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Spatial X5 speakers

Just got mine, with upgraded crossovers, a couple of weeks ago.  I now have about 250 hours on them - mostly driven by the Voyager Gan 350 wpc class D amp and most recently by Don Sachs 65 wpc tube amp.  Speaker Cables are Griver Huffman Pharoah's and the preamp is Don Sachs tube preamp.  They are easy to set up as they come fully assembled.  Right out of the box they sound promising but the bass is cardboard like and the tweeter can sound harsh.  Nevertheless, after about 175 hours, these babies developed a pleasing midrange liquidity and nice open baffle bass.  They throw an expansive soundscape that extends beyond the width of the toed in speakers that is also deep front to back.  I mean, these speakers truly disappear as in my listening spot nothing localizes to the speaker itself.  Both amps drive these speakers nicely.  The Sachs amp defitely sounds better using the 8 not 4 ohm speaker posts.  I am now getting air with very nice detail and tonal colors.  

 

These speakers are just awesome.  They are worth every penny I paid for them.  Clayton warned me about the prolonged break in time and he was dead on the money.  I just love the OB box less sound.  These speakers are awesome.

 

I hope this thread does not degenerate into a toxic pussing contest like my Voyager Gan amplifier thread.

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjaymark
decooney
2,262 posts
 

@jaymark good to know.  A great position to be in, at least the speakers are good to go awaiting whatever amp you have to throw at it.  I'm following along with your progress now, while helping a remote friend looking at some form of efficient [brand new] AMT based speakers. Maybe X5s for him. I do my own custom amt builds. 

Sure seems like you are in the sweets spot for your X5s having both of these amps in your fleet. I can partially understand why, and would likely test the same as you.  

Just wondering, since you already have the DS-65 tube amp, was there something which caused the need to try/go to the X150.5 instead, or did you already have that amp prior?   

vernv
68 posts
 

I have a set of X5's and for the money they are really hard to beat. Mine are powered with PSA BHK 300's

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,167 posts
 

@jaymark One opinion I'd love to hear from you -- whenever you feel experienced enough to proffer it -- is this: Does the Spatial need softer tube amps to sound good (not harsh, even tonality, etc.) or can a variety of non-tube amps also make it sound the way you want?

decooney
2,262 posts
 

Same type questions as @hilde45 to Spatial owners or those doing demos.

SS: Why are some of the Spatial owners here feeling compelled to run big 150w Pass Labs and big 300w PSA BHK solid state amps with these 97db speakers?

TUBE: How about some history from anyone around trying some lower power "softer" 300B, or 211/845, SET or PSE [TUBE] triode amps; or maybe even some lower power EL34/KT88 pentode mono tube amps?

What are we missing. Please share more, thanks!

 

 

 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,247 posts
 

As I mentioned before, the 20 watts of a Decware Torii were not enough to drive X3s to a satisfying level.

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