[cheesey]

So am I having once owned the 1+1s.  However, I have also decided that life is far to short not to take some chances and enjoy what is here today and tomorrow.

Talk to some of the Final electrostatic owners who got stuck when they went bankrupt after being unable to meet their warranty claims. Several of these companies are in Europe. I wouldn't want to have to ship these things back for service in any case. I wouldn't worry either about today or tomorrow, but a few years down the road, yeah. I suppose we all have different risk tolerance. I never was much of a gambler and don't suffer from upgrade-itis. I have been an early adopter enough times to learn that established tech is a better fit for me. Pioneers get the arrows...My Acoustat Spectra 6600's satisfy my itch just fine. Best wishes.

[Jeff_From_Michigan]

Mentions in the press with some pricing.  Stereophile & Mono and Stereo

Thanks, Jake! I realize that this information is a couple of years old, but it gives me a good idea of which ballpark we're in.  Much appreciated.

The prices don't seem outrageous at all if we're talking about SOTA sound.  The fact that they also look so good is a nice bonus.

[Rocket_Ronny]

I suppose we all have different risk tolerance. I never was much of a gambler.

From what I read, the designer has been repairing and modding electrostats for over 20 years and his repairs are still operational like your Acoustats. So it’s a proven design it looks like.

Back when Acoustat launched I was an early adopter with the model 3s, as were those who bought the spectras.

Rocket Ronny.

[Rocket_Ronny]

How is the image height?

Do you feel like you would like to raise them a foot or so?

I bet these image better than than the larger, wider, models.

Having the highs affected by large bass swings seems like a serious issue. Not happy to hear that.

Thanks

Rocket Ronny

[Housteau]

How is the image height?

Do you feel like you would like to raise them a foot or so?

I bet these image better than than the larger, wider, models.

Having the highs affected by large bass swings seems like a serious issue. Not happy to hear that.

Thanks

Rocket Ronny

"How is the image height?"
As a line source the image height is what I would call proportional and realistic.

"Do you feel like you would like to raise them a foot or so?"
My bass towers are 69" tall and my WR3s are 65".  So, a bit taller would be nice.  I have some thoughts on how to raise them.  The WR2s would have been a perfect match, but at twice the price.

"I bet these image better than than the larger, wider, models."
Yes. These are much closer to a point source when it comes to imaging.  Everything is proportional and true to life.  With some wider panel speakers it can seem like one is listening in the land of giants.

"Having the highs affected by large bass swings seems like a serious issue. Not happy to hear that."
No.  Not at all.  That ribbon tweeter in parallel on the larger models that have bass extension down to 30Hz and below, takes care of any potential losses.  Mine only extend to 35Hz, on paper, and so no aditional parallel tweeter is necessay.

[Rocket_Ronny]

No.  Not at all.

You had mentioned before that when low bass notes are played it may affect the highs. Maybe you are talking in theory and not about what your speakers are doing.  Can you elaborate?

I would love to see your idea of raising the speakers. I would raise them at least 1'.

Do you have any idea of how much power you are using to get them to be loud? Would 50 watts come close? I know, how does one answer a question like that, ha.

Anyway, fun talking about this stuff.

Rocket Ronny

[Housteau]

You had mentioned before that when low bass notes are played it may affect the highs. Maybe you are talking in theory and not about what your speakers are doing.  Can you elaborate?

I would love to see your idea of raising the speakers. I would raise them at least 1'.

Do you have any idea of how much power you are using to get them to be loud? Would 50 watts come close? I know, how does one answer a question like that, ha.

Anyway, fun talking about this stuff.

Rocket Ronny

Yes I did.  It is the physics of a panel speaker.  It takes high excursion to produce low bass.  On models that extend bass below 35Hz highs can be slightly rolled off by that panel.  To correct this those models have a ribbon tweeter in parallel above 7K.  So, those speakers have no loss of highs.  The panel itself may, but not the speaker as a whole.

I was thinking of extending my footers by having some extensions machined.

I know that the WR2s have run well on 25W tube power.  Mine are not quite as efficient at 88 dB.

[Housteau]

This is the current info for my room.  I do use the Theoretica Applied Physics BACCH and the ORC room correction systems.  As you can see, my impulse response is  near perfect and the frequency response is very good. 

It will look different to you if you have not seen actual in -ear measurements before, as opposed to the standard in-room measurements.  The odd looking chart above 2K is actually quite normal for binaural in ear measurements.  It reflects my own personal fingerprint due to my unique ear Pina.  Each of ours will look different.

I am currently rolling off the Popori WR3s at 57 Hz 48 dB.  The bass towers are taking over at 42 Hz 36 dB.  The gap is taken care of by natural room gain.

[Housteau]

I made extensions for the footers to bring them up to 68 inches, which now match my bass towers.

[Rocket_Ronny]

Hi Dave.

Thanks for this thread.

Can you share how things are working out now that the honeymoon is almost over?

The most transparent panel speaker I heard was the King Prince II, and are among the nicest looking speakers as well. Thing is with those is a power hungry diet needed, limited volume, and a suck out around 150 hz. as per Absolute sound and my ears. Have you ever heard the Kings and how is the transparency of the Pops compared to them? I would think in the same ball park and astonishing so.

I was wondering what light you are using to make the nice wall mood lighting?

You might want to check your mail inbox, ha.

Thanks again.

Rocket Ronny

[Housteau]

For some reason I don't get notified of Audio Circle messages.  My mood lighting comes form these.  They are hidden behind the plants.



I am not so sure that honeymoon is over.  I continue to keep learning things all the time.  Jason will be releasing a video of my WR3 installation in the near future.  He is still quite backlogged.  But I think there will be more of a push on the Popori since the Costa Mesa show.  Where the WR3s did really well taking one of the Best of Shows.

What they have over all other electrostats that I have been familiar with is the ability to play low frequencies at high SPLs with efficiency and no stress to the amplifier.  This is unique.  The main other advantage, which is very important to me, is their ability to image like a point source design true to scale.  Many other panel type speakers are more diffuse and can tent to stretch those images.

Their magic is that high quality electrostatic bass.  I do use bass towers, but I am rolling them in at 39Hz.  This is the current BACCH chart for my room.  These are actual in-ear binaural measurements as opposed to the typical in-room measurements.  For those not familiar with that difference that is why the upper frequency chart will look odd to you.  Also, the flat BACCH measurements in the lower frequencies basically equate to a more Harmon type curve in typical in-room graphs.

[Rocket_Ronny]

Thanks Dave.

The mood lights are a great addition. I have seen those lights before but they are hiding nicely behind your plants.

Did raising the speakers raise the height of the sound stage much? I would think so. Not so much the images per se, but the feeling of a taller venue.

Rocket Ronny

[Housteau]

The image height was already where I thought it should be, as well as the rest of the spacial presentation.  However, raising them up did improve upon all of that to a certain degree.  I suppose that line sources work best when they are allowed to be up to a certain ideal height.  The WR3s are the shortest of the group.  I basically brought them up to the height of the WR2s.  Maybe that is the minimum ideal?

[Rocket_Ronny]

I guess it depends on how close one sits in front of them as to the added height effect. If one is within 8' of the WR3s it should be fine. Going further away I can see adding height would improve things. Just my conjecture, ha, but I bet that is right. My guess is you are at least 9' away from them, thus the benefit.

Rocket Ronny

[Housteau]

I guess it depends on how close one sits in front of them as to the added height effect. If one is within 8' of the WR3s it should be fine. Going further away I can see adding height would improve things. Just my conjecture, ha, but I bet that is right. My guess is you are at least 9' away from them, thus the benefit.

Yes, at about 9 3/4 ft.

[UTLaw]

How protective are the grilles on these speakers?  Do the grilles only cover the front? I'm ready to upgrade from some Joseph Audio Perspective 2's, but I could see my cat trying to climb these things.  I don't have the luxury of a dedicated audio room.

I had some Sanders 10e's, and I definitely miss the sound of panels. Ready to get back into it.  Thanks!

[Housteau]

Yes.  There is pretty good protection all around.   I am out of town now but I will take some photos when I get back ni

[StandardModel]

I have the Popori WR-2's in a Bacch curated system with room correction.
The bass is good but the -3dB point i would say is 100Hz or higher.
This could be wrong as it's by ear without any measurement.
I see that a sub is used by some with Poporis -(Housteau).
I'm looking for a compatible sub to mesh with the Popori Electrostatics.
i've looked at GR Research's Open Baffle and the  Rythmik subwoofers.
I've also seen the Magnepan bass system.

i've heard none of them.

Any suggestions?

[Tyson]

I've heard them all and the GR Research servo OB subs are the way to go.  They are the only ones fast enough to keep up with thoroughbred speakers like this.

[StandardModel]

I'm not much of a woodworker. GR Research listed someone who could build and finish their kits but that person just closed up his shop permanently.
If I get one of the  finished Rythmik subwoofers will it be the same sound or does the GR Research open baffle design make all the difference?