System Pics 2017

hi Tony, I'd be very interestd in the "How To Convince SWMBO That DBLs Are A Good Idea" (vols I & II)" papers mentioned above.  I'd be applying the principle to ATC SCM100's rather than DBLs, but I'm guessing the tactics are the same even if the speakers are not.  In a separate thread about my experience with the ATC's compared to B&W 802s I've concluded I should change but SWMBO has taken an extrordinarily aggressive dislike to the dem pair of ATCs I had for a couple of weeks.  In that thread, folks with more experience than me offered bribery and/or divorce as possible solutions to the problem of aquiring the SCM100's which seem to be (from your pics) somewhere near the same volume (size) as the DBL's.  I'm hoping your pamphlets will offer something less radical than divorce and less expensive than bribery.

Fingers crossed, can't wait to read & thanks in advance.

Roger

I see that your Dibbles used to be Sibbles Tony. These classic and amazing designes are becoming less common in system pics as time goes by. I always get a little nostalgic when I spot a pair.

That was one impressive rats nest though....

Stu

I just noticed all the little notes attached to many of the wires. So glad I am not the only one that does this...

Stu 

I think it's pretty essential to label cables....in one way or another.

vintageaxeman posted:

I think it's pretty essential to label cables....in one way or another.

I, on the other hand, prefer a challenge, so not a label in sight !

Impressive Mr Staines! I do remove the labels once it’s all working but I would blow my kit up without them. I know, bloody useless....

Stu

I must admit, in days past when I used the main system for a/v and so had one of the preamp inputs set to bypass the volume control circuit, the challenge became a lot more nail-biting      I once blew up a pair of Linn Kabers attached to a Linn Kairn / 280 setup...  that p*ssed me off seriously, especially knowing that with just a litle more care I could have plugged the right wire into the right hole.   Still, they* say the best way to learn is by making mistakes 

* whoever 'they' are, they should be locked up for a long time... because the best way to learn is actually by reading the frigin manual, not blowing up speakers.

Are there any Bibbles around you could arrange to audition? (try looking in Suffolk).

This has two possible but mutually exclusive benefits

1. You might prefer them to the ATCs and it will save your 500 from redundancy.

2. She might think the ATCs aren’t so bad after all compared to a pair of wardrobes in the livingroom.

One possible hazard is that you love the dibbles but she OKs the ATCs but sometimes you have to take a chance..

rjstaines posted:

hi Tony, I'd be very interestd in the "How To Convince SWMBO That DBLs Are A Good Idea" (vols I & II)" papers mentioned above.  I'd be applying the principle to ATC SCM100's rather than DBLs, but I'm guessing the tactics are the same even if the speakers are not.  In a separate thread about my experience with the ATC's compared to B&W 802s I've concluded I should change but SWMBO has taken an extrordinarily aggressive dislike to the dem pair of ATCs I had for a couple of weeks.  In that thread, folks with more experience than me offered bribery and/or divorce as possible solutions to the problem of aquiring the SCM100's which seem to be (from your pics) somewhere near the same volume (size) as the DBL's.  I'm hoping your pamphlets will offer something less radical than divorce and less expensive than bribery.

Fingers crossed, can't wait to read & thanks in advance.

Roger

I'd normally expect a big fat fee for sharing my hard-won knowledge with others Roger, but seeing as how you're such a jolly good sort of chap I shall give away my basic strategy for getting the Big Ones over our threshold...

Patience. That's the key. Jon Honeyball started the ball rolling with SWMBO by telling her in his own unique way that my room demanded a pair of DBLs and they were the only proper speakers for us. Amazingly this didn't immediately do the trick, so I began a campaign of subtle nudges in that direction. I may have sobbed at one stage to elicit a bit of sympathy. As it happened, a local fellow Naim user who at the time owned a spiffing pair of cherry DBLs was enrolled to the cause - briefed to invite us both over for the evening, with instructions to emphasise how, after a while, you barely notice the things, they just fade into the background. SWMBO knew perfectly well it was a setup, but she played along. Anyway, my months of constant chipping away finally wore her down, and when a pristine pair of maple DBLs came up for sale she reluctantly agreed, on the proviso that, should she really hate them, I would be happy to sell them on. Well, she still dislikes them and I'm under no illusions that once I become in any way a bit gaga they'll be out of the door before I can blink.

Gazza posted:

I gathered from your magnificent system you must have had something up your sleeve to keep the wife happy. I think the second hand Fraim has passed the test, it’s the Nap300 black boxes going unnoticed which is my next plan and greatest need.

Is your mate Dave any better this time round or still not cutting the mustard?

Patience mon brave, all will eventually be revealed...

stuart.ashen posted:

I see that your Dibbles used to be Sibbles Tony. These classic and amazing designes are becoming less common in system pics as time goes by. I always get a little nostalgic when I spot a pair.

That was one impressive rats nest though....

Stu

Not that uncommon...

stuart.ashen posted:

I see that your Dibbles used to be Sibbles Tony. These classic and amazing designes are becoming less common in system pics as time goes by. I always get a little nostalgic when I spot a pair.

That was one impressive rats nest though....

Stu

Just to help a bit with that nostalgia, a photo from a slightly jauntier angle than intended!

SBL,s look just lovely. Why did I sell my ones on....big regret.

Lovely!

Stu

rjstaines posted:

I must admit, in days past when I used the main system for a/v and so had one of the preamp inputs set to bypass the volume control circuit, the challenge became a lot more nail-biting      I once blew up a pair of Linn Kabers attached to a Linn Kairn / 280 setup...  that p*ssed me off seriously, especially knowing that with just a litle more care I could have plugged the right wire into the right hole.   Still, they* say the best way to learn is by making mistakes 

* whoever 'they' are, they should be locked up for a long time... because the best way to learn is actually by reading the frigin manual, not blowing up speakers.

I feel you RJ, I would imagine, there's quite a few Linnies on board.

Kairn, 280, Speakers, etc...

I feel confident, when I know my HCDR is input into my 282.

I feel confident, when my 3 outputs is going from my HCDR into my 3 inputs into my 3 250.2s.

I feel confident when 1 amp is supplying the left and right output to my Briks input XO tweeter section, which in turn is an output directly to the back of the Briks input tweeter.

Mids and Bass repeated!

Its all part of this hobby of ours!

But I must admit, I must give it some thought.

And the last output is the crucial one!

Output from Speakers, to input to our ears!

Allante93!

Dave***t posted:

stuart.ashen posted:

I see that your Dibbles used to be Sibbles Tony. These classic and amazing designes are becoming less common in system pics as time goes by. I always get a little nostalgic when I spot a pair.

That was one impressive rats nest though....

Stu

Just to help a bit with that nostalgia, a photo from a slightly jauntier angle than intended!

Try extending the spikes so that the SBL stands are just off the pile of the carpet. It should sound audibly better. 

Dave***t posted:

stuart.ashen posted:

I see that your Dibbles used to be Sibbles Tony. These classic and amazing designes are becoming less common in system pics as time goes by. I always get a little nostalgic when I spot a pair.

That was one impressive rats nest though....

Stu

Just to help a bit with that nostalgia, a photo from a slightly jauntier angle than intended!

Gorgeous! They remind me so much of my own walnut pair. 

My trusty old pair of SBLs.

They look lovely Tony. I had a pair that veneer as well. Always remember taking them to the U.S with us 20 years ago. My neighbour who had enormous JBL speakers could not believe how good they were...........memories.

tonym posted:

My trusty old pair of SBLs.

Also nice to see speakers that are happy close to the rear wall.  Give domestic constraints in may homes I would have thought more speaker manufactures would design for that and make a virtue of it in their marketing.

MDS posted:

tonym posted:

 

My trusty old pair of SBLs.

Also nice to see speakers that are happy close to the rear wall.  Give domestic constraints in may homes I would have thought more speaker manufactures would design for that and make a virtue of it in their marketing.

Indeed, it is a real shame. I understand it's quite a challenge to design a speaker that's meant to be close to a wall, but it sure would make life easier for most of us.

What factors play into speaker design that permit close wall placement?

Offhand I can imagine that a rear-firing port would be a no go for near wall placement, but what else, if anyone has that info.

DrMark posted:

What factors play into speaker design that permit close wall placement?

Offhand I can imagine that a rear-firing port would be a no go for near wall placement, but what else, if anyone has that info.

Yes, ports (especially rear facing ones, obviously) are generally absent from wall-proximate speakers. The wall-proximate speakers tend to have naturally less bass in the way they are built and eq'ed, relying instead on reinforcement from the wall to bring the frequency response into balance. I imagine there are also phase issues to address with low frequency sounds coming significantly from reflections.

Proximity to the wall is nature's eq. If your bass is too heavy or boomy, bring the speakers into the room a bit. If too light, push them back. My S600s, while not strictly wall-proximate design, are quite sensitive to this, with a narrow sweet spot between too light and too heavy/boomy.

winkyincanada posted:

Proximity to the wall is nature's eq. If your bass is too heavy or boomy, bring the speakers into the room a bit. If too light, push them back. My S600s, while not strictly wall-proximate design, are quite sensitive to this, with a narrow sweet spot between too light and too heavy/boomy.

Could you share how far from the rear wall you find the S600 are at there best ?

Thanks

Rob

Mort2k posted:

winkyincanada posted:

Proximity to the wall is nature's eq. If your bass is too heavy or boomy, bring the speakers into the room a bit. If too light, push them back. My S600s, while not strictly wall-proximate design, are quite sensitive to this, with a narrow sweet spot between too light and too heavy/boomy.

Could you share how far from the rear wall you find the S600 are at there best ?

 

 

Thanks

Rob

 

They're 300mm from the wall. Slightly toed in. The wall has some windows.