DCM Time Frame comparison

[hjames]

When I did the group picture earlier today, I put a single Timepiece in to act as my Center channel,
then put the TF1000s in the front corners as "Mains", and rebalanced levels on the Integra pre-Processor ...

Very nice improvement over the tF700s - just a bit deeper bass & fuller sound.

 

[krowmagnum]

Running a home for wayward DCM's ?

I would like to find a pair of TF-1000's to go with my 700's but I don't know where I'd put them. That's never stopped me before though....

 

[hjames]

Running a home for wayward DCM's ?

I would like to find a pair of TF-1000's to go with my 700's but I don't know where I'd put them. That's never stopped me before though....

One nice thing is, they are SKINNY -
They are so much easier to store than big box speakers!

 

[hjames]

Finally got the TV room cleared out of excess stuff ...

Hiding in the Salamander Cabinet:
Adcom GFA-555 - running Stereo Front mains
Adcom GFA-555 - bridged Mono (600w) runs JBL subwoofer
elan Z-660 - 2ch bridged - 120w for Center speaker
4 ch x60w/ch for side & rear surrounds ...

Honestly, PLENTY of volume w/quite a bit of headroom.

Speakers currently in use:
DCM TF-1000 - Front Mains
DCM TimePiece - Center
JBL 4641 18inch - subwoofer
DCM TF-600 - side surrounds
DCM TF400 rear surrounds




Its a bit hard to see - but I have some wooden 1x3s painted black under the feet of the Adcom gear
to increase space and improve airflow - the rack has a grill in the bottom of each bay and the back is open.

Meanwhile, Cthulhu is happy!

 

[guest109]

I removed the top and bottom plates from my TF1000 models and removed the outer sock and found that there is an inner sock. Is this the stock configuration? It goes under the drivers, so that tells me that the outer sock still allows you to possibly see the drivers so I don't know what the function of the inner sock is?

I was glad to see that the woofers had rubber surrounds though.:thmbsp:

 

[guest109]

bump to try to get an answer for my question above.

 

[hjames]

I sold the TF500s to dewdude over the weekend, then decided to go for broke and listed the rest on CL.

Just sold off the remaining kit and kaboodle to a single buyer - he and his bro want to build home theater systems - so they bought the TF1000s, TF700s, TF400s, and the pair of Time Piece speakers (they split them and each gets one to use as a center!).
They already have some TF350s to add them to.

I'd really enjoyed them as a system, but - half the fun of audio is trying new things, and, what a great opportunityto sell them all in one swoop and not fool with craigslist people pair by pair over the next 3 months.

Whoosh - got it in one!

I did keep the TF600s for duty as the rears in my next gen HT system - more on that later, in another thread!

Can't see the TimePiece speakers, but they are in the front of the back seat area. What a carload - I was impressed!

 

[dewdude]

You'd be amazed at what you can fit in the back of a minivan. You'd be impressed with what you can fit in the back of a station wagon.

I was given a pinball machine a few years ago. I dropped the backseat of my Taurus, disassembled the machine and it all fit nicely in the back. The people that gave it to me were impressed I knew how to take it apart, I even fixed the one problem there so I could properly test it. They said I made it look easy. You move these things enough you learn the tricks. You *can* get them in to the backseat of a full size sedan, its awkward, but they fit.

I regret flipping that machine, I haven't been given another pinball machine.


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[Dr. Morbius]

Great thread and very resourceful. Thanks to all who contributed.

I'm a new member here because I've just purchased a set of Time Windows (probably 1A, but it's not stated anywhere on the speakers) that are in pretty good shape for $60 and I've been doing research on the various DCM speakers. Two of the Vifa tweets in the TW are blown so I'm going to replace them and I'm going to sand the oak tops and bottoms and refinish them.

I had a set of Time Frame 500's back in the late '80s and loved them. Still have most of the parts in storage and this winter I'm going to try to refinish and restore them, but with different drivers. They remind me of a time I'll always remember. Good times.

 

[Wolverine]

Great thread and very resourceful. Thanks to all who contributed.

I'm a new member here because I've just purchased a set of Time Windows (probably 1A, but it's not stated anywhere on the speakers) that are in pretty good shape for $60 and I've been doing research on the various DCM speakers. Two of the Vifa tweets in the TW are blown so I'm going to replace them and I'm going to sand the oak tops and bottoms and refinish them.

I had a set of Time Frame 500's back in the late '80s and loved them. Still have most of the parts in storage and this winter I'm going to try to refinish and restore them, but with different drivers. They remind me of a time I'll always remember. Good times.

Welcome to AK!
The TW1's will more than reward your restoration efforts!

 

[ChuckDs]

Frankly, I haven't had a lot of listen time with the TF1000s since they arrived. I did the JBweld patch on the bad rear panel and let it sit a day before I closed it up after work yesterday. I lacked time to do a good AB last night (took a dear friend out for dinner) - and I only played them maybe 30 mins or so before we headed out.
They are currently on the upstairs 2 ch music only system with the 40w/ch Jolida tube amp.
I played Zep (Gallows Pole) , some Miles (part of the In A Silent Way session), James Taylor (Millworker), Joni (Amelia & Hejira) and a bit of Yo Yo Ma ... all sound great -
but no time to compare ... even to the TF500s upstairs with them.
All the others (TF400/TF600/TF700) are downstairs on the home theater system - tho I am planning to bring at least one of each up for a group shot this weekend.

If it gets hot and muggy, maybe I'll have some playtime over the weekend.

So I am in a bit of a pickle here. I have a pair of TF-700's (the model that isn't totally enclosed by the sock) and I like them; but my uncle has what I believe are also TF-700's, but the sock covers the entire speaker. His speakers sound better than mine. Whereas I understand that speaker placement, room acoustics, and other components play a big role in sound, I think that there may be something technically different between our models. When I contacted DCM, they told me that they only made one model of TF-700's. So my question is this: are there more than one model of TF-700's, and if not, is the TF-600 a better speaker? His speakers protrude deeper at the bottom of the speaker than mine, so I'm inclined to believe that there was more than one generation made. If not, would you replace TF-700's with the newer TF-600's?

 

[Dr. Morbius]

So I am in a bit of a pickle here. I have a pair of TF-700's (the model that isn't totally enclosed by the sock) and I like them; but my uncle has what I believe are also TF-700's, but the sock covers the entire speaker.

To the best of my knowledge there have been two different versions of the original Timeframe speakers - the originals with no sock coverage on the backs and the series II with full sock coverage.

His speakers sound better than mine. Whereas I understand that speaker placement, room acoustics, and other components play a big role in sound, I think that there may be something technically different between our models. When I contacted DCM, they told me that they only made one model of TF-700's.

Well, there goes my theory. I do recall though that my original TF-500's had foam surrounds. One woofer wore out and I contacted DCM and purchased a replacement woofer, which had a rubber surround. When I put it in the cabinet I noticed the speakers sounded a good bit different with tighter bass going to the newer driver with the rubber surround.

Perhaps your uncle is also using a better amp? That can make a big difference along with room placement/acoustics.

So my question is this: are there more than one model of TF-700's, and if not, is the TF-600 a better speaker? His speakers protrude deeper at the bottom of the speaker than mine, so I'm inclined to believe that there was more than one generation made. If not, would you replace TF-700's with the newer TF-600's?

Tough call, but IMO the tweeters on the TF-600's have a knack for blowing out, hence there is a strange light bulb fuse in the crossovers. The TF-600 tweeters are not currently available through DCM or Parts Express. Neither are the bulb fuses in the crossovers. The bulb fuse can be bypassed, but one would have to place a resistor (don't know the value) in the signal path to the tweeters to make up for the fuse.

The TF-700's use a Vifa tweeter and Parts Express does currently have a drop in replacement as does Madisound (Seas). These older Vifa tweeters were also used in speakers by Mission, Tannoy and others so they are pretty decent.

As for which set sounding better? That's very subjective and I don't have any experience with either set, although I'd love to happen on a set of TF-700's some day.

Again, just one guy's opinion.

 

[ChuckDs]

To the best of my knowledge there have been two different versions of the original Timeframe speakers - the originals with no sock coverage on the backs and the series II with full sock coverage.

Well, there goes my theory. I do recall though that my original TF-500's had foam surrounds. One woofer wore out and I contacted DCM and purchased a replacement woofer, which had a rubber surround. When I put it in the cabinet I noticed the speakers sounded a good bit different with tighter bass going to the newer driver with the rubber surround.

Perhaps your uncle is also using a better amp? That can make a big difference along with room placement/acoustics.

Tough call, but IMO the tweeters on the TF-600's have a knack for blowing out, hence there is a strange light bulb fuse in the crossovers. The TF-600 tweeters are not currently available through DCM or Parts Express. Neither are the bulb fuses in the crossovers. The bulb fuse can be bypassed, but one would have to place a resistor (don't know the value) in the signal path to the tweeters to make up for the fuse.

The TF-700's use a Vifa tweeter and Parts Express does currently have a drop in replacement as does Madisound (Seas). These older Vifa tweeters were also used in speakers by Mission, Tannoy and others so they are pretty decent.

As for which set sounding better? That's very subjective and I don't have any experience with either set, although I'd love to happen on a set of TF-700's some day.

Again, just one guy's opinion.

Thanks for the feedback... I just got confirmation that my uncle' speakers are TF-600's, which explains the difference in the look and build of the speakers. I'm told that the 600's have a different configuration than the 700's, so that explains the difference in sound. To me, the TF-600's produce a better ambiance and depth of sound; although, I do quite like my TF-700's as well. I'm gonna look into some TF-600's and see what I can find. Thanks for your help. You made a newbie feel very comfortable asking questions on a public site.

 

[hjames]

Thanks for the feedback... I just got confirmation that my uncle' speakers are TF-600's, which explains the difference in the look and build of the speakers. I'm told that the 600's have a different configuration than the 700's, so that explains the difference in sound. To me, the TF-600's produce a better ambiance and depth of sound; although, I do quite like my TF-700's as well. I'm gonna look into some TF-600's and see what I can find. Thanks for your help. You made a newbie feel very comfortable asking questions on a public site.

Ah, yes - of all the DCM TFs I had, when I sold the rest I kept the TF-600s
for rear surrounds because they have an airier presence for that kind of use.
And if I need a single pair system they'll do quite nicely for that too!

The TF-700s I had came from a Cello player who was a musical professor at one of the Universities downtown.
Quite a nice sound, I will admit - went surprisingly low ...

 

[dewdude]

I guess you never pushed those 500s much did ya Heather? First thing I did was crank up the bass and see what they could do. You'd be surprised how much they can shake a house.

Part of the reason the 600s are so amazing is that they're 3-way. The 500s are 2-way; and the 400s use the same driver configuration as the 600s; which is also the same driver configuration in the CX27s. I don't know the configuration of the others offhand. Never really cared; I just want 'em.

I had a chance to get some 600s at a steal; but the 5 hour drive wasn't going to happen. I think part of me died inside.

But I've been sayin for a while (in a Caliendo-style Madden parody) "If you've got a pair of Timeframes; then you got somethin you wanna listen to."

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[SimplySound]

Still have my TF-700's... I'm using one of them as a rear in my 6.0 Surround setup (Why.0? Who needs a sub-woofer with KEF 107's? )

I'll use the other one to fill in for my IMF's when I do the Re-cap thing.

I've had the TF-700's since new which was what? Mid-80's? I don't think I'll ever get rid of them because they are just such a nice sounding speaker.

As good as my KEF and IMF's? Well, let's just say they have a character all of their own that I find really pleasing to listen to!!! :thmbsp:

 

[hjames]

I guess you never pushed those 500s much did ya Heather? First thing I did was crank up the bass and see what they could do. You'd be surprised how much they can shake a house.

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Sure - but why push TF500s hard when I also had TF700s and TF1000s, both of which do go deeper.
Plus I have an 18 inch JBL 4641 sub in the corner with 600watts feeding it -
I don't have a lack of bass in that room!

But so glad to know you are enjoying them - it really is about the music and the smiles it brings!

 

[dewdude]

Sure - but why push TF500s hard when I also had TF700s and TF1000s, both of which do go deeper.
Plus I have an 18 inch JBL 4641 sub in the corner with 600watts feeding it -
I don't have a lack of bass in that room!

But so glad to know you are enjoying them - it really is about the music and the smiles it brings!

True; you have more speakers than I do.

I on the other hand push the 500s because they're all I got in the current configuration. But, I love those things...otherwise I wouldn't have scooped them up when I didn't really have the money (ok, I did; I just had to buy groceries on the credit card).

When I got my Onkyo a couple weeks ago; I debated on even hooking them up. But I can't have an amplifier without hooking them to the DCMs. So I let the Audyssey do its thing.

Turned out to be a smart decision. Audysseys calibration was able to tune the DCMs to my tiny room better than I ever could...both with EQ and making them sound like proper placement. I've been using the Thearer Dimensional "virtural surround sound" with the Laserdiscs. Sounded outstanding.

Some point Ill get the other DCMs in there and see what actual PLIIz sounds like!

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[SimplySound]

Audysseys calibration was able to tune the DCMs to my tiny room better than I ever could...

Ahh yes, Audyssey... the greatest thing to ever happen to Home Audio IMHO!!! :thmbsp:

 

[dewdude]

Ahh yes, Audyssey... the greatest thing to ever happen to Home Audio IMHO!!! :thmbsp:

I was 100% against its flavor of sound processing till I heard it....now I find it does the job well.

When you can't properly set your room up because of whatever limitations; Audyssey fixes it. The one in my receiver did the three position calibration with room acoustic measurement.

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