Cost: roughly $500 for the pair.
I have been working on these for quite a while now (cut the wood over new years). They originally (and eventually) will be a semi tower with powered 8" ported woofer in the bottom enclosure. The top (and current model) is a 5 liter (.19 cu ft) sealed enclosure with a single Jordan JX92S fullrange.
Modelled response -3dB was around 77Hz, the box is built from 3/4" Birch ply.
Power is from an Onix SP3 tube amp with all stock tubes except for the 12AX7 which has been replaced with Sovtek 5751s. Source is PC to Yamaha reciever with the SP3 running via front LR preouts, this allows me to use the X-sub until the lower enclosures are completed.
I finished the enclosures this evening around 6pm. I had to shut down the amp to switch wires and I think it took long enough to cool the tubes down, but after the first song things were going good.
The first thing I noticed is a level of clarity I had never heard out of bookshelfs, though I do not have a lot of experience with high end ones either. These were very articulate and no frequency range seemed to be boosted.
Highs were amazingly detailed and present, especially considering there is no tweeter in the system at all. Bass is present, but not authoritive, as one would think with such a smal
l, sealed enclosure...I could be happy listening without a sub to most music.
Mids really shine. Female voices are incredible, I had never heard Jewel breathe so much, Norah Jones sounded sultry and liquid. Male vocals are very much male. Throatier, a little raspy when they are supposed to be...you can really hear the abuse Roger Waters has given his lungs over the years.
Piano has depth and character, guitar is as expected...everything is good!
Techno seems a little sterile, but later in the night, the more I listened the more I adapted. It seems the more soul a song has, the speakers pour more in.
I only have about 3hrs on them and cannot wait to fire them up again tomorrow, will probably listen well into the night.
I have not noticed any fatigue from them either, but I expected this because I thought the highs would be rolled off...they dont seem to be at all.
They do seem a little less efficient than the AV123 Ref .5s they took the place of, and take about one more notch on the SP3 volume knob to get to the same level...all in all, not too bad.
For a speaker that was as simple as building a box and plugging in I am amazed at their output, though they did cost $390 for the drivers.
I will add more as I learn more about them, so far I havent heard a single thing that disappointed me.
