New Apollo's Coming!!

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 13370 times.

dodgealum

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 141
New Apollo's Coming!!
« on: 13 Jun 2018, 10:02 pm »
The visit to Ferndale in October did me in! I just couldn't get the "sound" of the 10" driver out of my head. Or the way the speakers just disappeared and made such beautiful music. Or the tour of Lou's workshop which yielded a deeper understanding of his craft and the love and care that goes into each and every pair of speakers he builds. Or maybe it was the salmon fresh from the wilds of Washington State. In any case, it all drove me mad and I sold my beloved DA-1.1s with their beautiful quartersawn oak cabinets and all Lou's juicy upgrades. The only consolation was they went to a local audiophile, great guy and fellow music lover who will enjoy them as much as I have over the years. Well, there is one other consolation--new APOLLO's are on order and I'm guessing they are going to melt my heart! Can't wait!!!

A_shah

Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #1 on: 14 Jun 2018, 06:50 am »
The visit to Ferndale in October did me in! I just couldn't get the "sound" of the 10" driver out of my head. Or the way the speakers just disappeared and made such beautiful music. Or the tour of Lou's workshop which yielded a deeper understanding of his craft and the love and care that goes into each and every pair of speakers he builds. Or maybe it was the salmon fresh from the wilds of Washington State. In any case, it all drove me mad and I sold my beloved DA-1.1s with their beautiful quartersawn oak cabinets and all Lou's juicy upgrades. The only consolation was they went to a local audiophile, great guy and fellow music lover who will enjoy them as much as I have over the years. Well, there is one other consolation--new APOLLO's are on order and I'm guessing they are going to melt my heart! Can't wait!!!



Congratulations ! I took the Poseidon , although I may eventually get the new tweeters and compressions rings if I can get the energy & guts  to repack them and send them to Lou, but honestly I am very happy with organic sound as  to me the Silhouette (WAF) and the faster high excursion 8" woofers were just fine , Of course the Apollo 11 with the new tweeters and 10 " woofer  are in a different league ! Are you going to be using the LTA ultra Linear with the these ? :thumb: :popcorn:
Asghar

mresseguie

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 4697
  • SW1X DAC+ D Sachs 300b + Daedalus Apollos = Heaven
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #2 on: 14 Jun 2018, 06:57 am »
It makes ya wonder if Lou slips some sort of concoction into the food or beverages that compels all who visit to desperately want a pair of his speakers.  :lol:

OTOH it’s possible that they all sound fantastic and all who hear them fall in love with the sound.  :thumb:

Enjoy!

Michael

P. S. It’s high time I changed my profile picture to my speakers.

dodgealum

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 141
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #3 on: 14 Jun 2018, 05:26 pm »
Saying goodbye to some good friends of mine!



cheech

Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #4 on: 14 Jun 2018, 07:58 pm »
"Of course the Apollo 11 with the new tweeters and 10 " woofer  are in a different league ! "

Asghar, can you expand upon your comment vis a vis the Poseidon's?  I have the Argos V2 and have been curious about how the Apollos differ soundwise. Txs

ArthurDent

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 15326
  • Don't Panic / Mostly Harmless
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #5 on: 14 Jun 2018, 10:18 pm »
Congrats on the acquisition, condolences on the exit of your good old friends. The Apollo's hadn't been spawned by the speaker gods when I got my Muse, but no doubt will be worthy successors.

It makes ya wonder if Lou slips some sort of concoction into the food or beverages that compels all who visit to desperately want a pair of his speakers.  :lol:

OTOH it’s possible that they all sound fantastic and all who hear them fall in love with the sound.  :thumb:

Enjoy!

Nah, we didn't have any food or bevs. I think it's the irresistible sales pitch Nico gives.   :wink: Or more likely your OTOH thought.  8)

ketcham

  • Industry Participant
  • Posts: 285
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #6 on: 15 Jun 2018, 01:04 am »
I have seen many Apollo and A-11's mentioned but not a single Zeus.   :popcorn:

Daedalus Audio

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 974
    • http://www.daedalusaudio.com
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #7 on: 15 Jun 2018, 02:51 am »
I have seen many Apollo and A-11's mentioned but not a single Zeus.   :popcorn:

I'm sure people will be anxious for your report!  Building now and the wood is astounding! Vibrant color in the Claro walnut and tons of figure and depth in the baked maple.

Drew769

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 66
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #8 on: 15 Jun 2018, 05:58 am »
I figured I would jump in and say “hi” as the new owner of Dodgealum’s beloved DA-1.2 v2’s.

The upgrade path can be a dangerous and slippery slope.  I happened upon a Modwright LS100 preamp from a mention from a fellow Steve Hoffman forum member that owned very similar (mostly Rogue Audio) equipment.  I had inadvertently convinced him to try out a Tavish Adagio phono stage after reviewing that unit against my Rogue Ares.  He returned the favor by putting the Modwright bug in my ear.  A half a year later, I decided to give a MW power amp a try.  Dodgealum was selling his KWA 150SE, and he’s local, so I stopped in for a listen before ultimately buying it from him.  The MW was impressive, but I was kind of fascinated with his speakers.  I had never seen a pair of Daedalus speakers before, let alone heard them.  I had heard OF them, though, from all of the Audio show reviews of MW, Wywires and Daedalus gear.

I was (actually, still am) a big fan of Vandersteen speakers.  Like many, I started with a pair of Model 2’s - the Honda Accord of high end speakers, essentially.  They throw a holographic image like almost no other two channel system can.  I loved them for many years, but after visiting high end shows and showrooms, I longed for a more detailed, more detailed, less polite sound.  A jump to the Treos provided a huge jump in presence.  The image went from in or behind the speakers to in front of the speaker.  They are exceptional late night speakers, delivering hi res detail at the lowest volumes.  I started to notice them to be a little too forward, however, the more so listened to them - especially with the MW gear.  Perhaps the MW /Treo mix was just a little too aggressive.  I think the tubes matched better with them.  Nevertheless, I had set forth on my latest upgrade path to accomplish a smoother, less fatiguing sound, and ended up changing everything except my beloved Vandys.  It dawned on me finally that I probably was overlooking the real issue.

Lou’s speakers had struck me before as natural and acoustic, with a surprising amount of pace and detail for a hardwood speaker.  Listening to them again, this time to audition the speakers themselves, I was really impressed with the speed and impact of the sound.  I had thought that perhaps I would be trading PRAT for smoothness, and that it was a necessary compromise.  I couldn’t be more wrong, though.  I actually hear new details - shocking backgrounds, soaring strings that have a roundness that was a bit more square before.  Instruments sound like instruments.  Not that they were bad before, but I’m very impressed with the differences I’m noticing already.

The Vandys seem like an early plasma 1080P tv, where the details were perhaps so clear and exaggerated that it sometimes ruined the image.  Like when you’d see lint on a weatherman’s blazer, or you’d be watching a baseball game and find yourself focusing on someone in the crowd putting ketchup on his hot dog.  It’s not the detail itself that you really want- it’s the quality of that detail.  It is an accomplishment for a system to be able to dig out every nugget of detail from a recording, but it’s even more special when those details sound real and become music.  I’m hearing music now, and with no fatigue.

So here are the speakers in their new home.  My guess is that will not be my last pair, but I will be enjoying these for a while!






dodgealum

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 141
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #9 on: 15 Jun 2018, 07:12 pm »
Drew--they look so happy (and beautiful) in your room. I'm glad you are enjoying them and can't wait to swing by for a listen. Got no speakers now so having some withdrawal symptoms!!  :duh:

Paret

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 108
  • Keller, TX
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #10 on: 15 Jun 2018, 07:27 pm »
This is way too intense.

I want to sit in that room and play some records!

Where are you guys? Can I come over?

 :thumb:

Please.............

From Texas.

Luis D. Paret
Keller, TX

A_shah

Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #11 on: 15 Jun 2018, 07:31 pm »
@Drew769,
very nicely written , the speakers and system look like match made in heaven  :D :thumb:
enjoy them
Asghar

audiotom

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 648
  • Ground control to Major Tom
    • for everything music
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #12 on: 16 Jun 2018, 04:05 am »
Drew--they look so happy (and beautiful) in your room. I'm glad you are enjoying them and can't wait to swing by for a listen. Got no speakers now so having some withdrawal symptoms!!  :duh:

Those Apollos will be in your room soon enough

Drew769

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 66
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #13 on: 16 Jun 2018, 12:56 pm »
Drew--they look so happy (and beautiful) in your room. I'm glad you are enjoying them and can't wait to swing by for a listen. Got no speakers now so having some withdrawal symptoms!!  :duh:

Hey Mark, visits are always welcome!  I’ll even supply the beer.  Congrats on the new incoming Apollos!  Any details on the finish you chose for them?

Jarbs

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 50
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #14 on: 18 Jun 2018, 12:26 am »
Dodgealum,
Congratulations as well on the Apollo order. I’ll be watching for your illuminating comments when they arrive. Will you be using the Ultralinear amps with these? I thought this was a special pairing at Axpona, assuming the Apollo’s and the 11’s are pretty similar.
I went with the 11’s because Lou said they would be a better match for my large room (I’m tuckia08 on another forum). Just ordered the new Microzotl preamp yesterday so I’ll have half of the show setup when everything arrives.
I didn’t have the opportunity to visit Lou at his shop, so I can’t say anything about lacing drinks with concoctions, but all he did was say “magic 10 inch woofers” twice and it put me in a hypnotic trance. Just saying...
Greg

dodgealum

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 141
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #15 on: 18 Jun 2018, 01:20 pm »
Greg:

Congrats to you as well on the A-11s. I heard them in October at Lou's shop and they were the speakers that put me in a trance! He didn't have a pair of Apollo's set up at the time but my room is smallish (13X17X8) and my listening position is pretty close in (I'm about 9 feet away from the baffle) so Lou's guidance was for the clustered driver array and smaller design. I can't wait to hear them! I'll be pairing them with the LTA Ultralinear (I've got one operating in stereo now but will be adding another for monoblocks shortly). The little LTA really sings like crazy with Lou's designs!! Would love to hear your impressions of the LTA Microzotl preamp. Please let us know when your A-11s arrive and post some pics!!! :thumb:

vinyl_lady

Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #16 on: 9 Jul 2018, 06:28 pm »
My new Apollo 11s arrived on Friday July 6 and after listening to a couple of records, I put CDs on repeat to break/burn them in. They have about 68 hours on them as I type this. I really like what I am hearing and they mate well with my BOWs. The 11s are magical.










cheech

Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #17 on: 9 Jul 2018, 07:34 pm »
Glad you are enjoying them and know they will sound even better as you get more burn-in time on them. Look beautiful as well

ArthurDent

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 15326
  • Don't Panic / Mostly Harmless
Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #18 on: 9 Jul 2018, 11:36 pm »
Congrats v_l ! A most worthy addition to your system I'm sure. Will have to get over for a visit sooner, rather than later. Been too long.  :thumb:

vinyl_lady

Re: New Apollo's Coming!!
« Reply #19 on: 10 Jul 2018, 12:18 am »
JD,

I agree. Would love to have you visit.

BTW, the 11s are cherry.