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 688 Registered: 1-2003 |
To be fair this is the "statement" end of the hifi market, where performance is not necessarily the most important part of the total product experience. Similar observations might be made about high end basses. I also have a soft spot for old speakers - some of the best speakers I've ever heard in a domestic setting were huge old Tannoys. In my bedroom I have a pair of Infintys from the 70s. Still sound great, although I have had the woofers reconed. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1912 Registered: 11-2004 |
And of course they are only as good as the gear they are connected to...would be a waste if it was rigged up to a very cheap system. If I win the lottery I would buy them just for the hell of it! | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 313 Registered: 5-2005 |
With respect to "dnburgess' comment that the "performance" Statement audiophile products are "not necessarily the most important part of the total product experience", I think a true audiophile would take you to task on that with good reason. The whole purpose of the extremely expensive (in most cases) products is to produce the same experience one would have at a live acoustic concert hall, preferably unamplified. Many good lookers in that product range fail because while they may be attractive, they are not alive (Freddy Gruber quote). If an audiophile type product does not reproduce music accurately, and this is the major performance issue, then they do not tend to last. If you take a look at the post concerning instrument cords in another thread, you see some members expressed a dislike for Monster Cable, perceived as a high end product, as too expensive and not as effective in performance as other products mentioned. Since I am an audiophile, I think you should better understand what we are trying to achieve and not be so judgmental that in the high end, performance is not the primary concern. To the contrary it is the very reason for the existence of the high end. In my own experience I have found many reasonable priced components that sound better and more effective than some of the expensive ones. Just think, there are many "Fender" players that think the same way about our Alembics, and think we are nuts to pay for "perhaps" some increase in performance. In the case of Alembic instruments, we owners experience the differences. Someone with a different hearing point of reference may not hear such difference or cannot justify the price differential (value) when comparing price. At least I am consistent in that I am an audiophile for both home reproduction as well as choice of instrument Alembic, Ritter, etc.). I love Filet Mignon and Rib Eye, but a great burger is nice once in a while too! Just don't tell my cardiologist. I own Fender and Alembics, and prefer my Alembics. That does not negate my purchasing Fender basses. It's all about the "ears" and the aural experience, not the flash and price point. If you are ever visiting the Northeast, I can demonstrate this. here's to pursuing exceptional playing and sharing! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1915 Registered: 11-2004 |
And of course german engineering is absolutely spot on. Having ridden the BMW S1000RR, it made my Honda Fireblade feel rather inadequate(even though itself is an excellent motorcycle) A friend of mine has a early 80's BMW M6, it's a typical 80's car style but it is so well built and the motor is frantically scary when the throttle is floored. I can only imagine that these horn drivers when connected to some equally high end hi fi(Bose, Bang & Olufsen etc) that the sound will be something that is a totally unique experience. These people have obviously spent a lot of money in R&D and have to re coup that cost as well as make a profit..so get what you pay for as we all know. I cannot afford to be an audiophile but as I said in my last thread, if I had the money I would by them as they would definitely be the dogs b*****ks in drivers! | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 314 Registered: 5-2005 |
TerryC - the real fun is to find the relative bargains in the high end. I bought 2 of my Alembics used, as many other great axes both 4 and 6 stringed, and have purchased much audio gear used as well. I do not need to buy into the snob factor, I like bargains, especially high performance to price ones. There are many reasonably priced wines and a super Single malt Scotch that do not break the bank. I perceive great value in that. Good luck and play well and hard! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5196 Registered: 7-2004 |
Steve: "Super single malt scotch"? Which one? Bill, tgo | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 689 Registered: 1-2003 |
Steve - agree audiophile bargains are a buzz. Note I was talking about the "statement end of the market" not the audiophile market. There is overlap between the two but they are not one and the same. Just as not everyone who spends over $200k on a car is a car enthusiast, not everyone who spends over say $100k on a hifi is an audiophile. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1916 Registered: 11-2004 |
Macallan..this is the best without doubt | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 315 Registered: 5-2005 |
terryc - 25 year old is awesome!! I have a terrific collection of Duncan Taylor as well. Johnny W. Blue sucks moose eggs!!! Very overpriced and not tasty to me. dnburgess, excellent clarification! | ||
| fmm
Advanced Member Username: fmm Post Number: 351 Registered: 6-2002 |
tubeperson: I have to disagree with you on the Johnny Walker Blue. It's God's own blend, and excellent. I don't often drink blended Scotch, but when I do I prefer Johnny Walker Blue. Even moreso when it's someone else's bottle! Glenlivet has excellent bang for the buck in an inexpensive single malt. | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 317 Registered: 5-2005 |
fmmmmmmmmm - Different strokes for different folks. Keep in mind I gave up blends a long time ago, life is way too short. JW Blue, however, is not a single malt so it is unfair for poor "Blue" to even try to compete. I will gladly let you compare Glenmorangie 18 yr old Single Malt, properly chilled, both bottle and shot glasses, to Blue under the same condition. I think you would be very surprised! Blue will give you a headache, Glenmorangie will give you "sexual ecstasy" without having to buy the fur coat! Plus Blue is almost twice the price! Let's get malted (or dram if you prefer) together one day. I like Glenlivet as well, I have 18 yr old and 21 yr old in "stock". At any rate, enjoy!! L'Chaim!!!!! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1917 Registered: 11-2004 |
My girlsfriend has the Chivas Royal Salute, this is upper end whiskey but she will not open it as they are 'collectors' items. hers is in the blue velevet bag BUT her mother has the extremely rare black bag issue plus about 40 bottles of other rarities..needles to say although she lives local she is from Rothes in Morayshire which is right in the heart of Speyside(distillery country) and the Glen Grant, Glenrothes and Macallan distilleries are on the doorstep. her relatives work at one of them so needless to say I get excellent whiskies at a very reasonable price! | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 319 Registered: 5-2005 |
Royale Salute is one of the few blends I enjoy. Keep the bottle in the freezer, freeze shot glasses, then dram away!! Tell the Mrs. to keep the bottle, (empty for your sake I hope), they are very nice ceramic bottles. Just don't make a "Mrs. Butterworth" lamp out of them! And Fmmmmm - G-d created single malt. Man ruined them by blending them together. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3218 Registered: 10-2002 |
Here's me, living in Scotland and really don't like whisky at all. I can just about manage a shot of jim Beam or Jack Daniels if forced. However, all the money I've saved not buying whisky has been spent on high end audio :-) graeme | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1918 Registered: 11-2004 |
Wonder when you were going to chime in Graeme Well each to there own I guess | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 321 Registered: 5-2005 |
I agree terryc, and no one should judge another's enjoyment of their true loves! Good thing for me I live closer to Alembic (3000 + miles away) than Scotland, where I'd be drinking up all the profits so to speak. Still, I am wrapped up in both plus, audiophile mania (love that vinyl). Well jacko, I enjoy being an audiophile, single malt lover and an Alembician. It's all in how you save money to enjoy these treats What's your stereo system consist of? Perhaps you can offer to give some of us here stateside a tour of the fine distilleries near your home, you tease?! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3219 Registered: 10-2002 |
Steve. I've not changed my system in the past few years. Front end is an Elite (townsend) Rock mk2 with excalibur arm and Dynavector 10x5 moving coil cartridge into a Moon phono stage and Arcam Alpha 9 integrated amp (soon to be replaced with a Moon 250i). Speakers are living Voice Auditorium.Interconnects are a mish-mash of Chord, Van den Hul and Nordost with the speakers bi-wired using Cable talk 3. Cd player is a marantz CD63 KI signature which is ok for the amount of digital stuff I listen to. Most of my Whisky savings get spent once a month at my favourite used vinyl shop in Edinburgh. The Glenmorangie bottling plant is less than 2 miles from my house. You're welcome to visit so you can stand outside and sniff :-) | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 322 Registered: 5-2005 |
Excellent components. To sniff Glenmorangie but not dram should be a felony!! With respect to vinyl, the wife decided to visit my office, and she was quite surprised at all of the vinyl that is here. G-d bless audiogon and ebay. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2012 |
jazzyvee, I used to be an audiophile and owned my own sound system back in the 70's so I think I may have some ideas for you. The first thing is that what sounds good to me may not sound so good to you. I watched the company's video and have to say their design worries me a bit. Yes, all speakers are horns. But metallic horns have a tendency of sounding tinny. Back in the day I had a pretty darn good system that cost me around $5,000 to $8,000 just for the speakers (all professional quality JBL or Cerwin Vega). Although they sounded really good on a concert stage you wouldn't really want to use them at home unless deafness was something you strived for. My horns were top of the line at that time and metal. Again, good for the stage but not so much at home. I'd be really leary of buying these without hearing them. Their highs and upper mids are probably pretty good but the mids and low end would be suspect. I wouldn't buy them without hearing them. Since your in the mood, another set of speakers are Klipsch which may interest you (I believe they're a Swiss company and you can find some of their products in local hi-fi shops). I really like them for the home. At least they sound excellent to me. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3049 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm no audiophile, but the speakers I've heard that have really impressed me with their sound were these. http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/sound/loudspeakers/beolab-5 I had a demo in one if the Bang & Olufsen shops a few years back and brought in some of my own CD's (Toys of Men & 1,2 to the bass) and the sound was nothing short of amazing. The double bass reproduction was incredible, it reproduced all that woodiness I like in the double bass. But........ they are also out of my price range. One day when I have more space I will treat myself to a really decent audio system. Jazzyvee | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2012 |
Jazzyvee, Oh man, I've been away from this way too long. The last I knew, B&O mainly made very high quality turntables (remember those?) As I remember they had a very good reputation for quality (Swedish I believe). Anyway, the most important thing I can tell you is that the speakers must sound good to you! Not me or anyone else. A brief story. Like you, I can no longer afford my taste. So I rarely ever listen to music anymore. I know, its sad, but I'm damn picky about what sounds good to me. A few years ago I went out and tried to find stuff that I could afford and which sounded at least halfway reasonable. Failed completely. Spent about $1,200 on some Bose speakers and never listen to them. Power amp, pre amp, equalizer all packed away and never listen to them. Want to buy some gear? And before I finally settled on those I probably went through 10 to 12 sets of speakers, amps, etc. before settling on the Bose. One store even banned me. The long and short of the story is to make sure it sounds good to you. Now, on the good side, a few years later, I had a desktop computer and a few extra bucks and had started playing around with gaming. Went to a local computer store looking for a good set of speakers and found some 5.1 Klipsch. Cost me $250 to $300 I think. Hooked them up and was blown away. Damn little things just blew away a $4,000 stereo system. I was amazed and thats when the stereo went back into its boxes. You can see the speakers here: http://www.klipsch.com/computer-speakers They only seem to make the 2.1 system now but you might want to give these a try. One warning though. Loved these for about a year and listened to them a lot. But all of a sudden they went poof! Took them to a local guy for a look and, because the subwoofer didn't have whisper fan (the amp is in the subwoofer) a board overheated and snapped. Would have had to order a whole new subwoofer from Switzerland for about $200. Never happened and now I have a laptop so... So the Klipsch computer speakers may be a way for you to go. Just be forewarned about the heat problem. If that subwoofer doesn't have a fan on it I'd be a bit wary. But they do sound really good for the price! | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 289 Registered: 2-2009 |
I would love to hear those horns, but will never be able to afford them; at home I use a Hafler preamp/DH 500 power amp setup with Heco speakers...I forget the model, but they have the big woofer with a midrange horn and three(!) tweeters...people freak out when they hear it, especially as it pastes them to the back wall...it really does sound incredible though; I've actually heard things that I didn't hear with headphones...I have to say that my cat is not impressed with the volume required though... Tony | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1665 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mindido, Checking the contact link on the Klipsch website you posted, their manufacturing is still located in Arkansas where they were invented. They were famous for bookshelf speakers and Klipschorn folded horn cabinets in the '60s and '70s. Their world headquarters are in Indiana. All the phone numbers are US exchanges. I used to lust after these back in the day. Mike | ||
| hankster
Advanced Member Username: hankster Post Number: 286 Registered: 6-2004 |
First time i heard George Benson it was in an audiophile store on Klipschorns so big you could park my car in one (well, not really, but they were each about the size of a large office credenza). It was so loud and so perfectly clear and full it sounded like he was inside my head. I have never heard anything like it, anywhere. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2012 |
dadabass2001, Holy cow you're right! Arkansas? Arkansas? Man, I've thought those were European for a long time. Jeez, had I known that I probably would have driven down there to pick that board up (Arkansas isn't all that far from here). Oh man, I have this sinking feeling in my stomach. I don't think that repairman would have ripped me off for those speakers...... Damn. I'm not feeling so well right now. But I can say that that I've also heard those Klipschhorns and thought they may be the best home speaker ever made. But they were (are?) really pricey. If it weren't for the overheating problem I'd get another set of those little speakers though. And I guess I have new respect for manufacturing in Arkansas. I kinda thought all they had was Walmart and good trout fishing in the Ozarks. and hankster, That sounds about like my experience. I think if I could afford a set of those they would be the last home speakers I would ever own. And if I remember correctly, you can power those with a little tube Macintosh. You don't need a big Crown or BGW. Now you're talking some bucks. Arkansas! Never would have believed it. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1231 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have two McIntosh MC30s that are the most amazing power amps I've ever heard. 30 incredible watts of warmth and 3 dimensional detail. I'd love to get some of the K-Horns for them but the WAF is exceptionally low. I'm lucky to get away with a pair of Avalon NP2s. Much less efficient but still sound great. | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 326 Registered: 5-2005 |
I have pair of Marantz Model 9 mono amps (original issue), a Model 7 preamp, also original, and a 10B tuner. To this day, they are awesome!!!! I have many turntables, a slew of Technics SP-10 Mk 2's and an Empire 698. Looking to upgrade to a Technics SP-10 Mk 3, and get a SME Model 30. But alas my GAS for Alembics comes first. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2012 |
A question for edwin and tubeperson. Can you still get tubes for those things? And if you can, how expensive are they now? And if your using little Macintoshs at home are you using tube amps for your guitars? And you can still find tubes for those amps? | ||
| kimberly
Advanced Member Username: kimberly Post Number: 372 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Guys,  Sorry for the hi-jack but this caught my eye. Played with a band back in the mid-70's that used a pair of Klipsch LaScalla's (sp?). Yamaha mixer and power. Absolutely awesome sound! Regards, Kimberly Edited to correct the date from the mid-80's to the mid-70's. Time sure flies.... (Message edited by kimberly on July 28, 2012) | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 16 Registered: 7-2012 |
kimberly, Not familiar with the "LaScalla's" (but I will look them up). Yamaha in the 70's? As a former soundman at that time I remember Yamaha mainly for keyboards. Klipsch for PA? I'd be interested to hear what you remember. I think I'd be worried about longevity with those. Our JBL's used to get knocked around a lot and survived quite well. But a Klipsch on the road? Never ran into it. Superb home system (may have no equal) but on the road????? Just looked the LaScalla's up and I just don't remember if those are what I remember. I don't think so. But it does look like those speakers may be able to handle the road. I just don't remember anyone using them. Smaller bands maybe. But a larger band or PA company? Unlikely unless they can handle the road. But I'm sure they sound as good as humanly possible. (Message edited by mindido on July 28, 2012) (Message edited by mindido on July 28, 2012) | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1234 Registered: 5-2002 |
Klipsch had a whole sound reinforcement line, with beefed up components and cabinets. There was a sound company in Cambridge, MA, Terry Hanley, that used a bunch of Klipsch gear in the 80s when I worked with them. They probably were using Klipsch here: http://www.wafting.com/rockposters/aerosmithbostongarden75.JPG Very good sounding and very efficient. Heavy, though. Definitely a step up sound quality and durability from the Yamaha gear of the day. Klipsch even had a pro version of the Heresys and the La Scalas were very common, too. I still see the Heresys in use in small PAs for acoustic music. | ||
| kimberly
Advanced Member Username: kimberly Post Number: 374 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Mindido, You got my curiosity going so I started searching around. Gotta confess the memory is a bit cloudy after all these years but I can say, we weren't using a PM1000xx series mixer. Somewhere in this list is what it was. Probably more than eight channels, but maybe not and that's about all I can remember. http://www.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/chron_pa.php As far as the amp it looks like it had to of been the P-2200 or P-2100 as those were the only ones made in the appropriate time frame. I only remember analog meters. :D The Klipsch LaScalla's were definitely furniture and definitely made for the home. Natural wood, clear finish. Our drummer at the time, and for a few years after, came from a family background of never wanting from anything he felt so inclined to have. We were based out of northern Louisiana at the time and it was a quick jaunt to Arkansas. I found this pic doing a search, which by the way I found the correct spelling is 'La Scala'. These are the same ones we had judging by what I can see. As far as the road we treated them like babies wrapping them in blankets and not throwing them around. They lasted a few years with no problems and then as with what happens with most all bands, we broke up and they left with the drummer. Parts unknown until I heard a few years back he'd ended up in Alabama. Anyway, here's the pic.  Just gotta love the web! Best Regards, Kimberly | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 17 Registered: 7-2012 |
edwin, Boy, hard to tell what those are from the photo. I remember the horns but can't see the mids and bass well enough. But Klipsch sounds good to me. The horms do kind of look like the Altec Lansings which were popular then, just before JBL took everything over. Weight? As I remember, everything weighed a ton. The worst were the deep base cabinets (at least they had wheels built in). They were JBL cabinets with dual 18 in. Cerwin Vega speakers. Rear mounted if I remember. But we also had deep base cabs with 15 in. front mounted and a huge scoop at the bottom. Combine those with four JBL 4560 cabinets and 2220 JBL speakers (one per cabinet) per side and then two different types of horms (don't remember the numbers) and the speakers were pretty darn good. Were they better than the Klipsch? I doubt it except in one way, the road. I don't remember having a lot of problems with them. And we used them at least three to four nights per week. So reliability was a must for everything we used. Just looked up the Heresy and I do seem to remember them! I think we had a set briefly and used them for stage monitors. But thats so long ago.... The one thing I can say without a doubt. If I had the money I'd own a set in a minute. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 18 Registered: 7-2012 |
kimberly, Yeah, its kinda fun thinking back to those times. Some of the best in my life. Really good times for the most part. I was trying to remember the other day which mixers we were using but it just eludes me. Started with little 8 channel expandables (topcon?, tascam?....something like that) then moved up to a pretty nice 32 expandable to 64. Wound up building the case for it ourselves. Amps I do remember pretty well. All Crown 150's for the high end, 300's for mids and BGW 500's and 1000 watts for the low end. I remember using Phase Linear for a while but they just couldn't handle the road. Good for the home though. I'd bet those LaScala's sounded really good. What type of music were you playing? I think they'd be good for a group playing something oriented to acoustic. I'm sure they would sound excellent in that situation. The band I was mainly with was a Yes/ELP clone and wound up with the JBL system. I just don't remember precisely why we bought them, or if the Klipsch were even a consideration, but I'm sure it was the road which was the deciding factor. And jeez, they're just as pricey as ever. $3.500 per speaker for the LaScala's and $4,000 ea. for the Klipschorn. Now I remember why I don't own a pair. Sigh..... | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1235 Registered: 5-2002 |
Tapco, perhaps? | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 19 Registered: 7-2012 |
edwin, That would be it! Just looked them up. Guess they didn't last that long. Found this little quote: "In 1979, Tapco was purchased by Electro-Voice who slowly phased out the Tapco name and blended the Tapco products into their own product line. The factory space in Redmond, Washington remained active, producing electronic products for EV until perhaps 1989, when the lease ran out. The entire industrial park was razed and high rise office buildings constructed. Microsoft is the current occupant." Doesn't that just figure, entire park was razed for Microsoft. Figures. As I remember, they were a pretty good, inexpensive little mixer which was expandable and comparable (because it was really pretty clean) to some mixers which cost a heck of a lot more. It wasn't the first mixer we had but, because of its cleanliness, we got rid of the old one and added to the little 8 channel. Something came up and we got a 32 or 64 channel. But that was a different make. Soundcraft??? Soundcraft sounds about right but finding a board I'd recognize from the 70's. Ugh, I doubt it. Brain just isn't quite what it used to be. Good find though edwin! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1780 Registered: 2-2005 |
I used a Tapco RB6100 (?) with an EB6100 (?) expansion unit for 14 channels back in the 70's. It wasn't a bad small format mixer for it's time. The only thing I didn't like about it, ok hated, was it had board mounted pots. This meant you had to remove all of the knobs and nuts on the front panel to remove the board. Then to reinstall the board you had to try to align every pot with it's respective hole. Keith | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2012 |
Hey Keith, Wasn't quite sure what you were referring to until I found this: http://www.edenampsforum.com/index.php?topic=7174.0 I don't remember ever having to pull any pots on the Tapco as we really didn't have it that long (maybe a year or so?). I also don't remember the model #'s on them but I thought the main board was 8 channel and the expansion was also 8? Its been so long that I'm sure you're right. | ||
| fmm
Advanced Member Username: fmm Post Number: 352 Registered: 6-2002 |
In the 80s, when I was sound man & tech director at the Maintenance Shop bar (on the campus of Iowa State), the sound system consisted of a pair of La Scalas (mounted on 8 foot tall stands _behind_ the stage) and a couple of Bose 900s for center fill. We had a 16 channel BiAmp board, a pair of Yamaha power amps, and a Soundcraftsman power amp that had to have muffin fans blowing on the output transisters or the amp would shut down due to thermal overload when things got loud. I did every blues band from Chicago, Pat Methany, Gary Burton, the Replacements, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Richm and Tower of Power using that system. | ||
| fmm
Advanced Member Username: fmm Post Number: 353 Registered: 6-2002 |
In the 70s, there was a company called SpeakerLab that sold kits of different models of popular speakers, including the big Klipsch Horns. A friend of mine had purchased some big Magnaplaner (MagnaPan?) speakers, whis sounded great except for poor bass response, so he used a pair of Speaker Lab Klipsch horns as subwoofers. In a dorm room. Those were the days. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 21 Registered: 7-2012 |
fmm, Thinking you might have said something not quite right here, "...(mounted on 8 foot tall stands _behind_ the stage". Now, its been 30+ years since I did sound but I'm pretty sure doing something like that would wind up with a lot of feedback problems. Did I miss something? Looked them up and I remember those Magnaplanars. And you're right. Highs and mids were excellent but nothing for bass. You're not talking about the Kpipschorns or LaScala's in a dorm room are you? There'd be no room for anything else. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1254 Registered: 10-2006 |
A friend of mine had Klipschorns in his dorm room. No, not much room left. Yes, AMAZING sound! Peter | ||
| fmm
Advanced Member Username: fmm Post Number: 354 Registered: 6-2002 |
They were actually pretty much even with the back of the stage. We did not get feedback, I have no idea why. It should not ahve worked, but it did. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1781 Registered: 2-2005 |
Mindido, I transposed the numbers and letters, I'm lucky to remember yesterday let alone 30+ years ago. The model is 6100RB and the expander was 6100EB. Here is link to an evil bay auction that has some decent pictures. ----------------------------------------------- A friend of mine back in high school who had wealthy parents was really into audio and had a pair of Klipschorns driven by Macintosh amplifiers (don't remember the model). He had them in a 30X20 foot room with 12 foot ceilings. I never heard anything fill a room like those did. Keith | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1255 Registered: 10-2006 |
'79-'80 I briefly worked for a lounge band whose keyboard player had a 6100RB in his rig. One time our Studiomaster FOH board went down & I had to use his for a few nights. The channel volumes & EQs were interactive like a guitar - turn someone up, redo EQ the channel. Not a fond memory. Peter | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2012 |
keith, "I'm lucky to remember yesterday let alone 30+ years ago." Boy does that sound familiar. Anyway, checked the link and that does look like the little mixers I remember. Can't say though if its the same. Probably, but... Found the price they wanted for that thing a bit interesting. $337? I think thats about what they were new. Thanks! cozmik_cowboy, "Studiomaster FOH board" Man, your memory is a heck of a lot better than mine. Don't remember anything about modifying the EQ with most every volume change bur, that was so long ago. But come to think of it I may still have that old Tapco EQ. I'll have to check. | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 339 Registered: 5-2005 |
With respect to the Magnaplanars, you would need a pair of speakers the size of a football field to yield excellent bass. Being made with mylar sheets, plus electrostatic technology, bass reproduction was not their shining feature. This is why they worked well for classical music (bass heavy pieces notwithstanding) or for those who were not intersted in the sonic regions we like to play in. Martin Logan, SoundLabs and others more recently made hybrids, using electrostatics for mid and treble regions which yielded excellent transparency, but very narrow soundstaging, with subwoofers to bring out the bass (problem here is that the subwoofers were not as "fast" as the panels, thus one may not hear a totally interated sound bass to treble). Klipsch speakers were, and still are much better at bass reproduction, and extremely efficient, which means you do not need massive power amplifiers to obtain a loud clean wall of sound. Back in the day, Altec Lansing, and JBL made efficient loudspeakers with terrific bass. Both Altec and JBL, as well as Electro Voice, made outstanding woofers (some still make them currently) which helps us bass people! Ah, the curse of being a home audiophile, and an addict of Alembics! So the kids have to starve, so what, big deal (LOL for those too literal to understand sarcasm). | ||
| piotr_c
Junior Username: piotr_c Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2012 |
Hi tubeperson, I see we share the love of single malts... If you stop by Montevideo, you have to come around for tasting...! What about B&W speakers, i switched from Spendor to these three years ago 'cause I couldn't hear the bass very well. Well coupled to a Naim system, the B&Ws were like switching from a non-series alembic to a series 2, as jazzyvee would put it... And in regards to Whisky, a Macallan 18 gran reserva... Only bought two bottles at the time... Long gone.... And today 1 bloody bottle is the price of a 1980s spoiler... Ridiculous...! | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 23 Registered: 7-2012 |
tubeperson, A while before my ears finally gave out some 30+ years ago we started getting rid of our 15 in. and 18 in. JBLs and started using Cerwin Vega. Do you remember those? I seem to remember our bass player really loved them as they started going in all of our bass cabinets. Does anybody still use them? | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1438 Registered: 6-2002 |
We have a little warehouse full of old school goodies... JBL,Altec Cerwin Vega,McCaulley,RCF... I'm 46 and just getting my feet wet with what alot you of you guys grew up with. It's pretty cool!! Even cooler is that I'm learning how to service,recone,calibrate,etc. No gym necessary those days I get to be the one lugging those old cabs to gigs or just around the warehouse. My bottom cab at my bass gigs is a 2225H in an old 15 box that was part of the Paramounts 70's system and then used for one of Bob Marley's/Merillee Rush's west coast tour legs. Someday I'll have try some CV's. | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 341 Registered: 5-2005 |
Minidido, when I was in High School, I owned a Plush 18 inch (woofer) bass cabinet, with Cerwin Vega speaker and blue padded covering (think the old Kustom brand). That was the original "El Wappo" bass cab. In order to really hear all of its tone, you needed to be in a large arena. How's that for old "skool". Cerwin Vega is in the same league as Altec et. al. They made a very underrated home speaker back in the late 70's - early 80's as well. I worked summers at Sam Goody's and sold home audio and electronics back then. No such thing as a cell phone or ipods, the portable cassette (Walkman) was popular, and CD's and their players were just staring to become available. Now, CD's are dying and vinyl keeps rocking. Go analogue!! | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 342 Registered: 5-2005 |
piotr, I love B & W products, ever since I hear the original Mode 801 speakers. How about JM Labs Utopia's. I purchased a pair of original issue Marantz Model 9 tube amps, and heard them driving the Utopia's. The person I bought the amps from had the "Utes" in a small apartment in Brooklyn. Probably had very angry neighbors since he liked liked his music loud. Oh, the glory days before kid(s) and bills. And if you are ever in Connecticut, I will gladly dram with you Duncan Taylor's, Glenmorangie as the opener, and the other "family members" on hand, with chilled shot glasses of course. | ||
| piotr_c
Junior Username: piotr_c Post Number: 25 Registered: 7-2012 |
Well yes, JM Labs, I have heard lots of excellent comments on these, but alas have never had the pleasure to hear them "live", and with Marantz amps, I guess you are as pure of an audiophile as they come...! Love the 801 from B&W, but due to simple space problems (not even financial, 'cause no wife, no kids yet, but lot's of bills!) I had to go for the 802s. Your invitation sounds perfect, I will not forget it... Have a shot for me... | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 290 Registered: 2-2009 |
I really like the B&W speakers too; I have dm100i's in my workshop with an old Sansui alpha series amp(WAY too much power for the room, it's never seen past 4 notches on the volume...)they sound great and I'd even try them upstairs but know that the Hafler would kill them in short order...I've heard old Klipsch horns before and they are amazing...if I had more space I would get a smaller amp and use my Hafler as my bass rig and embrace the horns...audiophile stuff is cool; you can geek right out, but with tangible benefits, kinda like single malt scotch, but not everyone hears or tastes it...PS I am Scottish by birth, so I have malted blood...an ultimate favorite may be the Highland Park 16, although Lagavullin 16 mighty nice too...depends how much peaty I'm into...Tony | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 24 Registered: 7-2012 |
elwoodblue, "We have a little warehouse full of old school goodies... JBL,Altec Cerwin Vega,McCaulley,RCF... " Just a few questions. Does no one use that stuff anymore? And if so, has tech moved on so much that this stuff is all obsolete? I remember thinking back at that time that most of this stuff sounded pretty darn good. I just haven't kept up with the tech and rarely listen to music anymore. The last concert I went to was the Eagles maybe 7 years ago. I think they were still using some of the same stuff. Sorry, just wondering. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 25 Registered: 7-2012 |
tubeperson, I remember those old Kustom cabs. Jeez they were ugly. And please don't take offense, but not well respected (at least by the people I worked with). Come to think of it I may have used some of their speaker cabs in a high school band back in the 60's. Oh man, that was way too long ago. And I still have one of those old Sony Walkmans from the late 70's or early 80's. It may still work. Loved that little bugger. Stuck the original speakers inside my motorcycle helmet and the Walkman inside my jacket pocket and took a motorcycle trip to TX, NM, CO, UT, ID and lots of other places. Mostly listening to Little Feat. Oh man, those were the days. | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 347 Registered: 5-2005 |
No offense taken, They were ugly and too large. Paid very little for it and gave it away. I was in high school when none of us really knew any better. Now I have Phil Jones with 5" Piranha's and 2 of the 4B extension cabinets. I also have an old 15" JBL DK-140 mounted in a custom made bass reflex cabinet. Just use it to move peoples bowels with. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3078 Registered: 6-2002 |
A very early forerunner perhaps? http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_oldest_dj_set_up_in_the_world_1910 | ||
| hammer
Intermediate Member Username: hammer Post Number: 196 Registered: 9-2009 |
Regarding Peter's comments about Klipshorns in a dorm room. That was me back in college. Couldn't afford the fancy cabs though. Mine were a much less expensive wood with no veneer that were painted flat black. Powered by a Crown amp they could have brought down the dorm. Alas, when I got married after graduating the wife said "NO" in a very emphatic fashion to having a family/living room dominated by two hunks of flat black cabinets. | ||
| mindido
Junior Username: mindido Post Number: 26 Registered: 7-2012 |
tubeperson, "high school" seems to be the operative word here. Barely knew what an amplifier or speaker was back then. and jazzyvee, Where in the world did you find that? And how cool is that? If I had someplace to put one that would be really cool to own. Thanks for finding that. Never knew anything like it existed. and hammer, What did you do, put your bed or desk on top of the speakers? I still can't imagine a pair of Klipschorns or LaScala's in a dorm. One of the first set of PA speakers I bought was a pair of Sunn's with two 15 in. woofers, a large wooden horn covered in vinyl and two small piezo tweeters all inside a single box. The cabinet was probably about 5 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft. Heavy as hell. I was living on a farm then and when we weren't playing I'd stick those in a room with a Crown or BGW, pre-amp and eq. Luckily, our nearest neighbor was about a half mile away. We would often, under various stages of sobriety, stick some music on, close the rooms door (as if that really made a difference) and just sit in the center of the room with the volume way up. I can't remember how many times I saw people come stumbling out of that room. Many seeming to moan incoherently. Ah, the good old days. | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 291 Registered: 2-2009 |
Ah, I still do that sometimes, paste people to the wall with my Hafler dh500 and the Hecos...sooo loud, but like being at the show without any other drunks! Tony |
