OK, I think its been long enough that I can offer a review on Dannys new OB. I’m not very good at this sort of thing so I hope your not too disappointed. I will try to give you the best description I can.
First thing I should do is let you know what kind of equipment I am using. I wanted to experiment with tube gear but I didn’t want to jump in and spend a lot of money, so I started with a dual monoblocks from
Grant Fidelity out of Calgary Canada, they were discontinuing the A-88 and I could pick one up for
About $1000, if your curious look it up here
http://grantfidelity.com/site/A-88+KT88+Tube+AmplifierAnd yes I know it is a re-badged Yaqin.
For source I am using a Raysonic 128cd player, I use this in my current system and am very happy with it.
Xlo speaker cables and MIT interconnects.
As you can see a rather low cost set up.
I have over 60 hrs on the speakers now and have listened to almost every type of music except Rap and Country. I should also mention that the amp is new so I think it will need more time to come into its own
And the room that the Obs are in (for now) couldn’t be worse, cathedral ceilings, hard wood floors and absolutely no treatments.
I have built other DIY speaker kits and I know that you have to give them time for the drivers to wear in and that there is time needed for x-over parts, new electronics in servo sub amps, etc to burn in. This is why I thought 100hrs would be a good starting point, but I think I can give you a fair accounting after 60.
One other thing you should know is this is the first point source I have had in about 2 yrs, my current speakers are line source or line arrays, all use ribbons, I have never owned an OB before.
I have moved these around, change toe in angles, tilt angles, been to the open baffle forums and ask for advice. In MY bad room I have found that the best set up is…..Listener 8’ away from each speaker, speakers about 7’ apart, toe in about 1 ½” and a bout 3/8” tilt up…remember that I built this box with a square bottom and I believe that the plans call for a slope to tilt the speaker up. I am sure when I get these into a proper room this summer these measurements will change…..maybe.
When I first started music through these it was like all the other builds I have done, nothing spectacular.
I knew it would take time for them to burn in a little and for me to get them set properly. I listened faithfully
every night after work and I think it was about 20 hrs that things started to open up. The more I listened the larger the soundstage was getting, the imaging was poor but I thought maybe that was because I was use to my arrays, they image beautifully. But after another 20 hrs or so it started to come, and I can say now at the 60 hr mark these image as well or better than any point source I’ve heard, and the soundstage is huge. They are starting to rival my arrays, and like I said in the room they are in right now that is quite a statement.
The highs are quite elegant, something I was concerned about with the dome tweeters. They are clear and very airy, Trumpets and sax sounds very realistic and exceptionally clean. Piano and female vocals are a joy to listen to and I have not been fatigued once in the last 60hrs, and there have been some long sessions. The mids are full and very natural sounding, classical guitar is excellent, I have played guitar for over 30 yrs and know what acoustic sounds like. If you like jazz, or older music like dire straights or super tramp that incorporates piano, sax or other woodwinds with clean sharp electric guitar, this is for you.
I have left the servo subs for last. I can honestly say that this is the best bass I have ever heard. Everything you have read on these is accurate. They sound fantastic, you can have them pounding and they don’t load the room at all. Drums sound incredible, bass guitar so nice and clean, they go so low yet nothing on the walls rattle…..I tried….I cant describe them properly….I never would of imagined.
As I said I am not much good at this review thing. If you have any questions ask, I will try to answer them.
I can tell you this, a few years ago I paid about $2500 for a pair of speakers that I thought were alright
It wasn’t until I started down the DIY road that I realized just how much value you get for your dollar.
These at under $2000 have got to be the deal of the century, high sensitivity, clarity, excellent soundstage and imaging, and the tightest, fastest bass I have ever heard……
Perry
