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Auditorium 23 SoloVox...

are they really sensitive to placement?

I've got the five year upgrade itch; plus I've got a new listening room configuration to deal with. My listening room "was" once a 15ft wall of mostly windows which allowed me to place speakers 4ft out from the wall or move them in and around the corners. The downside with that room (other than the big German Shepherd who dogged her post in front of one window): it was a huge open ceiling rectangle that continued onto the dinning and kitchen area, much like a big loft. Well the wife also had an itch and we remodeled (even though it was my money my opinion did not weight in). Suddenly I've been reduced to a near(er) field experience. I now have a 20ft or longer wall but there are entry doors on either end. The speakers can be no more than 2 ft. from the wall. My listening chair is about 8ft. from the speakers and I have another wall 2ft behind my head. So it's more intimate than before although the ceiling remains open and pitched.

So besides comments like you got screwed, I'm looking for advice to rectify the situation. Over the years I've worked my way through the Vandy line, Maggies and Merlins. Now I have a desire to move towards more efficient speakers.

I was very interested in the Audio Note HE model, but alas it prefers corners and I have none. Thus here I sit reading the Jules Coleman and Michael Lavorgna reviews wondering whether this SoloVox would work in my environment. Coleman didn't seem to have too much of an issue placing the speaker, but Lavorgna must have spent days moving his library from one wall to the other.

I'm very interest in anyone's trials and tribulations with the SoloVox, or any other efficient speaker that is less sensitive to placement. I'm also anxiously anticipating DeVore's two-way Orangutans. Thanks!
dpe
asa
662 posts
 
I've resurrected this thread because some of you seem to know a bit more on the Orangutans...I'm looking to get a Shindo Masseto or Vosne-Romanee to mate with my Air Tight WE300B-based 8W SET amp and will then get new speakers too. I would, of course, cut my arm off for Shindo Latours, but since no one seems to want my arm these days, well, I've been looking at other ideas. The Solovox would be great, but I think that would push my wife completely over the cliff on aesthetics. The Kensingtons have always caught me eye as something to try one day, but I would guess they would need more than 8W SET to come alive (and, fortunately, or unfortunatley, it seems that I'm past ever giving up SET...).

So, I've kinda been waiting around to see what happens with the Orangutans.

I know that the proto-types were at the last CES, and that the designer may have been attempting to up the sensitivity, but haven't heard much since. BTW, any info on the drivers?

My speaker background is ESP Concert Grands, Quad ESL US63's & Spendor LS3/5As (which are my back up speakers, running right now until I find the new main speakers).

Anyway, any advice is always appreciated and I would be interested in any new info on the Orangs.
doclamb
21 posts
 
Matt of Pitch Perfect Audio carries Shindo, Auditorium and Devore stated in June that the Orangutans were still being refined by John Devore and were still a few month's out.
Last I heard on them.
lowens
38 posts
 
I think a lot of Shindo owners are waiting for the Orangatans, myself included. John builds very well thoughtout speakers that offer great value for the dollar. On paper it should be a good combo with your Air Tight, however it is too early to tell as no one has seen John's final product. Apparently the first of a new series of high sensitivity and high impedance speakers. Never heard the Solovox, but great reviews, low production run, and a bit odd looking in my opinion.
bnrlaw
130 posts
 
No need to wait. Just hunt down a decent pair of Altec Valencia 846A's and be done with it. Shouldn't run you more than $1500 and you will have a perfect pair of speakers to mate with your Air Tight or any Shindo amp if you get one down the line.
I am running an Auriege/Cortese combo into Valencias and it's hard to see you finding a speaker for less than 10k that will perform as well.
4musica44107
520 posts
 
Agree with Bnrlaw's suggestion re the Altec Valencia 846A's for anyone who wants to have a window into what the Latour's can do, and at a fraction of the cost. Just like the Latour's, the Valencia's thrive on the musical finesse that Shindo electronics deliver. I heard a pair of 846A's a few months ago at Don Better's. It was the first time I had heard these speakers in a LONG time, and paired with Shindo electronics, they were absolutely sublime. I really wanted to get them, but the only room they would have worked in for me was the room where I have my Silverbacks, and there was no way that was not going to happen!
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