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Coaxials - Reality vs. Experience?

Should say "hype vs. reality" in the headline. 

 

Coaxial speaker design has been around in one way or another for a long time. I often think I’ll be absolutely blown away by them, but in practice traditional vertical layout speakers often have sound as good, or have other features that make them sound better.

Thiel, KEF, Monitor Audio, Tekton, Seas are among the many players attempting such designs, but none has, by the coaxial drivers alone, dominated a segment of the market.

What are your listening experiences? Is it 1 coaxial speaker that won you over, or have you always preferred them?

erik_squires
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 

Erik

((((Your typical 2 or 3 way speaker is neither a point nor a line source. Vandersteen may be time and phase aligned but it’s not a point source.That perfect step response in the Stereophile measurements goes out the window when you stand up. A true point source maintains it's time alignment no matter where you measure it from.))))

Erik

We have sold hundreds of these and this hasn't really been a problem because

very few of our customers critically listen while standing up.

 We simply adjust the vertical tilt for their favorite listening location

  Cheers JohnnyR

 Vandersteen dealer

erik_squires OP
16,051 posts
 

We have sold hundreds of these and this hasn't really been a problem because very few of our customers critically listen while standing up.

@audioconnection 

 

Johnny, don't be so sensitive. 😁 I was merely pointing out that Vandersteens have the same limitations of other multi-way speakers in this particular sense.

audioconnection
1,271 posts
 

Erik,

 

Not being sensitive, just from a reader standpoint clarifying its not a concern at the listing position and will perform as the measurements indicate.

((((same limitations of other multi-way speakers in this particular sense))))

 Not true Vandersteens are exclusively time and phase correct at the listening position for those who can hear it and appreciate how this offers a realism connection to the music , not a priority for everyone.

 Cheers JohnnyR

 Vandersteen dealer

unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
979 posts
 

I have been using Altec 604Cs since 1978. 
I have never been unhappy enough to make a switch. 
or rather, I’ve yet to come across something that would incline me to do so, at almost any price point. 
For me, they ain’t broke and I’m not fixin’ ‘em. 

erik_squires OP
16,051 posts
 

@audiotroy 

 

 Not true Vandersteens are exclusively time and phase correct at the listening position for those who can hear it and appreciate how this offers a realism connection to the music , not a priority for everyone.

Again, I was speaking specifically of listening above the tweeter axis, to make a point about how distance changes the time alignment. 

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