Do you prefer tall speakers
I have had the distinct pleasure of listening to my DCM Time Frame 2000s sn 446/447 for 6 years. As the pair was made in 1988 a component failure is a certainty at some point. As I am accustomed to the always stunning sounds they make (and on a budget) I started looking for suitable replacements. Any repairs on the 2000s would be made but the speakers are complicated and cannot be rushed.
Enter the Von Schweikert VR4 Gen 2s. The pair had languished on a site for 6 months at 1025. Quite heavy for shipping but I live within a couple hours of the sellers town. An exceptionally nice and trusting man named Sam took a 100 down. He was returning to England and decided to let me me PP him the rest as I could. Sam even brought them to my house as he "was in the area why not". Thank you Sam!
I hooked them up to my Proceed HPA-2 which plays perfectly with my 2000s. A little bright at first but fabulous sound as reviews promised! It took a couple of days to realize what was so different. I was looking down at the soundstage, not up at normal real height for singers and such. I have always considered the long array of drivers at the top of the TFs to be a huge part of their appeal sonically. The soundstage has height, up at eye level. I have attached the TF manual pic as the driver array is so unconventional.
As the VRs are backup and looking for a different amp I have taken them to my local cannabis dispensary to share them with my friends and customers there. Such fine speakers should be heard and seen. I had a Audionics CC-2 amp (check them out) and got the owner to purchase a Rockville PPA53 pre for its BT . Sounds pretty good! I'm looking at a Hafler 9500 Trans Nova if any one has experience with one.
A common lament on these sites is the death of hi end audio as many people don't know that they are missing. I aim to change that a little. Great music should be shared!
Your thoughts please...
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I think speaker height is relative to room height and listening position. I have two systems. Downstairs is my reference and I sit on a couch 8 feet from my gear. The ceiling is 7 feet. Here, a speaker can be too tall. Upstairs, I have a great second system in a family room with cathedral ceilings open to the kitchen / eat in area. My upstairs speakers are Revel Salon 2's, significantly taller than downstairs. They fill the area both in height of soundstage and pressurize the entire area. I liked the Salon 2s so much I took them downstairs to listen. The height was too much, with loss of soundstage and imaging from my seated position. But they are awesome in the taller room and allow me to listen from the kitchen or island. |
Like yourself, I own (my reference speakers) a pair of absolutely phenomenal Revel Salon 2 speakers. I have my Salon 2s in a decent size room which has a 9 foot ceiling (which is a little taller than average). In my room, the tallish Salon 2s work extremely well. In fact, the Salon 2s in my room perform so amazingly well, I don't think I'll ever let them go. Happy listening. |
Height and Base structure do play into what you hear... I had my Raven Audio Corvus on Heavy Steel stands and thought they sounded nice...Was I wrong.. I made some wooden stands with Granite Base and Granite Top plate and my wife thought I was nuts on how I reacted ..Top of speaker is 54 inches with center of my speakers at ears height...Just receiving my Raven Audio Reflection months ago I am so happy with how this equipment has come together for the music I play...Enjoy Your Music |
TF 2000s use the WmtmW arrangement as well as an actual transmission line vs. the multi density stuffing line approach of the VA speakers. The impression of soundstage height is due in part to the crossover points and the mid tweeter mid height in relation to the listener's ears. Lots of examples of this layout exist and some are classics while others are modern. Below are some Dunlavy SC-Vs. The TF 2000s are special. I owned a total of 3 pair back in the early Aughts. Wish I had kept at least one pair. At least he SC-Vs are too heavy for my old butt to move so they are staying.
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I definitely prefer tall speakers--at least 5 ft. tall. They reproduce soundstage height better than shorter speakers, and once you get accustomed to that, it's hard to go back to shorter speakers, regardless of what other charms they may have. If they have a rich enough bass response, shorter speakers can be placed on stands to achieve good soundstage height, but I'd prefer to go with floorstanders that are 5' tall or more by themselves. |
@wrm57 Good call; domestic bliss is overlooked when it comes to your & her tastes... ;) |
@asvjerry , she puts up with 4 systems and a near-constant barrage of weird-ass jazz, so it’s the least I can do! 😄 |
I agree with your assessment of the 2000s. It's always nice to hear(yes) another opinion on them as they are so rare. I will never sell mine for sure! It's like they are full of an infinite amount of butterflies that flap in concert (can't help myself..) to produce the thunderous lows, wonder mids and exquisite highs. @harleyujoe Definitely considering stands for the VR4s. Have some very crafty friends I can enlist to do them justice. Still trying to come up with a great amp in my budget. Looking at the Hafler 9500 and NAD 2600. Love to have a Halcro DM-38 on looks alone, never mind performance. Coolest looking amp EVER. One here on CL but one 0 out of my price range ;) |
@wrm57 Sounds like a 'keeper' for sure.....esp. when she's adapted to speakers as a form of 'furniture'.... Subs are easy, since they can be glossed off as 'coffee tables'. Under certain selections, they can 'provide an interesting variant as a foot massage device... Yeah, right...*L* |
