My Timepiece 2.1 Odyssey (aka I Hate Audio Trips)

Double Ugly · « **on:** 14 May 2006, 03:29 pm »

I've owned a pair of SP Technology Timepiece 2.0s for the past 2-1/2 years, and I've been very pleased with their performance. However, the tweeter in the first generation MRS could be somewhat shouty at times, and I spent the first year or so evaluating components, cables, etc. that would mitigate the occasional harshness without negatively affecting the openness and realness of the Timepieces' presentation. I began talking to Bob about getting a new pair of speakers soon after word broke that he'd gone to a newer, better tweeter and improved crossover. After much thought and deliberation, we ordered a pair of Revelations and a pair of Timepiece 2.1s.

Now to the meat of the post -

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when my 2.1s arrived last week. The SP Tech crew did an excellent job packing the speakers (pics will eventually follow), and the speakers themselves are very cool looking in our (mine and my wife's) opinion.

However, despite assurances they would take only a few short hours to break in, I've been on a rollercoaster ride.

*HUGE* if...some of the issues I hear are system/cable related vs. normal speaker break-in, I think most can be traced back to trying to tame the old tweeter. Now that it's no longer necessary, I may have to replace a few pieces and parts to optimize the system for the new speakers.

But for now, I'm at a standstill. I don't know if the minor issues I'm hearing are related to the speaker, the cabling, or if the presentation of my favorite recordings is going to be that much different through the 2.1s. I have a baseline reference for what they should sound like, but that reference may or may not reflect reality…it's just what I know. I need time now...time to sort it all out.

But I hasten to say again...the sound I'm getting now is fabulous, and would satisfy the vast majority of listeners IMHO. If nothing were to change or improve from this point forward, few could find much fault with the current presentation. However, my perfectionist nature won't leave well enough alone, and I *will* do everything I can to optimize my system to match to excellence of the speakers.

More to follow...

DeadFish · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 May 2006, 05:04 pm »

Interesting read, Jim!
Looking forward to your ongoing updates (nudge!) as your system matures into itself.
Sounds like a grand adventure at your place.

And it just don't stop!

Best regards,
DeadFish

(p.s. - did you ever get that Ryko 'Fragile' yet? I definitely found it 'superior'.)

Double Ugly · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 May 2006, 06:19 pm »

Quote from: DeadFish

Interesting read, Jim!
Looking forward to your ongoing updates (nudge!) as your system matures into itself.
Sounds like a grand adventure at your place.

Thanks, Bill. I'm glad someone thinks it's a "grand adventure." All I want is to do what's necessary to produce the best possible music in my room, and all this 'audiophile' stuff like changing cables and components just gets in the way. Some love it, but I despise it, and consider it a necessary evil.

Quote from: DeadFish

And it just don't stop!

Ain't it the truth!

Quote from: DeadFish

(p.s. - did you ever get that Ryko 'Fragile' yet? I definitely found it 'superior'.)

I did, and it sounds great! So good in fact that I'll soon be ordering this one.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 May 2006, 11:01 pm »

I apologize for the absence of photography and Photoshop skills, but here are few pics for those who've asked. You'll have to take my word for it when I say they don't do the speakers justice.

Click the photo description to be taken to a hi-rez version of the respective picture.

SP Technology Timepiece 2.1 w/ upgraded woofers

Close-up (and bonus: you can see my father, mother and grandmother)

Back Side

These and photos of SP Technology’s packing expertise can be seen in my gallery here.

DeadFish · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 May 2006, 12:22 am »

I hear you talking about how to get the best possible combination of gear to make it 'right'. One wonders that so much stuff we come up with sounds 'right' in so many ways, gearwise, yet to get 'optimum' (in our own opinions) is such a chore at times. It's hard to keep up with being a gearhead, when all you wanna do is sit down and enjoy the music.
Must be that 'audio-nervosa' thing....
The end is worth it though, if we can ever get there.
Not enough hours in the day around here...

Quote from: Double Ugly

I did, and it sounds great! So good in fact that I'll soon be ordering this one.

And yeah, I guess I am going to have to get the 'Yes' album too. Definitely a grand favorite really on their game; glad to know its been rendered well.

Well, 'adventure-ON' DU!

Regards,
DF

Tweaker · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 May 2006, 12:37 am »

My one suggestion would be to not be making any more cable changes untill after the speakers are deemed broken in. Then start swapping if the speakers are still not sounding the way you would like.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 May 2006, 12:54 am »

Quote from: Tweaker

My one suggestion would be to not be making any more cable changes untill after the speakers are deemed broken in. Then start swapping if the speakers are still not sounding the way you would like.

Yep...

Quote from: Earlier in the thread I

I'm just going to leave it playing 24/7 for a few more days before trying anything else. Right now I don't know of I'm chasing cables or the speaker as it continues to evolve.

That's the plan!

I figure by the time the cables get here mid-week, they speakers will have over 150 hours on them, plus the burn-in time they got at the SP Tech facility. Things ought to be well on the way towards settling in by then. Even so, I'll probably give them till the end of the week before experimenting.

JoshK · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 May 2006, 01:04 am »

Good looking family.....do you know what tweeter it is? Maybe it isn't my place to ask....but I'm always curious....

Tweaker · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 May 2006, 01:24 am »

Quote

Yep...
Earlier in the thread I wrote:
I'm just going to leave it playing 24/7 for a few more days before trying anything else. Right now I don't know of I'm chasing cables or the speaker as it continues to evolve.

Oops. So you did. Well I hope after break in they sound as good as you hope. It will be interesting to hear how they progress. I hope to get a chance to hear a pair of SP tech speakers someday. Although, as I have formally sworn of off buying any new gear (unless I have to because something explodes, ot something) I am reluctant to listen to other speakers especially just in case I hear a pair that makes me unhappy with what I have. Sometimes ingnorance is bliss.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 May 2006, 01:26 am »

Quote from: JoshK

Good looking family.....do you know what tweeter it is? Maybe it isn't my place to ask....but I'm always curious....

I believe it's a modified SS D2905/9300, but maybe Bob can confirm.

PeteG · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 May 2006, 01:54 am »

Hi Jim,

Do you know what cap’s Bob put in the Xovers?

This might sound crazy but it took awhile for my Continuums to settle down, the first month they changed a lot than a slight change over four months and now six months latter WOW they sound unbelievable. I thought they sounded great after the first month
but now in hind sight I had no idea. Just a note, my 2.5 only played 3 days a week with some good power to them.

Pete

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 May 2006, 02:04 am »

Hey Jim....Thanks for the photo's !!!

Chris[/list:u]

Double Ugly · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 May 2006, 02:08 am »

Quote from: Tweaker

Oops. So you did. Well I hope after break in they sound as good as you hope. It will be interesting to hear how they progress.

Thanks.

Like I said, though, they really don't sound bad...*at all*. I'm just so familiar with the potential of SP Tech speakers that I know I'm not getting everything they're capable of...yet.

Quote from: Tweaker

I hope to get a chance to hear a pair of SP tech speakers someday. Although, as I have formally sworn of off buying any new gear (unless I have to because something explodes, ot something) I am reluctant to listen to other speakers especially just in case I hear a pair that makes me unhappy with what I have. Sometimes ingnorance is bliss.

"You can't miss what you don't know you don't have." -Kandy Hines, wife extraordinaire

Advice - wisdom if you will - that I would've done well to follow more often. Sounds like you're doing better than I.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 May 2006, 02:19 am »

Quote from: PeteG

Hi Jim,

Do you know what cap’s Bob put in the Xovers?

This might sound crazy but it took awhile for my Continuums to settle down, the first month they changed a lot than a slight change over four months and now six months latter WOW they sound unbelievable. I thought they sounded great after the first month
but now in hind sight I had no idea. Just a note, my 2.5 only played 3 days a week with some good power to them.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I have Sonicaps in the crossover, so I may be in for a longer break-in period than I first believed.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully running them 24/7 will allow me to realize their potential well before 4 months are up.

JoshK · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 May 2006, 02:24 am »

I have used sonicaps on many occasion and didn't feel they needed 4 months break in. Maybe a week, or two. They are one of my favorites, especially when it comes to value.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 May 2006, 02:50 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Hey Jim....Thanks for the photo's !!!

You're welcome, Chris. Hopefully I'll be able to take a few better pics tomorrow.

Quote from: lonewolfny42

I see the back has changed a little

Yep...remember this?

Quote from: lonewolfny42

...and...??? those jumper's ???

Cardas binding posts, and (I assume) Cardas jumpers, too.

Quote

Cardas Upgrade:
Includes Two (2) Sets of Dual, Gold Plated Cardas Binding Posts per enclosure for bi-wiring or passive bi-amplification & Cardas “Litz” Wire to Tweeter From Crossover.

[/list:u]

Quote from: lonewolfny42

....but its early yet....takes time to settle down.

Yeah, I know...patience.

Quote from: lonewolfny42

The Yes Album....good remaster...my favorite Yes album....

I'm looking forward to it.

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Keep listening....

I don't think there's any way to keep me from doing that.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 May 2006, 03:00 am »

Thanks Jim...Not having my speakers here...and looking at both "back" photo's, old and new....they both say "2.1"....see it.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 May 2006, 03:20 am »

I suppose there must be some good reason related to internal construction why the terminal plate is situated at the top instead of the bottom. I would like it to have been at the bottom of the back panel, so I could make my speaker wires that little bit shorter.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 May 2006, 03:37 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Thanks Jim...Not having my speakers here...and looking at both "back" photo's, old and new....they both say "2.1"....see it.

It's hard to be sure looking at the photos, but the only differences I can see between the photo I linked and my photo are -

Double Ugly · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 May 2006, 03:39 am »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins

I suppose there must be some good reason related to internal coonstruction why the terminal plate is situated at the top instead of the bottom. I would like it to have been at the bottom of the back panel, so I could make my speaker wires that little bit shorter.

I assume there is, but yeah, I generally use 6 footers to ensure I can reach my monoblocks.