Hawthorne Audio Duets

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KCM

Hawthorne Audio Duets
« on: 16 Jul 2008, 02:07 pm »
I am offering my pair of Duets for sale. A picture can be seen on the second page of this thread:  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=51316.20

I am the original owner, have shipping boxes and manual.

$725.00, plus shipping.



I have been tri-amping these with Behringer DCX2496 active crossover and Radian 475PB-8 tweeters (as used in the Hawthorne Sterlings).  I do not want to sell the Behringer, but the Radian's can be added to the package if you want to go that route (highly recommended !)

emac

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #1 on: 16 Jul 2008, 04:50 pm »
Just wanted to put in a plug for KCM's Duets.  When I heard them, they were terrific!  Could listen to music all day long on these.  A great examlpe of what open baffle speakers can do. 

laserman

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #2 on: 22 Jul 2008, 07:13 pm »
BUMP!

I have heard these speakers too and they sound wonderful.  If I had the room for them, I would be purchasing them myself. 

Lou

Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #3 on: 23 Jul 2008, 04:23 pm »
I have been tri-amping these with Behringer DCX2496 active crossover and Radian 475PB-8 tweeters
Do you think the DCX/Radian is a "little" better than in stock configuration, or a "lot"? Also, can you put into words the audible differences it made.
And what are you asking for the Radians?

Bob

emac

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #4 on: 23 Jul 2008, 04:38 pm »
I have been tri-amping these with Behringer DCX2496 active crossover and Radian 475PB-8 tweeters
Do you think the DCX/Radian is a "little" better than in stock configuration, or a "lot"? Also, can you put into words the audible differences it made.
And what are you asking for the Radians?

Bob


KCM can say more precisely what the Radians added, but I can give a general impression since I own a pair of SI's myself. While I'm sure that having the Duets triamped with an active crossover also helped the sound, I think most of the differences I was hearing between my SI's and KCM's Duets was due the Radians.  One of the things about the SI's is that while they produce a wonderful open and smooth sound, they can lack the detail and depth found on better speakers.  These Duets had no such problem.  The sound was still open and engaging, but the detail and the accuracy of the sound was also there.  It was a pleasure listening to them.  Even music that I typically wouldn't enjoy much just sounded lovely.  My wife and I are in agreement that these Duets and our Ninja modded Mini's are the two favorite speakers that we've heard. 

And I agree with what Laserman wrote.  If I had a good spot for these, I definitely would buy the whole system.     

Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #5 on: 23 Jul 2008, 05:32 pm »
Hi Mr. emac.

I had a pair of Duets in my room for a couple months. I was holding onto them while a buddy was moving to a different house. They do sound very good in stock form, I'd love to hear them modded, triampped, and actively crossed.

I've got a DCX on my rig, but it's only for content below 80Hz (two Augies in OB, and four Augies in IB, both with different crossover points etc...)
So anyway, I've got the DCX, but lack a spare amp to run the tweets. I'm still using the HGXO (stock) passive crossover networks.

I know exactly what you mean about listening to music you don't like due to the speakers.
I find myself actually buying music I don't like because of them.  :roll: :duh: :lol:

KCM - Is you DCX modded or bone stock?

Bob

emac

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #6 on: 23 Jul 2008, 05:51 pm »
Hi Mr. emac.

I had a pair of Duets in my room for a couple months. I was holding onto them while a buddy was moving to a different house. They do sound very good in stock form, I'd love to hear them modded, triampped, and actively crossed.

I've got a DCX on my rig, but it's only for content below 80Hz (two Augies in OB, and four Augies in IB, both with different crossover points etc...)
So anyway, I've got the DCX, but lack a spare amp to run the tweets. I'm still using the HGXO (stock) passive crossover networks.

I know exactly what you mean about listening to music you don't like due to the speakers.
I find myself actually buying music I don't like because of them.  :roll: :duh: :lol:

KCM - Is you DCX modded or bone stock?

Bob

Bob, please.  No Mr. emac.  Ed sounds much better to me.

As for a spare amp, you could probably get away with a T amp.  I used a Super T amp to power the SI's, and it worked well.  Now I have a 200 watt per channel T amp, which is completely overkill.  Anyway, the T amps tend to be pretty clean, and given the efficiency of the SI's and that you're using it for tweeters, you could probably get away with a lower powered one.  And they usually have pretty good resale value. 

And you'll have to check w/ KCM, but I believe it was a stock DCX. 

Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #7 on: 23 Jul 2008, 06:20 pm »
Cool Ed (Mr. Mac :P). Good information, Thank You!

That will be a project for another day. Right now I'm still trying to see if I can crack drywall with the (6) 15" Augies and the DCX cutting up the content for the two different alignments (OB/IB).  :icon_twisted:
So far, so good with that experiment. I've broken some of the wife's glassware already.  :oops:

Sorry for the OT "KCM". But you're getting your thread 'bumped' for free.  aa    :lol:
 
Bob

KCM

Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #8 on: 23 Jul 2008, 07:00 pm »
Sorry for the OT "KCM". But you're getting your thread 'bumped' for free.  aa    :lol:

Thanks !   :thumb:

I would say that the active crossover was a worthwhile improvement using the stock tweeters.  The Radian's are significantly better sounding, though, and really complete the package.  More detail, less distortion.  I won't sell them unless I sell the Duet's and the buyer doesn't want to purchase them with the speakers.

My DCX is stock.  I considered having it modified, but never got that far and these speakers sound pretty darn good, as-is.

Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #9 on: 23 Jul 2008, 08:58 pm »
OK Cool. Thanks for the honesty on the sound quality of an unmodded Behringer. That's unusual to hear nowdays.  :wink: Good stuff!
Somewhere I've saved a few links to places that have the instructions and parts to mod a DCX2496, but I doubt I'll ever do it since the unit only handles content below 80. Can't see there being enough of an audible difference to make it worthwhile.
Understood about not selling the Radians, no problem. But you say they're "significantly" better. hmmm. That has my wheels turning. I won't forget that anytime soon. I've been wanting to hear a set (but don't have the finances) for quite a while now.

Thanks for the information KCM. Good luck on the sale. If I know anybody interested, I'll send them your way.  :thumb:

Bob

bpape

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #10 on: 23 Jul 2008, 09:03 pm »
Come on Bob - buy them with the tweets already - you know you want to...   aa  :wink:

Bryan

Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Hawthorne Audio Duets
« Reply #11 on: 23 Jul 2008, 09:28 pm »
Well DUH..... But there's one small problem and it has to do with    :lol:
Honestly Bryan, I'd give a certain small round part of my body to have a pair of the 15" Sterling drivers. Yea buddy.  :drool:
Not just a homebrew rig of "my definition" of a Sterling. I'm sure Mr. Hawthorne's off the shelf units are better than what I could come up with.

Bob