REL Quake

There are Sonus Fabers and Sonus Fabers, very different from each other too, and, believe it or not, they also make floorstanders, not that I am interested in such contraptions, I prefer non-integrating subwoofers...

There arent any ideal speakers, and even less ideal alternatives... :argue:

If you liked the Meadowlarks, stick to them, from what I read, (never heard them), it will be hard to find British speakers similar to them, maybe other Americam brands, I dont know...

I think my EAII wont be that different from the Shearwaters, lots of similarities, particullarly with the help of subwoofers, although they have incredibly good bass on their own, also a bit expensive new, and not produced anymore...

 

I think you will find we are talking about the Kestrels you muppet

Please re read the post then I think an apology might be in order

 

I see you are, but not me, WM was in the conversation too, and invited someone to go and listen to his, wich have the drivers I mentioned...

 

I should make it clear that I didn't find the presentation or tonality to be much different at all between the ATC preamp and the Meridian 568.2 processor. Indeed, they sounded very close - they both did a good job of not mucking with the signal, I just found the ATC to be a hair's breadth clearer and higher in resolution. And I am talking tiny, tiny differences here. (At least, in the purest direct setting - notch the Meridian into DSP bass management mode and the differences were clearer, though again not differences in presentation, just resolution and clarity.)

Dunc

 

antonio, totally different mate. There is a huge difference between a small 2 reflex loaded box and a floorstanding transmission line. They really sound nothing like the thumbelinas I'm afraid. (I also have to admit that I am not the worlds greatest fan of the shearwater)

 

Nope Still looking for that bit but still never mind Antonio eh

In many ways the Meadowlarks are similar to a lot of loudspeakers I guess

 

Castle Conway 3

 

Thanks Chris. Like I said I've seen Harlechs in my price range but I haven't seen any of those yet. Will probably hold on for some Kestrels

 

You can have bass that is both big and full AND fast with great pitch definition WM - it just costs money

 

Definitely Castle Chesters, trust me on this.

 

Have you heard both in the same system/room...

We are talking about cutting the bottom half of the Shearwaters and sticking a passive radiator, same as the woofer but without "engine", in the back of the box, (wich is still reflex, but a little better, and more expensive), they are both 2 way and share the same drivers, also the EAII have very high quality box in real wood wich doesnt have same lenght fibers, so doesnt tend to ressonate at one frequency as MDF...

Even on their own, the main difference, (assuming voicing is not very different on purpose), would be the bass, but then I have mine xovered at 60hz and supplemented with a pair of good subwoofers, (I even use the same amplifier), we could argue until our faces are purple, but in the end the only person that heard both systems was Michaelab and he found them similar in personality, not comparing the details, and not claiming mine are better or worst... :MILD:

 

Antonio

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KESTRELS!!!

Seriously though, with 99% of speakers on the market, the dominating characteristic of what you hear is the cabinet IMO, hence how Merlins sound very different to Dyns and Extremas, Proacs sound very different from Meadowlarks, and so on.

 

someone mention KESTRELS??

 

Shearwaters are Kestrels with better drivers and xover...

Anyway, why cant I stick to comparing whatever I like, particularly in this thread...

There are some speakers you do hear the cabinet a lot, the good ones not really... Seriously, the main influence of the cabinet is in the bass, mids and highs depend more on the drivers and xover, actually I learned this looking for matching center and surrounds, the tweeter and xover order impact timbre much more than brand or box, even woofers...

 

Anyone else find the Castle Chesters, not even found a picture yet!

Aha look good


Anybody got any idea of size? or how much they seem to be as elusive as the Meadowlarks

 

They are fairly slim two-way floorstanders with quarter wave bass horn loading (whatever that means). They will match your gear perfectly if you can find a pair. Castle still support these speakers, so any probs easily fixed.

One of Paul Messenger's favourite speakers, mine too. Vastly underrated, fast and tight with surprising bass extension, very easy to drive.

They are tall enough to put the tweeter at ear height when seated. This problem is overcome by putting Mana beneath. I picked up a pair from a good friend who was gentlemanly enough to only ask £200 for them. They are 'worth' far more than that, IMO.

They blend the 'flat earth' speed with 'round earth' imaging - the best imaging I've ever heard in my life from any speaker.

 

I'm back, greta to see this thread still going.

Glad you got your new speeks penance, worked out better in the end eh?

Antonio we take it as read that you like your speakers, although not everyone does.

Maybe it's just me but any castles i have heard, (although not heard harlechs) always sounded soft to me, never heard them do any dynamics.

should we contact guiness book of records, and find out what the longest thread is, and then try to beat it, first UK record then European then World, that would put ZG on the map, are we all up for it?

P

 

Only the ones that never heard dont like them...

 

And those of us fortunate to have heard proper ones

 

AK
It certainly did turn out better, well i will know for sure tomorrow when i have them delivered