[Nick B]

After a number of delays, I fired up the 2.1's last night. Here are my initial impressions......these are excellent speakers!!  Well worth the price and the wait. 

Treble is extended, delicate and extremely accurate. The midrange is full bodied and the bass extended and tight. Male and female vocals are superb. Orchestral recordings give you a realistic, front row seat.  Those  two genres alone constitute much of my listening. The soundstage and imaging are very good. It was rather amazing to listen to older recordings and hear how much information the 2.1's could extract and make sound very enjoyable. Bob has done a great job and kudos to Jim (aka DU) for recommending them (and to me for listening to Jim!). I only have 4 hours on them and last night played all or parts of 30-40 tunes to get a feel for them. What a joy to listen to a lush, full midrange and non-fatiguing tweeters. Placement of the 2.1's is hardly ideal....8" from the left wall and 2' in front of my huge stereo cabinet. It's the best I can do right now. 

My previous speakers were MTM type with 6" drivers. They were actually good performers, but I always suspected the titanium inverted dome tweeter was a bit "hot" and I certainly had limited bass response. No such concerns with the 2.1's. I am driving them with CIA D200's and would be hesitant to use anything less than 100 watts, although I've heard reports of customers using a 50 watt integrated with good success. Also, the 2.1's are beasts and I had to have my wife help me get 'em on the pedestal. Since I'm getting older with aching joints, I'd sure be curious what the new minis sound like with Bob's sub. But I'd only consider that combo if the sound were equal to the upgraded 2.1's.

As an aside, my wife came in and commented how great they sound. She has some hearing issues and has never commented on any of my previous speakers.

If you have the necessary equipment to get these to perform their best, you will absolutely, positively not be disappointed.

amps              CIA D200's
source            SB 2 Aberdeen analog mods with Aberdeen power supply
cables            Grover graphite S I/C's and Straley Reality S/C's
power cords   Black Sand Silver Reference MKV for amps and power                 
                      supply
no line conditioning

PS   I bought unfinished stands from Bob to "save a buck". Don't do it unless you are skilled with wood and painting. It took many hours of priming, sanding and painting and lots of patience. Bob did try to warn me. Next time, I'll buy the finished product   

Well done, Bob, and thank you

Nick

 

[ooheadsoo]

Do these play loud enough for you with the D200s?  Any desire to get the Continuums?

[Nick B]

Do these play loud enough for you with the D200s?  Any desire to get the Continuums?

Yes, they do, but I had the digital volume on the SB 2 cranked at 100 for much of the time. There was no strain by the D200's, but I see why Bob says the more power the better. Do I desire to get the Continuums. Yessir!! Do I have the money right now?? Nope.....

[ooheadsoo]

I think the Continuums 4 ohm load would let you pull a lot more power out of your D200s.  I guess my question is whether it's really loud enough for live orchestra reproduction, and do you merely want the (non floorstanding) Continuums out of sheer perversity?  aa  Or do you think you would actually need the extra 3db headroom provided by the Continuums?  Well, I guess having the SB 2, which I guess is also your preamp, cranked to 100 means that the D200@8 ohms was just barely cutting it.

[Aether Audio]

Nick,

Thanks - Glad the TPs are working for you!   Have fun and don't blame me if you start dreaming of upgrading your gear.

Enjoy and...

Take care,
-Bob

[zybar]

I think the Continuums 4 ohm load would let you pull a lot more power out of your D200s.  I guess my question is whether it's really loud enough for live orchestra reproduction, and do you merely want the (non floorstanding) Continuums out of sheer perversity?  aa  Or do you think you would actually need the extra 3db headroom provided by the Continuums?  Well, I guess having the SB 2, which I guess is also your preamp, cranked to 100 means that the D200@8 ohms was just barely cutting it.

Not necessarily...

Maybe the mods bring the SB output down to around 1 volt instead of standard 2 volts.  If that is the case, the modified SB2 on its own doesn't have enough output to drive the D200's to their full power.

Before jumping up to a new set of speakers or changing amps, I highly suggest putting a Burson Buffer (stock or modified) into the system. 

If you do this (especially if you go with a modified one), I think you will quite happy with the results.

George

[Nick B]

Barely cutting it isn't quite a fair description of the D200's. I got those used on Agon for about $1,700 and I'm getting my money's worth.  As to orchestral music, yes, it really is loud enough. In my 5+ hours of listening, there have not been that many occasions where I'd need/want  it louder than the 100 reading on the SB 2. IIRC, my modded SB 2 puts out 2 volts. Since I'm not technically inclined, I can't respond to 4 vs 8 ohm loads. I know the Continuums are more $$ than the great deal I got on my 2.1's, so it's a moot point for me. 
My D200's put out enough power that's clean and toe-tapping to make me quite happy.

[Bigfish]

Hi Nick:

Welcome to the family of happy SP Tech Speaker Owners!

 

I think the Continuums 4 ohm load would let you pull a lot more power out of your D200s.  I guess my question is whether it's really loud enough for live orchestra reproduction, and do you merely want the (non floorstanding) Continuums out of sheer perversity?  aa  Or do you think you would actually need the extra 3db headroom provided by the Continuums?  Well, I guess having the SB 2, which I guess is also your preamp, cranked to 100 means that the D200@8 ohms was just barely cutting it.

ooheadsoo:

Have you heard the Timepieces?  They really fill a room with music if you have the power to feed them.  I believe the real advantage of the Continuums (to most of us) would be the possibility of lower distortion from having two woofers requiring less movement to generate equal SPLs.  When I ordered my Timepieces I asked Bob about the Continuums vs. the Timepieces and he along with Double Ugly felt the Timepieces would do an excellent job in my room.  Now, however, if you are talking about steping up to the Revelations I gather we are talking a whole new world of refinements.

Ken 

[Bill Baker]

 I just want to throw some observations here. I had the Continuums for a while and these were an older version. During this time, I had a pair of D100 amplifiers in (Yes, I did have a SS amp for a spell). Obviusly, I just had to see how they would do with the Continuums. Needless to say, the 100 watt D100 amplifiers did a very good job of controlling the Continuums so I can only imagine the D200 would take the control up a few notches.

 I am in the same camp as Bob in that I also feel the more clean power to can provide a speaker with, the better.

[Double Ugly]

George is right, Nick.  I didn't realize how much better my system could sound until I put the Burson Buffer in the chain.

It's worth taking for a spin IMHO.  You may be surprised by how much more your amps have to offer.

Now for the more pertinent part of the post, I'm glad you like them!  It's always a crapshoot when recommending speakers or components to someone with whom you've never listened, but I'm glad they've met with your approval. 

[ooheadsoo]

Hi Nick:

Welcome to the family of happy SP Tech Speaker Owners!

 

I think the Continuums 4 ohm load would let you pull a lot more power out of your D200s.  I guess my question is whether it's really loud enough for live orchestra reproduction, and do you merely want the (non floorstanding) Continuums out of sheer perversity?  aa  Or do you think you would actually need the extra 3db headroom provided by the Continuums?  Well, I guess having the SB 2, which I guess is also your preamp, cranked to 100 means that the D200@8 ohms was just barely cutting it.

ooheadsoo:

Have you heard the Timepieces?  They really fill a room with music if you have the power to feed them.  I believe the real advantage of the Continuums (to most of us) would be the possibility of lower distortion from having two woofers requiring less movement to generate equal SPLs.  When I ordered my Timepieces I asked Bob about the Continuums vs. the Timepieces and he along with Double Ugly felt the Timepieces would do an excellent job in my room.  Now, however, if you are talking about steping up to the Revelations I gather we are talking a whole new world of refinements.

Ken 

Nope, but I've heard the Nuforce S-9 (very impressed) and built one of the SP Tech AV-2 kits.  The main area where I want to step up from my AV-2 kit is in the area of high SPL and large dynamics.  The S-9 would do well enough for me in terms of small (and maybe even large) jazz combos, but I didn't get the chance to hear orchestral music on them.  Now, I plan on getting the TP3.0 as soon as I can afford them (gee, I hope that's soon after what Bob posted in his other thread) but I was toying with the idea of saving for the Continuums for the lower distortion, extra headroom, and further controlled radiation pattern.  They also allow more power output from most solid state amps, which would match my plans since I don't plan on doing tubes any time soon, for various reasons.

Given the choice to spend more on speakers or more on amps, I would choose speakers.  Therefore, instead of spending an additional 2 grand to get a more powerful amp, say 400w into 8 ohms, I may as well choose a more modest amp, say 400w into 4 ohms, and spend the 2 grand stepping up to the Continuums. 

[lonewolfny42]

Enjoy your new TP's Nick.....

                 Chris

[Nick B]

Thanks, Chris. I am doing that right now....sipping on some cheap (but good)  California wine and enjoying these wonderful 2.1's. My favorite thing so far is the tweeters. No more top end edginess!   :dance:I took some pics and sent to Bigfish. Don't know how to post them. Maybe he does....
Nick

[lonewolfny42]

The tweeters Nick....I would of thought the bass performance/dynamics....I think thats what sold topround.

Audition those for others....many still have not heard the SP Tech speakers..
And...the more you hear, the more you know....

Happy listening.....

                        Chris

[Nick B]

Chris
Dynamics and bass. They are there in spades. No need to look further. I guess another way for me to describe that is the 2.1's exude "authority". But I have never had tweeters that I've liked this much. I used to live in LA and AC line noise had me listening after 1030 pm. Then I bought all silver, braided, unshielded  cables and the harshness drove me nuts. Then handfuls of Audioprism Quiet Lines and Versalab wood blocks to tame that beast. I love vocals, but the sssssibilance was quite irritating. So that's why I appreciate these tweeters.
Nick

[Nick B]

This is just a followup on the loudness issue with my 2.1's and the CIA D200's. Dusty advised me today that my D200's are set at 26db. I bought 'em used, so I just didn't know. I will get them adjusted to 32db. That should be an improvement with the 2.1's. I'll be looking into the buffer issue also, although I have a preamp in storage from Audience (called the Cabledriver) that may do the same thing. I can leave my SB 2 set at 100 and control the volume via the DACT attenuator.

[Double Ugly]

FWIW, I'd seriously consider selling the pre- and using the proceeds to purchase a Buffer.

Reason being the Buffer is so clear, so clean that I question whether your pre- (or any pre-) can keep up without somehow damaging the sound.  It may surprise, but I wouldn't bet money on it. 

Glad you're still enjoying them! 

[Nick B]

Jim
I will probably be getting rid of the pre someday, but it does have a phono stage and I still have a major project of converting all my albums (300 - 400?)  to make them playable via the SB 2.  I have been putting that project off for a long time....... The 2.1's are as good as you said
Nick

[Bigfish]

FWIW, I'd seriously consider selling the pre- and using the proceeds to purchase a Buffer.

Reason being the Buffer is so clear, so clean that I question whether your pre- (or any pre-) can keep up without somehow damaging the sound.  It may surprise, but I wouldn't bet money on it. 

Glad you're still enjoying them! 

Jim:

I have been researching the Burson Buffer on the internet for more than a week.  The worst comment I could find was that it made very little improvement to the sound from a high-end CDP.  All of the other reviews and comments are glowing about the improvement the Burson Buffer provides, especially with a Squeezebox.  I just pulled the trigger and ordered one from John of Black Sand Cable.  My plans are to evaluate it between the S3 and the Candela Preamp and between the S3 direct connected to the Mono SEs.  I am really looking forward to receiving and trying this little wonder!

Ken

[Double Ugly]

I will probably be getting rid of the pre someday, but it does have a phono stage and I still have a major project of converting all my albums (300 - 400?)  to make them playable via the SB 2.  I have been putting that project off for a long time.......

Well, I can definitely see where a phono stage will come in handy for the foreseeable future.  Too bad. 

I've done minimal research into the best way to transfer vinyl to HDD, but if you find a way that makes you smile when you hear it played back via the Timepieces, I'm all ears!  I'm firmly in the camp of avoiding that wheel reinvention thing whenever possible. 

The 2.1's are as good as you said

Recommending any kind of gear to someone with whom you've never listened is a crapshoot, even when it's something as amazing as SP Technology speakers.  Consequently, I'm *ALWAYS* thankful (and relieved) to get that kind of feedback!   

FWIW, I'd seriously consider selling the pre- and using the proceeds to purchase a Buffer.

Reason being the Buffer is so clear, so clean that I question whether your pre- (or any pre-) can keep up without somehow damaging the sound.  It may surprise, but I wouldn't bet money on it. 

Glad you're still enjoying them! 

Jim:

I have been researching the Burson Buffer on the internet for more than a week.  The worse comment I could find was that it made very little improvement to the sound from a high-end CDP.  All of the other reviews and comments are glowing about the improvement the Burson Buffer provides, especially with a Squeezebox.  I just pulled the trigger and ordered one from John of Black Sand Cable.  My plans are to evaluate it between the S3 and the Candela Preamp and between the S3 direct connected to the Mono SEs.  I am really looking forward to receiving and trying this little wonder!

Ken

Hi Ken,

Holy cow... when last we spoke, John hadn't even heard a Burson Buffer, and now he's carrying them?!?    Not that it matters; John is among the few industry people I trust implicitly, and you've got nothing to lose in dealing with him.

I didn't notice any mention of them on his site; is he doing any sort of modifications?  I'm not sure what there is to be done (Wayne at Bolder is doing something), but the stock version sure sounded good in my system.

I don't know how it'll sound now, but I'm most interested in knowing what you think of running direct after you get the Ultimate from Wayne.  The drive - the pace of the music - was soooo much better with the Buffer between the Transporter and the amps.  I suspect you're getting that drive now from your pre- (along with a little sweetness that might otherwise be missing), but you may find it isn't necessary with the Ultimate/Buffer combo.

Whatever the outcome, you're gonna be an even happier man with it's all done, Ken!  You're putting together a smokin' system, my friend, and as long as you have speakers from SP Tech, you're sure to hear each and every change as it happens!

Ain't it great!