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ADS L520 vs L570II?

T

trisweb

New Member
I just drove and picked up a craigslisted pair of ADS L570II's. I already had the L520's, but the price was right so why not?

Anyway I'm listening to them on A/B right now and I'm noticing a huge difference that I didn't really expect, considering their drivers are nearly identical. I believe the only actual difference is crossover and cabinet design.

My problem is that the upper end seems muddled, unclear, and lacking, very uncharacteristic of the ADS sound I know. The guy I bought them from ran them through a rack with a giant EQ curved like mad for the high end; I bet he was compensating.

Anyone have experience with the 570's? Are they supposed to sound like this? I could chalk it up to a difference in tonality... but it'd be a big one. Has anyone heard both?

My next bet would be the capacitors in the crossover. The 520's are just so much better that there has to be something wrong...
 
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I owned the L570 IIs (improved crossover over the original L570s) and they did not sound muffled.

Check things like tweeter wiring polarity. Could also be aged and drifted caps.

I dunno if dried or evaporated ferrofluid could make a difference but it is possible.
 
XO caps are certainly suspect...
I can say this, though. I had a pair of L-780s (newer three-way model) that I bought from a co-worker for $75 in fine condition in their original packaging and boxes. I found a pair of L-710s (Older three-way model) at the dump. I listened to both. I kept the L-710s.
 
Yeah, I guess my point was that, in my extremely limited experience, older ads was/were better sounding (to my tastes) than newer.
 
Thanks all. I'm beginning to suspect it might be a combination of it being a more laid-back speaker to begin with, and possibly some age and decay in the caps or drivers...

I listen to them for a while and I can get used to them, but some vocals just are not pleasing. Then I switch back to the 520's and it's night and day.

onepixel, can you describe the difference any better? Was it really obvious like I am hearing?

thedelihaus, if you've heard the older ADS 2-ways in comparison, is there really much noticable difference or was it mostly improvement?

Thanks again.
 
Been listening to them with the grilles off so far and I'm definitely looking at bare tweeters. I think that was first on my "checklist of obvious things to check." :) Thanks though, you never know.
 
trisweb said:
... I listen to them for a while and I can get used to them, but some vocals just are not pleasing. Then I switch back to the 520's and it's night and day.

onepixel, can you describe the difference any better? Was it really obvious like I am hearing?
Click to expand...

My 570 IIs and 780 IIs were laid back and forward sounding. The soundstage wasn't there, had a decent thump to the bass, but it wasn't tight. I liked the mids with female vocals, but they were creamed over. The highs were bland. The range of sound coming out was very narrow, dull and sounded almost mono.

The 620s in comparison had an enormous soundstage. The bass was a bit light, but relatively well defined, the mids pretty good and the highs sparkled. With certain gear it was bright, especially with bad speaker placement. Sounded great with jazz.

The 3rd generation (I think) 710s that I had were somewhere in the middle. These were more rock speakers. Tighter and fuller bass, strong mids, the highs were lacking, but not as much as the 570s. The soundstage wasn't as full as the 620s.

I used a fairly neutral sounding Sansui AU-DII integrated amp, Yamaha CDC-685 CDP with an Entech 205.2 DAC for the testing. Diana Krall, Dire Straits, ZZ Top and Santana for the music.

As for ADS speakers I settled with the L-8e 2-ways.

I'm going surfing now.
:D
 
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Thanks Carl, that pretty much describes exactly what I was hearing.

I've listened to them a little more and realized it probably is just a difference in design, nothing wrong with them per se. I was just surprised to hear that kind of sound from an ADS that looks so similar to my brilliant 520's, for which I have a newfound respect. The 570's will go to a friend who I think will really enjoy their sound.

Thanks again for your detailed reply, have a blast surfing! Truly wish I was home in California this summer... but at least in Boston there are a ton of these darn speakers everywhere!
 
The L500 & L520 IMO do not get bested in sound quality until the later B8/L8e.There is also the near mythical L1 which was essentially an L520 in the later style cabinet w/ angled grilles. I would love to find a set of those but doubtful.
 
Good to know. I'm very glad I have the 520's then :) With their original boxes, no less. I will keep them.

Out of curiosity has anyone heard the little L10's? They remind me of the 520's in style and sound, I think they were from the same era. Currently on my desk with a T-Amp and Fubar DAC.
 
Yes but they did not leave much of an impression. They aren't bad but that aren't great either. Main sound-stage duty wasn't really their task. Originally sold with the ADS Model 10 signal delay, they are probably the closest ADS came to making a really cheap speaker. Like any speaker, it comes down to if you are happy with them. How do you like the Fubar BTW? I've got a Travagan amp from the same designer and it is pretty cool.
 
Yeah, the L10's are pretty generic, but the components are still high quality and the sound is good in a small listening space. Really I'm just happy to be able to have some ADS sound on my desk. I'd imagine they'd work decently well as surround backs. The 520's shine them out for any larger purpose of course.

The Fubar IO impresses me quite a bit with detail and overall quality. The IO is basically the Fubar II with an ADC added. It gives some great quality to recordings in from my mixer, and listening quality is a big step up from the laptop and my old USB recording interface, which is my only reference. No complaints so far - I'm loving it.
 
SAME Thoughts exactly!

I LOVE my L520s!

I HAD a pair L570/2, and although I loved those too, the L520 just has something I couldn't let go of.

The l520 are somewhat livelier and more musical, if not as flat.

All ADS are great, though.

Soon, it looks like I'll be seeing how the 470s compare.

tb
 
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