Acoustic Reality Tetra Classic Speakers

Harmon · « **on:** 22 Apr 2003, 11:36 pm »

I have recently bought the Tetra Classic 3-way speakers and the Front Ear Preamp from Accoustic Reality. If these components are anywhere near the reference quality of the Ear one Mark 11 Amplifier I will be a very happy camper.

When these components arrive, after a month of burn-in, I will write a review.

KevinW · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:39 pm »

Good for you! I own an original pair of 2-way Tetras, and they are my reference for the classic 2-way scan-speak style sound. Great speakers, and I'm sure that the ones you bought even better. Peter is a great designer. Too bad he is an absolute boor of a human being.

I just checked out his website, to learn about these speakers, and see what his latest prices are... and I found this little gem:

"Only a complete moron plays Appogee Scintillas at 110dB into one ohm or half an ohm.
The Appogee Scintillas speaker is not designed for PA levels and our amp is not designed for PA use,
but are the very best high-end amplifiers you can buy to for example the difficult Martin Logan Prodigy loudspeakers.
We have a solution to the very difficult QUAD loudspeaker owners too, please ask.

Would any Appogee owners care to stand up and be counted as complete morons?

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 06:06 pm »

I wonder what would happen if you played a sine wave into the Apogee Scintillas at 110db?

OBF · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 08:31 pm »

So, out of curiosity, what amps COULD produce 110db into 1/2 an ohm? I know most couldn't, but are there a significant number that can do this without strain?

nathanm · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 09:06 pm »

Well, there's a lot of unknown variables in roop's claim of playing the speakers at 110db. Was that measured at exactly 1M from the speakers? At the listening positon? Peak or average level? A or C weighted? Is the room boosting the level? Well, whatever it was, it caused a catastrophic failure of the amp.

If you ask me, cranking the amp up loud should result only in subjectively negative effects such as distortion, dynamic compression etc. and not outright failure of the equipment to the extent that FLAMES shoot out the sides! I mean, not even a circuit breaker on that thing? What the heck? I don't think you should have to worry about burning your house down simply for cranking your speakers up a little too loud! Sheesh! Blowing the speakers I would even understand, but why should the amp incincerate itself?

Marbles · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 11:18 pm »

Quote from: OBF

So, out of curiosity, what amps COULD produce 110db into 1/2 an ohm? I know most couldn't, but are there a significant number that can do this without strain?

My SL Kraft mono 400's would have no problem with this........

doug s. · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Apr 2003, 02:28 am »

electrocompaniet amps could also handle apogee scintillas at 110db. all their amps are stable to <0.5 ohms - even the modest 60wpc aw60ftt's. and, they are rated at >60 amps current output... even tho i sold a pair of 'em in favor of a tubed mesa baron to drive my monitors, i still like the ec aw75dmb's i have driving my subs...

doug s.

cab · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Apr 2003, 04:19 am »

Spectron, another class d design, would have no trouble with outputing max power into 0.5 ohm. Been there.

Maybe AV-Reality should include a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher as an option with their pyrotechnical amps. Call it the "fireworks option"???