So, I've owned this pair of Hartley Holton JRs for probably coming up on twenty years, and for most of that time I've been considering raising them off the floor about a foot to put the main driver at ear level. Somehow, though, I just never got around to it, probably because they sounded so dang good as they were, and, also, the obvious thing, I'm lazy.
Another thing I've wondered about for a very long time, mostly because of longstanding internet discussion on this question, is whether or not these particular drivers really need supplemental tweeters.
Well, finally, I managed to get them up on stands, well, footstools, if I'm being honest, and, yes, it turns out this is a very good thing, improved imaging and whatnot, but having the 220MSGs higher also unfortunately means having the tweeters higher, and this, as it happens, is not such a great thing. I should note here my ears are especially sensitive to treble tizz, sibilance, harshness, whatever you want to call it, and this is exactly what I got with these tweeters being closer to ear level. (Apparently my knees don't mind it so much.) In any event, at long last, my hand was forced: the tweeters are now out of the equation.
The results were far better than anticipated. Quite nice, in fact. I can't say I'll never try different (friendlier) tweeters in these, but given the rate at which I've moved so far on these speakers, I'd say chances are they'll stay as is for a very, very long time. And I'm fine with that. Actually, better than fine. I think you really can call these speakers full-range.
For posterity, I've attached a couple interior views of this cabinet. (Images of these drivers in factory cabinets, insulated as Hartley insulated them, are pretty few and far between.)
Happy days!
Another thing I've wondered about for a very long time, mostly because of longstanding internet discussion on this question, is whether or not these particular drivers really need supplemental tweeters.
Well, finally, I managed to get them up on stands, well, footstools, if I'm being honest, and, yes, it turns out this is a very good thing, improved imaging and whatnot, but having the 220MSGs higher also unfortunately means having the tweeters higher, and this, as it happens, is not such a great thing. I should note here my ears are especially sensitive to treble tizz, sibilance, harshness, whatever you want to call it, and this is exactly what I got with these tweeters being closer to ear level. (Apparently my knees don't mind it so much.) In any event, at long last, my hand was forced: the tweeters are now out of the equation.
The results were far better than anticipated. Quite nice, in fact. I can't say I'll never try different (friendlier) tweeters in these, but given the rate at which I've moved so far on these speakers, I'd say chances are they'll stay as is for a very, very long time. And I'm fine with that. Actually, better than fine. I think you really can call these speakers full-range.
For posterity, I've attached a couple interior views of this cabinet. (Images of these drivers in factory cabinets, insulated as Hartley insulated them, are pretty few and far between.)
Happy days!
