Sa-dono wroteWell now I'm just going to expect the world from these speakers John Okay..not really...I am highly interested in hearing the 626R's..but mainly hearing the new tweeter. Oh..and what do you think of the finish? Supposedly Brian started using a new cabinet builder..
Hope I'm not spreading it on too thick, but I am very impressed.
And Sa-dono it might be just the "newness" taint that you get when you change a component and you hear things differently, but I think if you sit in the "sweet seat" you will get a very good ride.
I'll be interested to hear what you and Mad Dog hear, since you both have had much time with the Ref Ones.
I also don't want anyone to think these are in the same "overall" performance category as the RM40s,... but they do have all the great characteristics I love about the 40s "and" they do surprising things for their size.
There are things about this speaker that surprised even me. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to spend "real sweet spot time" with the FST.
As Brian says, it is a remarkable tweeter. Although I have heard it, this is the first time I have "really" heard it. I mean who would have figured that since I like the RM40s I'd like this one too... DUH
The other surprise was the bass. Again, I don't want anyone to think that they will hear 20Hz at "gut punching" high volumes. I won't happen, But...When listening to music that has much quality Bass information, Like the bass lines in Diana Krall's CDs, or the Fat Disco Bass that provides the opening foundation to Madonna's VOGUE, it is really there. I mean it is not shy at all.
It is full and solid, deep and tight enough for most music. (Well maybe not rap)
Another pleasant discovery was the nearfield "low level" balance of sound. Since I live in a condo with neighbors, I can't always "crank" it up like I would prefer with my RM40s.
I have the 626Rs sitting in front of the RM40s and this places them about 6 feet away. It also spaces them rather wide. After I performed my convergence set up, I had locked, highly defined and detailed center image, at a rather low listening level and the depth and width of soundstage was huge.
Add to this, that the "balance" of highs/mids/bass was also very good at low level/nearfield. No "thin spots" in the music. It was like wearing headphones, but with directional cues.
This for a condo or apartment owner is great.
Now I haven't fully explored the other end of the spectrum (as in VERY LOUD) but I did get to "turn it up a notch" earlier today and there was absolutley no strain or grain, period.
I have a BASS track of SOLO BASS guitar that will literally blow everyone away. The 626Rs ate it for lunch, with all the clean, dry, detailed etiquette, I have come to expect after hearing it a hundred times on the RM40s.
Wowwy Zowwy
This is fun stuff. My ears are getting a real workout lately, what with playing with the tweak for the floorstanders and breaking out these 626R beauties.
Oh and Ryan ask about the cabinetry. Hmmm. Well to me they look great. They look like real wood and not plastic and they match my Cherry Flambe RM40s and LRC exactly.
The fit and finish is consistant with that. To me they look bold and real and not overly processed, if that makes sense. To me, however while important, fit and finish are at the bottom of the list in considering a speaker.
Many speakers sell well because of their cabinetry and look. I go for performance first and nice looks are just icing on the cake.
Oh and one parting shot. They are much bigger than I remember. These are very substantial speakers. They are hefty and beefy. They weigh much more than many of the mass marketed floorstanders.
Ok, enough VMPS "trash talkin" already.
I can most likely make it the weekend that Mad Dog mentioned (May 24?) for at least a couple hours. I certainly want to hear the Druids and I want to hear the Ref Ones again compared to these 626Rs.
And hopefully by that time I'll have these "well broken in"
Sheesh...
I haven't even touched, tuned, or looked at the pots yet. I can't tear myself away from the "front" of the speaker
All the best,
Count me in.
