PDXDrew
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Hey John, I apologize in advance- I really rambled on this one. To, answer your question about using one of Steve’s networks. I am not using any type of crossover, or network for these drivers. In fact, I removed the binding posts and internal wiring that the origin speakers came with. I hard-wired my speaker cables directly to the back of the binding posts on the drivers themselves. Your taking be me back a few years with the tracks you selected. High and Dry came out when I was in high school. I remember coming back from the first of two a day practices for football. After eating something I would lay on my bed, put on my headphones with this album cranked and fall asleep. If my ears could only take that kind of abuse now. What I consider loud may be tame to your liking. Using an app on my iPhone, I’m getting about 88db peaks for my long-term listening volume. At this level, the soundstage fills in, and out nicely, the music has really good attack, decay and texture. There is no glare, harshness or bloat to the sound. The other day I put on Robin Trower “Bridge of Sighs”. This is one of those albums I wore out as a kid. As my system has evolved through the years with each level of refinement, I would put this album on with anticipation, only to be disappointed time and time again. It always sounded good, but just didn’t have that sparkle, or texture, maybe a little flat, and 2D. Really well recorded music has a tendence to take the fun out of some great music that’s out there. They sound so darn good, they disinfect the sound of lesser quality recordings.
When you get fed some really good ear candy, it’s hard to go back to Chicklets.
I have to say. when I listened to this album the other day, I am happy to report, this sounded like whole different recording. I was streaming FLAC 44.1 16 bit via Tidal. The sound of the snare had a resonance that I’d never heard in this recording. On the track “Bridge of Sighs” the sound of the guitar has a metallic grit to it that I never identified with before. It wasn’t in a screechy, obnoxious way, that annoyed. I mentioned in a prior post upstream, that I added a new PC about week and a half after I installed the P10's. I know the PC took a vail off the sound- it was an upgrade I’m very glad I made. But- what these speakers do is to not only keep pace, rhythm, dynamics, textures, decay, tone ,through the hole song, they add a dimension of a tactile presence. The palpability they add is what keeps me pulled in. It’s what really separates them from anything else I’ve heard. The PC definitely cleaned things up- but these drivers are taking what is provided and doing some really amazing stuff. Let’s look at your play list. I’m going to give an impression of each. All streaming SD via Tidal. Hysteria- This sounded pretty good. Big soundstage. On “Women” the snare was set back in the soundstage- it doesn’t have the same presents or weight, as it might on some other recordings. When I listen to rock music, I like the drums to have weight and presents. To me it helps heighten the sense of realism. This recording didn’t offer that. But- on “Hysteria”, it came out a little more. Still not convincing, but better. Hotel California- The live version of course sounded great- puts you there. The studio version is to me- like one of those “Bridge of Sighs” recordings. Don’t know what to expect. Let’s just put it this way. I listened to the whole album. Big Sugar- “When My Heart Refused” Was more on the Hysteria side. It sounded good, but the base was muddy, the background chorus was washed out, but other parts of it sounded good. Kinda of hit and miss with this one. As good as these speakers have the ability to heighten the experience of listening to music, they can only portray with what they are fed. With a good recording you have all the positives mentioned above that makes these drivers special. While there are still recordings you like, but don’t bring that magic, I’ve found them fewer and fewer with these. Pour recordings and upstream limitations do show themselves, and I mean that as a compliment.
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