Gateway Audio Nomad Sentinel Mini-Tour

Scott F. · « **on:** 20 Jul 2007, 11:07 pm »

Hiya Guys,

A while back Paul Hilgeman (of Nomad Audio fame) mentioned that he would be up for a St Louis mini-tour of the Sentinels after I finished the article. Well, I've pretty much wrapped it up and sometime next week (likely the Wednesday GAS meeting) I could bring them along to start their tour.

The Sentinels with a black baffle. The demo pair has the natural Bamboo front baffle.

A couple of notes about the Sentinels. First is if you have a low seating position these speakers need an 18" speaker stand. If you guys need it, I can send around my impromptu stands with the speakers, just let me know as you sign up on the list.

I guess the next thing is, we should probably limit their time at each persons home. I would think two weeks should be good, that way we don't hang onto Paul's speakers too long (I've got no room to talk here as I've had them WAY too long at my place). Whomever has the speakers will be responsible to get them to the next person in a timely fashion. The last person on the list will be responsible for getting them back to me so I can re-crate them and get them back to Paul.

During the tour, all of the obvious goes without saying. I'll encapsulate it by saying this, treat them as if they were yours. Love them, dust them, feed them any type power you wish (as they like both tubes and solid state) and they will respond quite well to all the attention.

After you've listened to them for your time, be sure to post your impressions here in this thread. That or maybe Paul would rather host the impressions thread on his circle. It might be easier for future readers to find it over there but I'll leave that decision up to him. Your impressions don't have to be a novel but at least try to make it a nice long letter

Also keep in mind that if you absolutely fall in love with them and can't live without them (MerRev), I'll give you Paul's number. He'll make you a very sweet deal on them (but I want my speaker stands back

)

Anybody want to sign up first?

bpape · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 03:38 am »

That would be me...

Bryan

jcrane · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 04:46 am »

If they venture across the river count me in.
If someone can get them too me, I can get them to Deadfish (if he is interested).

If no one else on this side of the River is interested I would just be happy to hear them at someone's home.....

jamie

DeadFish · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 11:46 am »

I'd be glad to listen to them, Jamie.
If there is time before Paul gets them back, I would love to hear them here.

Regards,
DeadFish

steve k · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 01:10 pm »

Me too! Me too!

Thanks for the opporunity Scott and Paul!
steve

drummerwill · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 03:05 pm »

Scott,what kind of sensitivity and ohm-age do those have? Can they work on my Locomotive ?
If so I'd like to give them a WURL-itzer !

Willie

bpape · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 03:48 pm »

Hey Willie.

Here are the specs I found on the Sentinel

Impedance: 8-12 Ohms across entire audio band
Sensitivity: 84dB/W
Electrical Phase: -30 to +35 degrees across entire audio band

Bryan

Scott F. · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 06:41 pm »

Quote from: drummerwill on 21 Jul 2007, 03:05 pm

Scott,what kind of sensitivity and ohm-age do those have? Can they work on my Locomotive ?
If so I'd like to give them a WURL-itzer !
Willie

You could try them on the Wurlitzer. They probably won't play very loud but its worth a try. Your Dynaco's or Fisher would work a bunch better. I drove them in the Redrum with that little JoLida 102b (at about 25w) and they sounded great.

jcrane · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 06:37 am »

Quote from: DeadFish on 21 Jul 2007, 11:46 am

I'd be glad to listen to them, Jamie.
If there is time before Paul gets them back, I would love to hear them here.

Regards,
DeadFish

That sounds good.
I guess I could pick them up when they are ready to cross the river, listen to them for a couple days and then bring them to you and maybe you would even invite me to stay for an hour or so

Jamie

bpape · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 11:40 am »

If someone from across the river wants to grab them Wednesday night, I'll move back in line to save a trip. I'll actually be gone 4 days of my initial time moving my kid from Springfield to Tulsa.

Bill or Jamie, are either of you gonna make it Wednesday? If so, figure amongst yourselves what you want to do.

Bryan

DeadFish · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 12:41 pm »

Howdy!
Sorry, I was sleeping there.
Yes, I'm coming over on wednesday night.
If you are coming Jamie, you can have them first, or conversely, I can grab 'em, listen a few days and then you can pick them up, Jamie and stay for a good listen, at your leisure.
Does that work?
Be glad to pick 'em up. Got a few amps I'd like to try with 'em.

Thanks Bryan!!

Bill

jcrane · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Jul 2007, 04:49 am »

Bill-
Plan on picking them up if you don't mind, looks like plans are changing as I sit here at work. We are having compressor and condenser problems so my work schedule this week might be a tad on the long side:(
I will be at the meeting if at all possible but if I happen to miss out, can you grab me a CD DF?

Thanks

Jamie

DeadFish · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Jul 2007, 04:55 am »

I got you covered, Jamie!

DeadFish · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Jul 2007, 01:16 pm »

Hey Jamie! You are in for a treat! Just let me know when you can take these Sentinels, as by this evening, I'll have tried everything I've got out on them.

Re: Willie! You should think about giving these a listen with what you have to power them with. I don't think 'sensitivity' works the way I always thought it did, as the "Hummin' Bastard" 300B dual mono amp really makes them go!

The story so far: As of this point, I have tried the aforementioned 300B amp because that is what was in the room. Now, I'm not saying that it is the best match for these speakers but it brought a LOT more to the party than I expected. No lack of volume at all.
Moving on, I've tried the Bryston B-60 which could max out the volume on them. Go figure! Severing the halves of the B-60, I put the HagTech Clarinet in as the preamp before the Bryston amp and it sounded more appealing.
Succeeding amps were the Dynaclone ST-35, Red Wine augmented, battery powered Teac amp, and finally a slightly modified Dynaco Stereo 70. I haven't tried the SCA 35 because it is too much hassle unbonding it from the computer.

ANYway, for me, as of now, my favorite flavor of the day was the Stereo 70 with the Clarinet front end. The Teac and Bryston are real close behind, but I've really developed an appetite for tube coloration.
All listening was of the Bolder Modded Squeezebox3 with Bolder power supply, attached with Nitro interconnects that contain Bybees.
I've found a preference for these cables many times, so I don't try much of anything else anymore.

The verdict: at this point, these are some smooth sounding speakers! They take things about as high as I can hear them and spread things out nicely to a bottom that is greater than one can expect. They work well close to the wall behind them, but really sparkle pulled out a few feet. They are similar to their big-brother Ronins in that they really fill a lot of 'space' and there is no micro-sized sweetspot. This is a very pleasant surprise. I don't know how it gets done, but I'm here to report that it does!

I don't know how height specific they are. Scott sent along some 18" stands which sound good, and my 26" steel stands sound equally good. Maybe I've got a chair-height right in the middle, I dunno.

These are some righteously detailed speakers that I would have no trouble listening to more. They are more precise than my Altec Boleros that live in the same room. I swapped back and forth a few times and there is a substantial difference between sound delivery. Like the Sentinels, the Boleros will take anything you throw at them, but the result is substantially more colored. The Sentinels gave me no sense of coloration at all. If I were shopping new speakers right now, the Sentinels would definitely be in the running, but I know from experience that if that were the case, I'd be trying to get some Ronins squeezed out of my budget.

Paul, you have done something very nice with your speakers, and I thank you for the opportunity to listen to them in my own home. They made my 13' square room rock and croon, and I had a pleasant time with them. Thanks!! 'Wood II' sounded great on them (you played that for the Ronin demo) but "Metal" (same artist) really soared!

Best Regards,
DeadFish

jcrane · « **Reply #14 on:** 31 Jul 2007, 09:07 am »

It looks like I am free all week as I am working days until next Thursday.
Let me know what works best for you.
I do have a "double date" in the works sometime this week depends on the girlfriend and the other couple. I only know that it will not happen on WED night

Looking forward to them...

Jamie

PaulHilgeman · « **Reply #15 on:** 31 Jul 2007, 09:05 pm »

Thanks for the positive comments all.

Keep rolling them around down there, if you are interested in purchasing that particular pair, let me know.

Any issues arise, I will check in here, or you can post over in my circle, comments there are appreciated as well.

Have a good one,
Paul

Scott F. · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Aug 2007, 05:23 pm »

Hey Guys,

Just thought I'd check in. I assume Jamie is playing with the Sentinel's now? If so, don't forget we were trying to hold our auditions to about two weeks per person. With as many people that want to hear them in their own systems, they will be floating around for a while

The other thing too, try them in a smaller room (if you have one). I'm curious if your experience is similar to mine.

bpape · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Aug 2007, 05:28 pm »

I think Bill still has them due to Jamie's temporary displacement. I believe he's planning on bringing them to your place Wednesday night for me to pick up.

Bryan

DeadFish · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Aug 2007, 06:16 pm »

Bryan has it right. The Sentinals are coming with me. I've been done with them for 2 weeks, but do to the fact that Jamie was busy for one reason or another, they stayed here and didn't get caught in the fire!
I file that under "Acts O' God", and I figured I best be getting them on as soon as possible.
Bryan gets 'em wednesday nite.
I liked them in a 13 foot square room.

DF

Docutech · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 Aug 2007, 01:45 pm »

Please add me to the sign up sheet. I would love to hear them.