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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: A quest for a better monitor.
Post Subject: When wrong amp fights against nature…Posted by Romy the Cat on: 7/1/2006

 guy sergeant wrote:
Hi Romy,

My experiences with the SL6 and SL600 date back 15-20 years. My problems with the sound I could get from them related to their inability to recreate music with scale or drama. I found the subjective lack of high frequency output made every recording sound as though it was made in a room lined with thick carpet. I didn't think they were at all good at reproducing the timbre of piano or strings. I can't give specific musical examples, it was too long ago. Their low sensitivity meant that very powerful amplifiers were required. These amplifiers were generally compromised by their inherent complexity and they generally sonded poor on other more sensitive loudspeakers. The best results were probably achieved with a friends home made very large 100 watt Class A transistor amplifier which at least got hold of them a little.

While you could hear the benefits of the aerolam box (particularly when comparing the speakers to the wood boxed SL6) the overall feeling was that you were fighting against nature. In a way I felt the same about the contemporary Apogee loudspeakers. Although the sound of these was very different, the type of electronics required again made them uninteresting.

I take it that you are enjoying the Celestions. They did get many positive reviews in their time. I never managed to get them to make music sound interesting and even at that time far preferred the results I could get with lower powered valve amplifiers and more sensitive speakers. What do you find to like?

Perhaps you should also look out for the peculiar 'beachball' subwoofer they manufactured to augment the bass output.
This what I meant when I suggested that you had no electronics to drive them. Also there are “ways” to use them differently (I do not mean their dipole 6000 LF solution). I have my reasons to withhold my comments about SL600 for a time being and at this point I thought to learn your reasons why you did not like them.

The Cat

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