End Game Speaker Quest - The Final Chapter

[kma100]

How will this work? Is it a quick change or do you have to physically remove part of the speaker and replace it with the other part I E is the tweeter/ coax section modular?

 

[MKR]

What drivers are they using?
Who makes them?

Drivers for what?

 

[MKR]

How will this work? Is it a quick change or do you have to physically remove part of the speaker and replace it with the other part I E is the tweeter/ coax section modular?

No physical change at all, drivers coexist next to each other (in such a way no acoustic impact of course), switched with the push of a button.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Drivers for what?

Your new speaker

 

[MKR]

Your new speaker

Gotcha … same except coax will be a newer model B&C coax

 

[Pearljam5000]

Gotcha … same except coax will be a newer model B&C coax

Can't wait for the final version and your review of it
It feels like eternity by now lol

 

[MKR]

Can't wait for the final version and your review of it
It feels like eternity by now lol

You and me both my friend!

And to be specific, it is the B&C 10CXN64

 

[MattHooper]

No physical change at all, drivers coexist next to each other (in such a way no acoustic impact of course), switched with the push of a button.

First of all, that sounds awesome.

That totally appeals to my own “want to have it all” part of my brain.

I ran into a little problem with that when I wanted to keep both my Benchmark and CJ tube preamp in my system. I was able to run my CJ through one of the benchmark inputs, which allowed me to sort of have my cake and eat it too. It was so convenient that with the press of a button on my remote control I could be listening with the benchmark preamp or my CJ preamp.

The convenience of that has been awesome.
But it also made switching between each preamp so easy, I could start to distract myself “ I wonder how this sounds on the CJ!…click…”

So in the end, I think I’m actually going to go back to just using separate cables for each preamp to my amplifier. That way if I want to switch between preamps, it will involve switching the cables. So I will be more inclined to just stick with one preamp for a while in the system, without having the itchy fingers for the remote button.

However, in your case, especially since it seems one version would suit Home Theatre and another music, perhaps that’s the decision-maker and you won’t have the same “ can’t decide” issue that I did.

 

[TLEDDY]

A customer has a pair, it could have been his set-up but with his you had to sit completely still and exactly exactly between the speakers and even then tbh I wasn’t impressed .
Keith

Keith´s comment is a bit of hyperbole… the listening ¨sweet area” is, indeed, rather focused! I admit to being selfish - my system is designed for my own guilty pleasure, the glory of the auditory experience exceeds that of all I have had the pleasure during the last 65 years!

The Levinson HQD System was a close second; however, it required having a spare set of Quad 57s - back-up speakers necessitated by my inappropriate desire from time to time of concert hall volume!

Mr. Sanders has managed to allow such volume levels without fear of damage to the panels: kudos, Sir!!

Tillman

 

[Purité Audio]

Which part is hyperbole, you did have to sit exactly between the speakers and even then (Imho) the sound wasn’t that great.
Keith

 

[Pearljam5000]

Did you finally get the speakers? @MKR

 

[ErVikingo]

These speakers remind me of the Infinity Beta of yore...

View attachment 424422

Enjoy your speakers.


Peace.

I still enjoy mine!

 

[MKR]

Sorry for delay all! It has been a very extended demo of planar vs coax. But decision finally made, literally just yesterday! I will post a more detailed update a bit later, thanks for your patience

 

[Mr. Widget]

Sorry for delay all! It has been a very extended demo of planar vs coax. But decision finally made, literally just yesterday! I will post a more detailed update a bit later, thanks for your patience

I had actually forgotten about your quest.

Please share the results with an abbreviated explanation on how you got there. Looking forward to it.

 

[MKR]

Ok, so here is the skinny … Soundfield definitely sent me down the rathole by providing a choice between the coaxial and planar drivers … if I had heard just one or the other I would have been totally happy in my ignorance

But alas in Soundfield’s quest to have the happiest customers in the biz, I was presented with options. I have spent countless hours going back and forth between the two drivers and after all is said and done, I am going with the planars. But the coax is truly excellent, again had I never heard the planar I would have been in heaven. Amazingly enough, for two very different driver technologies, they sound more the same than different. I should note the planar is effectively a point source just as the coax due to how Soundfield has implemented the design.

So, how do the planars sound? (be warned a bunch of subjective audiophile blah blah follows) …
Astonishing level of resolution and detail (hearing details in recordings I have never heard before)
Disappearing act like I have never heard with any other driver … the speakers are just gone
Larger soundstage, very holographic
Highly precise imaging, but maybe a bit more diffused than the coax
More dynamic
Very transparent… if it’s on the recording, you hear it. And this is one of the cons (though I don’t see it this way, some might), bad recordings are a no go with the planar, a true window to the source

Coax again sounds very, very good, but it just does not match the planar in the areas described above except where noted. I would say it does just ever so slightly have a more precise image, planar just a little more diffused, but it is a subtle difference. Also every now and then on some recordings the coax would call attention to itself. As to the transparency, and some may find this a positive, the coax is definitely more forgiving of poor recordings as it has a “darker” sound for lack of a better word.

I should also mention the final design is different than the renders I provided prior. Primary reason is taking a more systems approach to the room rather than putting all the eggs in the mains bucket, so to speak. Especially as it relates to LF distribution around the room (multi sub approach basically)

Mains: Front planar midrange and supertweeter, rear planar/tweeter (reminder Soundfield has variable directivity capability, hence the need for the rear drivers) … so there is a narrow, wide, and “concert hall” mode. And as typical with Soundfield, full range cardioid midrange to 40Hz, monopole to 20Hz, via upper 1x 14” woofer and lower 15” woofer.

Center: Tower, match of mains (no horizontal center in my room!), but smaller woofer complement, so less LF extension (down to 40Hz), also cardioid. Basically center channel is a “slim” version of the main

Rears: Up firing ambiance drivers with cardioid LF

High output LF sub (<40Hz coverage): just behind listening position, will be dual 15 or 18, TBD

Soundfield finalizing design with cabinet maker, hope to have the system in place within next 2 months or so! I can hear my sons back of car when they were little guys on a family road trip … are we there yet dad? Just a bit longer kiddos, just a bit longer …

 

[Mr. Widget]

Soundfield finalizing design with cabinet maker, hope to have the system in place within next 2 months or so! I can hear my sons back of car when they were little guys on a family road trip … are we there yet dad? Just a bit longer kiddos, just a bit longer …

As with life, the journey is better than the destination. Savor the ride.

 

[MKR]

As with life, the journey is better than the destination. Savor the ride.

Indeed, though after all this time, I must say I am really looking forward to reaching the destination in this case

 

[Matt_Holland]

Ok, so here is the skinny … Soundfield definitely sent me down the rathole by providing a choice between the coaxial and planar drivers … if I had heard just one or the other I would have been totally happy in my ignorance

But alas in Soundfield’s quest to have the happiest customers in the biz, I was presented with options. I have spent countless hours going back and forth between the two drivers and after all is said and done, I am going with the planars. But the coax is truly excellent, again had I never heard the planar I would have been in heaven. Amazingly enough, for two very different driver technologies, they sound more the same than different. I should note the planar is effectively a point source just as the coax due to how Soundfield has implemented the design.

So, how do the planars sound? (be warned a bunch of subjective audiophile blah blah follows) …
Astonishing level of resolution and detail (hearing details in recordings I have never heard before)
Disappearing act like I have never heard with any other driver … the speakers are just gone
Larger soundstage, very holographic
Highly precise imaging, but maybe a bit more diffused than the coax
More dynamic
Very transparent… if it’s on the recording, you hear it. And this is one of the cons (though I don’t see it this way, some might), bad recordings are a no go with the planar, a true window to the source

Coax again sounds very, very good, but it just does not match the planar in the areas described above except where noted. I would say it does just ever so slightly have a more precise image, planar just a little more diffused, but it is a subtle difference. Also every now and then on some recordings the coax would call attention to itself. As to the transparency, and some may find this a positive, the coax is definitely more forgiving of poor recordings as it has a “darker” sound for lack of a better word.

I should also mention the final design is different than the renders I provided prior. Primary reason is taking a more systems approach to the room rather than putting all the eggs in the mains bucket, so to speak. Especially as it relates to LF distribution around the room (multi sub approach basically)

Mains: Front planar midrange and supertweeter, rear planar/tweeter (reminder Soundfield has variable directivity capability, hence the need for the rear drivers) … so there is a narrow, wide, and “concert hall” mode. And as typical with Soundfield, full range cardioid midrange to 40Hz, monopole to 20Hz, via upper 1x 14” woofer and lower 15” woofer.

Center: Tower, match of mains (no horizontal center in my room!), but smaller woofer complement, so less LF extension (down to 40Hz), also cardioid. Basically center channel is a “slim” version of the main

Rears: Up firing ambiance drivers with cardioid LF

High output LF sub (<40Hz coverage): just behind listening position, will be dual 15 or 18, TBD

Soundfield finalizing design with cabinet maker, hope to have the system in place within next 2 months or so! I can hear my sons back of car when they were little guys on a family road trip … are we there yet dad? Just a bit longer kiddos, just a bit longer …

Would you be so kind as to drop ship them to Amir for a Spin before they are installed

 

[MKR]

Would you be so kind as to drop ship them to Amir for a Spin before they are installed

That would be problematic given the size/weight and Amir’s poor back

 

[Matt_Holland]

That would be problematic given the size/weight and Amir’s poor back

Surely the staff could help?