I have Quad 2905's which create a circular pattern where as the Quad 57's have a linear pattern. If you were to take the panels apart from both speakers, you'd see a remarkable difference. Anyway, the 57's have the best sounding mid range but the 2905's are full range so it's good to have a pair of both.
Do larger planar speakers produce more accurate sound?
Planar speakers generate sound pressure via vibrating membrane panels. The excursion of the membrane x radiating area= sound pressure. This would mean that for a given sound level, membranes have smaller excursion in larger planar speakers than in smaller ones. Does this mean that larger speakers will produce more accurate sound?
I am not talking about the obvious benefits of the larger speakers in terms of low frequency production, so let's not get into that.
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I've owned a few planars over the years-Magneplanar i, Acoustat 1+1, Martin Logan Quest, and I've heard many iterations since. I like what good planar speakers can do--create an enveloping soundstage, deliver clean and clear sound without being unduly harsh or artificially "forced".(no sense of unnatural edginess to the attack of the note). But, like all speakers, there are some areas where they don't quite do so well, such as the requirement to be playing fairly loud to come to life (of course there are exceptions, like the Quad 57), and they are not as dynamic sounding as good horn-based systems. The main issue is that most are not quite efficient enough to play well with the kinds of amps I like the most--low powered tube amps. |
@larryi What is it about the low powered tube amps that you like so much? |
It depends on the amp, of course, but many single ended amps and pushpull amps using just a pair of tubes like 6L6 or KT-66 deliver a full, lush sound without sounding muddy or sluggish. Within their modest power levels, they are quick and dynamic and the sound is "dense"--harmonics are complete and realistic and not lean and thin. I don't like most high powered tube amps with multiple KT88, KT120, KT150 because they tend to have a hard and brittle sound--the initial attack is artificially edgy and not as natural sounding. Most high powered solid state amps sound lifeless to me at modest volume levels. There is also an artificial sounding edginess to the attack of notes that makes them a little bit brittle sounding or as some people put it, there is a "glassy" sheen that seems to be always present.. A good tube amp sounds relaxed and not edgy, yet when the music calls for it, they sound lively and deliver dynamics without sounding hard. A decent 40 watt amp (e.g., Synthesis A40) should work with the majority of speakers, but, some panel speakers might require a bit more, depending on the setting and circumstances. I don't rule out ANY speaker type, and certainly there are many that I enjoy even when driven by amps that are not my personal ideal amps. It is just a part of juggling different strengths and weaknesses and making the right compromises. I could easily live with something like the 30.7 Magnepans and an Ayre amp, although I still prefer a good horn system and my 5 watt tube amp. |
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