What's best in highly sensitive/efficient speakers.

Ron Resnick

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845 MastersounD on MBL 101Es??? :eek:
 
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bonzo75

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I'm willing to compromise on amplification with the Odeon. I can't afford the Mayer 211 or 845 (or similar from others), however, so it would likely be a bunch of el34s in triode.
The same distributor that has the Odeon and Cube, also does Tune Audio. For me, however, the Anima has 3 strikes against it before even hearing it: 1) I demoed the Marvel and really didn't like it, 2) I hesitate to go with anything that is down-firing because I have neighbours below in my building 3) I'm told the Anima is more "horny" sounding than the Odeon.

The Anima is much superior to the Odeon though the Marvel is not. Yes the downward firing doesn't help but that aspect can easily be tested, just play your current speakers booming loudly face down on the floor and go down to your neighbor's and see if you hear issues
 
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Ron Resnick

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I never cared for the Anima, but I love the Avaton!!!
 

morricab

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I'm willing to compromise on amplification with the Odeon. I can't afford the Mayer 211 or 845 (or similar from others), however, so it would likely be a bunch of el34s in triode.
The same distributor that has the Odeon and Cube, also does Tune Audio. For me, however, the Anima has 3 strikes against it before even hearing it: 1) I demoed the Marvel and really didn't like it, 2) I hesitate to go with anything that is down-firing because I have neighbours below in my building 3) I'm told the Anima is more "horny" sounding than the Odeon.
FYI, the bass port on the 33 fires down...same with most Odeons.
 

morricab

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The Anima is much superior to the Odeon though the Marvel is not. Yes the downward firing doesn't help but that aspect can easily be tested, just play your current speakers booming loudly face down on the floor and go down to your neighbor's and see if you hear issues
Not in all ways...coherence and bass are both better with the 33 I think. Animas extreme dynamics and presence are better for that speaker.
 

christoph

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Interesting. I'm not sure how my amp would do on that 12" woofer but I'd be very surprised if it wasn't able to drive just the pair of horns (frequencies above 320 Hz) in the top section of the 33.

There is one thing you could maybe try if you intend to bi-amp anyways:

Ask the manufacturer to NOT reduce the sensitivity in the x-over of the horn section.
In the regular models, the manufacturer/designer has to reduce the sensitivity to match (the always lower) sensitivity of the woofer.

I don't know how much the horn section is reduced in the level to match the woofer, but I guess the horns alone could be somewhere between 98 dB and maybe even a little over 100 dB. If this proved to be the case, your 45 amp would have it a lot easier ;)

Then you would need a volume adjustable, very high gain amp for the woofer section to adjust to the horn section.

I could imagine that this Arrangement could sound absolutely fabulous :cool:
 

morricab

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There is one thing you could maybe try if you intend to bi-amp anyways:

Ask the manufacturer to NOT reduce the sensitivity in the x-over of the horn section.
In the regular models, the manufacturer/designer has to reduce the sensitivity to match (the always lower) sensitivity of the woofer.

I don't know how much the horn section is reduced in the level to match the woofer, but I guess the horns alone could be somewhere between 98 dB and maybe even a little over 100 dB. If this proved to be the case, your 45 amp would have it a lot easier ;)

Then you would need a volume adjustable, very high gain amp for the woofer section to adjust to the horn section.

I could imagine that this Arrangement could sound absolutely fabulous :cool:
It’s probably not that simple if there is frequency response shaping in the crossover and also each driver will have different attenuation.
 

Exlibris

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I would assume that there would be a huge difference between a small port opening downward and a 15" horn-loaded driver pointing straight down to the floor.
I currently have four subwoofers with 10" drivers and the ports open downward. They don't seem to create any issues with my neighbours (I do have each one on an Auralex Subdude platform). When I had a pair of REL Stadium III subs with down-firing drivers I was getting complaints.
 

Exlibris

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There is one thing you could maybe try if you intend to bi-amp anyways:

Ask the manufacturer to NOT reduce the sensitivity in the x-over of the horn section.
In the regular models, the manufacturer/designer has to reduce the sensitivity to match (the always lower) sensitivity of the woofer.

I don't know how much the horn section is reduced in the level to match the woofer, but I guess the horns alone could be somewhere between 98 dB and maybe even a little over 100 dB. If this proved to be the case, your 45 amp would have it a lot easier ;)

Then you would need a volume adjustable, very high gain amp for the woofer section to adjust to the horn section.

I could imagine that this Arrangement could sound absolutely fabulous :cool:
Thank you!
 
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Exlibris

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The Anima is much superior to the Odeon though the Marvel is not. Yes the downward firing doesn't help but that aspect can easily be tested, just play your current speakers booming loudly face down on the floor and go down to your neighbor's and see if you hear issues
When I had a pair of REL Stadium III subs with down-firing drivers I was getting complaints.
 

bonzo75

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You heard the Anima with loudspeakers modwr
When I had a pair of REL Stadium III subs with down-firing drivers I was getting complaints.

Ok, did you try that on auralex platforms. Worth trying. I got complaints with my Logan down firing subs which I was able to fix using auralex. It won't work each time but is an inexpensive try
 

Exlibris

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You heard the Anima with loudspeakers modwr


Ok, did you try that on auralex platforms. Worth trying. I got complaints with my Logan down firing subs which I was able to fix using auralex. It won't work each time but is an inexpensive try
No, I got rid of the RELs because I could never get them to integrate with my system(s). As for the Animas, I'd have to use at least 4 Subdudes under each speaker. I don't think the sponginess of those foam platforms would be good for the performance of the Anima as compared to solid footing. Who knows, the speakers might even tip forward because of the weight of the horn. Suffice it to say - I'm not taking the chance on trying to make these work in my apartment.
 

bonzo75

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No, I got rid of the RELs because I could never get them to integrate with my system(s). As for the Animas, I'd have to use at least 4 Subdudes under each speaker. I don't think the sponginess of those foam platforms would be good for the performance of the Anima as compared to solid footing. Who knows, the speakers might even tip forward because of the weight of the horn. Suffice it to say - I'm not taking the chance on trying to make these work in my apartment.

Understand. But it is an easy test. I spiked my speakers onto the auralex
 

bonzo75

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I am not suggesting you should risk this with Anima at all, I am suggesting you should test with your existing speaker.

Also the fact that your existing speaker is not causing problems means it is not sound waves that are causing issues, it is that downward firing woofers are causing issues, in which case chances of auralex fixing it are higher. 4 of them under one Anima will cost 280 quid
 

Exlibris

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Understand. But it is an easy test. I spiked my speakers onto the auralex
I could do the test by facing one of my subs downward but I'm not sure it would prove much. We'd have an 10" cone firing toward the floor. Doesn't the Anima have a 15" woofer, horn-loaded! firing straight down? I can't imagine anything less apartment-friendly than that.

I've also tried spiking my Audio Note stands into the Auralex platforms and the result was really bad sound.
 

christoph

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Exlibris

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:)
It goes to my point about my personal preference when it comes to amplifcation. With the MBLs I started with Class D amps, then some huge Hovland SS amps, Manley 250s, Atmasphere MA-2 OTLs, Mastersound 845 (borrowed, not owned), and finally the least appropriate of all: Mastersound 300B. Once I heard 300Bs, even on those ridiculous speakers, there was no going back. The one pair of amps that I kind of regret selling are the Manley 250s. Run in triode mode those EL34s really did sound pretty good to my ears -- like the modest EL34 integrated amp I heard in the system with the Odeons and Cube Audio Nenuphars this past weekend.
 
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