OUT OF
DATE: REVIEW OF THE ORIGINAL MARK 1 ELSINORES
The Elsinore and JLTi demonstration held
for The Audiophile Society of NSW (Australia)
30th July, 2006, See
Review Below
Besides the Elsinores, from the top of the
rack, the Townshend Rock II Turntable, fitted with Excalibur Tonearm and
Ortofon Rondo Bronze MC Cartridge.
Below that, the JLTi/SACD Player.
Then next down is the JLTi Mk2 Tube Hybrid
Integrated Amplifier.
Bottom centre, the Vacuum State "Canberra"
Limited Edition RTP Preamp (valued @ A$20,000).
Either side, the ALT-Cymer 110 Watt Triode
Monoblock Power Amps, made by Custom Analogue Audio.
Behind (not visible) is the JLTi Phono
Stage. (USD 1650
from www.audiorevelation.com)
Cables, all JLTi Interconnects and
prototype JLTi SuperQuench Speaker Cable. All Cables and tubes
(valves) have been cryogenically treated.
REVIEW OF JOE’S ELSINORE SPEAKERS AT OUR LAST
MEETING
At
our last meeting we had the privilege of hearing Joes completed prototype
Elsinore speakers. He appears to have done a great job with the driver
configuration with 4 six and a half inch drivers per side for bass and
midrange duties with the bottom two woofers being rolled off early.
As we all know the room at Haberfield is a very
difficult one at the best of times. We have had
very expensive speakers demonstrated in that room with extended bass
response with very poor integration that sounded boomy and indistinct.
Joes Elsinores are a very cost effective speakers and to
my surprise sounded crisp and distinct in the bass in the Haberfield room,
with good attack, tuneful and punchy bass. I thought that for an economical
system the bass dynamics on the drum solos were nothing short of superb for
a speaker regardless of price. Excellent midbass with quite good low end
definition for a relatively small speaker.
The imaging was good, though from my position which was
not central it was difficult to appreciate. From what I could tell, the
dynamics were good, with good stage width, and centre stage. The treble was
good, but typical of that Vifa ring radiator (a very good tweeter by the
way) but polite sounding. I know this tweeter quite well as it is also
used in speakers I use at home. It
has very good extension but the lower treble is
polite.
[Tweeter has now been replaced by Peerless HDS
810921.]
I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon listening to these
speakers and along with others at the meeting thought they were some of
the best speakers we had experienced in that room over recent years.
Those interested in DIY should be encouraged to build
these excellent speakers now that Joe has done all the hard design work you
have now had the opportunity of hearing them. I asked Joe if they sounded
as good at home, and he said even better.
Well done Joe, and thank you.
John Sawley
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