Joseph Audio Pulsar 2 Graphene Placement & Break-In?

audioal11,

Yes, the Pulsar 2s represent a significant upgrade over the originals. My issue with the 2s is my 11.5 x 12 listening room, which the 2s are simply too much speaker for.

prof,

The new version 2 is better across all parameters. A more
refined midrange, with beautiful, delicate, crystalline like high frequencies integrated perfectly with a deeper range into the lower registers. While the originals had these qualities as well, the Pulsar 2s have really enhanced these abilities in an immediately audible way. The best way I can sum up the differences is by saying the 2s posses a more refined, full-range, musical sound by achieving what seems to be very difficult, and that is the perfect combination of detail and a flesh and bones life-like musicality.         

I had the same problem with the Perspective2’s and wound up selling what was otherwise a spectacular loudspeaker. Regarding plugging the ports, I tried that too but found the speakers lost some of their magic in the process. I should note my room is challenging for any rear ported speakers and the only surefire remedy has been to use a pair of subs with low pass and high pass filtration. High passing to the monitor speakers at 50Hz completely resolved the bass node issue while allowing them to operate optimally. The SVS subs handle bass from 80 Hz on down seamlessly. Gotta love that SVS app!

did you high pass with the svs or jl audio sub?

High passed with built in xover in my Bel Canto E1X integrated amp. Low passed with the SVS. I Currently have the Pulsar2’s and doing the same as noted.

@vdotman

Oh man, that worries me to hear.

I'd worried a bit from the Pulsar Graphene issues reported in this thread that maybe this would happen between the Original Perspectives to the graphene version as well.  Other Perspective Graphene owners have been very happy with the bass performance and yours if the first report I've seen of unwieldy bass with the Perspective graphenes.

I have the original Perspectives and have wanted to upgrade to the graphene version. I have a 15’ x 13’ room with a very wide room opening, which seems to allow larger speakers to "breath" pretty well. I am also able to pull them well out from the wall behind them, about 4 feet or so to the back of the speaker. The bass of the Perspectives is generally well controlled. Though it just occasionally on some content borders on too much. I’ve read that the graphene version has "tighter bass" but also "more bass" so it’s hard to know which directly that would take in my room.

Can you explain in a bit more detail why rear ported speakers have issues in your room? Is it a small room? Or are you unable to pull the speakers well out from the wall or something?

Thanks.

It’s not unique to the Perspective2’s. It’s my room which has a pretty prominent bass node issue. Also, I can’t pull them out more than a couple of feet which is limiting. I would not judge the speaker by how they did in my room. The guy I sold them to thought the bass was too light, so it is all about room and system synergy. I have been able to solve my problem using the high and low pass scenario I described along with a pair of sealed subs. I don’t think bass issues are a unique problem. There are a lot of integrated amps with DSP now or DIRAC or something similar designed specifically to address the problem. The Bel Canto E1X has its own bass EQ DSP which I have just started to experiment with. It can’t fix a strong room bass node but it can effectively address boomy bass which is very helpful.

Thanks for the response vdotman!  That's helpful info.

Couple of things:  Aside from the bass issues, what did you like about the Perspectives?

Any reason why you didn't just use the sub with the Perspectives?  What did you move on to?

I bought the Perspective2’s as the ubiquitous end-game speakers. I didn’t have the subs at the time as I didn’t think I needed them. Aside from the bass node issue that occurred less than 10% of the time (but enough to be irritating, especially given these are $15K speakers), I loved everything about the Perspective2’s and would have kept them and called it quits on the speaker search. Yes, they are that good in my opinion. After those, I bought the pair of SVS subs and a pair of Dynaudio Contour 20’s, then the Graham Audio Chartwell LS6’s which worked and sounded great, so I kept them as I liked them better than the Contour 20’s, which were no slouch by the way. I later picked up a pair of Graham Audio LS5/9’s, which when paired with the SVS subs, sounded even better. BUT, all the while I had been looking for a pair of Pulsar2’s, and as it turned out, one person who I had previously contacted about selling his pair contacted me and offered to sell them to me along with my trading for the LS6’s as part of the deal. It was a very attractive and fair offer so I took him up on it. It was hard to part with the LS6’s though, especially since they were as-new and in the rosewood finish, but their condition and finish allowed me to get top dollar for their traded value. All in, I got the Pulsar2’s in rosewood in 9/10 condition for around $5500 which is about the best anyone can hope for I think, certainly a fair deal all the way around. I have not experienced any bass node issues with them so far, or any other bass issues since I have tuned the system to the room, so I think I made the right decisions all things considered.

Thanks for the details vdotman!

Wow back to the Pulsars.  Very nice.  What a deal.

I'm also jealous of your time with the Graham Audio speakers.   I'm a fan of the classic Brit speakers - I own Spendor S3/5s and have owned Harbeth SuperHL5plus.   The Grahams have really intrigued me.  (Nowhere to demo them, though).

Gene Rubin is a Graham dealer on the west coast. I got turned onto them by a guy I know in NC who had a pair of LS6’s and had very positive things to say about them. I subsequently bought a pair on USAM. Did the same with the LS5/9’s which were posted for over a month before I pulled the trigger. I have been a fan of British speakers all along owning numerous Spendors, many being Terry Miles designs, but when I found out Derek Huges was doing the design work at Graham, my attention turned to his work. The LS5/9’s may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but when set up right and when correctly paired with a subwoofer covering the lowest bass, they are truly special. I use a Bel Canto E1X to drive my speakers and tune my system’s low end. As the Brit’s like to say, simply brilliant!

Sounds fantastic vdotman.

Derek Hughes, not Huges. Sorry.

I have Pulsar 2 Graphene's in a medium sized room.  I have them positioned about 5 feet from the front wall.  They do not have too much bass in my installation.  I would say they sound like they measure in the Stereophile review: very even response with roll off beginning in the mid 40's hz range.  In my room, By 32 hz they are about 10 db down from flat.

AS usual, the room is critical.

Overall, very happy with them.

@vdotman 

Interested in your take on the LS6 vs the Pulsar2. I currently have LS6’s but have been considering the Pulsar2’s as a change of pace. 

They are two totally different presentations. Both speakers have exceptional bass for their size, but the LS6's bass is fuller and more rounded, whereas the JA is faster and tighter. Beyond that, the JA is more detailed which in my system led to listening fatigue over time. I had traded my LS6's for the Pulsar2's plus some cash, but subsequently wound up selling the Pulsar 2's and buying back my LS6's which I still have. If you like the LS6's, see if you can find a pair of the LS5/9's or LS8/1's. I have the LS5/9's and they will take you in the Pulsar2's direction but without the issues I experienced, in my opinion.

@vdotman Thanks - appreciate you taking the time to provide your point of view on the two speakers. 

Beyond that, the JA is more detailed which in my system led to listening fatigue over time.

I've found JA speakers paired with tube amps to be wonderful.  My Perspectives paired with my CJ amps are super resolving, but smooth and easy to listen to all night.  (And I have super-sensitive ears in terms of listening fatigue.  I work all day doing sound and couldn't take a fatiguing speaker when it came time to relax and listen)