[tianguis]

All:
     I haven't posted about my very modest T-Amp project in a while as I've been messing about with other stuff: dedicated line, gainclone, PC's, receptacles, plugs, all to very good effect. So, after a few weeks away from the T, I rewired it with Chris VH silver-in-cotton from the inputs to the Alps pot and added a heatsink to the chip. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much as I thought things were sounding great. At any rate, hooked it up tonight and did some comparisons.
      I've been auditioning a Don Garber Fi-X 2A3, as well as my modded Panny XR50 and a Berning microZOTL (Lowther ML TL's). Frankly, except for the lack of bass, there's no comparison: faster, greater clarity, lusher mids, better imaging and seperation, great top end (compared to all of them).
      MY SMD skills are non-existent or I'd be incorporating some of the mods which have been posted here. Guess I gotta bite the bullet and get a Clari-T.

Regards,
Larry Welsh

[Dmason]

Long time no hear, Larry!

All I can tell you is it gets better and better. Best T amp around.

That's why I have opted for the More Of Everything program. Vinnie will post about this totally decadent chocolate bundt cake of an integrated amplifier/source very soon, I assume, because it is on its way. Take the plunge on the ClariT, --->fellow musician, and pull out your Beethoven Symphonies, to hear for the first time, again. You will never have heard strings like this. Makes me want to quit my job. I stay up too late listening. Relationships and activities suffer. A rediscovery of recorded music.

[tianguis]

Dan:
       Good to hear from you. I've followed the "More of Everything" posts. Looks like a killer. Is it the one on Vinnie's site? I just heard from Vinnie that he can ship one the middle of next week. Should I, should I, shouldI? No reply necessary.

Larry

[Panelhead]

It is not nearly as tough as it looks. I have done several boards without killing any.
  For removal of existing parts I use soldering braid. Just lay it on and hold the iron to it. The parts come right off. Then tin the ends of the new part and and hold with small tweezers. The iron usually melt the solder at both ends. But alway touch both to be sure.
  My first SM project was 8 pin opamps. They are much tougher to do  than these passives.
  My Lowthers love the 2024 also. The sound really shows how colored most amplifiers are.
  I used only tube amps for 10 years on Lowthers. Thought anyone that used solid state with Lowthers needed a hearing aid.
  Then a built a Pass Zen, an Aleph, and finally a Hirega. All three were better overall than the tube amps.
  Hope to surpass the Hirega on my next SI amp project.

                            George

[Dmason]

Panelhead, Larry,

Do you guys use series resistance with a TA2024 and the Lowthers? Perish the thought I know, but I am wondering about the rising FR...and the grip on drivers T chips exert. Comments?

[tianguis]

Dan:
      Heresy! Yup, but the Lowthers were unlistenable until I built Martin King's adjustable BSC networks. Works for me. Slight loss of efficiency but one watt still gives me ~93 dB SPL.

Larry

[Dmason]

Heresy indeed, but physics trumps religion...even today...

and digital EQ doesnt [can't] always trump impedance peaks either.  

It may be a necessary evil, with certain drivers, unfortunately, a conclusion I am coming to. Oh what oh what resistors to use?

[Panelhead]

Panelhead, Larry,

Do you guys use series resistance with a TA2024 and the Lowthers? Perish the thought I know, but I am wondering about the rising FR...and the grip on drivers T chips exert. Comments?

  The drivers do not really have a rising FR. The impedance rises, I imagine all single drivers suffer from the inductance of the big voice coils. The large number of turns makes for a good ferrite cored inductor.
  I have redone the output filter in my SI amps. Never used the stock 0.15 ufd cap strapped from output to output. Copied the EB board filter, just changed the values for 15 ohm speakers.
  Most of the issues people have with Lowthers are either rear wave sound reflecting back through the driver, or amps not handling the constantly rising impedance. A transformer coupled tube amp can have real problems when the speakers are 35 - 40 ohms at 15K Hz. The relflected impedance stangles the output tubes.
  This is what the resistors people sometimes strap across the drivers do, linearize the impedance.
  But I have never felt the need for these bandaids, all mine have measured real flat above a couple hundred hertz. But the low end is another beast. My first project started rolling off at 100 Hz. I now have it down to below 50 Hz.

                             George

[miklorsmith]

For my Fostex project speakers that had an annoying peak from 1 to 4 khz, I am using a single, 8-ohm, non-inductive resistor hooked to the positive driver terminal.  Couldn't be simpler and works a charm!

The tip I received said 4 or 5 ohms optimal but my schedule's been very busy and I haven't swapped 'em out.  End effect is efficiency maintained and peakiness tamed adequately.  Overall tonality unaffected.

Still don't touch the Druids though.

[Dmason]

Panelhead,

That is a good way to go. I was referring to another driver actually, but one who's FR is almost identical to the PM6A, but without the impedance issue, such as it is with the Lowthers. Even with EQ, something's wrong, or at least not "quite" right. Time to take out pen and napkin.

Mike,

I read somewhere that there is a review of the Druids forthcoming. You should pop that big black thing out and tell us more.

[miklorsmith]

6moons is planning a review of the Druids.  I sent Srajan an e-mail and he has ordered a pair and they may be arriving any day.  I told him to make sure he had a Clari-T on hand and he said he would try to time things such that he had both at the same time.

Don't know what more to tell about the Druids.  They are the best speakers I've ever heard.  On metal and dance music, they sound like the 1000 wpc system I had in college.  On Norah Jones they make me weep.  At volume I feel the kick drum or double bass in my chest.  When whispering, everything comes through without highlight or recess.

They will track the most complex classical music with utter precision.  I have yet to hear Anything that ruffles their impeccable feathers.  When I listen, I don't hear a speaker, but a conduit to the recording.  I often stare at them in disbelief when they are playing.

Caviats?  I've only heard them in my system in my giant room.  They are very revealing of noisy equipment (as any 101 db speaker would be).  They are 4 feet tall and baaaad looking.  Benefit or detriment?

All that being said, I'm just one guy.  I know for a fact that another AC guy has ordered them and will be reporting soon.  I've had another fellow over and he literally ordered them the next day.  You'll also have the 6moons review before too long.  Wait till they weigh in so y'all have other opinions.  I'd hate to be responsible for a bummer buy.

[RonD2]

Hard to believe that there are three Lowther users in the same thread!  It must say something about the T-Lowther synergy.

Dan, I don't use any series resistance. I completely agree with Panelhead that internal reflections are a major impediment to great Lowther sound in back horns.  My speakers sounded good until I lined the flat surfaces behind the driver with deflex.  That has made them sound great.  Mine are 8 ohm PM2As.  Awesome presence.  Female vocals are to die for.

I haven't been able to pull myself away from the system for weeks to post.  My "upgraded" Clari-T has pushed it way over the top.  The BG caps, DH Labs silver wiring, stepped atten, etc. have had over a month of hard use and I couldn't be happier.  I just can't believe how good it sounds.

Ron

P.S.  Thanks to the other posters in this thread for many, many interesting and informative posts from this dyed-in-the-wool lurker.

[tianguis]

RonD2:
       Don't lurk! We all benefit from shared input. Thanks for the details.

Regards,
Larry Welsh

[Dmason]

Yes, dont lurk. Lark.  

So, is there a suggestion as to which brand of series resistors are most musical and least intrusive?  I guess I will not be able to EQ my way out of my problem. I want to pull back 6db to try ~6KHz. Any takers?

At any rate, the ClariT sounds its very best in my experience, with 8 inch wide range speakers of outstanding quality. The enormous sound field thrown up, and that holographic .....thing.... that it does can make the walls melt into non-existence on some good tracks. No doubt others have experienced this; where the whole orchestra stops on a dime and you get this high calorie reverb tail just hanging there, the venue suddenly apparent to you in the dark. One hell of an illusion. Then again maybe I am hallucinating. Aurally. Zzzzzzsssss

[miklorsmith]

Prose and music.  And beer.  Friday night and I'm on the computer.  I used to be cool.  Oh well.

If you can find a least-worst resistor, I'm all ears.  There are limits to my research insanity.  I've got RadioShark 8-ohms in the speaks now and Mills 4 and 5's waiting in the wings, a la Parts Express.  Lemme at 'em, I'll splatt 'em!

I tried the eq. route, though not Behringer.  Despite the clamoring praise of these, I note the clamor-ers tend to like large stacks of equipment and have posts relating to cooling of same.  Not really where I'm at.  I found the "equalizing" more like "euthanizing".  If I wanted to sleep, I'd buy my old system back.

I'm with ya, doc.  The starting and stopping immediacy is beyond description and reproach.  I sent some hi-eff waves over at Audiogon today and you never know where their heads are at.  Gotta keep spreading the know though.  Staying with random weekend thought, when was the last time you listened to Paul Simon's "Rhythm of the Saints"?  The Paradigm lifts this album to my Glenmorangie shelf.

I literally can't stand music made the old way anymore.  Is this good?  I was happy.  Am I happier now?  I think so, but now everyone else's system sounds like s#!t.  Since I listen to mine almost all the time, I'll declare that I've won.  Gotta win something.  The house I bid on Tuesday morning was taken off the market with buyers declaring stupidity.  Bitter pill for me and spouse but life marches on.

If you can get more random than that, I'm definitely all ears.

[guest1632]

6moons is planning a review of the Druids.  I sent Srajan an e-mail and he has ordered a pair and they may be arriving any day.  I told him to make sure he had a Clari-T on hand and he said he would try to time things such that he had both at the same time.

Don't know what more to tell about the Druids.  They are the best speakers I've ever heard.  On metal and dance music, they sound like
Sorry to ask, what are these "Druids" speakers? How much, and where can I get them? Thanks.

Ray the 1000 wpc system I had in college.  On Norah Jones they make me weep.  At volume I feel the kick drum or double b ...

[miklorsmith]

http://www.zucable.com/druid/index.html

They're still improving too.  The $2,800 price is stout, but they'll throw in a pair of their top-line speaker cables that retail for $1,100 in the deal.

luv'em'luv'ev'luv'em

I hope it's not just kismet with my system.  I'm gonna look the fool if it is.

[Brad]

What cables are they "throwing in" with the Druids?

[miklorsmith]

8-foot Ibis or equivalent.  I got 17-feet of the model immediately below, which Sean told me would be almost indistinguishable.

They'll work you a deal.  Shipping is paid your way at that price, no crating charge, no return fee.  What are you waiting for?