Just want to share my thoughts on the other night. No, this is not a scientific well worded soon to be published synopsis or review...just my observation on the a good night.
I will say like most HE speakers, they can play amazing loud and distortion free. However, they never really gave me that tingling or "WOW" moment though. I usually don't listen that loud but at that volume last night then...hell yes "WOW". The venue was a dedicated HT in a friend's basement. I’d say the majority of his gear is comprised of DIY speakers and subs...like an assortment of Marty cubes using multiple SI HST 18". Some located behind the screen, additional 2 subs near field...lol.
Listening levels where measured @ reference, sweeps ran using Umik with REW and SPL meter… Audyssey was used to set time delays & distances BUT all listening was all in direct mode. I would estimate that I was seated about 12’ away in the second row middle right. The Cat 8s handled the entire playlist extremely well. Music ranged from Queen's live in Montreal, Eagles "
HotelCalifornia" to Phil Collins “Against all Odds” to Pink Floyd even the LA Philharmonic "Imperial March from " Star Wars” provided some of the music. Movie clips included…..the usual 5* LFE clips from WOTW “pod emergence” to The Incredible Hulk to Tron but for me one scene in particular really stood out that I never seen or experienced before.
IIRC, that scene/or clip came from this Asian movie called
"Hero"with Jet Li. It involved a tea cup along with bundles of bamboo or wood (I believe it was labeled Hero “Shelves” on the demo disc) they were so tightly tied or bound. He then enters the room surrounded by these stacks of wood, flips a cup of tea into the air and proceeds to jump up and cuts all the ties tightly securing the shelves or wood. Within seconds they slowly spring to life...with incredible dynamic force and they crumble to the ground ending with him safely catching the tea before it hit the floor...very impressed.
The Cats played the strings popping incredibly. It felt as if I were being whipped or flogged...really intense...however they seem to lack some of the
mid-bass punch or visceral effect I found with much larger fusions 15s within that that sequence. I also felt they lacked somewhat in the shootout scene in Open Range I didn't get that gut punch feeling like I had earlier...at least from my perch in the room. Likely the Cat 12s would be more comparable or apples to apples but the cost…yikes…lol. I do recall… Mr Seaton discussing the Cat 12 and their uncanny ability to resemble the SubM around 20hz.
I missed parts of the demo with the Sentinel Fusions 15s, as I understood it they were moved out from behind the screen with a slight toe towards the seating for the demo. Some of the guys complained they sounded a bit harsh… compared to the Cats, during our pizza break with some of the higher frequencies. Apparently the member who built the speakers decided to bypass the using a simple resistor which aided in helping out those higher frequencies in untreated rooms from sounding harsh like some experienced this night. The truth of the matter I nor some of the others heard this but to their defense they had the front row seats and positioned closest to the speakers. My take would be we hear and we all listen differently. Once the Cats were removed we slipped back the 15s behind the screen and into place. We then repeated the entire session....needless to say any of the aforementioned issues with the Sentinels being up front or mildly harsh were quickly resolved with better placement and the simple veiling created by placing them behind the screen….where they are on a full time basis.
Personally, I told Nikko (our host) that I try to critically observe symbols or strings. On these details alone both speakers handled them exceedingly well...honestly...I was a bit surprised even at those ridiculously loud levels… hence why they are called High Efficiency Low compression drivers. But dare I say at normal levels like the majority of us mere mortals listen to...DIY or HE speakers really offer no distinct advantages or edge IMO…of course…others will argue that point.
I will say one thing about the DIY folks, they do get everything out of the money they spend and I really admire what they can accomplish. We ended the evening with a complete demo all subs firing...now that was a " Real "WOW" moment...unbelievable...the Hulk scenes with the blast ray and battle finale was the most intense bass I have ever hear....butt shakers...hardly when the entire sofa and room shake...levels where around 125-127 humbling dbs with more room to spare...I was told...lol.
Lastly…I would like to extend a thank you to lz7j{Nikko} at AVS for a fun night and allowing us into his home.
Re,
Bill
