Hello all
Was sold on the sound of the time windows the first time I heard them in 1980. Bought, used, loved and abused them until their untimate demise a couple of years back. At about that time, in search of replacements for my dry rotted grills, I passed up the then factory rebuild offer of $300.00 (including new drivers and crossovers!). I am now in dire need of either replacements, or a skilled rebuild. I hope someone here understands my pain and can point me in the right directions. |
Like previously stated, McMaster is the source for the grill/sock replacement fabric. DCM cust svc even game me the part#, which I don't have handy right now.
Way back when, I had owned Time Window's, TW3's, and the 1A's. All excellent choices, powered by Onkyo M-504 amp/P-304 preamp combo. All of the vintage DCM speakers are very musical, exhibit nice resolution, nice soundstaging from L to R/top to bottom/front to rear, and play the low frequencies much better than their size would indicate.
After a three-year hiatus from the audio "habit", I'm back. Luckily, I still have my faithful Time Windows. They do need some TLC. The drivers themselves sound as wonderful as when new, especially driven by my Cary SLI-80. The top and bottom caps need refinishing/replacement...has anyone attempted or accomplished this task? |
Mark,
In the floorstanding speaker section of eBay, I noticed a guy that had a pair of replacement tweeters for DCM speakers. I didn't look to see what else he may have on hand. You might try a search there? Seems like it might make some sense to replace both tweeters for the sake of symmetry. The original tweeters were only good to 18kHz, with newer drivers probably out to 20kHz or so.
Has anyone tried removing the top and base plates? I don't want to do more harm than good while attempting to do so.
I ordered a set of spikes, and I'll be installing those this week. I'll post feedback on the results sometime soon. |
Just a quick update...intalled the floor spikes in the bottom plate of the TW's. As I had hoped, this tightened the bass and midbass up quite nicely. It improved the overall soundstage a bit also. This upgrade is a very nice "bang for the buck". |
Please excuse two dumb questions, but what is a good source for spikes? Also, should different spikes be used for original TW's and the TW Seven's?
Thanks in advance,
Dan |
Not dumb questions at all.
I bought mine at www.oregondv.com. I'm sure there are other sources, but I found them quickly via a Yahoo search.
If I recall correctly, the 7's are quite a bit larger than the original TW's. However, one is limited by the thickness of the bottom plate of the speaker. I purchased the 1/4" spikes, as the depth of the bottom plate is somewhat limited on the TW's. |
Attention Gerald Gasser. I need some of your speaker grill foam and your e-mail address is undeliverable. Please contact me if you have any left. Thanks, Sherod |
Hi all,just found this interesting site,so must let u know I am looking to sell my TimeWindow 1A's(1985vintage)to a good home:[email if interested] I will be downsizing them for a pair of Rodgers- LS3/5A's.The reason is space now rules; I think the LS3 is the closest match for its size,So I would invite other comments/appinions etc: Kind regards-Rod, (England). |
Rod, unless you don't intend to mount the Rodgers on stands, you're not going to be saving much room. |
I have a pair from 1978 and they are still wonderful. The grill foam, however, is torn. Does anyone know where I can get replacement foam?
I know that the original company is no longer in business. |
Hi Hedgehog,the Rodgers will be up on my shelf,running from a QAUD405/2;+44(control)- all now very compact & neat with nothing on the floor. Have you heard the LS3/5As? Rod: |
No, I have not heard the LS3/5As. Sounds like a very uncluttered system...
Try McMaster for the grill foam...I believe the address is in a previous post in this thread. |
Has any other TimeWindow-fan heard the Rogers LS3/5As'? I would invite your comments on this tiny, 70's- BBC classic!Regards, Rod: |
The guy who originally sold me my pair of Time Windows back in 1982 still has a pair of the legendary Rogers LS3/5A speakers. I think for the most part the two speakers share the same basic tonal balance, although the extreme spaciousness of the Time Window is probably something that sets this speaker apart from the Rogers. Also, the LS3/5A does not have the same bass characteristic as the Time Window. But it seems to me both speakers roll off the top end very quickly above 18,000 Hz, and it is probably this quality that invites comparison. One thing is certain. Both speakers seem to have their dedicated following, and for good reason. They remain competitive today with even the best designs. I never intend to part with my Time Windows. It would cost too much to find a better speaker. |
Be careful on the Rogers LS3/5A. If memory serves me correct they are a 16 ohm speaker! |
Yes, Ferrari, the LS3/5A is a 16 ohm load. Personally I think they are more trouble than they are worth. They have a real dedicated following, which tells you the speaker is definitely solid in most key areas of performance. But I think the Time Window is far easier to live with in real world terms. They have survived in my house for 23 years. |
Hello, I had to chime in this blog as I could not help myself. I have been a dedicated fan of DCM speakers since I heard them for the first time @ Circuit City in 1992. I fell in love with their lineup (Monitors) and worked my up to the (Time Frames) and eventually upgraded to the Time Windows (3 series).
Today, I own the elusive Time Window 7's which I was lucky enough to pick up on Ebay a couple years ago.
I can honestly say, I will never part my Time Windows because they are best sounding speaker which I believe will stand the test of time!
Here, let me see if I can decribe accurately how these speakers sound althought I recommmend you audition these in person...
The tonal balance is very accurate, vocal imaging crisp and detailed. The bass is deep (yet accurate); the TW7's creates bass to drops all the way down to the threshold (lower limits) of human hearing (20hz).
FYI: when sound is created at 20hz, it's more of a vibration you can feel (like when you go to a 'live' performance.
Just be sure to matchup your speakers to a nice amp to enjoy
ultra low sonic distortion in highs, midrange and lows.
I am currently running a 160watts @ 4ohms using a Denon 2 channel ultra high current amp. (PMV2000IVR)
and that's all I have to say about the DCM Time Windows.
Btw, I've at one time all of the following DCM speakers below:
CX-17's, CX-27's, Time Frame 600, Time Frame 1000, Time Window 1A, Time Window 3's and currently I possess the Time Window 7's. |
BTW,
There's a pair of low-hour 1A'a on e-bay right now. |
I bought a pair of Time Windows at a garage sale for $10. $10 DOLLARS! The kid two seconds behind me begged me for them for his XBOX gaming. Too bad, I got there first. Their grill cloth was long gone and the wood on one was a little rough. I resealed the enclosures, which were in great shape, with black silicon seal in a couple places to be sure they were still air tight. At the supermarket I bought some of the shelving liner you put in your cupbords under your dishes and glasses, its an open-meshed rubberized foam of some kind. Painted the wood tops and bottoms flat black, wrapped them in black shelving liner, and they looked and sounded fabulous, even powered with my little vintage Pioneer SX-3500 with 6 spectrum booster/equalizer. Unfortunately I lost them in a flood. I almost cried. I have since purchased two more pairs on eBay recently in "like new" and "excellent" condition, and continue to go forth and rock. Sorry if you lost the bids! |
Well, this is a fun site to run across; lots of other Time Window freaks. I bought my first set of Time Windows in 1981 as a divorce present for myself. My marriage to them has now lasted nearly three times as long as the one to my firs wife. I have played them with lots of different electronics and listened to a lot of other speakers in the ensuing years. Other speakers make me nervous. A couple of years ago I purchased a pair of Time Window 3s. Although, I also love these speakers, I think that when George sends me to Guantanamo I will take the original Time Windows with me. |
Home theater and time windows
Does anyone know if the old time windows can be used or even if it is a good idea to use them with
the modern 5.1 home theater a/v receivers . |
My Time Windows are still going strong after 24 years of use and abuse. I'm currently using them in my second system, a 2-channel "home theater" system run by the Carver Receiver which is just about as old. They still sound great.
I remember the first time I heard them was in a stereo store in Columbia, MO and they just lit the room up. Everyone wandered over to them to hear these new, odd shaped speakers. I still like the concept of the prismatic face with dual sets of drivers. The horizontal dispersion easily fills up a room with sound. This works well for movies also, since I don't have a center channel, they fill the space in front of the TV quite well with dialogue. I agree with others above, they were a little soft at the extremes but for the rest of the bandwidth, they were fairly linear and very transparent sounding for the time. I've occasionally thought of selling them but can never get myself to part with them. They were my first real "high end" speaker and they've become part of the family.
stevenk |
I'd welcome recommendations for placement in a large L-shaped room. Thanks! |
I have added my comments much earlier in this thread. But I am truly surprised to see so many others who feel about the Time Windows the way I do. This definitely speaks to the overall musicality of this great speaker. I have been enjoying my Dynaudio Audience 42s for the last three months, but I think it is high time to reconnect with the Time Windows. |
Ok guys, I actually work for DCM - or more to the point, for Mitek - the parent company of DCM.
Originally, DCM stood for De-Criminalize Marijuana. Yes, really. However, for the sake of political correctness we now state "Distinctively Clear Music"
By the way, the new TFE200's are phenomenal. If you enjoy the old sound of DCM, audition a pair of the new TFE's - it will be worth your time. They're not junk like the FT series (which is GOING AWAY! yay!!!) |
Has anyone tried to tighten the drivers on these speakers? They are fairly old now. Anyhow, I am a little wary, because of the yellow chalkmark on the tweeter plate. There are also two possible tighteners on the tweeters. What type of screw holds down the base drivers? |
Thanks to anthropy for the updated info on DCM in its current state. I have checked the DCM website and the new speake line looks impressive. Those two floorstanding models appear to be very solidly thought out and constructed. I hope the current DCM can establish its own niche in the very fickle and competitive marketplace. The designs look all the business to me. |
I have now been listening again to the Time Window for a five day period, after switching from the Dynaudio Audience 42. One thing for sure, the Time Window is capable of some very nice bass output, which sets it apart immediately from the Audience 42. The Dynaudio is better oin the extreme top end, which creates a different spatial perspective than the Time Window. Both speakers seem valid to me. Hard to say one or the other is definitely better. But the Time Window does create a staggeringly good soundstage, with very definite placement of performers. This is without doubt a great speaker design, one easy to live with. One can do far worse. |
Cwheh,
The TimeWindows do very well in a 5.1 set up. The apex of the speaker should point straight forward for the mains. If used for surrounds you need to point them at each other from the side walls behind the listening area. Try to find a DCM CX-17 for center channel.
Apanthropy,
It was also said that DCM stood for "Drug Capital of Michigan" because they were made in Ann Arbor. Actualy DCM stands for "Dreps Crone Maze". I got that directly from Steve Eberbach.
There's a set of TimeWidow Three's (much more refined then the original or 1a) on Ebay right now, those are the ones to get, Unless you can find Steve's signature series the TimeWindow Sevens.
Good listening! |
i have one pair of these boxes in germany...from my father. i want to sell this two thing. |
Interesting thread! I came accross it as I am looking for one speaker. ( I got one for free in this group's construction dumpster!!) Admired the sound for years in their building. It's running on an old Sansui 5000 and needs a running mate! any ideas? Or I can give it up for parts that some here need, if I can get my hands on a pair.
The new wife doesn't like my huge old Electrovoice corner Georgians (which are much older but fuller on the bottom end). |
I was a very happy listener of my 1984 DCM TimeWindow 1As (s/n 48426 & 48427).
Unfortunately my amp malfunctioned. DC bias I believe and I didn't have my in line fuses installed that I once had. So poof - both main driver coils in one speaker are toast.
After reading through numerous threads I haven't come across any recommended 6 1/2" driver replacements for the 1A's. My main drivers were marked 22570 8ohm 719421. Seemed to be of paper cone material with rubber surrounds.
So please excuse me while I ask the question again. Has anyone come across acceptable replacements?
I'd prefer to just replace the two to match the other speaker but if I can find good or better ones than I'd be willing to replace all four drivers.
thanks for any help,
Paul |
From what I recall, when I was selling the Time Windows back in 1979, DCM used all Philips drivers. The woofer was, I believe, @6 ohms. You might do a google search or contact DCM directly( are they still in business?) or try this site: www.layneaudio.hypermart.net
Good luck.
|
I bought a pair in the 70's and used them happily into the 21st century. My son now has them in his university dorm, much to the delight of his floor mates. I solved the grill cloth replacement problem by glueing a thin dense foam all over the cabinet, cutting out holes for the speakers and ports, and then using fabric glue to put a conventional grill cloth fabric over top. It worked flawlessly and looks as good as the original. |
I have a pair in my garage (In the original boxes) waiting to come into my front room (I have just moved into a new home). I have owned them since 1979 when I bought them new. I use a kenwood 9400 receiver (120 watts per side) to drive them and they still sound better than anything I have listened to over the years. I plan on keeping them as long as I can. |
I'd like to connect a pair of Time Windows to my Onkyo AV Receiver as speaker system "B" for my second room. Or even as part of speaker system "A" for the main room. However, Onkyo requires a minimum impedence of 8 ohms or damage to the AV Receiver will occur. Will my AV Receiver be damaged if I connect the Time Windows to it? The impedence rating for the Time Windows is not disclosed on the name plate and I read here at the start of thread that the Time Windows impedence is between 5 and 8 ohms. Thank you, anxious to try. |
Nominal impedance for the Time Windows is 6 ohms. Not really knowing how much muscle the Onkyo really has,makes me think that one should proceed with caution.Because the ohm load will drop based upon program material. A lot of the newer AV gear just pukes at the lower impedances. Trying to combine a music system with home theater system usually doesn't work very well. Unless of course one spends a lot to do this such as the products from Lexicon and some others that have high current amps. If possible set up a Home Theater system and a Two Channel Audio system in separate rooms, if that is an option. If not then one has to make the choice HT or Music. |
Just discovered this forum. I've been a TW 1 owner since 1976. When the HT bug bit, I wasn't ready to put a lotta bucks into new speakers and gear, so (reluctantly) used the Time Windows as the main fronts with an Infinity (can't recall the model) center and in-ceiling rears. Sounded real good driven by a Sherwood Newcastle R-945 receiver, although the unmatched center and rears detracted from what the TW 1s brought to the game. Recently rebuilt the entire Home Theater with Rotel (1098 controller, 1075 amp, 1060 DVD) components, B&W 603S3s/600LCRs, and dual Velodyne SPL 800 subs . The Home Theater now sounds GREAT, but the point of bringing that up here is to say that that let me put my Time Windows back as my music only stereo system where they started and best belong. They're on Tiptoes and driven through a Crown IC-150 preamp/D-150A amp with a Rotel RCC 1055 CD source, and sound as absolutely wonderful as ever, regardless of the type of music I'm listening to or whether at reduced or high volume levels. IMHO, these are THE premier classic stereo speakers of their era and have yet to be outdone by but a few of the newcomers at any reasonable cost level. |
Called the number for DCM listed elsewhere in these postings as I am also looking to replace the foam covers on my TW 1's. They no longer directly supply replacements or the material, but did direct me to McMaster.com (as mentioned elsewhere on this forum). The correct part number for the filter foam that can be ordered on their site is 2195K52 (1/4" charcoal colored foam with 30 pores per inch (ppi)). Telephone number for McMaster is 404-346-7000. Hope this is helpful. |
If someone wants to order a roll of this foam from McMaster-Carr( $46.99 for a 10 ft. roll) I'll buy a few feet from them as I need to wrap some older Rauna Tyr II monitors. Thanks, Sherod |
I haven't read all the responses here, but I recently got the okay to tighten the drivers from DCM. |
Does anybody know the tweeter/woofer crossover frequency in the Time Windows. I'm not sure whether they are TW1's or TW2's. The serial numbers are 360..
Thanks for any help,
Pete |
I'm not sure of the crossover frequencies(and, hence, I cannot help you identify your particular version.), but I have always suspected that they were different from each other, let's say on just one speaker. I, myself, wonder what the chalkmarks mean. |
I owned a pair of the original Time Windows in 1978 or 79. They were awesome. I lived in an apartment so I had to be very careful not to crank them up so I wouldn't get too many complaints. They were on my living room long wall facing a common wall to the next apartment. That neighbor moved out, so one day I put on the Rolling Stone and cranked it up. A short while later there was pounding on my door. A very upset guy told me he was checking out the empty apartment and the common wall was vibrating!
Ah, memories. I later moved out of state and sold all my belongings. I wish I had those speakers still. |
Just another good example why audiophiles should avoid apartments and try to own or rent a home. |
In the late 70's and early 80's my system included my original Time Windows and a Pioneer SX1250 Receiver. It was great. This past Saturday while cleaning up the store room in my basement I decided to lug the Pioneer up stairs and hook it up to the Time Windows again. Having not been plugged in for at least 16 years, it took the receiver a half hour or so to completely wake up. But, once it did, that combo sounds just as wonderful as ever. It is like two old lovers reuniting in the livingroom. As soon as my back recovers and I can lift the SX1250 again I am going to move it and the speakers permanently into the dining room. |
Remember that Pioneer SX 1250 very well, one of Pioneers best receivers. Good design with external heat sinks. Built like the proverbial tank, that came out during the stereo receiver wars of the late 70s early 80s. Few high power receivers were built and designed correctly, but this one was. This was about as good as it gets in high power receivers. Not quite in the same league as the McIntosh 1700,1900 or 4100 or the Marantz 18 or 19, but those were not high power receivers. All of these were statement receivers from the golden age. Well worth keeping and restoring and updating from time to time.
Todays receivers can't even remotely come close to these great vintage receivers, that forever changed the design and performance of the stereo receiver into a viable medium. |
Yep to all. I used to lust for an SX 1980. I'm not even sure why except that it was even bigger. But, having listened to them at the time and subsequently, the 1250 sounds every bit as good. I was afraid that after sitting so long it would need some work, like capacitors. But, the left channel was a little thin for awhile but suddenly came alive and the whole unit has now been playing constantly for the past week or so and sounds perfect. I'd forgotten how smoothly all of the controls work and how neat the silky analog tuner works. |
