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Can you get "bookshelf sound" from a floorstander?

Listened to B&W's 6 series and much prefered the 686 and 685 to the more expensive floorstanders. I'm a junkie for clear and coherent vocals and the floorstanders seemed to muddy the sound.
Listened to Dynaudio Focus 110s and loved them. Compared them to the Contour 5.4s and I loved the top end of them even more than the Focus' but was again bothered by what I want to call an incoherence... lack of focus... integration... with the low end.

Owned Totem Arros and Dreamcatcher monitors with Dreamcatcher sub and prefered the dreamcatcher monitors over the Arros and without the sub, too.

Am I just a bookshelf guy? Was it my choice of floorstanders? Setup? Anyone have better words to describe what I'm trying to say? I certainly love the low end and dynamic grunt of the big ones but not at such expense.
128x128eyediver
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9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
Of course. My mistake. It's been so many posts ago that I had forgotten that the VSMs are one of his many pairs of speakers. I'm surprised he hasn't had to replace that horrible ARC LS25.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,322 posts
 
I was glancing at the Merlin web site and noticed that the BAM device as described sounds very similar to OHM's "Sub Bass Activator (SBA)" circuit employed in most all of their more recent designs, including all WALSH designs, I believe.

Both appear to provide a boost to the low end while concurrently providing subsonic filtering.

Very interesting...

BTW I ordered the SBA kit for my OHM Ls and did the mods myself on those. So I believe all 3 pair of OHMs in my system utilize the SBA.

I'd be curious to learn more about how BAM + SBAs work and wht are the similarities and differences in more detail.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
9RW,

I don't know why you'd be surprised that I've kept the LS 25. Oh, yeah, I do - it's because you're not remotely as clever as you think you are.

I don't replace electronics in my listening room very often. The ARC stuff is nearing age 12/13/14ish and remains my primary chain. Since I rotate speakers fairly often (when the mood strikes, as this is a hobby for me) I do have other electronics I use when I feel the ARC isn't the best choice - including those ocassions when the VSMs are in rotation. I also have set-ups in my gym, office, family room, etc. which accounts for the balance of the inventory.

So, yes, Ron, your mistake. One among many.

Marty
9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
Marty: You are so wise and knowledgeable. That must be why you were so baffled by my putting phase- and time-coherent speakers like Thiel, Dunlavy and Vandersteen in the same category. And your treatise on first-order crossovers is something that needs to be studied by Jim Thiel and Richard Vandersteen. It's just a shame that John Dunlavy isn't still around to learn from you. Please let me know when you expect to have your next paper published.
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