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Technics SM-M1 Monitors

Thanx Very Much for the link Larsne, it did prove to be very revealing :tresbon: I suppose this may even serve as some explanaion as to why the SB-E100 are even more efficient than the SB-M1's (95dB vs. 94 dB). After reading that thread I'd be really curious to pair these SB-E100's with a fairly unique (and possibly rare) Thorens tube amp which I acquired by total chance - Has French writing on it and is made in Switzerland.
 
Superb speakers built to a standard very few "high-end" speakers of any nationality can match. Lack of bass is not one of their weaknesses, if they had any. I agree with another poster, you do need to get them at least 400 wpc with some substantial current ability.
 
Thanx Very Much for having taken the time to reply, I do appreciate it :) I was also told as well that, if anything, these speakers (monitors) should not be anemic in the bass department. I am using a Technics SE-A3 to drive these monsters and am wondering if it is sufficient enough - Anyone care to comment here? Cheers!
 
Hello. Yes, I did indeed verify that the speaker cables were not inverted. Thanx for the insight. What I'm more curious about now is whether I'm adequately driving these monitors with my Technics SE-A3
 
larsne said:
Wow that's quite a catch - I'd love to own these speakers myself.

The lack of "punch" Is not due the honeycomb drivers - it has probaly more to do with placement of the speakers and correct setting of the controls - se this article http://www.adrian-kingston.com/SB-M1.htm apparently the correct setting is not always 0,0,0

And you're right about monitor speakers - they often lack that bass boost many standard speakers have - also many people are used to boosted bass and when they suddenly are exposed to more "correct" sound they may find it somewhat flat sounding.

Finally your amp have something to say in this matter - though they are effecient speakers a quality high current amp will probaly make quite a difference.
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Those are impressive speakers. Big buggers as well. With their top speakers, Technics has always focussed on quality of sound, rather than deep bass response. Note the figure of 35 hz(-10 db). On paper, not that impressive for a 15 in. woofer, but the figures don't tell you everything. I had a pair of SB7000's, which had a steep rolloff below 45 hz, yet the bass response was very good indeed! The majority of music that most of us listen to has very little deep bass content below 40 hz, pipe organ and plucked bass excepted. Besides, the quantity and quality of bass that will come out of your speakers will no doubt be very impressive.
 
innof said:
Hello. Yes, I did indeed verify that the speaker cables were not inverted. Thanx for the insight. What I'm more curious about now is whether I'm adequately driving these monitors with my Technics SE-A3
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The SE-A3 with its 32 kg and 200w at 8 ohms should be adequate but its impossible to tell until you've tried with other amps - maybe Mcintosh?
 
I was just reading an article online where the individual was outlining that during the same era of the SB-M1 monitors and the SE-A3 amplifier, some competiting companies to Technics of the time began introducing "super amps" - Any ideas as to what these were all about? Thanx :music:
 
minus 10 db at 35hz is not good for such a high end speaker that weights over 180 lbs.

There are alot of 6 inch woofers that will do that. That's why it sounds to you it is lacking bass. It is.

I just replaced the woofers in a pair of SB 500's. Not with flat ones. These speakers look to have the same tweeter, and a flat midrange. I really don't like the highs much. They will fatique you quickly. Plus the instruments are all blended together, not much air at all. I liked the linear phase line better.
 

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Interesting insight here, I do appreciate it. Can you please qualify as to why -10dB at 35 Hz is not good for such a speaker system? And, how does the actual weight (180 lbs.) impact this? Cheers!
 
In having an opportunity to review the myriad of replies here, what strikes me most is the divirgent nature across the scope of feedback provided. Can it be that a pair of "monitors" which are supposed to be in an "elite" category of product from a well respected manufacturer (Technics) from their "golden era" could literally generate such differing/opposed perspectives?
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innof said:
In having an opportunity to review the myriad of replies here, what strikes me most is the divirgent nature across the scope of feedback provided. Can it be that a pair of "monitors" which are supposed to be in an "elite" category of product from a well respected manufacturer (Technics) from their "golden era" could literally generate such differing/opposed perspectives?
:scratch2:
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I think the problem is that only very few people have actually listened to these speakers, we can guess to why you don't hear the bass you think they should play. We look at the graphs and the Frequency Range - 35Hz~35kHz (-10dB) and it seems that at least on paper it doesn't dig into the very low frequencies.
Usually large woofers in large cabinets means flat response to at least 35 hz but apparently not in this case - that doesen't mean they're not capable of giving gut-pounding bass since most "deep bass" notes in popular music is in the 60-100hz zone and the SB-M1 are flat from around 50 hz (again on paper).
Also the cabinets are sealed as opposed to ported. Sealed cabinets often lack that "boomy/inflated" bass many ported speakers have and if you're used to that sound they may seem lacking.
Also the room they are playing in have alot to say - in some rooms a certain placement just kills the bass totally and it takes some experimentation to find the optimal placement.

One other thing I just remembered...I know you have cheked for polarity but maybe the woofers internal connection are switched somehow - have you tried the battery trick?
 
I am very flattered by all of those whom have taken the time to reply here. Given the fact that I am not the most technically astute in these matters, I take it that the 35 Hz to 35 KHz specifications are not necessarily "ideal" relative to other comparable systems; Unbeknownst to those whom have never had an opportunity to audition these monitors, they are actually ported (located beside where the midrange is - these are a 4 way in total) so I'm not sure what role the porting should play or not
 
Sorry my mistake they are indeed ported - but then its just more puzzling why they lack bass. I really think you should try the batteri test - if you connect the positive end of the battery to the positive terminal on the speakers and the negative end to the other terminal then the woofer should push either out or in depending on the internal wiring. Do this for both speakers and check if the woofers push in the same direction if they don't one of them is hooked up wrong..probaly the one that pushes inwards as most woofers push outwards.
 
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