Review: Tyler Acoustics Decade 1 (D1) Speaker
Category: Speakers
I should prefix my review to note that I have only owned these speakers for a little more than a week and at this point they are in the break in process with 125 hours on them.
What did these speakers replace? Most recently I owned Tyler Acoustics D2 Loudspeakers and before the Tyler D2’s, I had the following: Von Schweikert VR4-Jr, Von Schweikert VR4-Sr, Von Schweikert VR-1, Dynaudio Contour S5.4, Dynaudio Contour 3.3. Other brands owned included Klipsch, Triangle, Polk, Monitor, JBL, and JVC.
The Most Important Component-The Room? I have the loudspeakers in my living room which measures at 11 feet by 23 feet with 8 foot ceilings. I have solid oak flooring that is partially covered with 2 rugs to dampen the room. I have the speakers on the short 11 foot wall and each speaker is between 1.5 -2.5 feet from the side walls. The speakers are into the room with 4 feet 8 inches behind them to the wall. I have 5 windows so a fair amount of glass ( 2 in front, 2 on a side , and one in the back of the room).
The System- Bel Canto S500 Amp (250 X 2)
Jeff Rowland Capri Pre Amp
Ayon Cd-2
Arcam DVD Player
Cardas Golden Reference Cable- Speaker, IC, and Power Cords
Tyler Acoustics D1 Loudspeakers
Running Springs Haley Power Conditioner
Herbies Audio Lab Big Fat Gliders (4 Under each speaker)
GIK Bass Treatments (3 on wall behind speakers)
Bass Room Corners (4 Triangles)
The Review- I am not a professional reviewer nor a expert on sound so I will put my comments in the form of impressions that are mostly based on my audio history and experience with the equiptment and rooms I have dealt with.
General Impressions- So Far, these are the characteristics of the speakers I have experienced. They have a very transparent sound. They soundstage very strongly behind the speakers directly and to the sides. I only have them about seven feet apart and I sit about nine feet away. There is a fullness to the sound that is prevalent to large floorstanders but unlike many of them, these speakers are very involving and make you want to get up and dance. They have a lively, engaging personality.
Bass- Very smooth delivery, each speaker has four bass drivers and the benefit is a bass that is present but not overwhelming to the rest of the sound range. I believe that as the speakers break in, the bass will be stronger.
Highs- Very clean and articulate. I find this to be an element to both pairs of Tyler Acoustics speakers that I have owned. Whether you are listening to classical or heavy metal or anything in between, you get a very easy to listen set of highs without the harshness that I have heard with other speakers.
Mids-This is my favorite area to discuss and to me the most important zone for the sound. The D1’s excel in their presentation through the midrange. It is full and smooth and clean. The speaker allows you to listen to it for hours without speaker fatigue and headaches.
Other Impressions- The D1’s are very open sounding and very dynamic. You find yourself hearing sounds in your cd’s that you had not experienced. You feel engaged with the music which is really important to me. I have had speakers in the past that were flat and just did not convey the intensity to the music. Lets talk about the volume level you listen at. The D1’s are wonderful from the lower volumes all the way to ear splitting levels. You get that same full sweet sound. With other speakers, I needed to crank them very loud to really get them to give you the sound but not with the D1’s. They sound just as good at moderate and low volume levels. The D1’s do not need massive amounts of power to perform. Some audio folks have ss amplifiers with about 100 wpc . I had a Bel canto Integrated with 100 and it can push either the D2’s or D1’s. Make it about 200wpc ss and the D1’s will really sing. You get all that headroom and it really benefits the sound . I cannot comment on tube amps but I know other audiophiles that use tubes with Tylers speakers and they work well.
As I mentioned earlier, I have very limited hours on the speakers. Based on my experience with Tyler Acoustics D2’s the speakers continue to give you more certainly till 500 hours. I actually believe that you hear subtle difference up to the 1000 hour mark. The speakers continue to sound more and more smooth through the sonic range and the bass reaches its ultimate fullness. In terms of the room handeling the speakers, it was very interesting. I had some fears about the D1’s fitting into my room and worried if the bass would overload the room. They have done nothing even approaching that. In fact, the added bass drivers in the D1’s give the bass a faster more tuneful sound than the D2’s in the same room.
Tyler Acoustics D1’s Vs D2’s. Both speakers offer the same qualities in terms of transparency, soundstaging , and quality of sound from the highs to the bass. I think it depends on the room as to which are a better fit. For me , in my room, I like the fullness of sound that the extra two bass drivers and extra mid range driver give me. It is a bigger sound than the D2’s but that is not for everyone. In some rooms, the D2’s would be a better fit and still would plenty of sound.
Summary comments- The best thing I can say about my system with the Tyler Acoustics D1’s is that I am really enjoying the music and not analyzing how it sounds as I listen to each cd. I continued to be amazed at the sound but I am involved with the music. I work in a people intense position and when I come home, the music is my salvation. The D1’s give me that pleasure. Whether I am in my serious listening chair or off axis or doing something in a different room, they are musically satisfying. I think that they are a lot of speaker for the money. The buying experience is also unlike anything else you will experience. Since there is no dealer network, you are engaging with Tyler directly through the purchasing process. He is most helpful and not pushy. He can help to accertain what speakers will be the best for your room. In addition, you can customize the speakers in many ways. He has many finishes (80 I Believe) and you can choose to have different colors around the tweeters as well as some parts of the speakers veneered vs being in black. The most important thing is that Tyler treats his customers really well. He also has trade in programs and tries to be as flexible as possible with his customers. Buying from Tyler is very different from some of the deals I have made with some of the audio dealers in the past.
Associated gear
Bel Canto S500 Amp (250 X 2)
Jeff Rowland Capri Pre Amp
Ayon Cd-2
Arcam DVD Player
Cardas Golden Reference Cable- Speaker, IC, and Power Cords
Running Springs Haley Power Conditioner
Herbies Audio Lab Big Fat Gliders (4 Under each speaker)
GIK Bass Treatments (3 on wall behind speakers)
Bass Room Corners (4 Triangles)
Similar products
Von Schweikert
Dynaudio
