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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:Let's be conformist
Moderator:GOVT02::BARKER
Created:Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:550
Total number of notes:3847

546.0. "Sliding into Home Cinema " by CHEFS::MOAKESR () Wed Dec 18 1996 12:51

    
    You might have noticed that I am selling my Quad ESL 63 speakers,  and
    have a "for sale" note in the this conference.
    
    Now,  a couple of years ago,  I would have been very interested in why
    someone would want to get rid of speakers with such a 'legendary
    reputation'
    
    Well,  no-one has asked,  but in the hope of prompting some form of
    discussion,  I will give my reasons.
    
    In the last couple of years I have been increasingly moving towards an
    integrated AV solution,  and have been spending very little time just
    listening to CD's and certainly spending very little money on music
    only software,  whereas my expenditure on Laserdiscs has increased out
    of all proportion.  I became increasinly disatisfied with the
    performance of the ESL 63's in a home cinema environment,  and decided
    to run my old Mordaunt Short Ms45's instead.  I watched films back to
    back using each set of speakers in turn,  and found that the ESL's were
    totally unable to cope with the dynamic nature of the soundtrack on
    most films.
    
    Now most of you might say, "It is because the ESL's have no bass", well
    I agree,  so I acquired a REL Storm subwoofer to go with the system,  I
    set it up to match the ESL's perfectly with a test disk,  and still the
    result was disappointing.
    
    Now some of you might say that I have fallen victim to the current
    fashion for home cinema,  but I take the visual side as seriously as
    the audio element,  in that I have a 29" CRT to view normal TV programs
    and a 90" projector for films, there are NO rf-loops in the system,
    everything is distributed using composite video and separate left and
    right audio feeds, so the audio has to match the large picture effect.
    
    Still,  I can't help wondering about the ESL's,  have I lowered my
    standards,   or are these truly remarkable speakers reached the end of
    the line?
    
    Richard
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
546.1Absolutly no idea, but interesting43610::WATSONEenie meenie minee moe...That one!Wed Dec 18 1996 14:0519
    Interesting.
    
    Although a self confessed Linn man, I have to admint to harbouring a
    soft spot for QUAD ESL speakers (and the '63's). However I've always
    found them very layed back and subtle. They can play Handel's Harp
    Concerto with the best of them, but are hopeless (even with subwoofers)
    at anything mildly rock. Having said that I dound that this is whats
    happening ....
    
    Linn (Oh'no here he goes again) have developed a whole AV speaker
    system to complement their existing kit - why ? I would have thought
    that their Keltik based systems would be able to produce enough clout
    for anyone. I can only guess that the "sound" you want from AV is
    "different" from the sound you want for audio. This does against the
    grain as independent of you measuring method (Flat responce,
    tunefull-ness, etc) the better speaker system should win [Unless the
    type of music where vastly different (Baroque .v. Pink Floyd)]
    
    Rik
546.2?VAGORA::WOODWed Dec 18 1996 16:1611
I've never understood AV, I mean, how many times can you watch a film ?
Films aren't like music and it's hard to stomach 'n' goes of Jurassic Park
or whatever, even with a top notch fab system.

You've got your local cinema where you can go and see the films too. Plus,
you'll be able to see them there long before you'll ever get them on video.

Further, unlike music, 'Mission Impossible' will come to your town. Nirvana etc
cannot so the only way to enjoy their performances is with your Hi-Fi.

Dave
546.3.....be selfish!CHEFS::MOAKESRWed Dec 18 1996 16:2218
    
    Well,  some films are definitely worth watching more times than once.
    
    I guess we all have our personal favourites,  so I won't list examples!
    
    As for me,  I get to see most movies before they are on release on
    video or satellite,  I import the NTSC titles from the US.  In some
    extreme cases,  you can get the laserdisc before the film is on general
    release in the UK.
    
    Anyway,  I don't like going to most cinemas,  they don't have THX rated
    soundsystems and you get lots of annoying people crunching popcorn and
    coughing spreading bacteria and viruses all over the place.
    
    I prefer the selfish home cinema experience,  anyway 90" diagonal isn't
    too bad!
    
    _Richard
546.445862::STONEGTemperature Drop in Downtime Winterland....Wed Dec 18 1996 16:3615
    
    Speak for yourself about films coming to your town ! our cinema closed
    around 10 years ago,  after a few years in private ownership having
    been closed by a cinema chain previously.
    
    Okay, the nearest multi-screen isn't that far away - 10 miles or so,
    making it a 20 mile round trip; and no, we don't have a railway station
    and buses are infrequent and you'd have to change - but it makes for
    an expensive, complicated evening out. Also, because of the travelling
    involved, there is no way I can realistically make the earlier evening
    showings.
    
    Graham
546.5Sounds expensive to me...VAGORA::WOODThu Dec 19 1996 15:109
    Well fair enough, I take some of your points. However, the expense of 
    an evening at the cinema isn't an argument.
    
    Look how much you've spent on your TV, your "Hi-Fi" video, Surround
    processor, amplifiers, a half dozen speakers, stands and 2 miles of 
    cable to join it all together. And that's just the hardware, you 
    still have to go and buy or rent the cassette/laserdisc.
    
    Dave
546.645862::STONEGTemperature Drop in Downtime Winterland....Thu Dec 19 1996 16:188
    
    Sorry Dave, didn't mean to imply I actually own all that kit ! I have a
    mid-range HiFi yes, and I run the sound from my Videos etc through it but
    that's about it for the moment. In the New Year I shall be in the
    market for either a new amplifier or an AV receiver, as yet I haven't
    quite made my mind up which.
    
    G.
546.7Ham or Cheese?CHEFS::GERRYTWed Jan 08 1997 17:0119
    
    
    My halfpenny-worth....
    
    I don't think you've necessarily 'lowered your standards' as you've
    described it......more like changed your taste!
    
    Quad's have a particular sound, and as you stated, they're not boom
    boxes to say the least. The original mix of the music on whatever
    format will presumably have a real bearing on what type of speaker
    suits what type of sound reproduction.
    
    I'd advise not getting hung-up when making these sorts of decision. 
    The key thing is to enjoy the music and sound reproduction from
    whatever source!
    
    Relax!
    
    Tim