Stumbled upon some synergy

Mathew_M · « **on:** 16 Mar 2003, 04:54 am »

Since my amp blew up taking out my woofer on my speaker the other night I've been forced to compromise. Having just sold my Norh speakers (doesn't matter because with out an amp they're useless) I only had my 'low end' Swan multi-media speakers that until now I've never been fond of. Well wouldn't you know I plugged them into the output of my Audible Illusions pre and threw on some vinyl with my MMF 5 TT and I'm impressed. The Swans have a built in 35 watt amp so I just turned the AI all the way up and adjust the volume with the built in attenuator. They're still muddy in the bass but have really opened up and are really musical. I paid $200 for them. The rest of the system driving them cost me over $2000. The whole philosophy of spending most of your money on speakers is a bit flawed IMO. What good is it in having highly revealing speakers if your source, pre and amp are not up to snuff? Anyway I listened to several albums that were previously un-listenable all the way through so that's saying something.

Woodsea · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Mar 2003, 05:23 am »

Glad to read that the swans sound nice.
Now regarding the 'flawed' philosophy, I find that electronics are a much tougher butterfly to catch because it is continuously morphing into the pupae and evolving hence again. Where as a great set of speakers can flit from component to component for years to come, until synergy or topple from a pedestal.
That was my reasoning, may be a flawed philosophy but for my budget it made the most sense.

audioengr · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Mar 2003, 05:42 am »

I was very impressed with the large Swans speakers at CES this year. They and the Dali speakers were my favorites.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Mar 2003, 05:01 pm »

To add a bit more: I shouldn't say that the swans sound muddy just more veiled. Muddy and veiled are not the same thing. The bass on these things is actually quite punchy but sounds a bit like it's thumping behind a sheet of cardboard. I'm wondering if it's the speaker itself or the amp causing this veiled sound. They're joined at the hip so I'll never know. Either way they're no permanent replacement (my vmps cost too much to even think about replacing right now). I think what's annoying me is how high maintainance a speaker such as the vmps ribbons are. The need the high octane fuel and components to drive them to their fullest....and so do the swans apparently. It's just rather re-assuring when I can sit back and listen to music knowing that I'm hearing the best the speakers are capable of. You could say that with the swans I've reached audio nirvana so to speak.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Mar 2003, 06:32 pm »

Matthew,

Just about anything high performance is high maintenance.

In my younger days I owned a Detroit hot rod, a 1971 Dodge Super Bee with a 383 magnum and a Holley 650 dual feed, double pumper. It could pass anything but a gas station

I got really tired of all the maintenance required to keep it in good shape and running at it's peak. I sold it and bought a Jeep.

If you really think about all other hobbies deep end gear, it all requires a lot of effort. Firearms, automobiles, boats, and what about women

I sure Marbles could add a few comments along those lines.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Mar 2003, 07:26 pm »

Don't know a whole lot about boats or cars (been driving the same vw fox since high school, she just won't break down on me). Women on the other hand I think we can all agree on. I haven't met one who didn't suffer from constant break downs and high maintenance. The funny and sorta ironic thing is that they're never trully happy unless they're living on the outskirts of the eye of the hurricane. They need the stability but want the excitement. They also suffer from constant upgraditis (nicer shoes, bigger house, stronger more exciting man). Maybe we're more alike in this respect than we men care to admit but that's a pandora's box of quandries that's best left closed.

audioengr · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Mar 2003, 01:19 am »

Mathew wrote:

Quote

The bass on these things is actually quite punchy but sounds a bit like it's thumping behind a sheet of cardboard.

I have found that this is often the fault of the amplifier more than the speaker. I have 1kW/channel monoblocks now and the bass is finally sounding tight on my KEF references.