Prime Minister;n42708 said:
The 10" coaxials should work as well, if not better than the Spendors in a room that size.
I'm still planning on getting a pair of the 15" coaxials - eventually.
Small Room Altec 604?
- Thread starter prime minister
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The 10" coaxials should work as well, if not better than the Spendors in a room that size.
I'm still planning on getting a pair of the 15" coaxials - eventually.
Stumbling upon Noam's Coherent Model 8 review at Wall Of Sound had me thinking of this thread.
It's been a few years now of hearing Frank's Fazzalari’s coaxial Radian based speakers in various sizes and price points and they always struck me as being especially musical, satisfying and flexible. A speaker that does some of the Altec 604 magic, let's you explore into the SET world a little (sensitive enough), can actually fit in a real-world small room and you don't want to make it yourself; a Coherent would be top of my audition list.
It's been a few years now of hearing Frank's Fazzalari’s coaxial Radian based speakers in various sizes and price points and they always struck me as being especially musical, satisfying and flexible. A speaker that does some of the Altec 604 magic, let's you explore into the SET world a little (sensitive enough), can actually fit in a real-world small room and you don't want to make it yourself; a Coherent would be top of my audition list.
If not for the Meadowlarks, I'd be thinking hard about those. Those, and the Reference 3As, are amongst the most musical of current production speakers that I know of. And while neither is cheap, they aren't stupid exoensive.
As an interesting aside, Reference 3A and Coherent are within, what, 50 miles of each other. Sonic Frontiers was actually in that same general neighborhood, as is Paradigm.
I have thought it would be fun to try the Meadowlarks with a SET amp. A strong 300B rather then a 2A3 or something. I'm running on about 16 watts of class A power right now, and it's way more then enough. Though not overly efficient, they are a very easy load. I wonder if Art Dudley ever ran them on an SET amp.
In answer to your original question, which maybe you aren't trying to answer anymore, I think 604s can be used in small rooms to good effect if you're planful (or lucky, maybe). My buddy Gary @ejfud has a very small listening room. He put his 604s in smaller-than-recommended cabinets, but the room seems to reinforce the bass where it might otherwise have been lost in the cabinet compromise. They sound pretty amazing to me!
In answer to your original question, which maybe you aren't trying to answer anymore, I think 604s can be used in small rooms to good effect if you're planful (or lucky, maybe). My buddy Gary @ejfud has a very small listening room. He put his 604s in smaller-than-recommended cabinets, but the room seems to reinforce the bass where it might otherwise have been lost in the cabinet compromise. They sound pretty amazing to me!
+1, I believe the Altec 604/605 in a cabinet like this can work in a 7.5' wide room. They were mounted in 614 cabinets (~3.2-3.5cf) for near-field monitoring in listening booths.
Nate, would you know if those cabs are repurposed Altec Madrids?
Maybe Lafayette SK-98 (e.g. Pioneer PIM8) in an Altec 618 box? There's a thread here that discusses:
http://www.hifihaven.org/index.php?...yette-sk-98-in-altec-clone-618-cabinets.3382/
(actually, you are aware of this thread as you commented upon it, I believe - or the earlier Altec 403 in 618 cab thread)
http://www.hifihaven.org/index.php?...yette-sk-98-in-altec-clone-618-cabinets.3382/
(actually, you are aware of this thread as you commented upon it, I believe - or the earlier Altec 403 in 618 cab thread)
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In answer to your original question, which maybe you aren't trying to answer anymore, I think 604s can be used in small rooms to good effect if you're planful (or lucky, maybe). My buddy Gary @ejfud has a very small listening room. He put his 604s in smaller-than-recommended cabinets, but the room seems to reinforce the bass where it might otherwise have been lost in the cabinet compromise. They sound pretty amazing to me!
You've nailed it, Nate.
I haven't commented much on just how how good the Kestrels are. I've got a fair bit of time listening to various 604s, and in the room I'm in, with the space I have, and the compromises I'd have to make, I can't imagine any 604 based speaker system would be any more then a lateral move. Yes, the Kestrel Hot Rods are really THAT good, and in my experience, Pat is one of the finest loudspeaker designers. Period.
Each listener/room/situation/etc. will be somewhat unique and determine what will (and will not) work.
Since the Kestrels ring your chimes, perhaps consider trying them with some other amps - particularly SETs - and see if that works.
Only thing is, I don't know what I'd achieve by that. This is easily the most musical system I've ever had, and one of the finest I've heard. I'm sure I could change it, but I certainly don't know about improving it.
I just can't imagine a system I'd swap it for.
Not sure, sorry. Gary might know, though - he's a member here and pops in occasionally so hopefully he'll see this.
Good for you PM! This is what we all strive for, an end all systems that’s meets our needs and keeps us from wanting anything else. Between my 604’s and 4333’s I know I’ll close the speaker chapter of my journey. Then it’s on to surrounding them with quality components.
fmena
Junior Member
The thread for the Coaxial Speaker Build Thread with a FaitalPro 6HX150 (sens...93db) from diyAudio might meet your needs for a small room. ... just a suggestion as I have not heard this set up
Link:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/316684-coaxial-speaker-build-thread-faitalpro-6hx150.html
Cheers
Frank M
Link:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/316684-coaxial-speaker-build-thread-faitalpro-6hx150.html
Cheers
Frank M
Thanks for that Frank, it's an impressive build. Too bad I'm a measure 3 times and still screw it up kind of woodworker.
You're not alone -- in case that makes you feel any better.
I have found that the best way to keep my thumbs and all of my fingers is to pay someone else for any needed woodworking.
SPL db
Junior Member
In answer to your original question, which maybe you aren't trying to answer anymore, I think 604s can be used in small rooms to good effect if you're planful (or lucky, maybe). My buddy Gary @ejfud has a very small listening room. He put his 604s in smaller-than-recommended cabinets, but the room seems to reinforce the bass where it might otherwise have been lost in the cabinet compromise. They sound pretty amazing to me!
Not to hijack the thread, but where did Gary get those CD racks? I'm in the market for more shelf space.
