dahlquist dq20's vs dcm timewindows 3
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darkblue94
The Devil made me do it.
The better of these speakers is the one that works best in combination with your gear and your listening space to create the sound that you like best. Both are excellent speakers capable of high performance.
IMHO, the DQ20 will just destroy the TimeWindows. Just a lot more coherent and better-imaging, with cleaner bass that goes lower with more power. Also easier to position in a room for good sound.
I've worked on both model speakers, so I do know them pretty well.
Regards,
Gordon.
I've worked on both model speakers, so I do know them pretty well.
Regards,
Gordon.
the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
It's been years since I heard them, and never side by side but, from what I recall, the DQ20's wowed me while the time frames were, IMNSHO, just meh.
darkblue94
The Devil made me do it.
Skipper, the OP is asking about the 'TimeWindows' speakers not the TimeFrame TF500's that he already owns. There is a rather big difference between the TimeWindows speakers and the TimeFrame TF500's which are at the lower end of the line. The TimeWindows speakers are much more than "meh." I was really impressed with the DQ20i's with gobs of clean power applied (175w+) and would have bought the pair that I auditioned were it not for my preference for the beautiful tone obtained from the low watt el84 tube amps I own.
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the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
To be honest, I don't remember if they were time frame or time windows. Too much time on the island I guess.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
The window and the frame are different. Shouldn't be impossible (under most circumstances) to remember if the speaker was a flat 4-6" deep panel type or a column with two front faces, rounded back if you might have seen that. But I also understand there are many reasons that memory could be ah, missing.
Only experience I have is with the TW (not 3) and DQ-10 so I'll leave now.
Only experience I have is with the TW (not 3) and DQ-10 so I'll leave now.
the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
It was the flat panel type. mea culpa. As for the DQ 20, I'm positive about that. I had a friend buy a pair, alog with Adcom electronics.
StimpyWan
Addicted Member
+1
Awesome speakers. Very realistic, palpable soundstage/imaging. Especially on tubes.
62sunbeam
Raconteur
Pretty much every Dahlquist speaker will outperform pretty much every DCM speaker.
Don't get me wrong the DCMs are nice mid fi but Dahlquist are true audiophile speakers.
I've had several pairs of each and while the time windows were interesting I always felt like their imaging and soundstage were more like parlor tricks than true hi fidelity reproduction. And the bass is always too incoherent and muddy.
If you have at least 100wpc to drive them the DQ-20s will floor you. Especially if your amp is Mosfet.
Good luck
Let us know what you think.
Eric
Don't get me wrong the DCMs are nice mid fi but Dahlquist are true audiophile speakers.
I've had several pairs of each and while the time windows were interesting I always felt like their imaging and soundstage were more like parlor tricks than true hi fidelity reproduction. And the bass is always too incoherent and muddy.
If you have at least 100wpc to drive them the DQ-20s will floor you. Especially if your amp is Mosfet.
Good luck
Let us know what you think.
Eric
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Sold the DQ-10s, and the TW back then, bought the TW. Absolutely a great choice for so many reasons.
they play louder
they don't need a monster amp
they are so much easier to place
they don't take up as much space when positioned well
they image extremely well, even with one in the middle of the front yard and the other one in the master bath, they image
they are much easier to move, both around the listening space and to the new home
they rock and roll better
they don't collect dust all over the crossover
they don't have to have stands.
All that said, the choice proved itself over the years of having to use these in different living quarters, move them across the country a couple times and play loud rock and roll. The DQ-10 was in the running but I made the right choice in my 20s for a speaker to own at that time. That just for the 10 vs. the first TW. I believe today I might go for the DQ-10s, but still have the TW and 2 pair of DQ-10s, so who knows. Don't worry sunbeam, the DQ has a list of winning features, too.
I would really want to hear both the 3 and the 20s to make the choice but without that I might be a 20 buyer. Price might have some influence.
I concure with the Dalquist DQ-20's being the premium speak. Mostly the whole line performs well and even when comparing to still higher end stuff? You can still tell the work that went into their sonics is deserving of respect. (Not saying other speaks from that era and earlier can't stomp, but the Dahlquists that I've had or heard really do a lot well and the ones I've ended up keeping close are DQ-20i and DQM-9.)
62sunbeam
Raconteur
Cerwin Vegas play louder too.
I've had two kinds of TWs and TF-500s and 1000 and their soundstage is diffuse but huge. Bass is incoherent and muddy. I've had six different models of Dahlquists and while the DQ-10 is quite good the DQ-20s and 30s are in an intirely different league. Head and shoulders above the 10 and, in my estemation, that much and more above the Time Window.
I really believe it's up to the listener to decide their own preference And they are certainly entitled to enjoy what they find sounds best to them. My money is on the DQ-20s.
Enjoy.
Eric
darkblue94
The Devil made me do it.
Have you ever heard a pair of TimeFrame TF 2000's being fed a healthy 175 watts of clean power? I have and I fed a pair of DQ-20i's the same 175 watts (different and bigger room) I liked them a whole lot too. I wanted to buy the DQ's but I was smack in the middle of a purging mode and just getting in to low watt tube amps and high efficiency speakers so I didn't get them. Later on down the road I lucked into the TF2000's for stupid-low money so I bought 'em. Mostly though I listen to my vintage tube gear and modified Klipsch Forte speakers.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Come on now Eric, you know better than to put CV in a post talking to me. I did say that the TW was the right speaker for the time. The fact that that time was 20+ years was like most here, have a system use, enjoy and move on in life, then find good older gear and upgrade. I also said I would probably take the 20s today.
Khorns play louder than most, too but I'm not comfortable listening to horns most of the time. That piezo in the 10s isn't something you listen to since it crossover at 12k and up.
Khorns play louder than most, too but I'm not comfortable listening to horns most of the time. That piezo in the 10s isn't something you listen to since it crossover at 12k and up.
Crang
Well-Known Member
Have to agree. The DQ-20s are my daily drivers and I grew up with the TW 3s as they were my Dads daily drivers. Never heard them side by side but I have zero doubt the Dahlquists win. On a side note my old man has mentioned a couple times he misses his 80s setup. Always on the lookout for the DCMs to restore a set to surprise him with. Will definitely do a shootout if that ever happens.