2. speakers
  3. 173103-12287

Spatial X5 speakers

Just got mine, with upgraded crossovers, a couple of weeks ago.  I now have about 250 hours on them - mostly driven by the Voyager Gan 350 wpc class D amp and most recently by Don Sachs 65 wpc tube amp.  Speaker Cables are Griver Huffman Pharoah's and the preamp is Don Sachs tube preamp.  They are easy to set up as they come fully assembled.  Right out of the box they sound promising but the bass is cardboard like and the tweeter can sound harsh.  Nevertheless, after about 175 hours, these babies developed a pleasing midrange liquidity and nice open baffle bass.  They throw an expansive soundscape that extends beyond the width of the toed in speakers that is also deep front to back.  I mean, these speakers truly disappear as in my listening spot nothing localizes to the speaker itself.  Both amps drive these speakers nicely.  The Sachs amp defitely sounds better using the 8 not 4 ohm speaker posts.  I am now getting air with very nice detail and tonal colors.  

 

These speakers are just awesome.  They are worth every penny I paid for them.  Clayton warned me about the prolonged break in time and he was dead on the money.  I just love the OB box less sound.  These speakers are awesome.

 

I hope this thread does not degenerate into a toxic pussing contest like my Voyager Gan amplifier thread.

jaymark

Showing 6 responses by lewinskih01

lewinskih01
912 posts
 

@audiosaurusrex 

Are you positive the X line has powered sub? I guess you mean the lower 15" driver? I don't see this noted in their website nor I can see the amp module in the pictures I've seen. That would explain how a 3-way OB could be driven by a low-power SET amp.

 

I don't have Spatials but DIY OB with the same Beyma AMT used in the X line and high efficiency midranges (twin 97dB 8" per side). I drive this with MC275MkIV and expecting a 45 SET in the next weeks to try. Mine is a 4-way active system and the SET will be tried for tweeters and midranges. Might need to get another one, or a 2A3 :-)

Midbass thru 18" OB driven by class D, sealed subs for the lowest end.

Very happy with this path.

@jaymark 

thanks for starting this thread.

Do you know the xo frequencies used around the 12" mid? I see Clayton reduced the 15" Deltalite mid to the 12" version, which should reduce beaming around the xo to the tweeter. Do you notice beaming when walking around the room? Within reasonable angles, of course - it is an OB after all!

lewinskih01
912 posts
 

@ozzy62 

Thank you for confirming. I wasn't aware. Do you know the xo for the sub?

The midbass/midrange seems to be Eminence Deltalite 2512, spec'ed as 99.9dB (of course not for OB). Depending on where these are xo they may or may not get to real 92dB sensitivity and might explain the experiences with low power amps.

lewinskih01
912 posts
 

Thanks for the info on xo points!

1kHz is kind of lower than usual for the AMT, but your ears report it sounds great. Good input! It also makes sense for a 12" mid. I guess going higher would lead to beaming.

Also interesting the 15" is crossed at 90Hz. Typically OB subs are played into 120-150Hz. And the 12" must be an amazing driver. Getting tempted to get a pair to try! :-)

 

Thank you!

lewinskih01
912 posts
 

I would check with Townshend about speaker sensitivity matching and how to plug them into the X5.

The Townshends have variable level control maxed at 89dB sensitivity. The Beyma AMT are 102dB and the X5 is rated 97dB. Maybe that's an issue?

The Beymas do drop in response beyond 16kHz or so, so probably not bad idea. I know I can't hear sweeps beyond 16kHz. I wonder if I could appreciate a supertweeter correcting above that. Would be interested in your findings.

lewinskih01
912 posts
 

@jaymark glad to read that!

Looking forward to your experiment with the X5. You probably can improvise something to hold them for an initial test. On paper the height of the AMT plus waveguide should be an issue for a crossover that high, but then I have tried a number of things that on paper were supposed to sound bad but actually sounded pretty good. Like my MTM with this AMT and twin 8" xo at 1.7-1.8kHz...supposedly lobbing would be pretty bad - but has not been. I hope you discover a gem!

lewinskih01
912 posts
 

I realize most people here aren't into DIY and only a minority use active speakers, but wanted to share I added a Yamamoto 45-type SET to drive this Beyma AMT tweeter in open baffle, same as with X3 & X5, and I'm very very happy. These AMT have a flat impedance that seems to work well with SET and the 45 has more than enough power to handle this tweeter in OB. Very natural, open, detailed, no harshness, even though just a few hours broken in. I guess the X3 & X5 would be great candidates for active xo.

More to discover