Quote Originally Posted by emaidel View Post
I'm sorry, but I couldn't let this one go by without commenting. I have two systems in my house: one with a pair of B&W 802F Specials, and the other - my main system - with my beloved Dahlquist DQ-10's. The B&W's cost four times as much as the DQ-10's, weigh a ton, and are superbly built, but with my current setup are simply outclassed by the Dahlquists.

In the many years since I purchased them (in 1977), and since my retirement after a little more than 30 years working in the industry, I've heard many different comments about the DQ-10. While the overwhelming majority were positive (just note the exceptionally enthusiastic reviews on the speaker on this website), there were a few that found the speaker "thin," "screechy," and the most common, "lacking bass." The first two were often the result of poor placement, or under-powered amplifiers all but hemorrhaging trying to drive these highly inefficient speakers. The bass issue was instantly solved with the addition of a good subwoofer.

Never - and I repeat, "never" - did I hear anyone ever say they could actually hear tonal differences as various instruments traversed the various drivers. I certainly don't, and after reading your comment, I actually tried to hear such a phenomenon, but couldn't.

Within the past few years, a number of dedicated audiophiles with super-expensive, exotic equipment have heard my system and were astonished at how good these DQ-10's still sound. All I've done to them is have the woofers rebuilt by Regnar, and replaced both the upper bass drivers and the supertweeters.

About two years ago, a good friend of mine, who is a professional musician as well as a college professor of voice and the conductor of the Spartanburg Festival Chorus, happened to come across an old pair of DQ-10's sitting around in one of the classrooms. They were covered in a layer of dust, and not surprisingly, had woofers whose surrounds had rotted.

I suggested that he purchase new woofers (actually, upgraded Advent replacements), which I installed for him. I also found a super "deal" at J&R Music World on a subwoofer which he purchased too.

Though my system tromps his in terms of associated equipment, his "free" DQ-10's sound terrific and still present a coherent, stable and amazingly wide and deep stereo image.

That was a mouthful, but as you can see, I quite like the DQ-10's. Apparently you don't, and you're entitled to like or dislike them, or any other speaker, and to say so. So too am I entitled to like them, and to say so (which I think I did!).



Just think if we all heard reproduced music in the same way we would only need one speaker design to please everyone. Since we are sensitive to different aspects of sound we all have our likes and dislikes. I am glad you enjoy your DQ10's.