New Cain & Cain IM Ben Fostex/double horn - help

Boa2, Yes, I use the low gain setting also. The Fostex HP sound reflectors work great. I put two of them in each lower bass horn and 2 in the top horns also. No need for Dakron and these dont deaden the sound like Dakron.

I also am running an Origin Live Ultra Kit turntable with modified rega 250 arm and Grado reference cart now. Starting in on LP's! Liking the SET sound so much guys.

Horns have been tamed and they are also alive with sound!

Bill

Terry is wonderful and I will continue to talk to him. I wanted to ask other Cain owners also as they have experience in various home/room settings etc. Gmood! makes a great point and I am starting to think he is right.

When I stand back against the back wall - no problem. But, several feet closer and its back. May be this simple. Man, I love these speakers and hope to work it out. Not an issue at lower volumes. I do like loder music at time however.

I could stuff a small pillow's worth of Dakron in each top horn, but I would think that is not best. I have noted that the more Dakron I place in the top horns the better the situation. Downside is I lose some of the speakers lively sound.

Bill

Here is an update. After reading yours post and talking to Terry at Cain & Cain this is what I have done.

1) Changed my seating position as well as speaker placement.
I am now 14 feet back from the speakers and the rear wall is 1 foot behind me with Echo Buster wall treatments on the wall. The speaker is 4.5 feet from the front wall and 3 feet from the side walls. 90% of the mid-bass/midrange colorations are gone - like magic. Combination of now being far back away from the speaker and pulling them into the room more did the trick.

2) Replaced big dollar silver/copper speaker cable with Paul Speltz anti-cable. This was the single best improvement folks. Opened up the sound and the boxy personality is gone.

3) replaced cheap PBJ IC with Tara Labs Air 1
4) replaced EH 6ns7 Wright amp tubes with RCA NOS's

I am nearing the sound of my dreams with a SET system. I have Fostex HP soud reflectors coming in today. They are made to be placed in the mouth of the upper and lower horns. Terry says this will eliminate the remaining mid-bass/midrange colorations and peaking. I am placing 2 of these 6 inch discs in each horn. I also have a Cardas Lightning digital cable coming to replace my silver/copper one. Terry says that copper is far better throughout my system with these speakers. So far everything he has said is right and thus I move on in faith!

I will let you know how these new tweaks turn out.

Thanks for all your help Agoners. I am learning that larger horn speakers can be difficult to set up. With patience they can sound so good.

My sound is big, warm, full of body and so beautiful. The music flow effortlessly and just engages the listener.I find the treble energy very good and really dont feel the need for a supertweeter. Speaker cable is very important to this aspect of the sound. The Paul Speltz anti=cable is a must for Fostex horns folks. They cost me $40 new! Ha! Beat the sound of $800 cables by a long mile.

Bill

The IM ben is brand new and not on the site as yet. It is a smaller version of the I Ben. Terry feels it is his best effort yet. Larger soundstage and better imaging as compared to the Abby's. yes, much better bass than the Abby's also.

Bill

I am not Terry of Cain & Cain, but I think the retail is $4500 - $5500 depending on finish. I would contact Terry for details on this new speaker. He is great to work with.
Most helpful and not at all pushy.

Bill

Just wanted to post on the joy this system is giving me. I am hearing Van Morrision for the first time in my living room. Ha! The combination of Wright Sounds amps, preamp and the Cain's is magical as I have read on AA.

I want to encourage anyone who wants to go the SET system route after owning big $$$ conventional systems. This is the best sound I have had in my room. It takes a little set-up effort, but the results are so beautiful.

I just found that the high gain setting is much better on the preamp in my system. I did not realize this until recently.

Have fun.

Bill