A review of SP Tech Timepiece Mini's
This will take me much longer to write than it will you to read and I could be listening to my new speakers.
Room: @12' x 14' spare bedroom.
Gear: secondary system with an NAD C521BEE CD player with no name IC's to a Magnum Audio IA200 integrated amp (100w/ch 8ohms) with W** M*** car stereo 12ga speaker wire.
Speakers are on 28" tall subwoofers which are not being used.
The front baffle of these speakers is absolutely beautiful.
I have not a camera, so this will have to do.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=43286.0Soundstage/Imaging
The soundstage is moderately wide and quite deep, when I was playing the Sam T. Stereophile track I looked out the window because I thought he was in my neighbors yard, 30 ft. behind the speakers.
Instruments are the right size, very distinct from one another, and easy to visualize on the stage.
Lead vocals are dead center (unless recorded otherwise) and image height seems to be consistent with the recording.
Bob is right, these speakers disappear (like mini monitors half their size).
Tone/Frequency balance
The treble has shimmer and zing with cymbals and bells, but it is never shrill and to these ears it is neither too bright or dark.
The midrange will make every amp in the house sound like a SET.
Not just any SET, but the ones that are liquidy without ever being syrupy.
The midrange also sounds as if it is of one piece, whole, not two parts, no metal cone/fabric dome disintegration here.
The bass is well defined (after a few hours of break in), the nuances in a bass line (acoustic or electric) are as easy to hear as those in a good singer's voice.
I have been listening to music that for the most part only goes down to @40hz, maybe 35, so I was thinking about what to say regarding Bob's comment about a sub being optional, I was coming to the conclusion that with about 90% of my music I could probably live without a sub. Then I put in a bass disc made for evaluating the extension and SQ of car stereo subs....WOW
I have not used a test disc and SPL meter yet to check how low the Mini's go in my room, but if their usable output isn't enough for you, you are more than likely an incurable basshead or HT guy and already have several subs scattered about the house.
Looks like Bob is right again, a sub(s) is optional.
Details/Details
I think I know at least part of the reason Bob was able to (give these speakers away) provide such high quality construction and sound at such a low price......
he left the crossovers out, I mean try as I might I cannot hear the x-o (800hz), when I close my eyes I hear one driver, but when I open my eyes I see two drivers.
Which I believe leads me to the details......you hear so much detail with the Mini's, details that many a lesser speaker buries in the soundscape, but the Mini's don't put a spotlight on the details and push the details forward into your face like some speakers.
The details in music are just there with these speakers, they aren't hiding and yet they aren't trying to make themselves known either.
A good gage of how much I like the Timepiece Mini's is that I don't think I would sell them if somebody offered me twice what I paid for them. Usually when selling speakers I get about half of what I paid for them, but I still sell them.
Lin
