World class sound for cheap ;

Silver Member

Username: Bvan

Cape Town, Copenhagen,...

Post Number: 259
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 01:59 am:

Forgive the dramatic prose. I think there was a thread here with that title, but I cant find it. It was about T-amps and Fostex drivers if I remember.

Well I've been repeating that phase in my head the last few days listning to some new speakers I built and felt duty bound to report my stroke of luck on these pages.

Dont know whos familiar with the mamoth "Gravity Well of a Dark Star" thread on Audiocircle,

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=19253.0

it's been going well over a year and is currently at 1200 posts and 85000 viewings.
The post is about Visaton B200 fullrange drivers in open baffle configuration, and tripath amplification.

After reading this facinating thread more than once I finally took the plunge and got a pair of the drivers. It's not much of a plunge really, total outlay for drivers and MDF baffles was less than $300.

All you do is cut a hold in the MDF and plonk in the driver. And wow, amazing. World class sound on the cheap indeed.

These things are amongst the best speakers I have ever heard in absolute terms. I've only lived with +- $2000 speakers(Dynaudio Focus 140's and Zu Tones) and these things give up nothing to these speakers. My current Zu's are now up for sale.

They do play to different strenths than most conventional box speakers. They are not about extention or pin point imaging. But they, like the Zu's and probably most other wide band drivers, have and immediacy that is captivating. They also major on dynamics, like the Zu's(high efficiency light weight cones).

What these things do that no other box speaker I've heard can do is load the room in a particular way. Soundstage is massive, well layered and deep. Ambience is, well, everywhere. I cant describe how it does it but the music just sounds incredibly real and LIVE. I wont say any more for now, but would encourage anyone looking for an adventure, and excellent sound on the cheap to check out the thread and see the level of enthusiasm these drivers are creating around the world. cheers

b.

Gold Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 9421
Registered: May-04

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 12:00 pm:

.

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/193312.html

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/47077/209464.html

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Silver Member

Username: Bvan

Cape Town, Copenhagen,...

Post Number: 260
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 06:20 pm:

I agree the T-amp belongs on a thread like thise.

I've tried my T-amp with the B200's and it does a good job, not as good as the souped up Red Wine Audio tripath amp, but certainly good enough that I recommended it to my brother to go with some B200's.

As good as the T-amps are I cant help but be even more imresssed with "world class" speakers for $300. But when I reason that the B200's were not a wide band driver suited to open baffle, and you added tweeter plus crossover plus cabnet, then add manufacturer and dealer markup, youre maybe looking at $2000. But even for $2000 this is the best speaker I have ever heard.

While we're on the subject, if I was putting together a complete budget system an in need for a source, the Monica2 dac is great. I just got one in kit form for $125 and its replacing my Denon 2200.

I've made a significant financial downgrade with each of my components in the last 6 months and an enjoying the music more than ever.

b

http://www.audio-resolution.com/zhorn/ob.html

Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 4791
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 07:52 pm:

B, you are coming up with some goodies!
I sent the critical Q to my brother, and he is making 2 now.
I sent it along to Art(sub shopping), but I think he is saw-shy.
Now these baffle boards. Dandy.
I know that the Tripath/200 combination is just that, a combination, and I have a T-amp to spare, just the basic box.

A small tube amp might run the baffles ok, ja?

Timn8ter

Gold Member

Username: Timn8ter

Seattle, WA
USA

Post Number: 1144
Registered: Dec-03

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 08:35 pm:

Silver Member

Username: Bvan

Cape Town, Copenhagen,...

Post Number: 261
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 08:54 pm:

Ya I recon. Take the plunge Nuck!

saw your posts about your $80 tube amp and it got me thinking along those lines. I think a tube pre and tripath power might be the perfect ticket but would also love to hear these baffles on low watt SET.

Also very interested to hear others opinions on the critical Q sub. when you add that to a system consisting of cheap dvd player->monica dac-> t-amp->B200's youve got a kick *ss full range system for about 1k. who would have thought. I've often thought that if there was perfect knowledge about the options out there, and that people could do a straight cut with a circular saw, the hifi retail industry would collapse overnight. of course, as with most luxury goods, people actually LIKE paying more than they have to. me I have other interests like a vacation in Hawaii that I'd rather speand my money on. cheers

b

Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 4795
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 09:02 pm:

Thanks for the link, Tim.
I have been needing a place to put my own little gourd, this may be it!

Gold Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 9427
Registered: May-04

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 10:50 pm:

.

"I think a tube pre and tripath power might be the perfect ticket ... "

http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=294

http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=12&produc ts_id=304

http://www.audiodigit.com/index.php?section=37

http://www.audiodigit.com/index.php?section=86

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Silver Member

Username: Bvan

Cape Town, Copenhagen,...

Post Number: 262
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 11:30 pm:

thanks very much for that Jan. I had no idea such things existed.

I'll have to look around the net for any opinion, but a 'tubulier' might be in my future.

cheers,

b

Silver Member

Username: Bvan

Cape Town, Copenhagen,...

Post Number: 263
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 - 11:33 pm:

I should quote properly: "tubalizer"

Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 4802
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 08:00 am:

Jan, either you got your links back from your isp, or you have been verry busy.
Thanks either way.
I just cannot get past 'tubalizer' and Arnold Schwartzenegger, somehow.

Art

Gold Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 3717
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 09:04 am:

I am not as saw shy as I am disinterested in building audio gear. I just don't have the time and/or the inclination...too many other things I'd rather do. Looks intersting though, hope ya'll are enjoying.

Gold Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 9429
Registered: May-04

Posted on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 02:28 pm:

.

The ISP (AT&T/Yahoo's mother of all conglomerations of deregulation and stock manipulation rearing its ugly head as a working monopoly-to-be) essentially forced me into the upgrade by stopping all forward movement on my internet connection until I relented and succumbed to their demands to accept the new and improved version of their browser. Since then life has been a joy of no bookmarks/bookmarks, email/no email, working conenction/no working connection. Between calls to the "help" center for Yahoo and twenty minute waits on hold during calls to Dish Network in order to "resolve" continuing problems with my HD satellite receiver which render my universal remote functionless, I am gaining an understanding of the Amish lifestyle.

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Gold Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 4810
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 03:01 pm:

Gosh, you sound bitter.
Good looking horse you got there.

Gold Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 9431
Registered: May-04

Posted on Sunday, December 10, 2006 - 05:27 pm:

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As most modern humans can attest; not bitter, merely resolved to machinations beyond my control as I slowly bend toward further parasitic subservience.

Silver thanks you for the compliment.

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