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Hpm 100

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I use HPM 100's with great success, albeit somewhat modified from their original intent. I use them in a triamp setup (HPM's get two amps) and they handle everything from 75 Hz on up, with Denon POA 2200/2400 amps powering them. Stereo subs handle the rest. I took the somtimes fatiguing tweeter out and stuck in a Vifa dome (increased the power handling big time, I'd also smoked a tweeter or two in my day, no clipping just too much power!). I've recapped them as well, and plugged up the ports (stops the woofer midrange noise coming out of the port - tightens bass a smidge) , also added additional dampening where the cabinets were lacking. Crossover wise, I'm only using the tweeter, super tweeter portion of the crossover, as the active Xover handles the rest. I use a digital EQ to doctor what I can't do with physical mods. I'm pretty damned pleased with the tunes they reproduce at the moment, the mods, one by one, have each taken these classics to a better place.

I think the speakers are definitely classic keepers, and are alot better than my Minimus 7's, my Advent Legacy's, no comparison. They have some flaws, which I've addressed some of it, but the driver quality, the cabinet quality, are definitely assets one can work with. I think I've tweaked as much as I will do to these units - but if I didn't have some DIY's in the works, maybe I'd keep going!

My only points (if I really have any) is that they can be modded a little (without straying too far from the original look) to become better than stock, and the component quality is there for a good speaker base, whatever your plans are.

Additionally, I have a buddy that has two pairs of these (stock) in his garage hooked to a Toshiba SA7100 and I gotta say these sound great on their own - I think his acoustics are part of this as well though. If you like the sound of your HPM 100's stock, you're not alone, that's for sure. Hey, if you find something better, grab it and listen, if not, keep enjoying these speakers as the original designer hoped that you would - or experiment - it's all good.
 
Arkay said:
I get a weird effect with my HPM-100s. They are in my living room, at one (less wide) end of the rectangular room. When I am in my home office, which opens off of the side of the living room at the other end, many of the sound effects sound so amazingly real from where I sit within the office that I get startled into thinking someone is actually in the living room. Even after more than a year, I still sometimes have to get up and look, just to convince myself it really is the speakers and no one is there. I don't hear anything remotely like this level of realism when I am actually in the room with the speakers, nor with other speakers. It's either some weird coincidental phenomenon with reflections/interferences, or else a weird psychoacoustic thing. Kind of cool, but a little unnerving at times.
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My understanding is, you're referring to the 'power response'. Furthermore, since you are hearing this joyous sound from another room, what it really means is you are NOT hearing the room issues that the speakers are in. meaning... (and I've noticed what you describe now, for decades)

Anyways... when I'm in my listening room, I've got a 90hz mode (node?) in there that can make the bass sound a bit blubbery. That is a function of the ROOM dimensions and stuffings. Remove yourself from the room and listen through the window (standing outside), another room or downstairs and since you are not IN the same room with the speakers, you don't hear the room issues. The room issues (in the room with the speakers) won't easily transmit to your adjacent room.

That's my understanding anyways.

:thmbsp:
 
As a followup to Arkay, I was thinking about this today on way to work...

(preface, I'm NOT very knowlegable on this stuff so it's a bit of conjecture on my part)

If you have a room where the music sounds BETTER than the actual room the speakers are in... then I would wonder and suggest that with proper room treatments, the room the speakers are in could be made to sound better.

Thoughts by anyone that knows more about treatments to know if that is a fair statement??
 
Gibsonian said:
I use HPM 100's with great success, albeit somewhat modified from their original intent. I use them in a triamp setup (HPM's get two amps) and they handle everything from 75 Hz on up, with Denon POA 2200/2400 amps powering them. Stereo subs handle the rest. I took the somtimes fatiguing tweeter out and stuck in a Vifa dome (increased the power handling big time, I'd also smoked a tweeter or two in my day, no clipping just too much power!). I've recapped them as well, and plugged up the ports (stops the woofer midrange noise coming out of the port - tightens bass a smidge) , also added additional dampening where the cabinets were lacking. Crossover wise, I'm only using the tweeter, super tweeter portion of the crossover, as the active Xover handles the rest. I use a digital EQ to doctor what I can't do with physical mods. I'm pretty damned pleased with the tunes they reproduce at the moment, the mods, one by one, have each taken these classics to a better place.

I think the speakers are definitely classic keepers, and are alot better than my Minimus 7's, my Advent Legacy's, no comparison. They have some flaws, which I've addressed some of it, but the driver quality, the cabinet quality, are definitely assets one can work with. I think I've tweaked as much as I will do to these units - but if I didn't have some DIY's in the works, maybe I'd keep going!

My only points (if I really have any) is that they can be modded a little (without straying too far from the original look) to become better than stock, and the component quality is there for a good speaker base, whatever your plans are.

Additionally, I have a buddy that has two pairs of these (stock) in his garage hooked to a Toshiba SA7100 and I gotta say these sound great on their own - I think his acoustics are part of this as well though. If you like the sound of your HPM 100's stock, you're not alone, that's for sure. Hey, if you find something better, grab it and listen, if not, keep enjoying these speakers as the original designer hoped that you would - or experiment - it's all good.
Click to expand...

Nice ideas, Next month I'm cutting new baffles to "Mirror Image" the speakers using my driver layout, I want to spread the tweeter/midrange about another 1-2"(See signature pic) Also looking to bi-amp the speakers very soon.
 
specialidiot said:
Hey Ray, tomorrow is almost gone.
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With all due respect...bite me. :D I've had a rough couple of days. Got the HPM woofer back together. I did the best I could but I'm afraid the coil got a little ovalized. It has a very tiny rub now that's not audible when playing music. I played some music through just the woofer and it sounded ok. I got the driver back in the cab while the kids were asleep so I couldn't turn 'em on.

Today was an exercise in frustration with modern equipment as I took the truck into the shop and found out what a new traction control ECU costs. I just recently got back and I'm catching up on AK. As usual, one of the kids is asleep so I can't fire 'em up. Now it's out to feed the critters. Maybe a little later I'll see what's what.

Ray
 
RussinOhio said:
For what it is, in it's class, the HPM-100 is an outstanding loudspeaker system.


Russ
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This is NOT another observation on the HPM 100, but on loudspeakers in general.
A outstanding speaker, or perhaps well designed speaker (may be a better description) should have the ability to reproduce all types of music, rock, classical, jazz, blues, techno, etc- whatever type you might like- (when of paired with the right electronics of course-) with a minimum of coloration through out it's operating range, and at any reasonable volume level you may want to listen to.
My test has always been leave the EQ/tone controls flat, and try a wide range of quality source material.
They should be able to produce uncolored sound with convincing imaging. With the right setup, fiddeling with the tone controls/eq always seem to set on listening fatique for me. A well engineered speaker ( and teamed with compatable playback electronics of course) won't need anything added or subtracted. It stands as is.
This of course only applies to good source material, noisy records/tapes/radio sometimes require a little bet of eq etc, to bring out the music over the noise, or bad recording techniques/mastering, etc.
I'm not saying anything negative about tweeking, or having fun with equipment. I think it's great, and really enjoying reading about all your experiences. This is merley my personal observations on loudspeakers.

And this was in the end what I was trying to say in my original post. But unfortunatley it came out as more of a knock on the HPM's, which wasn't intended.
 
I'm in the same boat and dislike the several sets of HPM's I have heard. That said I have several friends whom also dislike HPM's but have heard Mark W's system and say it sounds VERY good. As he is local I look forward to hearing a set that are fed right and have been EQed to sound VERY good. :thmbsp:
 
Good for you automojo, I love it when someone takes on a sacred cow. HPM 100s have over time developed a mystique that has more to do with the fond remembrance's of certain listeners party hearty days than reality. Personally I've always preferred their smaller brethren, the 40s and the 60s. That aside the 100s are fine speakers for their era but they don't deserve the reputation they've acquired.
 
Kelly you and your lovely wife are welcome down anytime.

As to my HPM-100's being EQed well yes and no MY WHOLE SYSTEM AND THE ROOM IT IS IN HAS BEEN EQed. There is a difference.

And yes I think it sounds very good. A number of other AKer's and Audio nuts, a couple of which who were NOT HPM-100 fans also think my system sounds good.

I have no fond memories of HPM-100's as the first pair I ever saw not on my computer screen are the pair in my living room bought off CL a couple years ago. In fact the only fond memories of speakers I have from my youth are BOSE 301 II's from a college dorm room in 1976.

I also have a pair of HPM-60's in my office also EQed into the room which sadly will never sound good at anything above background levels (if you saw the room and all the stuff in it you would wonder how the sound even makes it to the office chair)

I guess what annoys me is the constant slamming these speakers take. I don't go out of my way to tell every one about the 1/2 dozen modern speakers I have heard at various dealers that I thought sounded like finger nails on a chalk board. Or couldn't stand on their own without a Sub woofer.

SO I think from now on I'll avoid the Bash the HPM-100 threads and the comments about anyone would would enjoy them. And listen to some music on mine be it Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, John Coltran, Petersons Western Song birds, Steely Dan, Camel, Joni Mitchell, or Miles Davis. Or what ever I feel like as it all sounds good.

Sorry if that frustrates some.
 
No need to apologize Mark. 100's can and do sound good, as your system proves. Just alot of sets of ears out there, none calibrated to the same standard obviously. 100's are classics and folks will be talking about and listening to them for a long time to come.
 
Gibsonian said:
No need to apologize Mark. 100's can and do sound good, as your system proves. Just a lot of sets of ears out there, none calibrated to the same standard obviously. 100's are classics and folks will be talking about and listening to them for a long time to come.
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Amen!!

So what if they're eq'd. I'll bet most folks, no offense intended here, don't get a flat response in their rooms regardless of what speakers they are listening to because they don't eq. So what most of us listen to is actually not flat/neutral anyway. If I had a decent eq and calibrated mic I would probably eq mine as well Mark. I keep the MID control at 7:00 and TREBLE control at 12:00 on my 100's and I think they sound fine this way.
 
I agree with Grateful. Some want their speakers to sound like something, I want mine to sound like nothing.
After all, in the end gear is only a means to a end, it's the sound that matters.:music:
 
Mark W. said:
Kelly you and your lovely wife are welcome down anytime.

As to my HPM-100's being EQed well yes and no MY WHOLE SYSTEM AND THE ROOM IT IS IN HAS BEEN EQed. There is a difference.

And yes I think it sounds very good. A number of other AKer's and Audio nuts, a couple of which who were NOT HPM-100 fans also think my system sounds good.

I have no fond memories of HPM-100's as the first pair I ever saw not on my computer screen are the pair in my living room bought off CL a couple years ago. In fact the only fond memories of speakers I have from my youth are BOSE 301 II's from a college dorm room in 1976.

I also have a pair of HPM-60's in my office also EQed into the room which sadly will never sound good at anything above background levels (if you saw the room and all the stuff in it you would wonder how the sound even makes it to the office chair)

I guess what annoys me is the constant slamming these speakers take. I don't go out of my way to tell every one about the 1/2 dozen modern speakers I have heard at various dealers that I thought sounded like finger nails on a chalk board. Or couldn't stand on their own without a Sub woofer.

SO I think from now on I'll avoid the Bash the HPM-100 threads and the comments about anyone would would enjoy them. And listen to some music on mine be it Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, John Coltran, Petersons Western Song birds, Steely Dan, Camel, Joni Mitchell, or Miles Davis. Or what ever I feel like as it all sounds good.

Sorry if that frustrates some.
Click to expand...

Nice reply, And agree 100%. From Bach, To Metallica, Proper planning and set-up, There very good.
 
RayW said:
With all due respect...bite me. :D I've had a rough couple of days. Got the HPM woofer back together. I did the best I could but I'm afraid the coil got a little ovalized. It has a very tiny rub now that's not audible when playing music. I played some music through just the woofer and it sounded ok. I got the driver back in the cab while the kids were asleep so I couldn't turn 'em on.

Today was an exercise in frustration with modern equipment as I took the truck into the shop and found out what a new traction control ECU costs. I just recently got back and I'm catching up on AK. As usual, one of the kids is asleep so I can't fire 'em up. Now it's out to feed the critters. Maybe a little later I'll see what's what.

Ray
Click to expand...

Ahh, The life of a family man. Got to take care of business before play time. In my house, The hobby is ranked number 4, On a good day. Can't wait to see your test numbers on these, Until then, Patience. The opening line of your reply made my day, After I was done LMAO.
 
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