[TheChairGuy]

Russell,

The $189 speaker has a tweeter waveguide (a la B & W 805 model), it also has woven kevlar midwoofer (a la the Quad 11L), no crossover and the seller, Bizzy Bee Audio, has a good reputation for selling good value.  I've bought from him before. 

So, for a paltry $189...I get to experiment on a whole host of ideas in speaker design.

My Dad has the Quads now - and enjoying them...2700 miles away 

The Dukanes are fabulous....totally updated, biased and re-tubed.  50 rather solid watts it is...6DD6 output tubes are good current generators for tube amps, I'm told by more knowledgeable folks than I.

Thx, John

[Russell Dawkins]

for $189, I guess it would be worth it just for the fun factor.

The device on the B&W 805 tweeter I never would have called a waveguide - more like a diffraction reducing mounting/consumer obfuscation thingy!

I think of what you see on the front of SP Tech, Genelec and Mackies as waveguides which have the function of controlling dispersion and usually limiting it somewhat.

[TheChairGuy]

Exactly - $189 for the learning experience.  They're 18 lbs each, no crossovers....I don't know how they cut corners to make that price at that weight (without a crossover, it's cabinet walls and drivers only  )

I like the separate tweeter module idea...those always sound a bit airier/lifelike to me, generally speaking.

It's not really single driver...there is a tweeter (waveguided - we'll see - B&W gets away with calling it that, too) it just doesn't use a crossover.  The woven kevlar driver is directly coupled - so they take the liberty of calling it a single driver. Hey, for $189 - they can say it smiles like Mona Lisa, too, and I'd still buy it 

I tried a true single driver a couple years back - didn't like it - too much missing from the sonic stage.  Treble brings excitement to the music...I found, at least in that case (a Fostex driver I think it was) that I needed a separate treble transducer.  With as much vinyl as I listen to - I notice the treble range of sounds...one of the reasons I do love my Linaeums.

I was also looking at Sonist (waveguides, high efficiency)...but at $2500+ a pair I decided to do some experimenting first.

[pbrstreetgang]

I have been talking with the designer about the Sonists also- looks real promising but I dont see too much push from them to get them out there. Also if I drop $2500 without hearing I want a money back offer and some assurance they will be around for a while. Better to try our own here for that money

[JoshK]

I think what B&W calls a waveguide is a guide for the back wave of the dome not a guide for the front wave.  Its basically has no guide there.

[doug s.]

john, in your sized room, what you need to find is a pair of used proac tablette 8 reference signature mini-monitors.  forget the bizzy bee speakers; grab a pair of his subs, instead, & then get an active outboard x-over, set the subs at their max 150hz setting, & the xover at ~80-hz.  you will never look back.  (ya right!     )

seriously, the proacs can fill all but the biggest of rooms w/amazing sound; only the most bombastic of low bass music will rattle them, when run full-range.  and, this becomes a non-issue if they're crossed over to subs.  i tried mine in a 28x36x8.5 room crossed over to subs at 80hz, & you could crank 'em as loud as you could stand, w/o distortion.

ask the few folks who heard 'em in merle's system a while back, at a mid-atlantic gathering.  merle asked me how much i wanted for 'em right there.  this after he said he was done "recycling" stereo equipment.   everyone (myself included) thought they fared better in merle's rig than my >double the price diapason adamantes lll's i also brought along.

in a small room, proac ref 8 sigs & a pair of subs will be a hard act to follow, at any price, imo.  even tho i am not presently using mine, they're not for sale...   

doug s.

[TheChairGuy]

Allright, well, the $189 crossoverless wonder speakers have been shipped to me now...so I'll do some experimenting and report back.

They're purdy to look at for the 300 break-in hours, at least 

John

[doug s.]

good luck, john.  they're certainly a mite cheaper than what i suggested.   

doug s.

Allright, well, the $189 crossoverless wonder speakers have been shipped to me now...so I'll do some experimenting and report back.

They're purdy to look at for the 300 break-in hours, at least 

John

[TheChairGuy]

I'm intrigued by them.  As I do a lot of sourcing from China, and am still regularly astounded by what you get for measly dollars there, I still wonder how anybody can make any money AND offer a decent set of speakers for $189 (with shipping  )

Each cabinet weighs 18 lbs..if there is no crossover in it, it's either a good cabinet or goodly sized woofer motors....but I don't know how either could be for $90 each mono speaker 

Beats me - I'll let you know shortly if they suck as bad as they're price would suggest  aa

[Russell Dawkins]

According to one owner it seems like you should get some lo res to experiment with once you get them (from the owners' reviews):

"I applied several sheets of lo res to the internals of the cabinets and turned this giant killer in a lo-resonance giant killer. It definitely helped in the mids!"

By the way, John I don't see where you are getting the $189 price ...with shipping, too - it looks like $289 + $45 shipping to me.

[TheChairGuy]

Russell - they were on sale the week before last.  And, if you pay by USPS Money Order it's free shipping.  I've bought twice before from Bizzy Bee / Paul before...he's for real...I just don't know how 

Now they're $289.00...a bit more plausible of a price for a China-made set of speakers

The prior version, the 803SD, was lighter in weight/cabinet construction.....I talked to Paul and he said the 805 (2007 model) is quite a bit heavier braced.  Nonetheless, I'll have Plast-i-Clay and or Lo-Res waiting for the cabinets.....you can never overdamp a wood speaker cabinet I've found  Don't know if the quote was for the prior versions or these.....

John

[Russell Dawkins]

The quote referred to the 805. Good review, actually:
http://tinyurl.com/2xux7u

$189 including shipping is crazy!

[TheChairGuy]

Lo-res probably would help about any speaker cabinet...in the mids and elsewhere....so I'm not surprised a $189.00 one benefitted from it greatly.

We'll see how it goes...yes, it is a good price, ain't it...just for cabinets alone Parts Express charges more  (free shipping at Parts Express until December 24 now  )

[lonewolfny42]

Don't forget some photo's for us John....hope it turns out well...

[doug s.]

i suspect you will actually be wery happy with, them, if others' (and your prior) experiences w/bizzy bee are any indication.  and also the same goes for others' experiences w/chinese gear - mine included.  i tried a sophia baby clone amp that cost me $200 shipped, & it was excellent.  as are a pair of usher s520's i got for $150 shipped, before the word got out on 'em.

doug s.

I'm intrigued by them.  As I do a lot of sourcing from China, and am still regularly astounded by what you get for measly dollars there, I still wonder how anybody can make any money AND offer a decent set of speakers for $189 (with shipping  )

Each cabinet weighs 18 lbs..if there is no crossover in it, it's either a good cabinet or goodly sized woofer motors....but I don't know how either could be for $90 each mono speaker 

Beats me - I'll let you know shortly if they suck as bad as they're price would suggest  aa

[Wind Chaser]

If Chris can't be there when you take the picture, be sure to make him appear standing beside the speakers or it won't be right.

[lonewolfny42]

If Chris can't be there when you take the picture, be sure to make him appear standing beside the speakers or it won't be right.

WC John....Thats been done only once....by Carlman....

[arthurs]

LOL...Mini-Chris held onto his beer through the shrinkification process   

[lonewolfny42]

LOL...Mini-Chris held onto his beer through the shrinkification process   

.......

[TheChairGuy]

LOL...Mini-Chris held onto his beer through the shrinkification process   

That pic still puts me in tears of laughter looking at it