IMF transmission line alternatives?

[frperdurabo]

I know these are great speakers but is there any other company that makes better transmission line speakers on par or better to IMF's both vintage and modern (reasonably priced)?

The best reasonably priced modern speakers I could find are IPL's S5TLs http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/S5tl Kevlar 2.htm for about 800GBP.

They go pretty low down to 22hz but there is no measurements on the website. They claim +-1dB between 250hz-20khz

I'm specifically looking something that beats at least IMF TLS80 MK2 in terms of extension and sound linearity which is pretty impressive (http://www.imf-electronics.com/Home/imf/speaker-range/reference-speakers/tls80) . Any other vintage that can beat IMF TLS80 MK2 and higher?
Don't have to be transmission line if it's better but I don't see non-TL speakers can match these TL speakers.

Take a good hard look at that response curve. It's pretty flat to 40hz, but it's down 10db at 24hz. (And drops like a stone from there) Now, this may be OK - because room gain will add some back, and also TL loading makes for a flatter impedance curve around the bass driver's Fs point. But the IMF's bass response has been greatly exaggerated.

Modern thinking is that distributed subwoofers are the way to go for ultra-low bass. Going that route, you only need mains that are flat to 80hz. You can then optimize the mains for whatever you value most: price, efficiency, tonality, soundstage, whatever. Keep in mind, making a big (and dead) cabinet costs mucho bucks. The big Wilson speakers go down into the 20s. But the price! PMC also makes T-line speakers. But again, the price! And you have no assurance that the place in your room that gives the best bass will be the best spot for all the other things you need to optimize.

I owned RSPM IVs. I appreciate them as audio classics. They did lots of things well, and were uncolored and extended from the midrange up, like classic BBC monitors. But I have no desire to own another pair. There's a reason dinosaurs are extinct.

 

[JimPA]

Most spl meters are accurate from 31.5 -10,000hz.

I have used the Stereophile Test Cd-3 to take measurements with my spl meter.
The cd has an oscillated 5hz sine wave to cancel out room modes.
http://www.stereophile.com/features/424/

Since the spl meter is only accurate to 31.5hz I have been unable to determine how low the bass response is with the Fried T-line subs 10" driver.
At 25hz the response is down 5-6db db compared to the 31.5hz measurement which I take in account because of the accuracy of the spl meter.
At 20hz the measured response is down 9-10db db from the 31.5hz measurement.

I can hear the bass response with the 25 and 20hz warble tones FWIW.
The drywall can be felt vibrating in other area of my house using the warble tones.

 

[MJKing]

Bud fried tower for mentioned ealier which is 3.5k$ starts from 35hz and it's just a claim on a website. I couldn't find any tests done so I believe that in reality is worse.

Having reverse engineered the enclosure, I believe the web site claim of -3 dB at 35 Hz. In that style of enclosure it is really easy to get to or a little below 40 Hz.

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi,I am new member to this forum, I own two pair of prof. MkIII improved with original crossover (like to change the caps for claricap MR serie )but you know the sound is still amazing+tls50 mkI+ als40 mkI with many parts for them,set of crossover prof mk IV,set of woofer elac for these. my audio set-up: audio research SP 6B preamp,with Bryston 3b-St, I listen mostly dvd -Blu-ray live music always PCM or non compress stereo on yamaha BD-2900 player,have a yamaha tuner black CT-7000,and linn turntable ,Transparent wire between preamp and amp.and old Fulton speaker's cable with WBT connector amp side with original connector other side,but no more LP,s.On my mkIII have change the speaker's post for Cardas copper and put better inside wires between the Cardas and the crossover,it have made a big difference in sound,+more power handling. Now it's hard to find speaker's like imf because size matter for deliver natural 16hertz,IMF made the Tls80 serie to get younger customer's for rock music bit smaller than professionnal give you more punch for the bass unit,that's what people' in the business was telling me in Montreal ,Québec.I prefer the sound of my speaker compare to all later model,new model are more open and clean but in previous day (have darker sound )and for me is the same as concert hall.from 16-17years old was going to see classical music many time during the year,+ I heard many classical musician from this era have and love IMF speaker's.I really like my set up for the price have paid in early day's.

 

[timkk]

Take a good hard look at that response curve. It's pretty flat to 40hz, but it's down 10db at 24hz. (And drops like a stone from there) Now, this may be OK - because room gain will add some back, and also TL loading makes for a flatter impedance curve around the bass driver's Fs point. But the IMF's bass response has been greatly exaggerated.

Modern thinking is that distributed subwoofers are the way to go for ultra-low bass. Going that route, you only need mains that are flat to 80hz. You can then optimize the mains for whatever you value most: price, efficiency, tonality, soundstage, whatever. Keep in mind, making a big (and dead) cabinet costs mucho bucks. The big Wilson speakers go down into the 20s. But the price! PMC also makes T-line speakers. But again, the price! And you have no assurance that the place in your room that gives the best bass will be the best spot for all the other things you need to optimize.

I owned RSPM IVs. I appreciate them as audio classics. They did lots of things well, and were uncolored and extended from the midrange up, like classic BBC monitors. But I have no desire to own another pair. There's a reason dinosaurs are extinct.

Aren't subs too slow to keep up with main speakers? Could you link me to high end setups with subs? I'd like to see some fr graphs. If I can buy mains + subs for lower price that beat 2 speakers systems then I'm interested...

 

[MAJ D]

I know these are great speakers but is there any other company that makes better transmission line speakers on par or better to IMF's both vintage and modern (reasonably priced)?

The best reasonably priced modern speakers I could find are IPL's S5TLs http://www.iplacoustics.co.uk/S5tl Kevlar 2.htm for about 800GBP.

They go pretty low down to 22hz but there is no measurements on the website. They claim +-1dB between 250hz-20khz

I'm specifically looking something that beats at least IMF TLS80 MK2 in terms of extension and sound linearity which is pretty impressive (http://www.imf-electronics.com/Home/imf/speaker-range/reference-speakers/tls80) . Any other vintage that can beat IMF TLS80 MK2 and higher?
Don't have to be transmission line if it's better but I don't see non-TL speakers can match these TL speakers.

Just remember the basics Transmission Line speakers, especially IMF require a fair amount of good clean POWER to drive them to peak performance. If you are running a Marantz 2022 and expect to get bass out of even a Supercompact let alone a Studio Reference Monitor fahghedabboudit!