RBH Sound Signature T-30LSE System Review

[gene]

audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/RBHSignatureT30LSEp1.php">The RBH Sound T-30LSE system is a speaker system cut from a different cloth.  It provides that "better than being there" sonic experience typically only found in unamplified live musical performance.  It was born to reproduce music with unparalleled realism, free of dynamic range or bandwidth limitations.  This system can go toe-to-toe sonically with some of the most expensive gear made and comfortably hold its own.  RBH Sound is only producing 100 pairs (many of which have already been pre-sold) of these limited edition speakers.  You better get your dose of overindulgence before they are going going … gone. 

[Read the Review]     [Measurements] 

[briansmith]

Do you think that a pair of these speaker would be adequate w/out a subwoofer? For reference I have a PB2 Ultra by SVS in a 20 X 35 room.

How much is the matching center channel and rears and when will they be available?

Any chance of picking these bad boys up at anything besides retail?

-Brian

[Seth=L]

Do you think that a pair of these speaker would be adequate w/out a subwoofer? For reference I have a PB2 Ultra by SVS in a 20 X 35 room.

How much is the matching center channel and rears and when will they be available?

Any chance of picking these bad boys up at anything besides retail?

-Brian

I get the impression these speakers were designed to be used in a stereo only configuration, not meaning they wouldn't work well in part of a surround system. There may not be matching center and surrounds for it. If they are only making 100 pair, well I just don't see it.

And being that they are music speakers and they are quite large, a sub wouldn't be a necessity. Music doesn't usually dig as low in hertz as does movie soundtracks.

[briansmith]

I get the impression these speakers were designed to be used in a stereo only configuration, not meaning they wouldn't work well in part of a surround system. There may not be matching center and surrounds for it. If they are only making 100 pair, well I just don't see it.

And being that they are music speakers and they are quite large, a sub wouldn't be a necessity. Music doesn't usually dig as low in hertz as does movie soundtracks.

Actually I just read the review and there is a matching center and surrounds thought I don't know if they are upgraded speakers or from the old line. From the review it sounds like the subwoofers did at some point "bottom" out. I can't believe they did not include some kind of limiter or filter on the woofers.

[Seth=L]

Ha, I was wrong, definitely not a first for me.

[robot]

Beware, many loudspeaker manufacturers use a quasi phase plug which looks like a phase plug for marketing purposes but does not physically separate from the cone of the driver. These "so called" phase plugs can do more harm than good as they provide an inconsistent surface area. They increase the mass of the cone, yielding poorer frequency response and linearity.

I don't think this is a fair thing to say. I've seen lots of cheap speakers with fixed phase plugs, and more expensive quality speakers with the "pointy dust cap" variety phase plug. The B&W 6 series speakers use the "pointy dust cap" phase plugs and I think those mid bass drivers are absolutely amazing in their price range. Every day I listen to my speakers and notice how amazing, clear, and detailed the midrange is.

On the other hand I've listened to the less expensive Energy towers with true phase plugs and I wasn't too interested. The Energys have a similar cone design to the B&W as well.

I really don't think that B&W used a pointy dust cap in the 6 series because it just looks better. If it sounded better, then they would have used a conventional dome.

Also I don't know if anyone cares but the correct way to punctuate the second sentence would be: "These so-called "phase plugs"...." instead of "These "so called" phase plugs".

[gene]

From the review it sounds like the subwoofers did at some point "bottom" out. I can't believe they did not include some kind of limiter or filter on the woofers.

NO the woofers did NOT bottom out! Please re-read the section of the review. The pre-production samples I received had the leads of the driver pushed towards the cone and they slapped against the cone as the driver was making long excursions. I resolved this issue by bending the leads out which is what RBH does on production units prior to installing them. I never got these woofers to bottom out with the amps I was using.

Actually I just read the review and there is a matching center and surrounds thought I don't know if they are upgraded speakers or from the old line.

The center is matching (meaning the same drivers, topology, xover, etc). The 66-SE's are current product and work very well with this system.

[gene]

Do you think that a pair of these speaker would be adequate w/out a subwoofer? For reference I have a PB2 Ultra by SVS in a 20 X 35 room.

The T-30LSE system is very adequate for bass. The only reason I used two additional subs was because of the asymmetry of my room. I wanted to broaden a more uniform bass response across all of my seats in my theater.

[jaxvon]

I have a question about the speakers...

The build quality doesn't seem that high to me. What exactly is in there besides the HDF and acoustical foam? Any extra wall damping or tension bracing?

[Buckle-meister]

Depending on the SPL level you need to attain in your room, powering these speakers full range demands an amplifier rated to deliver at least 200 Watts per channel into 4-Ohms. Of course, very high SPL’s in large rooms will require even more power and the T-30LSE can safely be used with amplifiers capable of delivering up to 1000 Watts per channel.

I've always been under the impression that apart from running the risk of destroying speakers by cranking up the volume too high on an amplifier of power greater than that recommended by the speaker manufacturer, that there was nothing wrong with using any size of amplifier.

Is this not true? The last sentence of the above quote seems to suggest that it may not be.