My first speakers were a set of "Baby" Advents, the Advent II. I always like the sound of those speakers and the bass was surprizing for such a small package. Unfortunately, the foam surrounds are totally gone so the speakers have been retired to the basement.
Now to my question. The audio bug bit me again (happens about every 10 years) and that lead to lot of reading. Finding an amp was fairly easy, I chose the NAD C-372. However, when shopping for a speaker I was at a loss. I ended up choosing the local dealers recomendation of the PSB Image T-45. What I really wanted was a floor standing Accoustic Suspension design and all of the floor standing speakers today seem to be ported designs. Which means no "Bass Extension" because of ported speakers very sharp cutoff at low frequencies.
So, how come no large Accoustic Suspension speakers? Are the computer modeling programs for ported speakers that good? Or is it the cost of building a really good, non resonant cabinet for a really large woofer?
There are some, I believe, distinct advantages to an accoustic suspension design. First is the slow rolloff at low frequencies. That allows a higher level of percieved bass. The second is that it's very "error tolerant" so manufacturing variables between drivers doesn't have much effect. The third is that they don't produce any significant "humps" in the response curve, which means that a very simple crossover can be used. I suspect that those new PSB speakers I am buying will employ an "equalizing" crossover to "tame" the response curve of the ported design.
My "Ideal" speaker would be a 2, or 3, way accoustic suspension design with a simple first order crossover. That way there wouldn't be any issues with "phase shifting" which should result in a speaker with fantastic imaging and dynamic response.
So how come, in all my web surfing, I couldn't find one at any price level? Have we forgotten all about the AR-1 or the Large Advent double, and triple, towers (which sounded simply amazing at Stereo Lab in the 70's on a Virgil Fox LP)? I would think that with all the variety in Audio today there would be at least one manufacturere dedicated to a line of accoustic suspension loudspeakers. If there is, all I can say is that I couldn't find them.
BTW, second question. How come active crossovers are a HUGE "NO NO" and most of us Audio nuts have no problems with equalizing crossovers in our speakers? They both do the same thing, shift the phase of the signal at various frequencies. I ask because I used first order crossovers for the sound system in my car and it's the best sounding system for drums that I have ever heard. Inagoddadavida has a "slam" on the drum solo in my car that I haven't ever heard in my home system. Drums in the car have a POP that sets the mirrors bouncing even at moderate listening levels, in the home all that I have ever gotten was a drumlike thud. Maybe it's "room" gain but I do have to wonder if the complex corssovers used in modern speakers don't have a detrimental effect on impact instruments like drums and "smear" the sound a bit.
BTW, my dealer has a set of Theil 1.6 in their showroom. I plan on taking Innagodadivida along and comparing them against the T-45's. Theil does use a first order crossover in their transmission line design and, if I hear a big difference, I may have to drag another 1200 bucks out of savings.
My first speakers were a set of "Baby" Advents, the Advent II. I always like the sound of those speakers and the bass was surprizing for such a small package. Unfortunately, the foam surrounds are totally gone so the speakers have been retired to the basement.
Now to my question. The audio bug bit me again (happens about every 10 years) and that lead to lot of reading. Finding an amp was fairly easy, I chose the NAD C-372. However, when shopping for a speaker I was at a loss. I ended up choosing the local dealers recomendation of the PSB Image T-45. What I really wanted was a floor standing Accoustic Suspension design and all of the floor standing speakers today seem to be ported designs. Which means no "Bass Extension" because of ported speakers very sharp cutoff at low frequencies.
So, how come no large Accoustic Suspension speakers? Are the computer modeling programs for ported speakers that good? Or is it the cost of building a really good, non resonant cabinet for a really large woofer?
There are some, I believe, distinct advantages to an accoustic suspension design. First is the slow rolloff at low frequencies. That allows a higher level of percieved bass. The second is that it's very "error tolerant" so manufacturing variables between drivers doesn't have much effect. The third is that they don't produce any significant "humps" in the response curve, which means that a very simple crossover can be used. I suspect that those new PSB speakers I am buying will employ an "equalizing" crossover to "tame" the response curve of the ported design.
My "Ideal" speaker would be a 2, or 3, way accoustic suspension design with a simple first order crossover. That way there wouldn't be any issues with "phase shifting" which should result in a speaker with fantastic imaging and dynamic response.
So how come, in all my web surfing, I couldn't find one at any price level? Have we forgotten all about the AR-1 or the Large Advent double, and triple, towers (which sounded simply amazing at Stereo Lab in the 70's on a Virgil Fox LP)? I would think that with all the variety in Audio today there would be at least one manufacturere dedicated to a line of accoustic suspension loudspeakers. If there is, all I can say is that I couldn't find them.
BTW, second question. How come active crossovers are a HUGE "NO NO" and most of us Audio nuts have no problems with equalizing crossovers in our speakers? They both do the same thing, shift the phase of the signal at various frequencies. I ask because I used first order crossovers for the sound system in my car and it's the best sounding system for drums that I have ever heard. Inagoddadavida has a "slam" on the drum solo in my car that I haven't ever heard in my home system. Drums in the car have a POP that sets the mirrors bouncing even at moderate listening levels, in the home all that I have ever gotten was a drumlike thud. Maybe it's "room" gain but I do have to wonder if the complex corssovers used in modern speakers don't have a detrimental effect on impact instruments like drums and "smear" the sound a bit.
BTW, my dealer has a set of Theil 1.6 in their showroom. I plan on taking Innagodadivida along and comparing them against the T-45's. Theil does use a first order crossover in their transmission line design and, if I hear a big difference, I may have to drag another 1200 bucks out of savings.