Dunlavy SC4 Speakers

Rrog. Thanks for the response the speakers are finished in black oak. no shipping as they are part of another deal that my audio store I shop at locally has put together. If we make a deal the speakers would be dropped off at my door step. The speakers are in excellent condition from seeing them and from the demo that I had. Does this give any indication of what's the most I dhould be willing to pay.

Thanks for the response. Ejlif I know that there are better speakers out there either at a higher price or lower price range. The SCIV are on the radar due to the price $1,500.00 dollars no shipping dropped off at my door. How disapointing is the bass in these speakers and do they require subs? I have seen other speakers in this price range but not locally. Which means I have to add on 300 to 400 doallars for shipping which then exceeds my budget. The SCIV's look apealing due to this fact. If there are a better set of speakers locally in the Columbus area please chime in.

Thanks.

Jeffga, What didnt you like about them?

Meadow man I belive these are the first series with the Morel Woofers and Vifa tweeters. I would much rather have accurate and articulate bass than boomy sloppy bass. I do have a set of pretty decent subs that I could run with the Dunlavys if need be.Sounds like the going prive for the improved SCIV's and SCIVA's is around $2,000 to $2,500 is it safe to say that $1,500 for a set of orginal SCIV's is a good deal?

Jeffga, Sounds like you and a few others agree that these need to be set up on the long wall to get better imaging?

Rrog, Agreed I wish they were anything but black. I hate black speakers. But for the price and what I'm getting I guess I can't complain. I should have no issues with the drivers blending as I don't often sit in my sweet spot and listen to music. I'm more of an active music listener. By this I mean I typically am listening to my music while cleaning the house, cooking, or doing laundry.

Has anyone or does anyone have any feedback or done a dollar for dollar comparison between the real Telydyne AR9 speaker and the Dunlavy SCIV speakers? Looking for feedback as to which speaker for the dollar is the better choice? I can get my hands on a set of AR9 speakers for $1,100 bucks shipped and all surrounds have been replaced and cabinets are flawless. I also can get my hands on a set of SCIV speakers for $1,500 Delivered. I know both speakers are good but wanted feedback on dollar forthe ddollar which would be the best to live with?

Thanks unsound. Which would you prefer between the two?

Rcprince, Not sure of my room dimension's but my set up is in the man cave(basement)My house is rather large and the basenment is a full basement. I have never used room dimenisions when buing speakers in the past. My reasoning for this is that I never sit in the sweet spot and listen to music. I typically will turn on my music and listen while i'm cooking dinner or cleaning up stairs. I rarely sit in the man cave and listen to music. I love to turn on my music and listen to it throughout the house while I go about my day to day activites.

Unsound your last comment clears up a lot for me. That 2 is my impression of the Vandersteens they do a lot of things very well and are super laid back. mabe 2 laid back for my taste at times. I belive that I mis represented what I was looking for in a new to me set of speakers. While I did state more bass the better description would have been larger sound stage and a little more forward or just not as laid back as the vandersteens. I want a speaker that's not as laid back as the vandersteen's but one that I can listen to hours upon hours like my Vandersteen's.

Sauce, thanks for the detailed feedback. I hear many great things about the Dunlavy SCIV speakers. Even those who talked negative about them only say for such a large speaker they don't go as low as one would think they would. But im sure they go lower than my Vandersteen 2ci speakers. Vandersteen being a great speaker no doubt just hate having to deal with adjusting the sub when different tracks or genre of music is playing. So I decided to replace them with speakers that wouldn't require subs. Thouhjt of replacing my Klipsch sw12 sub. But once I saw the price of good musical subs. I decided for the money I could just upgrade my speakers. Again the Dunlavy and AR9 speakers are at the top of list due to availability to me. They would be coming from a local audio source so I have a little time to decide which I want.

Thanks for all the feedback. Anyone has any input on the AR9 speakers. It is my understanding that they are one of the few speakers that truly don't require a sub. I also see that these have stood the test of time like the Dunlavy's My only concern with the Dunlavy's is having to use a sub the same issue I have with my Vandy's love the speakers and how they perform just no bottom end. While the Dunlavy's are a great deal I am on a budget so if i go with them and need a sub ill be out of luck funds wise.

Unsound what's your thoughts on the Vandersteen 2ci speakers? Maybe it's just me but they have bottom end just not a lot but what bottom end they have is accurate and nice. I don't think they would fair well in the bottom end without a sub or 2 I hope the Dunlavy SCIV have more bottom end than the Vandersteen 2ci while maintaining accuracy and being musical

If that's the case what's all the hype behind Dunlavy speakers?

You guys really have provided me with an enormous amount of info. Looks like I'm all in now as I sold my Vandersteen 2ci speakers today. For those who have owned or actually spent time with the SCIV'S did you feel the need for a separate sub. Rrog I too have herd that when placed closer to the rear wall the bass is fine?

Tom, thanks for the update I will look into replacing the resistors as well.

No_Regrets thanks for the detailed feed back. I will take this into consideration.

Ok so here's an update on the Dunlavy SCIV speakers. The dealer I deal with has picked up the speakers how ever the tweeters are blown and will need to be replaced. Not sure if the dealer can get the exact replacements as these are the early production run of the speakers and im told none of the original drivers are around anymore and that one would have to call Madisound for a replacement driver based on the info on the bad driver. Any thoughts or input from any one. Are the speakers worth the time and hassle? Will the speakers still blend well with replacement tweeters?

Unsound or Rcprince are you guys saying that he speakers are still worth getting? Of course my dealer will replace the tweeters prior to dropping them off to me. My concern is that the dealer will try to raise the price after replacing the tweeters.

Ok so here's an update on the Dunlavy SCIV speakers. The dealer I deal with has picked up the speakers how ever the tweeters are blown and will need to be replaced. Not sure if the dealer can get the exact replacements as these are the early production run of the speakers and im told none of the original drivers are around anymore and that one would have to call Madisound for a replacement driver based on the info on the bad driver. Any thoughts or input from any one. Are the speakers worth the time and hassle? Will the speakers still blend well with replacement tweeters?

Reynolds853 The dealer took them in as part of an estate sale with a lot of other high end audio gear mostly Spectral gear. The Dunlavy's were part of the estate sale. My sales guy and close friend made me aware of the SCIV's because he has been looking for me some speakers for some time due to my budget and wanting to upgrade this process has taking some time.

Turns out the dealer will have the tweeters replaced and the speakers gone over prior to me taking delivery of the speakers. They will also keep the deal at the agreed upon $1500.00 and drop off and set up the speakers at my home.

Pryso my thoughts are the same. However there's not much locally in columbus Ohio for $1500.00 dollars. So I have to take that into consideration as the thred started out my choices have come down to the SCIV $1500.00 or the old Acoustic Research AR9 speakers $1100.00 unless of course I come up with several hundred dollars for shipping.

Ok just got off the phone with the dealer and they have the exact tweeters for the SCIV's so that's a relief. The dealer even ordered an extra set for free since this deal has taken so long.

Unsound I agree with proper set. I will need to re arange the man cave to set them up on the long wall of the man cave. However properly set up on the short wall they really sing. Cant wait to see what improvements I see once set up on the long wall. As for the bottom end it's definitely there in my set up no sub needed.

Bjesien post as much as you like the more the better. I have herd the SCIV speakers and do like them. I don't upgrade often(4kids and a wife) makes sure of that. Also seeing how I'm personal friends with the dealer they often will come out to the house for any repairs so I don't have to worry about packing and transporting heavy speakers and amps to the shop. As far price I never allow myself to get caught up in the hype of a product and the through the roof prices that come along with. While I think the SCIV's are cool I still have to be budget minded. Earlier this year my dealer had a set and wanted 2500.00 for them and there they sat till someone else bought them.

Thanks Rcprince new tweeters will be in on Tuesday and I will be sure to do a follow up. I'm interested in hearing the differences between them and the Vandersteen 2ci speakers.

Judsauce I'm on the same page hate having to constantly adjust the cross over on the sub. That was my gripe with the 2ci speakers

Got the SCIV's today. Haven't listen to them for very long, But my first impression is that they are very detailed and very accurate. I see the argument about the low end it's not that they are lacking in my opinion i think that the overall concept of the speaker is to convey an detailed and accurate presentation and they do a pretty good job of that. Will post more after i let them play for a while.

Unsound. Is there any way to tell what woofers I have without taking one out? Are there any visual things to tell the two woofers apart?

I've been playing with my new to SCIV's for about a month and could'nt be happeir. They are a fine speaker. As far as bass is concerened in my set up they produce an acurate bass that's very musical and does hit rather nicely. Nicely enough that I sold my sub after getting them properly set up.

Update on the SCIV's the bass was pretty good on their own. I did try adding a sub,However properly set up the sub did not add any bottom end just my it sound fuller? Next I tried moving the speakers closer to the back wall as I had read in an post somewhere that contray to popular belief the SCIV's benefit from this. Well I can safely say that closer to the back wall the SCIV's bottom end really came to life. The bass is nice and full just like when they were out further into the room about 2 to 3 feet from the rear wall just a lot more of it.Now with that being said I did put brass cones under the basses of the SCIV's Not sure I under the the concept behind the cones since the speakers are already off the floor due tothe attached bases they come with. With that being said I must say that the bass did clean up some with the cones as well there was an noticable improvement in midbass and treble they both sounded very clear out the gate but the cones make them sound a bit cleaner, This could be due to raising the speakers up closer to ear level more so than majic? also when I got the SCIV's they had some weird looking things attached to the back of them, I forget the name of what they are(I will check later on the name as I did get the paper work along with the paper work for the speakers)but the concept behind them is that they asorb the 1st order reflections from the cabniets allowing speakers to be placed close to the rear wall without getting the refelections. How true this is or isn't I don't know just wanting to paint the proper picture on my set up and the sound as I hear it.

I havent set them up along the long wall as of yet as I don't belive that I have the room to do so. On teh long wall the speakers would only be 4 to 6 feet from the listening position not sure if this would allow enough room for th edriver to blend? But I hear it would still improve th eoverall sound stage?

Unsound are you saying forget the long wall altogether? Pryso I do have the manual. One tread I was reading said that the 3 meters is the arc of the speakers not straight forward from the speaker? Sounds like you guys are saying don't waste my time moving my basement around?

Thanks Unsound. I will do some more measurements. if I set them 10ft. apart on the long wall that would then give me
roughly 8.5 to 9ft from ear to speaker wondering if that will be enough to allow the drivers to properly blend?

Thanks for all the tips. I have moved them over to the long wall roughly 12ft apart and they do sound amazing in this configuration! I tried them with and without the brass cones. While I don't buy into a lot of the snake oil in the audio world I must admit that the cones have somehow made the already revealing mid bass/range just a tad cleaner. The cones most notable affect was on the low end. I was up in the air on sub or sub after trying the cones I can safely say no sub in my set up. The cones have cleaned up the low end. Not that the low end wasn't nice already. But the cones have tightened up the low end and now it's a little faster and a little more slam. I will continue to play and tweak their current set up as time provides. I must say that I am impressed with the SCIV's to be almost 20yrs. old they sure do sing. While not the best speaker in the world they do so many things right that their a pleasure to listen to for hours at a time. Very accurate and detailed at least for my price point and dollar. However I must say bad recordings beware you have been warned!!!

Unsound, I am about 9.5ft from the speakers. Yes I have added some sound treatments behind me.

I'm not close to the rear wall I'm about 5 to 7 feet from the rear wall.

Back in town. My Grand father passed and I was in charge of his final wishes and will. Ttuesley I asked my son to drop off the stands for shipping prior to leaving town how ever like all teen agers he conveniently forgot as i found them in the back of my truck when he picked me up from the airport. I understand your Frustration and apologize for any inconvenience that I caused you. The stands will be there tomorrow according to UPS tracking number 1Z596Y970369535564

Spent more time with the Dunlavy's and must say im loving them more with each listening session. My associated gear is Theata basic transport with a
Analog Research Segue DAC old yes but the pair makes beautiful music. For amps im running Electron Kinetics Eagle 400 monoblocks. Ive thought about getting new amps but anything I've herd in my price range dosent come close to the Eagles and the amps that have beat them was very marginal and didnt justify the dollar spend.

Ttuesley Thanks for the follow up!! I love the Vandersteens as well. If it had not been for the deal a good buddy of mine got me I would never have made the leap with the Dunlavy's. Just remember to fill the stands of the vandersteen's with sand or someting and use the spikes that they came with them and the over all dynamics of the speakers will sound even better.

How do you tell the difference in the models of the SCIV's I hear there is the original then the signature series then the IVA . The set I picked up was said to be the original first run edition. However while setting up and moving the speakers around looking for the best position I noticed that they do say signature series on them. When I did some researching some say that all 3 models will say signature series?