Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 31, 2019 22:05:27 GMT
Nah, better than that but still too small for your tastes and too “peaky” for DSJR. It’s a pair of Dean Altos, collection only and stained mahogany, so should be cheap. I’ve always liked them. A bit like a mini Snell K but can be brutal on a weedy amp. Made an AP10PX wet itself and run away crying. Let’s see if they make the T amp blubber. If they do, I will upgrade.
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Post by macca on Aug 31, 2019 22:11:15 GMT
Never heard of them so I never would have guessed.
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Post by macca on Aug 31, 2019 22:12:47 GMT
Looks like the same tweeter you get in the JPW 'P' and 'AP' models.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2019 22:14:53 GMT
Nah, better than that but still too small for your tastes and too “peaky” for DSJR. It’s a pair of Dean Altos, collection only and stained mahogany, so should be cheap. I’ve always liked them. A bit like a mini Snell K but can be brutal on a weedy amp. Made an AP10PX wet itself and run away crying. Let’s see if they make the T amp blubber. If they do, I will upgrade. I remember the name and model, but know nothing about them. Look about the same size as my Ruark Swordsman Plus speakers. (which were giving stirling service this afternoon banging out Ozrics, Eat Static, Hallucinogen and Shpongle, the bass for such small sealed boxes is most impressive).
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Post by macca on Aug 31, 2019 22:22:45 GMT
Absolutely jack Sh#t about them on the internet.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2019 8:18:33 GMT
Looks like the same tweeter you get in the JPW 'P' and 'AP' models. It’s actually a variant of the Audax HD12. I forget the number now. Spica used it too. Known to give good extension but also known to blow pretty easily. They look like crap and didn’t sell it in big numbers because perceived value was low. They are bigger than a Roy’s but a bit smaller than the Ruarks of the day. Sound a bit like a hybrid Snell K and Spica TC 50. Not as capable as either but they have that “turn on a sixpence” quality that I like. I Seem to recall having had 3 pairs. One I sold to Gromit. There was a mk1, a mk2 and a “pro”. I’ve had mk1 and m2 but not the Pro.
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Post by macca on Sept 1, 2019 8:59:21 GMT
Looks like the same tweeter you get in the JPW 'P' and 'AP' models. It’s actually a variant of the Audax HD12. I forget the number now. Spica used it too. Known to give good extension but also known to blow pretty easily. They look like crap and didn’t sell it in big numbers because perceived value was low. They are bigger than a Roy’s but a bit smaller than the Ruarks of the day. Sound a bit like a hybrid Snell K and Spica TC 50. Not as capable as either but they have that “turn on a sixpence” quality that I like. I Seem to recall having had 3 pairs. One I sold to Gromit. There was a mk1, a mk2 and a “pro”. I’ve had mk1 and m2 but not the Pro. I think the AP models used a Vifa tweeter so not the same then, just looks similar..
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Post by dsjr on Sept 1, 2019 9:08:10 GMT
Martin Colloms designed the Dean Alto's I believe and my comments are of then new samples demmed to us by Dean - thirty odd years may well tame the highs somewhat. MC used to design so that a mid colouration was 'hidden' by a hf peak or hf rise and this is what he did in the Alto's, the hf nearly masking the mids. No worries, Kudos in their cheaper models and PMC in nearly all of them kind of trade on doing this and it's successful.
Alto's looked broader and with a wooden trim along the top as I remember - hmmm
Looking at the two drivers, they remind me of Audiomaster MLS1's...
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2019 9:15:29 GMT
Martin Colloms designed the Dean Alto's I believe and my comments are of then new samples demmed to us by Dean - thirty odd years may well tame the highs somewhat. MC used to design so that a mid colouration was 'hidden' by a hf peak or hf rise and this is what he did in the Alto's, the hf nearly masking the mids. No worries, Kudos in their cheaper models and PMC in nearly all of them kind of trade on doing this and it's successful. Alto's looked broader and with a wooden trim along the top as I remember - hmmm Looking at the two drivers, they remind me of Audiomaster MLS1's...
Yes they do look similar, They are still a “peaky” speaker today but in an exuberant rather than aggressive way.
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Post by dsjr on Sept 1, 2019 9:26:47 GMT
I checked the MLS1, which actually has the rectangular plate tweeter and that led me to the Stereophile Robin Marshall interview which brought tears to my eyes as he was such a great person to know, despite taking the pee out of me mercilessly back then (never nastily though and I learned a lot).
How many models did Dean manufacture? Maybe I'm confusing these with the original model? - EDIT - Just checked my old 'Choice books and the speaker I heard was the 'Mini Monitor' which did indeed have a kind of exaggerated HB1 crossover to tweeter issue.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2019 10:33:25 GMT
I checked the MLS1, which actually has the rectangular plate tweeter and that led me to the Stereophile Robin Marshall interview which brought tears to my eyes as he was such a great person to know, despite taking the pee out of me mercilessly back then (never nastily though and I learned a lot). How many models did Dean manufacture? Maybe I'm confusing these with the original model? - EDIT - Just checked my old 'Choice books and the speaker I heard was the 'Mini Monitor' which did indeed have a kind of exaggerated HB1 crossover to tweeter issue. There was a bigger one called DLS 60 too
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 1, 2019 23:16:10 GMT
The seller pulled the listing for the Altos, so it looks like I will be waiting a while. The pair in London are nicer but no way I can collect.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2019 4:35:34 GMT
Thought you would have tried the Diesis 'Solitaire' speaker by now. Mk.2 were Bi-Wireable. & for all you Sondek lovers the cabinets had Grooves machines around the cabinets to match Good speaker tho, i had the black ones. I remember Stan Curtis favourably reviewing them at the time
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2019 4:48:08 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2019 16:23:26 GMT
Just stripped one side of a Spendor. Looks nice underneath.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2019 16:54:42 GMT
Just stripped one side of a Spendor. Looks nice underneath. Looks promising.
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Post by antonio on Sept 2, 2019 18:22:34 GMT
Very nice but what'll they sound like.
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Post by dsjr on Sept 2, 2019 19:31:27 GMT
I already told you, do keep up maybe these are late ones as I'm sure the ones we had were vinyl wrap and with nasty bare wire wire connectors. An old pal and ex colleague went the Linn route and never went back. the silly-money top power amps became a set (three or four) Lejonklou anps driving his Linn Akurate 242 speakers actively. Since you lot are happy to judge on phone-miked video, I can report that played to me this way, his 242's sound great and very clear (in a way the Preludes won't!) and I could even judge a little passive vs active on them (just).
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 2, 2019 19:41:40 GMT
Preludes are a bit pipe and slippers for me. These are later ones with binding posts. The ones we sold in 1987 still had spring clips but they did have nice walnut veneer. I’m guessing these must be 1988/89 vintage.
All the stain is now off and they look okay. They do have spike marks on the bottoms and a few other blemishes. I could make them perfect but it would mean going black. If the grain revives okay after paint stripper, I will keep them walnut. Either Bri Wax or Danish Oil them. I think I prefer wax on walnut.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 3, 2019 13:52:36 GMT
Sanded and rubbed down with white spirit. These would’ve been lovely new. Quite a few issues under the gloop bit I will do my Best to make them nice agai.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 14:31:14 GMT
I love a bit of resto.
Well done. Looking nice.
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Post by dsjr on Sept 3, 2019 17:22:50 GMT
That bass unit looks familiar (tweeter too but none of my speakers use it) I love walnut and these seem to have a lovely grain on them.
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Post by antonio on Sept 3, 2019 17:37:54 GMT
Nice job for a man with a bit of time on his hands.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 3, 2019 17:54:32 GMT
The Spendors completely naked, awaiting a final rub down and the probably Bri Wax. The Spicas awaiting the front baffles being veneered. Might do the backs too but will need to remove labels.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 18:06:01 GMT
Do those Spica cabs have internal bracing?
S.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 3, 2019 18:22:41 GMT
Yes, there’s a front to back brace and the side walls are damped.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 3, 2019 18:48:01 GMT
That bass unit looks familiar (tweeter too but none of my speakers use it) I love walnut and these seem to have a lovely grain on them. Yes the grain is nice.I just can’t get why anyone would want to cover such nice grain with this:
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 3, 2019 18:53:53 GMT
I have a plan to cut neat circles in the veneer for the drivers.
1. Cut two circles out of thin ply to blank off the driver holes. 2. Mark the centre point of each and mount them in the driver holes. Also make sure you have the circle diameters noted. 3. Veneer over the top with an uncut sheet of veneer. 4. Use a circle cutter to remove two small circles where the driver blanks are. 5. This will reveal the centre points of the blank circles. 6. Now use the circle cutter to cut the holes to the perfect size. 7. Re-use the two blanks on the other speaker.
Should make a neat job. I can’t cut the veneer before applying as I’m using contact adhesive. You would be very lucky indeed to cut and align two perfect holes.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 19:04:30 GMT
I have a plan to cut neat circles in the veneer for the drivers. 1. Cut two circles out of thin ply to blank off the driver holes. 2. Mark the centre point of each and mount them in the driver holes. Also make sure you have the circle diameters noted. 3. Veneer over the top with an uncut sheet of veneer. 4. Use a circle cutter to remove two small circles where the driver blanks are. 5. This will reveal the centre points of the blank circles. 6. Now use the circle cutter to cut the holes to the perfect size. 7. Re-use the two blanks on the other speaker. Should make a neat job. I can’t cut the veneer before applying as I’m using contact adhesive. You would be very lucky indeed to cut and align two perfect holes. I've veneered over speaker apertures and terminal plate and bass port holes. I just used a scalpel, cutting carefully from the centre point of each required hole and working outwards.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 3, 2019 20:31:38 GMT
I have a plan to cut neat circles in the veneer for the drivers. 1. Cut two circles out of thin ply to blank off the driver holes. 2. Mark the centre point of each and mount them in the driver holes. Also make sure you have the circle diameters noted. 3. Veneer over the top with an uncut sheet of veneer. 4. Use a circle cutter to remove two small circles where the driver blanks are. 5. This will reveal the centre points of the blank circles. 6. Now use the circle cutter to cut the holes to the perfect size. 7. Re-use the two blanks on the other speaker. Should make a neat job. I can’t cut the veneer before applying as I’m using contact adhesive. You would be very lucky indeed to cut and align two perfect holes. I've veneered over speaker apertures and terminal plate and bass port holes. I just used a scalpel, cutting carefully from the centre point of each required hole and working outwards. It would save a helluva lot of time. Your advice is always good so i’ll go with that.
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