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New Cain & Cain IM Ben Fostex/double horn - help

Just picked up the new Cain & Cain IM Ben's. Driving them with Wright Sound 3.5 monoblock amps and WPL20 preamp. I use a nice Metronome C20 DAC as my front end with Tara Air IC's. Still looking for the right speaker cable. Using a silver/copper hybrid now.

Problem. I love everything about these speakers, quite wonderful, but need help eliminating a boxy or "vibration resonance" that overhang's and smears notes when played moderately loud. This was not as issue at the CES show, but is in my room. 24 x14. Yes, I am trying stuffing the upper horn with Dakron and it helped a little. Have them 3.5 feet from the back wall and 3 - 3.5 feet from the side walls.

These speakers are on the verge of utter greatness and I wonder if any other Cain owners can help with this only issue. I think it can be tweeked to go away.

Thanks,

Bill
grannyring
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,557 posts
 
Bill,
Have you also tried the gain switch on your preamp? I don't know if yours works the same as on the Wright preamp that we had. Switching the gain down on our Wright WLA12 preamp worked much better in our room. With the gain up, our horns sounded 'overblown'.

Glad to hear this is coming together for you.
Regards,
Howard
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
I'm also glad it is working out for you Bill. I love the Fostex sound. I'm a true convert from multi-driver speakers and planars to the fostex. Too me there's nothing like a crossoverless speaker..when it comes to naturalness and timing in the music. The neutrality of these speakers are great too. They allow you to hear even the smallest changes made in a system.

Sometime when your feeling adventurous..try severely towing your speakers in. Tow them in to where they cross infront of you, instead of behind you.You will be surprised at how good they sound like this. It tighten up my soundstage but the soundstage remained the same size..unlike multi driver speakers. It also made the speakers completely disappear.

I also discovered using copper through out the system had positive effects. I don't use expensive hybrid cabling anymore.It isn't necessary with speakers like these.

After all most of the time the speaker's internal cabling is stranded copper anyway.

Enjoy!
grannyring's avatar
grannyring OP
6,646 posts
 
Boa2, Yes, I use the low gain setting also. The Fostex HP sound reflectors work great. I put two of them in each lower bass horn and 2 in the top horns also. No need for Dakron and these dont deaden the sound like Dakron.

I also am running an Origin Live Ultra Kit turntable with modified rega 250 arm and Grado reference cart now. Starting in on LP's! Liking the SET sound so much guys.

Horns have been tamed and they are also alive with sound!

Bill
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,557 posts
 
That's fantastic, Bill.
Can't wait to hear those speakers with our Wright's someday.
Enjoy!
Howard
mbacinello
54 posts
 
Sorry for the lame question, but are the speakers under discussion here the ones listed on the Cain & Cain website as the I-Ben? there doesn't seem to be a IM-Ben listed?

can any one contrast the sound of these large speakers with the smaller Abby, apart from bass extention is there much difference in the sound?
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