What is going to be your endgame speaker?

[DasguteOhr]

Cool conzept,
I would prefer the bastanis mandala(zugspitz) a little bit more. openbaffle 102db/1watt with horndriver +2×12" and ripol 18" active bass. because they look slimmer and can probably be integrated a little better in the room.

 

[DDgtt]

Vivid Audio Giya G1 Spirit

 

[thomask]

I had been using Lansche 4.1 from 2006 to 2021 until I got Altec A7.

After attending several Audio shows, I am back to Lansche but with different configuration.

Using JL Audio Cr1 active crossover, Lansche 4.1 is driven from 90hz up.

Pair of Rel 31 subwoofers and Scaena 18 inch subwoofers cover 90 hz down.

With good subwoofers, Lansche sounds powerful with more headroom.

Of course its treble is clean and fast due to plasma tweeters.

Unless I move to larger listening space, this combination could be endgame for me.

 

[thomask]

Lansche 4.1 is one of the best speaker for female vocal.

 

[Salectric]

@thomask
What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Altec and the Lansche?

 

[thomask]

@thomask
What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Altec and the Lansche?

Altec give unlimted headroom but its treble is very sensitive to upstream.

It's treble is not bad and I will go back to Altec A7 later this year.

Lansche itself does not have as much as headroom as Altec A7.

But with help of excellent subwoofers, it could have enough headroom at reasonable space.

Its treble is one of the best maybe better than diamond tweeters.

 

[LL21]

I had been using Lansche 4.1 from 2006 to 2021 until I got Altec A7.

After attending several Audio shows, I am back to Lansche but with different configuration.

Using JL Audio Cr1 active crossover, Lansche 4.1 is driven from 90hz up.

Pair of Rel 31 subwoofers and Scaena 18 inch subwoofers cover 90 hz down.

With good subwoofers, Lansche sounds powerful with more headroom.

Of course its treble is clean and fast due to plasma tweeters.

Unless I move to larger listening space, this combination could be endgame for me.

Interesting...how much more does adding the extra 12" of the extra 18" add to your speaker setup? What kinds of benefits do you get from that 2nd cone in the bass?

 

[thomask]

Interesting...how much more does adding the extra 12" of the extra 18" add to your speaker setup? What kinds of benefits do you get from that 2nd cone in the bass?

I had tried just pair of Rel 31s but I found that having two Scaena 18 inch subwoofers in addition to pair of Rel 31s helped to get more bass impact.

 

[LL21]

I had tried just pair of Rel 31s but I found that having two Scaena 18 inch subwoofers helped to get more bass impact.

Thank you. Other than impact, did the additional 18s do anything for scale, for the soundstage from the whole presentation, the sense of effortlessness? Some have said great bass can also enhance mids and treble.

Or was this just bass impact?

 

[thomask]

Thank you. Other than impact, did the additional 18s do anything for scale, for the soundstage from the whole presentation, the sense of effortlessness? Some have said great bass can also enhance mids and treble.

Or was this just bass impact?

Scaena made soundstage slightly wider and whole presentation has more scale.

 

[LL21]

Scaena made soundstage slightly wider and whole presentation has more scale.

Thank you. With the XLFs which I genuinely enjoy...and 1 Velodyne DD18+...I have been contemplating moving up the scale dramatically in air displacement, effortlessness and low distortion on the bass scale. More like 6 x 18" or the equivalent with dual-opposing larger sub(s).

I recall learning that D'Agostino at one time had 6 of his Krell MasterRef Subs (dual 15") with his Wilson X1/Grand SLAMMS. Whether you liked those subs or not, his technical aim was clear...more air displacement, lower distortion to add scale/effortlessness to the big X1s.

So I am always interested to hear what others are finding as they add meaningful bass capacity to their systems.

 

[chuck]

.I have been contemplating moving up the scale dramatically in air displacement, effortlessness and low distortion on the bass scale.

Have you considered the Wilson subs, the Subsonic or Thor's Hammer? I had a Thor's Hammer when I had XLFs.

 

[thomask]

Have you considered the Wilson subs, the Subsonic or Thor's Hammer? I had a Thor's Hammer when I had XLFs.

Not enough space for such monster in my room.

I am happy with pair of Rel 31s and Scaena 18 inch subwoofers in my room.

My wooden house may not withstand more bass units.

 

[LL21]

Not enough space for such monster in my room.

I am happy with pair of Rel 31s and Scaena 18 inch subwoofers in my room.

My wooden house may not withstand more bass units.

View attachment 117340

Beautiful home!!!

As for 'not withstanding', I personally also am not interested in shaking loose the plaster. I simply find it interesting that many of the big signature reference speakers are 4-towers (Genesis, Gryphon, YG, Tidal, Wilson, Evolution Acoustics, Scaena, Martin Logan E2, MBL, Avantgarde, Acapella, Stenheim)...and none is designed that way to shake the house at all. They are designed that way to give an effortless sense of scale to music and very low distortion.

This is why I am contemplating this...we shall see.

 

[LL21]

Have you considered the Wilson subs, the Subsonic or Thor's Hammer? I had a Thor's Hammer when I had XLFs.

Hi Chuck. Thank you. You were one I was thinking of when I referenced YG as a 4-tower reference.

Yes, I have spoken with a few people who absolutely love the Thors and also heard great things about the Subsonics. I also have spoken with a few who also felt that the last few years have seen a significant step forward in options for subs...and advised to consider Wilson and non-Wilson options even if they were still crossed over by the Wilson Controller or a JL Audio CR1.

What was your experience when you added the Thor's to the XLFs? What did they add to the sound/presentation?

 

[thomask]

Beautiful home!!!

As for 'not withstanding', I personally also am not interested in shaking loose the plaster. I simply find it interesting that many of the big signature reference speakers are 4-towers (Genesis, Gryphon, YG, Tidal, Wilson, Evolution Acoustics, Scaena, Martin Logan E2, MBL, Avantgarde, Acapella, Stenheim)...and none is designed that way to shake the house at all. They are designed that way to give an effortless sense of scale to music and very low distortion.

This is why I am contemplating this...we shall see.

The game is not over yet.

I am moving back and forth between Lansche and Scaena today since I am free all day today.

Scaena ribbon need to be driven by tube amp while Lansche plasma tweeter seems to work well class D amp.

I favor Lansche on piano and orchestral music.

But Scaena give better separation of images in soundstage and more front to back layering.

 

[thomask]

This is from Scaena driven by LM 508 amp fitted with vintage tubes.

Lansche with plasma tweeter is the king for female vocal, but Scaena driven by tube amp is not far behind.

 

[LL21]

The game is not over yet.

I am moving back and forth between Lansche and Scaena today since I am free all day today.

Scaena ribbon need to be driven by tube amp while Lansche plasma tweeter seems to work well class D amp.

I favor Lansche on piano and orchestral music.

But Scaena give better separation of images in soundstage and more front to back layering.

Ahhhh....the game is never over! It is one thing to be constantly dissatisfied with sound. It is quite another to love the sound...and enjoy equally the ever pursuit of even greater still. Enjoy both!

 

[thomask]

Ahhhh....the game is never over! It is one thing to be constantly dissatisfied with sound. It is quite another to love the sound...and enjoy equally the ever pursuit of even greater still. Enjoy both!

During Pacific Audiofest 2023, I found this horn speaker sound attractive alththough it may not be the best one at the show.

I will also be back to my Altec A7 later this year.

There could be no endgame speaker until you stop updating.

 

[LL21]

This is from Scaena driven by LM 508 amp fitted with vintage tubes.

Lansche with plasma tweeter is the king for female vocal, but Scaena driven by tube amp is not far behind.

Fun videos. From the videos, would certainly vote for the Lansches particularly if you find their sub-90hz performance as good if not better given your setup. Will be inteesting to hear the tracks with the Altecs when you go back.