Jason was gracious enough to have me over for a listen this weekend.
This is my second time hearing Geddes speakers and have heard the principle theories in action many times so I had an idea what to expect. I've followed Geddes work for maybe 3-4 years now and respect his contribution to the hobby. I think Jtwrace may have described his system somewhere in this thread so I won't bother much with that but just give some of my initial thoughts.
Cutting to the chase the system sounds very good. Jtwrace has done a wonderful job integrating his subs with his mains and it makes the system a top tier performer for a typical home listening room. Simply one of the better bass systems I've heard in a typical listening room. In fact in all of my comments when I say typical listening room I mean that in a positive manner. Not many people have dedicated audio rooms and even fewer will have purpose built rooms for home audio so it makes most sense to have components that perform well in the majority of real world rooms, a typical listening room.
The Geddes speaker and sub approach address that issue and Jtwrace has implemented the approach successfully and I think has achieved a very desirable result. I'm a bit biased as his system's theory and sound signature happen to aligned with mine. Before the session I told Jtwrace all it would take for me is about 15 minutes to assess the system for my own personal tastes and the rest was academic or fluff. During the session 15 minutes was about all it took and the rest was a matter of curiously hearing how something sounded on his system or just wanting to here a song for enjoyment rather than assessing the system.
Basically my take away is that his system is very nicely balanced, leans on the side of neutral and communicates. In a nutshell we went from starting out with Tool and the system plays rock with some balls which is key for me. Here is a place where Jtwrace's system shines for the common man in a typical room. His system has the elusive "gut punch" that's missing in a great many hi-fi systems in typical rooms. Kick drums kick with great attack and force (speakers) and the decay is weighty and taut (subs) to combine for the elusive "gut punch" and IMO the speaker/sub integration is a major part of the enjoyment of the system. I know a good kick drum when I feel it and his system is about as good as any I've heard in a typical room. Hats off to Jtwrace for getting it set up well.
Somewhere in the middle we listened to "Dance of the Tumblers from The Snow Maiden" which played with a nice sense of vibrancy, clarity and verve. Spirited transient attacks, wonderfully dynamic and entertaining as it should be.
At the end was Mighty Sam McClain "Hanging on a Cross" and it was Sam in all his blues finest. I use it as a show stopper reference track for me and show stop it did, Jtwrace's system highlights this tunes dynamic percussion and horn work. We were listening at a good volume before but then he was really liking Mighty Sam or sensed I was enjoying it and turned it up louder. An important point, this is where a great many systems would have bit the dust but having a well designed speaker like the Abbey with pro components (a very important feature), controlled directivity and the care in system set up as he has done and it allows you to go to that next level on the volume without everything falling to pieces due to driver compression and very audible distortions. So we went along for the ride and you get rewarded with your own private concert in many ways. Close your eyes and to a large degree you can imagine that Mighty Sam and the boys are right there on stage. A very credible reproduction of a live amplified concert of your very own.
"Hanging on a Cross" can test your system's dynamic potential (not just sheer output but soft to loud), transient attack etc... The percussion and horns can smack quick and hard if your system is capable. Jtwrace's system is such and can deliver the smack you upside the head dynamics that make listening fun and engaging. For me "Hanging on a Cross" is a goosebumps song and it's why I use it as a reference, it's great music, recorded well and when played back as I like it can give me goosebumps and his system blasting at 100+ dB peaks as he pointed out gave me the goosebumps I expect from this song. A sound so engaging, loud, dynamic, tuneful and musical on this track that you have to respond emotionally and/or physically. We both may have begun to go through the audiophile motions at about this point with the testing but Mighty Sam changed the vibe and shined well in this system. I think Jason said something like this guy is awesome and I was thinking and he sounds bad-ass right now too.
Last was The Fairfield Four that Jason recommended and it sounded great. Wonderful artists, nice recording and the take away here is yes there is meat on Them Bones of the vocalists. Singers have body and mass in Jtwrace's system as it should be. Again, I can't stress enough the pleasing sound in a typical room, no magic or voodoo, and can be achieved by the average listener. The room plays a vital role in music reproduction, we fight it or try to work with it at every turn. A system like this leverages its components and minimizes the room's effect to a noticeable degree. Very early on in the listening session Jtwrace asked me what would I do to improve his system, I think trying to get a feel for where I was coming from. I told him I accept each system on its own and listen for a few critical things above all else. Bottom line is Jtwrace's system is not perfect, none is, pointless to even mention. Are there areas for improvement, of course, but it's mostly a matter of taste or preference or expectation of a higher order beyond the reality of the situation. Did this system get my mojo working, yes sir. Did this system hit the technical marks that show a sign of good gear and good set up, yes sir, did this system make me have an "Oh Yeah" moment, yes sir. Then this system has done it's job for me and I'd be happy to call it my own.
But what about sound staging, imaging, mid-range liquidity, extended highs... yeah what about it.
The system does good things in these areas but that's to miss the point to me and frankly is boring in this context.
The main thing I mean to communicate is this system is bad-ass for the common man/audiophile or what have you.
If you are looking for a Rolls Royce hi-fi system then keep looking but if you're looking for a Corvette ZR1 hi-fi system then put your money down and get ready to enjoy the ride. Like many of us I've owned enough and heard enough to know in spaces most people have and how they will use the system the Geddes products are about as sensible and well performing as I can imagine. Jtwrace has a typical FROG and it isn't going to get much better sounding in that space than what he has put together.
For humor:
I don't always like to recommend gear but when I do I prefer Geddes.
Happy listening my friends.
