Audio Physic confusion

Posted by: Chris Metcalfe on 05 February 2001

Over the weekend I heard a splendid pair of speakers by Audio Physic - the Tempos. They produced a big soundstage, total clarity through the (very even) range, and very clearly delineated musical / vocal lines (so that you could follow through a tenor part once the basses had come in) and didn't just provide disembodied floating heads, but the whole body (kinda spooky); yet didn't give away anything in the PRAT department to the Neat Elites to which I directly compared them. A steal at £2K?

But here's the sad part - turns out I was given the Mark 2s to listen to - the ones with 3 drive units. The Mark 3s have, I think, 2 units and a big hole at the front.

So, has anyone compared the two models or have experience of either? Would buying the older model be a bad move (usually is)?

Late PS to this message - I may be wrong as the Audio Physic website has the model I auditioned as the T3, Walrus systems display the 2-way version. ????????

[This message was edited by Chris Metcalfe on MONDAY 05 February 2001 at 18:16.]

Posted on: 05 February 2001 by Top Cat

...never heard them, but AP do things in an unusual way. From what I have been told (and I did extensive research into the Tempo III) the III is a far more accomplished speaker than the II. If you are really keen, the Virgo is a staggeringly good speaker, but alas my room was too small to allow it myself and the Virgos to coexist happily.

Pity, as I've *never* heard anything to compare to them - and I've heard all the usual suspects, although not DBLs or Neats.

Good luck, I think the AP speakers are great!

John

Posted on: 05 February 2001 by Chris Metcalfe

John,

Thanks. So is the Tempo 3 the 3-way with the 'ring-tweeter' or the 2-way with the metal tweeter?

Posted on: 06 February 2001 by Chris Metcalfe

"bright, harsh, tonally unrefined, and colourless. " Your room & system?

Well Ross, that's not what I heard. Something a tad less overt and explicit than the Neats, perhaps, but those are not the adjectives I'd use (though they do exactly describe the Linn Ninkas).
I'd go for rich, colourful, surprising, charismatic, tuneful and neutral. There you go.

Mind you, not a Naim box in sight when I heard them. Which will be even more interesting.

You'll be pleased to know, however, that I've just ordered an Armageddon.

Posted on: 07 February 2001 by Top Cat

Interesting about the Tempos. I was considering auditioning a pair (difficult to find dealers in my area) and I found one dealer who had a pair, but he told me the run in on the Tempos can be up to a month (!) of continuous use. He said that, up until that point, they sound HiFi and a bit brittle, but that they open up over time.

I didn't audition them in the end - too much hassle - and am now awaiting a pair of Neat Petites and Gravitas subs for a two or three week audition with a view to a very good price indeed.

John