BEST LOW VOLUME FULL RANGE SPEAKERS?

Thank you, Glide3 and Jacytoy.

I am more than a little curious about the DNM equipment. They offer a lot of interesting ideas in terms of their approach. Can you please share with me a bit of your insight as to the sonics of these components, Glide3? I hope to one day be able to listen to this company's products.

I have found that tone/loudness controls to be appropriate in many an application, regardless of whether they are accepted by the "experts" or not. That they have become taboo boxes us into a dangerous corner. Given the number of audiophiles I encounter listening at low volume, I am most surprised why more companies do not implement good tone/loudness controls, more audiophiles do not use them, and why I see such a faint amount of discussion of the Fletcher - Munson Curve.

My old Jadis Orchestra Reference came with bass and treble controls, and the often came in handy. More often than not, at low volumes, though I tended to listen at about 90 dB+. The DA30 that replaced it does not have these, but instead offers up a most unique sound for today. It sounds incredibly rich and warm, and while they seem to be terms thrown around with abandon, I can assure everyone, the amp sounds like VERY little that is produced these days. What I mean is that there is a most definite weight and body to the bass and lower midrange that exerts exactly the kind of sound that I was alluding to earlier.

THIS has finally led me to be able to listen to music at low volumes in an enjoyable manner. And, it is what has shown me that for the most part, this sound comes not from the loudspeaker, but the amplification of one's system.

Relating to what Nrchy and other have said, I remember 20 + years ago when graphic equalizers were common components. Now you dont even see full bass and treble on some preamps. Wouldnt a good old graphic equalizer help with making low volume sound "more hi-fi"
Mitchell

I gave up on B&W Nautilus series for exactly this reason ... they DEMANDED big watts to let them breathe ... opening up music by factors ... when often I simply wanted to enjoy what they could do without big sound ... simply not possible. Got rid of them, bought subbed Taylo Refs ... of course, that was in 2000, I think, which is code for "a long time ago"

Graphic equalizers usually do more things whong than right. Because the signal has to pass through so many bands of equalization it vails and colors the music in a big way.

Properly designed tone controls concentrate on a small part of the spectrum that makes the most difference. Some manufacturers are also using a tilt spectrum control that acts like an equalization see-saw. It boosts the bass while attenuating the treble or vice versa. I think that the new NAD Masters series integrated amp is selectable between traditional tone controls, tilt, and tone defeat.

When speakers have to be placed in less than ideal locations in a room for livability/WAF reasons the tone controls can be really useful to make the bass a little less congested when it is dictated that the big @ssed speakers will go a little closer to the wall so that decorative knick knacks are not obstructed.

Trelja,
I have the DNM PA3S amp and the 3Dsix pre (I'm not sure there are any other sixes in the states at this time) along with all DNM cables and I use the Resolution Audio Opus 21 into the 3Dsix via DIN to DIN (this bypasses the VC of the Opus)
I also have a Nottingham Dais w/12'anna and 47/Miyabi cart.
This all terminates into a pair of John Tuckers 102db Exemplar Horns.
(I have used the DNM gear in many different systems and with many combinations of non dnm gear...while it clearly works best as a system it is excellent in many contexts...as long as normal rules of component compatibility are adhered to)
For sound...I would refer you to the Art Dudley reviews done in Stereophile as he does a much better job of describing the sound than I could. Keep in mind however that the preamp that he raves is two levels below the 3Dsix

Simply put they play music...and from a completely black background. This super low noise floor is perhaps one of their keys to great low level performance.
I suppose it is the sense of immediacy and the spot on tonality that most impress me.
With the right speakers they are about as good as it gets IMHO.
The 3Dsix may be the best pre-amp I've owned...I've owned many :-)
The unit has a world class headphone amp and an excellent MC phono stage that is not embarassed by either the Wavestream Kinetics or ASR Basis exclusive phonostages.

The downsides are the obvious power limitations (22w) although they play more like a tube 22w than SS.
They completely miss the mark with US sensibilites around audio...no remote, they are small, they are plastic, increadibly light in weight and of a...let's say retro looking design....did I mention they are plastic! I love all this about them. and they are absolutely a form follows function design. As a result of the above, along with the general lack of awareness of the product and it's excellence in the US, they have not proven to have good resale.
This is good or bad depending on which end of the transaction you find yourself.
This is actually what got me started with DNM a few years ago....I bought one of their old pre-amps for a song and was blown away by what it did -vs- the multiples times as expensive pre I was using at the time.

Obviously I'm an advocate and my experience with Denis and Martin Moorecroft has been stellar...along with Jeff Kalt of Resolution...who BTW is a great source of knowledge regarding the design behind the gear and the gear itself.

If you find yourself in the Bay Area stop in

Now if I can ever find a pair of Rhedeko 175's I may never come up for air.