Royd Abbott speakers
Posted by: Number 5 on 04 January 2004
Any comments pro or con or information on this speaker would be appreciated.
Thanks
#5
Thanks
#5
Posted on: 04 January 2004 by Basil
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Mike Hanson
What equipment are you intending to use with the Abbots? I've found that they like a fair bit of power to really sing (NAP180 perhaps). Overall, though, they're a good sounding speaker, and usually a great deal on the used market.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Number 5
I have the 90/102 at present and intend to upgrade the amp in the future when funds permit.
#5
#5
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Basil
quote:
I've found that they like a fair bit of power to really sing (NAP180 perhaps).
I'm puzzled by this, I have a pair of Apexs' which have almost identical specs to the Abbot's and are very efficient, 90 dB 1 watt @ 1 metre. My old Nait 2 had no problems driving them.
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Mike Hanson
quote:
Originally posted by Basil:quote:
I've found that they like a fair bit of power to really sing (NAP180 perhaps).
I'm puzzled by this, I have a pair of Apexs' which have almost identical specs to the Abbot's and are very efficient, 90 dB 1 watt @ 1 metre. My old Nait 2 had no problems driving them.
Don't get hung-up on specs, as they're generally over-simplified to the point of being meaningless. I'm not saying that you can't get sound out of Abbots with a NAP90; you certainly can. However, it will seem a bit restrained and congested. When you drive them with a 180 or better, though, the picture opens up and the music seems "freed".
The Abbot is peculiar in this regard, when compared to other speakers in Royd's former line-up. The Albions sounded very good driven by my 140 (although they certainly sounded better when I changed to 250 and 2*135). The Merlins in my office are just fine with a 110, the Minstrel SE and Squire work well with sloppy Japanese amps, and the A7X is quite adequate on the end of my sister's little NAD integrated.
BTW, Royd's new Revelation series likes more power than the earlier models. I wouldn't suggest anything less than a 180 for any of them. Curiously, though, they also sound surprising good with a Creek integrated, reinforcing the concept that amplifier+speaker synergy can be quite helpful.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 06 January 2004 by Boz
I have had a pair of Royd Abbot's for over 2 years and think they are the business, delicate and detailed with a really great well balanced not overplayed bass.
I started driving them with a 92/90 and now have 82/super/250 I have never found them at all difficult to drive even with the 90 amp.
Although not too fussy about placement you need to experiment with distance from the back wall to make sure you get the most from them.
I have been thinking about getting some MANA soundbases to put under them but am concerned I will lose the very natural sound.
I started driving them with a 92/90 and now have 82/super/250 I have never found them at all difficult to drive even with the 90 amp.
Although not too fussy about placement you need to experiment with distance from the back wall to make sure you get the most from them.
I have been thinking about getting some MANA soundbases to put under them but am concerned I will lose the very natural sound.
Posted on: 06 January 2004 by Number 5
I did purchase the speakers and they are quite an improvement over my old ones. It took my wife about two seconds to give them the nod so...out with the old and in with the new(used)!! The 90 seems to drive them OK but I imagine a bigger amp would be even better. Is there a maximum distance from the wall or is it room dependant?
#5
#5
Posted on: 07 January 2004 by Mike Hanson
quote:
The 90 seems to drive them OK but I imagine a bigger amp would be even better. Is there a maximum distance from the wall or is it room dependant?
That's good to hear. Regarding placement, it's ALWAYS room dependant.
I just noticed that you're in/near Toronto. Perhaps we should visit each others systems some time. We've got an informal "stereo gang" here in T.O., and it's always fun to critique (in the hopes of improving) a new system. If you're interested, send me a message to contact@boxsoft.net.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 07 January 2004 by JeremyD
quote:I've only heard the largest one, so far - a brief listen with CD5/NAIT5 and CDS2/52/135s (I think). I'd certainly need to listen more to be able to give a dependable opinion but in the short time I listened to it the NAIT5 didn't seem to be struggling relative to the pre/power, although the speakers sounded "loose" in both cases. I attributed this to my having become accustomed to overdamped-sounding (IMHO) speakers (such as my Kans) but perhaps I'm mistaken.
Originally posted by Mike Hanson:
BTW, Royd's new Revelation series likes more power than the earlier models. I wouldn't suggest anything less than a 180 for any of them.
Posted on: 07 January 2004 by Mike Hanson
quote:
Originally posted by JeremyD:
I've only heard the largest one, so far - a brief listen with CD5/NAIT5 and CDS2/52/135s (I think). I'd certainly need to listen more to be able to give a dependable opinion but in the short time I listened to it the NAIT5 didn't seem to be struggling relative to the pre/power, although the speakers sounded "loose" in both cases. I attributed this to my having become accustomed to overdamped-sounding (IMHO) speakers (such as my Kans) but perhaps I'm mistaken.
As with all speakers, they'll still play music when underpowered. However, things like "loose bass" are often due to insufficient ampliciation. When driven with enough power, they're very fast and tight. In particular the "largest one" (I assume you mean the RR2) has very solid, cohesive bass.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
-=> Mike Hanson <=-