I recieved the Aperiodic 8s today(the official name on Louis's website). At 9:00am I found out, per FedEx tracking website, that the FedEx truck had left for local delivery. After an anxious day the FedEx guy finally showed up at 4:20pm.
As I helped the guy up the stairs with the box to my 2nd floor apt, I noticed a gash measuring 3"X4" extending an inch into the insulation. Hmmmm. Opening the box, I noticed the care with which they had been packed. An inspection of the grills revealed the detail that went into their construction. The individually bagged cabinets were gorgeous! I had chosen a black laminate finish and with the grills on looked quite handsome.
Time for some listening. I hooked the 8s up to my Kenwood KMX1000 monoblocks with 39" of DNM speaker cable Louis was kind enough to include. Using a Pioneer DV578A run through a Creek OBH12 passive attenuator the cut I always start with is 'Giving Him Something He Can Feel'from En Vogue Funky Divas. This cut starts with a kick drum and then an electric bass. The kick should have a thump with no overhang or doubling, and I was not disappointed, but after 2 seconds one speaker stopped working. A check of connections revealed nothing amiss. I turned up the volume and the speaker kicked in again. I played half the cut and the speaker stopped again. After checking all connections again, nothing I tried would make it work. I called Louis to get a course of action. We decided that I should unscrew the mounting screws to check the connections internally. This gave me an excuse to see the inside of the cabinet.
The inside looked just as good as the outside. The connections seemed fine. I screwed the driver back on and hooked it up, still nothing. I switched amps, same result. I dismounted the driver again and hooked it up directly to the amp and no sound. Meanwhile the other speaker was sounding mighty fine! I called Louis again and gave him the bad news. I will send him the bad driver and he will send a replacement. He sounded more bummed than me! Obviously the gash on the box was evidence of a fall which must have shakens something loose. Shit happens.
Back to listening in glorious one channel of stereo to 'From the Cradle', Eric Clapton. This is a live all digital recording and the detail is astounding . The vocals are so smooth and present. Each insturment is clearly discernable in the mix. This speaker is like a Zeiss lens in its resolution. I figure'Hey, I've only got one speaker, why NOT listen in mono!' I pull out the 1952 Arturo Tocsanini and the NBC Orchestra 'Beethovens Fifth'. I am intimately familiar with this recording as I listened to this on a 78 record, as a small boy growing up, on my father's console. What makes music so appealing, like an aroma from the past that you never forget, is an emotional attachment to a different place and time. I'm not ashamed to admit getting a little misty as I cranked this up and experienced the same chills at the meastro's interpretation of this piece. Needless to say I've never heard it better and even on this dated recording the Aperiodic 8 was able to resolve and convey the genious of Toscanini. Enough for now.
