kfa888
Addicted Member
He was. Made so many different types and configurations of speakers yet they all have a similar signature sound (warm and inviting) and all sound great.
My Preliminary "OMG Thread" For My New Wharfedale W90's
- Thread starter Gang-Twanger
- Start date
He was. Made so many different types and configurations of speakers yet they all have a similar signature sound (warm and inviting) and all sound great.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
I forgot all about those Jensen cabs. When I was a kid growing up, I was well-acquainted with Jensen's cheapo car stereos, but I had no idea that this same company used to make amazing gear back in the '50's (Didn't they make pro-studio speakers in those days? Like the stuff that radio stations and sound labs would use?).
It's funny, ten years ago I would never have thought I'd buy a pair of 50 year old speakers. My ears have opened.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
I assume that's because he used the same drivers on basically every model. The old alnico W12 and that Super 3 tweeter (and a mid-woofer in certain cases). And that Super 3 must be a versatile tweeter. In the SFB model, the Super 3 is pointing upwards (and I think on the Airedale as well), but on the W90, it's pointing outward. And the mids and tweeters are horizontally-aligned, and yet the W90's have the best soundstage I think I've ever heard. They create a center image that sits AT LEAST 3 feet behind the speakers. When I first heard them at Sixcats, his single Stephens Tru-Sonic cab was sitting in between them but 4 feet behind, and I actually walked over and put my ear up to the Tru-Sonic, thinking Tom forgot to turn it off when he switched over to the W90's. I swear I distinctly-heard music coming from that cab, as if it were operating as a center-channel speaker. Now, THAT's a center-image... I mean, my W60E's put up a really-nice, solid center-image, but not like this. It's like the W90's aren't even there, even though they clearly-are. I can't keep my eyes off them.
Hi "D",
I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying the Wharfedale W90's. I miss them! However, I really needed to clear out some of my gear. I just have too much stuff not being used often enough. The Klipsch KG 3.2's are just not "cutting it" in my largest room (Audio Room). So, this afternoon, I put the KG 3.2's aside (more stuff in the way) and replaced them with my ESS AMT 1's. MUCH better! The ESS do a nice job in the Audio room than the smaller Klipsch. Presently, I'm trying out the ESS with a lil' old Classic NAD 3140 Integrated Amp. So far, it sounds fine. Oooh, I hooked up the Bozak 201 Sonora's (on stands) to the vintage Realistic SAF-40B (7189) Tube Integrated Amp in my upstairs Bedroom. Sounds good!
Regards,
SixCats!
I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying the Wharfedale W90's. I miss them! However, I really needed to clear out some of my gear. I just have too much stuff not being used often enough. The Klipsch KG 3.2's are just not "cutting it" in my largest room (Audio Room). So, this afternoon, I put the KG 3.2's aside (more stuff in the way) and replaced them with my ESS AMT 1's. MUCH better! The ESS do a nice job in the Audio room than the smaller Klipsch. Presently, I'm trying out the ESS with a lil' old Classic NAD 3140 Integrated Amp. So far, it sounds fine. Oooh, I hooked up the Bozak 201 Sonora's (on stands) to the vintage Realistic SAF-40B (7189) Tube Integrated Amp in my upstairs Bedroom. Sounds good!
Regards,
SixCats!
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
Hey there! Yeah, I couldn't be happier. They were exactly what I was looking for, lookswise and soundwise. My living room isn't huge, so I needed a big speaker that can still handle a smaller room, and that was always Wharfedale's m.o. from day one (The old Wharfedale, that is... I don't know much about the post-fire incarnation of the company... They really have nothing to do with the old company except for the name... Everything's made in China, I think, and not in Britain like they make it out to be).
If I had your gear, I would be heading for the AMT1's and the Bozaks. Not to mention that Lone Wolf cab (University drivers, right?). Great mids are what it's all about. Even the little Bozaks from the late '70's/early '80's sound great (Bozak knows midrange). And I would find the softest, warmest late '50's tube amp I could find and pair it with the Stephens (because that's my thing... I'm all about the warmth... I bet two of those Eames cabs would've been incredible in a recording studio back in those days... Amazingly-accurate for a mid '50's speaker).
The W90's have been especially-good with music that DIDN'T sound good to me through other speakers. Whether it's an old recording or just something that's really-hard to image, the W90's make it sound sweet, detailed, and musical (By the way, Kraftwerk's "Trans Europa Express" sounds fantastic... I was playing a vinyl-rip of the German LP last week
). I think if I had a pair of these and a pair of W90D's (with the purple mylar dome-tweeters and the acoustic-suspension design), I'd be done. I still love my W60E's, but for a different reason. I'd love to hear a shootout between the older, alnico-loaded W90's, the later W90D's with the ceramic drivers, and the bigger of the B&W Nautilus models. Maybe the 801 and 802. I think that would be a nice battle. The B&W's might win on tight bass, but I think the Wharfs would beat them in the mids and highs and would be warmer and more-musical (for people who like warm, musical speakers).By the way (Almost forgot), I'll post that picture from the blues fest as soon as I can get it from my mother's computer (or wherever she has it stored).
