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Review: DCM TimeWindow 1 Speaker

Category: Speakers

This review covers the orignal DCM Time Windows. Not the subsequent versions.

I remember the first time I heard these. Their unique shape and sound where unlike anything I had heard before. Here was a speaker that really delivered the promise. It was driven by a PS Audio Amp and PS Audio LCC PreAmp. At the time I had the Large Advents,and while those speakers were very good indeed, the Time Windows were clearly superior. The music just seemed to come alive in a way that's hard to describe. There was just a seamless transparency to them. Not overly bright or accentuated on the bass. The balance was right on. It didn't really matter what the program material was, the Time Windows clearly and with authority brought the music to life. If they had any real weakness is for some peoples taste the bass may have been on the light side. But for my taste it was as it should be. The orginals used Philips drivers using a transmission line and the cabinet construction contributed to the overall sound. In the late 70s these were not cheap at about $800.00 but were indeed worth the price of admission. I was finally able to acquire a pair of these and have them to this day. Few things one purchases in life have enduring value and the Time Windows truly are in that category. Of all the reviews I have read on these speakers not one reviewer has clearly defined the sonics of this fabulous speaker. Use all of the adjectives you want and one will still come up short in the description. Best way to describe them, if you love music and have better than average components connected to them, the Time Windows will deliver the music with a verve that will astound you.

Now these speakers are some 20 years or more in age and continue to deliver the music. And that's what this hobby is all about. DCM no longer produces the Time Windows,having opted for the HT route. This is a true shame as these speakers deserve continued production. Timeless design is just that.

Specifications:

  • Dimensions:36"H x 14 3/4"W x 11 3/4"D
  • Weight:32 Pounds
  • Power Requirements:10 Watts Minimum per channel 89 dB/watt at one meter;200 Watts Maximum
  • Impedance:5 Ohms minimum/6-8 Ohms nominal
  • Frequency Range:25Hz to 18 kHz
  • Dispersion:180 degrees horizontal/60 degrees vertical.

    Specifications do not tell the whole story,listening does. The Time Windows due to their configuration can be literally tuned to any room. That is due to their shape. This was a brilliantly executed design that has remained faithful all these years.

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    • ferrari
    hsitz
    1 posts
     
    It's interesting for me to read through posts in this topic and see there are lots of others who are still enjoying original Time Windows. I have a set of Time Window 1a's that I bought when I was a freshman in college in 1981. I drove them then and still drive them now with the little NAD 3020 amplifier that I got as a high school graduation present.

    I recall that back then some audiophile magazine had the Time Windows and NAD 3020 as kind of the premier "poor man's" high quality audio system. (Maybe "Sensible Sound"?) Both the Time Windows and the little 3020 have followed me around in my meanderings, sometimes in storage, sometimes not. At the moment both are in use in the living room of my home, and the combination still sounds fantastic.

    I drove the Time Windows for a short time recently with a Yamaha home theater receiver, 80 watts per channel. I thought they sounded fine. But then for fun I reconnected the 20 w/ch NAD 3020 and was surprised at the difference. Much more bass from the little 3020, and overall sound was "warmer" along with the elusive "more musical" description.

    If my current original Time Windows ever give out, I hope I can find another pair on eBay.

    I just recently found this Audiogon website and started reading a bit about tube amplifiers. I have to say I've always been skeptical that amplifiers were much of a factor in a hifi system; I always thought speakers were by far most important and that you could pretty much just plug in any decent amplifier and get great sound. My recent experience noticing how much better the NAD 3020 sounded than the Yamaha receiver has me rethinking things. I'd appreciate any comments people could give about whether a tube amp might make a noticeable difference with the Time Windows over my current 3020. Cheers.
    kkm
    124 posts
     
    Does anyone know if they used the same drivers on both the Time Windows and Time Frames? TIA.
    tagyerit
    73 posts
     
    dunno for suer, but the guy i got my windows from also owned timeframes and he said they were the same. his info has always been correct re: all things audio.
    hauser
    8 posts
     
    Arnold, only the TimeWindow Three's and Seven's were mirrored. The original's and the 1A's were both identical, no right or left.

    Klm, some of the earlier TimeFrames like the TF700 used the same 8" driver as the TW3, but the later TimeFrames like the TF600 did not.
    mmakshak
    589 posts
     
    Hsitz, I has the original 3200 driving the original DCM Time Windows, with an analog set-up. Let me tell you, that the Classe DR 70(which came from the original poster of this thread) was far superior. I also want to say that the Nuforce amps killed this Classe(are you listening Classe?).
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