Best Speakers for Vinyl

[Mash]

Let's Hear a round of applause for usatubeaudio for correcting madarahr's problem. Well done!

I agree with you, JoeE SP9, that servosubs cost more than non-servosubs, but I have also learned that a good servosub will usually blend with Magnepan speakers, while non-servosubs will not- they simply sound "slow" or "sluggish" in direct comparison with a Maggie in the region of the crossover frequency. The latter combination ultimately becomes annoying and you wind up doing what you should have done the first time.

A fun test with a servosub: with power "off" at the servosub and NO input signal, tap the cone lightly with your finger as you turn power to the servosub "on". Notice the apparent rise of pitch as the cone's apparent frequency approaches the servo circuit's operating (correction update) frequency. Every time your finger slightly moves the cone from its centered "rest position", the servo circuit slams it back to "where it is supposed to be".

This is why the servo feedback Mackie HR824 speaker series sound so clear.

[JoeE SP9]

It's been my experience that a lot of the integration problems with sub woofers and Magneplanars is because of too high a crossover frequency. Any setting higher than ~50hz for the low pass to the sub interferes with the sound.

Using the line level connections on most sub woofers means a full range signal goes to the main amp and speakers because there is no high pass filtering with most powered subs. This causes a frequency overlap when the main speakers have any kind of bass response. This is especially obvious with Magneplanars because their sound is so clean and resonant free.

I have heard some very good sounding Maggy/sub woofer systems that didn't have servo control. They were using the low pass set to 50Hz or lower.

I should add; I use non servo subs with ESL's which are even faster than Magneplanars. Choosing the proper crossover frequency and levels make the difference. I am using an electronic crossover with high and low pass filtering. I use 80Hz and the sound is seamless.

[Mash]

I use 50 Hz for my Velodyne with my Tympani because the Tympani go below 40 Hz so all is well. The Velodyne servo-15 has an internal crossover and I had Velodyne supply me with the crossover set at 50 Hz. A DeCoursey splits the music at 100 Hz and the below-100 hz signal is sent to the bass Magnepan panels & Velodyne.

BUT! The lower limit of the MMG is 50 Hz and when a panel speaker hits its lower frequency limit, the material below that limit is simply not there. So 50 Hz will not work well with MMG's. You get a hole. 80 Hz is excellent with MMG's.

Another consideration is the space between the mains and at what lower frequency do cancellation effects begin.

ESL's are faster than Magnepans? I care not. My criteria was the realism of the sound. ESL's could never deliver that. The detail was outstanding but the realism was not.