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Dahlquist DQ-20 help

Update. I took the woofers and the boxes to GSS Speaker Repair and Reconing in North Hollywood, after stopping in at Solutions on Sunset. The diagnosis is both woofers need reforming and one cross over needs to be recapped (requiring recapping both crossovers). The repair bill will put my total cost at around the price of a working but unrestored set. I will let you know how they sound with my McIntosh MA6200 (100 wpc into 4 ohms) in about 2 weeks.
 
OK, I know its been a long time since I updated this thread. My iPhone cradle that bypasses the iPhone DAC was in the shop, and I lost my hearing in my left ear for about two months so I was unable to properly evaluate the Dahlquist DQ-20's when I got them back from being re-coned and re-capped.

Anyway, like I said, I got the speakers back from GSS Repair and Reconing in North Hollywood a few months ago. I hooked them up to my McIntosh MA6200 which I had re-capped almost three years ago by George Meyers (in L.A.). When I got the amp back from George Meyers, there was a sheet of paper with notes that came with it indicating I was getting about 115 WPC @ 4 ohms (best I can recall). I listen to mostly Grateful Dead bootleg live recordings streaming from the Relisten App. My set up for the past three years has been iPhone -->Cambridge Audio ID100 Cradle --> HLLY DMK-IV DAC --> McIntosh MA6200 --> Definitive Technologies AW5500 Speakers (on my patio).

Before I lost my hearing in my ear, I felt the restored Dahlquist DQ-20 speakers were the best I ever owned, but not the best I ever heard. I was concerned that the crossovers were not re-capped properly because I didn't love the mid-range. There seemed to be a lack of separation (that's the best way I can describe it). But at that time, my Cambridge Audio Dock was unavailable and I was playing my music through the headphone Jack of my iPhone and not bypassing the iPhone DAC or using my HLLY DAC.

Today I got my Cambridge Audio iPhone Dock back from George Meyers and hooked it up to my HLLY DAC. I am blown away by the difference in sound quality. Bypassing the iPhone Dock totally took care of the problem I had with the DQ-20's midrange. There is plenty of volume, plenty of bass, nice separation of instruments, and I find the overall sound to be quite warm with a little brightness in the highs. I do not doubt what other members of this forum had advised me - get a Nakamichi Amp. But, I am more curious how the sound will be if I swap out the HLLY DAC for a Cambridge Audio CXN Streaming Media Player or just a better DAC.

Thanks everybody who contributed to this thread and held my hand through the restoration process of my Dahlquist DQ-20's. Mission accomplished!
 
Throw some tube gear on your 20s, and you'll be even more amazed! I've heard DQ20s on both conrad johnson and Audio Research tube gear, and both set up's were jaw droppingly good. Phenomenal presence and imaging. No sense of speakers playing. Just music.
 
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