Expecting Timepiece Minis?

konut · « **Reply #160 on:** 22 Jul 2008, 12:53 pm »

UPS has seen fit to deliver my speakers 1 day early, they are now OUT FOR DELIVERY!

IronLion · « **Reply #161 on:** 22 Jul 2008, 01:23 pm »

Nice!

mcullinan · « **Reply #162 on:** 22 Jul 2008, 01:24 pm »

Schweet! Pics Plz... when they arrive!
Mike

mcullinan · « **Reply #163 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 02:42 pm »

SP Tech Minis in daaa Howse!!!!!
Just borrowing them though

They are sitting on top of my Merlins. The minis are wider and deeper than the Merlins and compare favorably too them.
In this corner the 38 lb mini dressed in Walnut shorts and in 84.5lb pants the black Merlins!
Will do more listening and post my impressions soon.
Mike aa

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #164 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 02:48 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 23 Jul 2008, 02:42 pm

Will do more listening and post my impressions soon.
Mike aa

I prefer those very quick first impressions. The ones you get within the first minute of listening. When people think / analyze about what they are hearing, it becomes processed and filtered according to the their built in bias.

ted_b · « **Reply #165 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 02:57 pm »

Quote from: Wind Chaser on 23 Jul 2008, 02:48 pm

Quote from: mcullinan on 23 Jul 2008, 02:42 pm
Will do more listening and post my impressions soon.
Mike aa

I prefer those very quick first impressions. The ones you get within the first minute of listening. When people think / analyze about what they are hearing, it becomes processed and filtered according to the their built in bias.

Assuming he had to reconfigure and turn electronics off and on, and reconnect cables, etc i would discount any "first minute of listening". My own opinion, but "settle in" time is important to me. However, if the settling in is already done (without critical listening) then I agree that first impressions are worthwhile.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #166 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 03:01 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 23 Jul 2008, 02:57 pm

However, if the settling in is already done (without listening) then I agree that first impressions are worthwhile.

Very true, speakers unlike electronics have to be "set up". They are by no means plug and play.

mcullinan · « **Reply #167 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 03:12 pm »

OK... My immediate impressions. The Merlins are more feminine, while the minis are more masculine. I love the Merlins because they are so delicate and loving/enveloping of the music they play yet dynamic/forceful. The minis are a counterpart that is more masculine and perhaps more pure/true to the source. This is the first thing that came to mind. The highs on both are equally extended. Cymbal brushes on the minis sound incredible, lots of detail and realism. I thought that since the Merlins use the Revelator tweeter they would have an obvious advantage. Not so. The highs are open, airy and huge on the minis! Wow! I would say again that they are like brother and sister in a way, maybe a sick way since Im saying it. hehe. Im not really faulting the Merlins in any way of course.

The minis do the mids really nice too. More apparent to me were the power/prominence of the drums in the track Eyes of the World, but since I have seen the Dead live, it is more how I remember the sound being. Nice! Heavenly.. really.
I cant compare the rest of the sound spectrum because thats all I focused on so far..
But those are my initial impressions.
Mike aa
PS. I did have to adjust levels and fiddle with stuff to get it copacetic. btw I use a sub with bothe the Merlins and the minis

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #168 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 03:27 pm »

Mike,

About how big is your room and how far back are you seated? Also, how wide apart are the speakers?

Thanks.

mcullinan · « **Reply #169 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 03:32 pm »

Room is 12 x 17 x 10 (vaulted ceiling) Speakers are about 7 ft apart on the long wall, About 24 inches to the speaker baffle from the front wall. I sit about 7 to 8 ft from the speakers. Also since they are up a little higher than usual I piled some pillows under me/ very professional lol.

My associated equipment is in my signature.
M

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #170 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 03:43 pm »

Interesting. Are the speakers placed at the low end of the vault? I find this arrangement can work quite nice as it can reduce the amount of reflections from the ceiling.

Not familiar with either of the two speakers you are comparing but I would have thought that the minis with the waveguide would have an edge in coherency, no?

mcullinan · « **Reply #171 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 03:57 pm »

Yes. The low end of the vault and its more rounded than angular. The sound stage for both speakers are pretty close in width and have a good solid placement of instruments/band members. The minis definitely have a deeper sound stage by at least a third.
Mike

Aether Audio · « **Reply #172 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 07:04 pm »

Mike,

So far, so good - eh?

Hey, I have an idea for you to try when you get a chance. I'd be curious to know how the Minis compare to the Merlins in the bass when operated individually without a sub on either of them. While you're trying that, give them a little "push" with some extra juice to see how they hold up under the stress. Never having heard the Merlins I could be wrong, but I suspect that you might be a bit surprised at the results.

Have fun!

-Bob

IronLion · « **Reply #173 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 07:10 pm »

In my room (11 x 15), I'm already considering selling my Zu Mini Method. The Minis just get 90-95% of the music right in my room without the sub on.

mcullinan · « **Reply #174 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 07:12 pm »

i will give that a try this weekend when/if the family steps out for a bit. Am I looking for something basswise? The Merlins are ported in the front and yours in the back. Just an fyi.
Mike

Aether Audio · « **Reply #175 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 07:35 pm »

IronLion,

Quote

In my room (11 x 15), I'm already considering selling my Zu Mini Method. The Minis just get 90-95% of the music right in my room without the sub on.

Cool!

Mike,

Quote

Am I looking for something basswise?

Yes...First, maximum SPL before audible bass distortion begins. Second... LF extension.

Of course, LF extension is pretty dependant on woofer cone area so at lower SPLs the Merlins may have the edge on the Minis in that regard. But... comparisons of max SPL before distortion will give you an idea as to how much distortion is actually present when listening at lower SPLs. The longer you listen at lower SPLs, the more you'll figure it out anyway, but this is a quick test to give you an idea as to what to expect as you settle down and "dig in" for some serious/extended listening sessions. It might not necessarily be intuitive to you guys, but it tells me all I need to know.

-Bob

IronLion · « **Reply #176 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 07:41 pm »

Bob, of course, that doesn't keep me from wondering what an Infra-Wave destroyer would add.

Although I think it might blow up my room...perhaps a smaller version might suit me better, if there's ever one down the line.

rydenfan · « **Reply #177 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 08:18 pm »

Mike, does your Supratek have a sub out? I am just curious how you are integrating the sub?

mcullinan · « **Reply #178 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 08:32 pm »

Quote from: rydenfan on 23 Jul 2008, 08:18 pm

Mike, does your Supratek have a sub out? I am just curious how you are integrating the sub?

2 sets of outputs on the Supratek. 1 set to sub, 1 to speakers. Running to 45 or 50 hz. It will roll off slow to that point.
Mike

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #179 on:** 23 Jul 2008, 11:29 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 23 Jul 2008, 02:42 pm

SP Tech Minis in daaa Howse!!!!!
Just borrowing them though
They are sitting on top of my Merlins.

Mike.....

Why didn't you take the stands when you were at BobM's ?

I see you also have the Butler amp...and the BSC cords....give them a try as well.

Chris