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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.

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjaymark
decooney
1,906 posts
 

A related "Spatial M3 vs. what-Amps-to-use"  thread on similar topics just two years ago, for what its worth...

 

audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
316 posts
 

I have the newer M3 Sapphires @ 4ohms 92db and yes they love tubes but found they love tubes with power. Although the X line has a powered sub,  the M3 Sapphire is completely passive. I felt those 15” woofers needed some muscle. I’m driving mine with the Octave V70 Class A and these speakers sing beautifully.

lewinskih01
907 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!

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
2,859 posts
 

Yes the X series has powered subs. Only the lower driver is the sub, the 12” driver handles mid bass and midrange duties.

lewinskih01
907 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.

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