Thinking of returning my Axiom m80s...

[nav]

Do you have any technical discussion on tweeter waveguides?

I can't admit to having read up on them myself. As I understand them, the idea behind external waveguides on speakers can be likened to electrical transformers in that they're used to transfer between two acoustic impedances. Impedance matched waveguides can be used to prevent reflected (phase inverted) interference (at differing levels at various frequencies) and impedance lowering waveguides are seen as a part of "horn loaded" tweeters.

That's about as far as I can even fathom trying to explain, hopefully not mangling the science too much in the process...

 

[robot]

Update:

Last night the fire alarm went off in my building just before 1AM. It was clearly a false alarm so I went back up to my apartment for some listening tests. The socks came out and I started off with "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk. What a good song! These speakers are very sensitive, -10dB on the reciever was a comfortable level. I went up to 0 but only for a little while as that was scary loud. The woofers appeared to have around .75 cm of movement but it was hard to tell.

I enjoyed it but they were still bright sounding. But I don't know if that's the speaker's fault, almost all speakers sound bright and piercing to me when they are loud.

Today I should be able to bring the 603s home. I can't hardly wait.

 

[tomd51]

Do you happen to have an SPL meter? I'd be curious to know how loud that song would be at -10dB from your listening point. I'd guess well over 100dB, but it'd be just that, guessing. If it was, man, that'd be some heavy duty listening at the listening point in your picture.

Also to note, I've found that getting to that dB level on any mid to budget level receiver is going to start producing some distortion. I have the same model receiver (AVR-886, same as the 2106) in my secondary setup with much smaller bookshelfs. An external amp would help w/distortion, particularly w/the 4 Ohm M80s.

It will be interesting to hear your feedback in listening to the 603s... -TD

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'd guess well over 100dB, but it'd be just that, guessing. If it was, man, that'd be some heavy duty listening at the listening point in your picture.
-TD

And, at 1AM, in a building that sounds to be multiple dwellings?

 

[robot]

And, at 1AM, in a building that sounds to be multiple dwellings?

Well the fire alarm was ringing right outside my door so I figured nobody was going to get any sleep anyhow.

Ok I've got them home now!

Inital listening tests are good... but I'm now agreeing with everyone who said my room is an acoustic abortion... they don't sound nearly as good as they did in the shop. I wonder how they will sound after they're broken in?

More results on the listening tests coming soon.

PS. tomd51 no I don't have a SPL meter.

 

[Seth=L]

Man, you need an av rack.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Huh, I thought the B&Ws would look "nicer".

 

[robot]

Right now my budget has no room for furniture, only AV junk.

 

[tomd51]

I'll be the first of a long line of folks that will tell you that there is no such thing as 'break-in'. While you may become more tolerant the sound they produce, the speakers themselves won't change at all.

While some manufacturers will tell you to give their speakers a 'break-in' period, it's mostly just snake oil suggestions... -TD

 

[robot]

Huh, I thought the B&Ws would look "nicer".

Well my camera is really crappy... they probably look better in person. The wood finish is nice. I think the drivers look really nice in person, especially the woofer. Speaking of the woofer, it is really sweet. The bass is so tight and fast and hard. amazing really.

 

[robot]

I'll be the first of a long line of folks that will tell you that there is no such thing as 'break-in'. While you may become more tolerant the sound they produce, the speakers themselves won't change at all.

While some manufacturers will tell you to give their speakers a 'break-in' period, it's mostly just snake oil suggestions... -TD

The "Speaker Break in: Fact or Fiction?" article is rather technical, but I gather from it that speaker break in is no myth. But it leaves me wondering if speakers are broken in during manufacturing (maybe the individual drivers?) sometimes or if that is left up to the consumer. You would think that a manufacturer would want the product to sound as good as possible out of the box.

 

[jaxvon]

The "Speaker Break in: Fact or Fiction?" article is rather technical, but I gather from it that speaker break in is no myth. But it leaves me wondering if speakers are broken in during manufacturing (maybe the individual drivers?) sometimes or if that is left up to the consumer. You would think that a manufacturer would want the product to sound as good as possible out of the box.

You didn't gather enough from the article. Speaker break-in is real, the important thing that you omitted is that it happens in a few seconds after first use.

 

[robot]

You didn't gather enough from the article. Speaker break-in is real, the important thing that you omitted is that it happens in a few seconds after first use.

Ah, thanks very much for clearing that up for me.

 

[Seth=L]

So why do they tell you to break them in over severall hours, what benefit does that give them to tell people that?

 

[mike c]

So why do they tell you to break them in over severall hours, what benefit does that give them to tell people that?

I find it very convenient that most break in time suggestions well exceed months or years of normal use. if someone was to be tortured every day for a few months, even he'd get used to it.

 

[Seth=L]

Oh, I get it now. If some chap buys some speakers from a dealer with a 30 day no questions asked return and they are told the need 2 months to break-in then that reduces the possibility of return, and also the affor mentioned getting used to the sound.

 

[tomd51]

So why do they tell you to break them in over severall hours, what benefit does that give them to tell people that?

Couple of reasons. One I mentioned earlier, is that over time, the more you listen to them, you begin to become accustomed to their sound or sonic signature.

The second would be exactly what Mike touched on. Any speaker needing 50-100 hours of "break-in" time is complete baloney. It's not as if it's an automobile engine... -TD

 

[Resident Loser]

Rude and persistent?

...Red chicklets?

Being a New Yorker, I take that as a compliment...we tend not to suffer fools easily...

Now if someone wants to actually explain or at least direct me to some info that goes beyond vagaries, I'm more than willing to edumacate myself...

jimHJJ(...don't like my delivery...take a number...)

 

[billy p]

It's not as if it's an automobile engine... -TD

What !! That's a myth too. lol

 

[tomd51]

It is?? Well, then they got me... -TD