What's the most coherent sounding 2-way speakers you've ever heard ?

[Oerets]

Right now I'm loving the Allison Six's I replaced the EPI 100's with in the garage. The 100's are very nice but the Six's shine. But I would still say the Polk 12B's of mine in the cave might be the top dog for a two way in the house. Sorry NLA's and B&W's hope you understand....







Barney

 

[tomlinmgt]

I'll have to go with my Altec 19's.

 

[statman122]

Well, I have very limited knowledge to add, but I enjoyed my large Advents for almost 20 years and I know they are still highly regarded by many.

 

[Nuvintage]

ATC SCM-12

 

[JimPA]

I would not consider a sloped baffle as a trick when properly factored as a design parameter.

 

[rnorton]

Cizek Model 1's

And also Cizek Model III's (and probably II's, but I've never heard them)

B&W DM-303's as well.

 

[AR4x]

Another vote for the Dynaco A25xl here...

 

[frommerstop]

I would not consider a sloped baffle as a trick when properly factored as a design parameter.

I didn't mean to use the term in a derogatory way. I was simply referring to any device, mechanical, or electrical, that is employed to accomplish corrected time alignment. My point wasn't that it's a bad idea, on the contrary, I tend to prefer speakers that use corrected time alignment, but that it isn't necessary for a speaker to "sound coherent", as the OP was asking about.

 

[frommerstop]

My Martin Logan Vistas are as coherant as any 2-way I've heard; all of a piece, one apparent source with no part of the range flashlighted.

I think Martin Logan have come a long way with their crossovers. I've had Monoliths, & Sequel IIs, but neither were very good at blending the two drivers effectively. From the dealer auditions I've had of their newer (smaller) models, I think they're getting it right now.

 

[wizargoz]

Frazier Mark V and Snell K/II.

You can add them to any system, and the imaging and clarity of the source will be spot on. I've had about 50 pairs of speakers over the years (probably doesn't sound like a lot to some of you hoarders ) and these 2 models are the best I've heard.

I also note that neither of these come up for sale very often- maybe a short production run on these models- but I like to think it's because no one (including me) will ever part with them...

 

[JoeESP9]

Although not mutually exclusive, time alignment, phase coherence, and generally "coherent sound" are not the same thing. I took the OP's question to be about how well a speaker "hides" it's crossover point, making it hard to discern where one driver rolls off, and the other comes in. I agree that. in general, speakers that do a good job of this are often designed with time & phase alignment as priorities, but not always. I think if the drivers are well matched, and the crossover points are just right, even a "conventional" 2 way can sound very much like a "one way"...even if doesn't use any "tricks" to delay the tweeter's sound getting to you, like sloped baffles, or complex crossovers. The Linn Kans that I mentioned are just such animals... as are a number of good box speakers like some from Advent, Celestion, or Rogers, to name some more.

I guess using esl's (no crossover) "color's" my opinion.

I agree about more recent ML's having better integration between the panel and the cone. The earlier models had some serious discontinuities.

 

[2ndtimelucky]

I think I'm gonna go with my most recent purchase, B&W DM610. So far the best sounding, most coherent speakers to grace me with music

 

[hotroady]

Altec 604-8H studio monitors.

 

[chuck61]

2-way & coherent

I have a pair of KEF 101's that defy crossover or driver ID. They seem to be a single sound source-I cannot pin down crossover effect at all, Freq. or 'order' or any 'phase' shift, driver interactions, De/emphisis due to impedance variations...the sound starts there, no machine needed. Don't Get me wrong-they lack the bottom octave(s), but that may be(some of) what lets this design do what it does.
IMHO....Chuck

 

[Gang-Twanger]

Have to throw in the original Wharfedale W60 from the Briggs era. I've never heard such natural-sounding piano from a 2-way speaker that size. One of the best things about those original drivers he designed is how well they integrate with each other and how seamless and coherent the sound is. Plus, they put those drivers in an extremely-well-dampened cabinet that sounds great on it's side OR standing upright. It's a bit lean in the low bass, but the upper-bass, mids, and highs are totally-happening. I was shocked at how nice the W60 sounds (Great for mono recordings too).

_____________________________________________________
Listening to Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" (Original 1st-pressing vinyl)

 

[ipso]

Coherent to voice = Magnepan

In the late 80s I stared at them in utter disdain for quite a while, expecting (literally) a woman to come out from behind those ..stage props. Absolutely a watershed moment for me. (Like the monkey in 2001 A Space Odyssey.)

Coherent to album production, decay boundary, and hearing your system/room = B&W Matrix 801 Series IIIs. These speakers show how incoherent your overall system is. Oddly, to me THAT is true “coherence” in an audiophile speaker where you are qualifying sound up ahead of emotion.

...Coherent to harmful volume levels & bass extension = Cerwin Vega AT-15s. At “concert” level volume these will represent Metal & Hip Hop well beyond what you scoffing honkey wimps think you know. (Obviously full bit rate required – example links only representative.) I’m sure there are better speaker examples, but perhaps the point stands: Coherent to what?

I think of CV to B&W as WRC is to Ferrari. The right tool for the right job!

...All Venus with arms… (but at 110+db.)


But I don’t know anything. I default to whatever frommerstop says. :thmbsp:

(Edit: Whoops. None of those are “two way”. Record scratch sound…)

 

[Gang-Twanger]

Another vote for the Dynaco A25xl here...

I like the old A25's a lot. Great with tubes. My only issue is, they seem to have just a tad too-much of that Sonic Maximizer quality to them (A smidge overly-homogenized, maybe?). But that's in comparison to my Wharfedales though. A25's are still an extremely-pleasant, smooth, enjoyable speaker. I like Dynacos a little better than say, AR's in terms of their voicings. But the Dynacos are still a bit too-lush for me while the AR's aren't sweet-enough (for my tastes). Everybody's different, you know?

 

[Gang-Twanger]

Frazier Mark V and Snell K/II.

You can add them to any system, and the imaging and clarity of the source will be spot on. I've had about 50 pairs of speakers over the years (probably doesn't sound like a lot to some of you hoarders ) and these 2 models are the best I've heard.

I also note that neither of these come up for sale very often- maybe a short production run on these models- but I like to think it's because no one (including me) will ever part with them...

Wow... The Fraziers are your favorite over that many, huh? And I know you like your mids too, just like me. I've actually seen Snells like that, but I didn't get to hear them. I've been enjoying the whole big-speaker thing this summer/fall, but I'm sure I'll get back into mid-sized speakers at some point (Hopefully all the good Frazier and Snell models won't be scooped up by then).

 

[Terry F.]

My Carver Amazing Loudspeakers. Since the ribbon is full range (well, 120Hz and up) there is no detectable crossover, the sound is very, very smooth.

Best regards,
Terry

 

[coonmanx]

I think that seamless might best be described as having a flat response with no holes in the midrange. That pretty much describes the Speakerlab 1s and they also have L-pads for tweaking the tweeter levels. Definitely "seamless".

Now of course there are many more new two way speakers out there that I have never heard. I'm sure that many will perform the same or even better.