Lenehan Audio Owners and Discussion thread

[bhobba]

Yes stick with the Leben --I 've had Macs-- MC300's too slow and soft for this boyo!

Beats the Mac's. Now thats something - both Mike and I like the Mac's - just pricey thats all. I must pass that onto Mike - he will be very interested in that. Have you actually heard anything to beat the Leben's? I have asked that of a couple of people and they all say not really. But just to add to the confusion I know one guy that doesn't like the Lebens at all - interesting hey?

Thanks

Bill

[bhobba]

Tell me more Kudos to Mike for making speakers which will eventually marry the Leben.

Well actually that mating is not all that difficult. You simply need to ensure the speaker is not a horrid load like Gale 402's I had at one time were - they were known to literally fry lower powered amps. However the more I investigate the Leben the more I like it.

Thanks

Bill

Edited December 22, 2010 by bhobba

[bhobba]

Nor mine Orpheus...........definitely doesn't fit my definition Bill. Maybe it's a Queensland thing mate?

Wow with all these guys coming out of the woodwork that listen at sane levels I might have to revise my views.

Thanks

Bill

[kdoot]

I think you guys should all bite your tongues until (a) the ML3s are officially released and ( Lenehan Audio publishes some data on their website (which I'll assume they will do).

If we were talking about a "name brand" company that had a team of people working to a formal production schedule with a planned marketing campaign etc... sure. But this is a boutique craftsman operation where demonstrations are performed in the same room where products are designed, tested and finally assembled.

The ML3 is officially released in the sense that the first pairs of standard and reference versions have now been constructed and paying customers are taking delivery. The invitation which started this thread is effectively the product launch.

Hopefully the website will get updated sometime, but for the time being what you've got is comments on SNA from people who've heard the product and spoken with its maker.

ATM this discussion stems from the opinions of one person.

If that's referring to me (apologies if you meant somebody else) then the only opinion I shared is that the bass extension and control of the standard ML3 is better than the speakers I've had in my own lounge room for the past two years. Other than that I've provided basic factual information about the ML3 of the kind that's missing from the website. Just trying to be helpful...

[Willco]

Beats the Mac's. Now thats something - both Mike and I like the Mac's - just pricey thats all. I must pass that onto Mike - he will be very interested in that. Have you actually heard anything to beat the Leben's? I have asked that of a couple of people and they all say not really. But just to add to the confusion I know one guy that doesn't like the Lebens at all - interesting hey?

Thanks

Bill

Bill, All Audio folly is conjecture-- we nearly all hear diff' aspects in our playback-- OK If I was Mr. Lenehan and wanted to really hear what his babies could sound like I'd get a set of Tube Research Labs Monos and be done with it

Easily the finest amps out there --period. No I don't rate the MACs then or now for the reasons I've stated--They've made some Classic products in the Gordon Gow era-The MR78 tuner for instance-but Amps sadly no.

To "best the Leben"?--for it's price point not much--SS wise the Cello Encores--sadly discontinued but available S/H --Tube?-- the Shindo and Kondo have the same organic musicality at a higher price tough. I've owned and used to service

Jadis and while it is far superior to any current Mac product-- the bandwith limiting takes the baby out with the bath water.

I rest my case,

Willco

[cheekyboy]

Wow with all these guys coming out of the woodwork that listen at sane levels I might have to revise my views.

Thanks

Bill

I don't know about them coming out of the woodwork Bill, I think you might be the one with the 'audiophile' mates with the insane listening levels that have been in the woodwork. I know I like to listen to the music and definitely prefer that to my ears bleeding! Having said that, I know I'll get pigeon holed as an old fart anyway................

Cheers,

Keith

[bhobba]

All Audio folly is conjecture-- we nearly all hear diff' aspects in our playback-- OK If I was Mr. Lenehan and wanted to really hear what his babies could sound like I'd get a set of Tube Research Labs Monos and be done with it Easily the finest amps out there --period. No I don't rate the MACs then or now for the reasons I've stated--They've made some Classic products in the Gordon Gow era-The MR78 tuner for instance-but Amps sadly no. To "best the Leben"?--for it's price point not much--SS wise the Cello Encores--sadly discontinued but available S/H --Tube?-- the Shindo and Kondo have the same organic musicality at a higher price tough. I've owned and used to service Jadis and while it is far superior to any current Mac product-- the bandwith limiting takes the baby out with the bath water. I rest my case,

Thanks for the info. Mike is actually working on, along with the designer of PDX, an amp to mate with the ML3's. He thinks he can get them to best the Mac's but wants to ensure they are up there with the best of other manufacturers. From what I can gather the best valve stuff he has heard (and I have for that matter - but only for a little while) are the VAC's. Curios if you have heard that amp.

Thanks

Bill

Edited December 22, 2010 by bhobba

[Willco]

Thanks for the info. Mike is actually working on, along with the designer of PDX, an amp to mate with the ML3's. He thinks he can get them to best the Mac's But wants to ensure they are up there with the best of other manufacturers. From what I can gather the best valve stuff he has heard (and I have for that matter - but only for a little while) are the VAC's. Curios if you have heard that amp.

Thanks

Bill

Ha Bill, Umm -- Yes I know the VACs--OK but not up to the Lamms, they will easily outplay the VAC/ BATs/Carys/ARC/etc/etc-- the only Tubes that approach the Tube Research are the Lamm ML2's NOT the

2.1's which sound is a retrograde Step. The Tenor 15 W not the big brothers are Ok also but none of the above match the Tube Research Labs.

Willco

[Ancientflatulence]

I don't know about them coming out of the woodwork Bill, I think you might be the one with the 'audiophile' mates with the insane listening levels that have been in the woodwork. I know I like to listen to the music and definitely prefer that to my ears bleeding! Having said that, I know I'll get pigeon holed as an old fart anyway................

Cheers,

Keith

And just what is wrong with old farts, pray tell .......................

[cheekyboy]

And just what is wrong with old farts, pray tell .......................

If you haven't worked it out yet sonny...............I can't help you then!

[bhobba]

Yes I know the VACs--OK but not up to the Lamms, they will easily outplay the VAC/ BATs/Carys/ARC/etc/etc-- the only Tubes that approach the Tube Research are the Lamm ML2's NOT the 2.1's which sound is a retrograde Step. The Tenor 15 W not the big brothers are Ok also but none of the above match the Tube Research Labs.

Hi Wilco.

Great to know mate. I suspect it would be wiser to check out the Tube Research stuff than the ModWright. I will see if I can get one in - but it will need to wait a while. Have a lot of gear at the moment checking it out. Want to get all that sorted out first. That Samson amp beating their $100K cost is no object valve amp is way cool and and at $5K looks like unbelievable value. I think this seriously needs to be checked out against the amp Mike is getting designed.

Thanks

Bill

Edited December 22, 2010 by bhobba

[Paul Spencer]

Is that foam at the top of the speaker around the tweeter?

Interesting comments about TL speakers. I built a pair some time ago and found the bass to be somewhat under stated but quite good. I now have servo subs (Rythmik) and find they are better, but I also find that having bass traps and good integration and setup trumps all of those differences.

[kdoot]

Is that foam at the top of the speaker around the tweeter?

Yep

(obligatory extra characters)

[Paul Spencer]

Interesting. Good to see. I have been having similar ideas bouncing around my head lately.

[bhobba]

Is that foam at the top of the speaker around the tweeter? Interesting comments about TL speakers. I built a pair some time ago and found the bass to be somewhat under stated but quite good. I now have servo subs (Rythmik) and find they are better, but I also find that having bass traps and good integration and setup trumps all of those differences.

I think its best Mike explains whats going on with the foam. Evidently he is doing some stuff no one else is.

Thanks

Bill

[ozcal]

I spent a fair amount of time with the smaller models in the TDL Studio series transmission line speakers and found their bass to be amongst the most natural and realistic I had heard.Lovely speakers.

[LHC]

Mikes hearing has been damaged - he has difficulty even hearing at the levels I do.

Bill, are you sure you meant to say this? If Mike's hearing are damaged, how could he reliably 'tune' speakers by his ears? Perhaps you want to revise your statement.

The ML3 is officially released in the sense that the first pairs of standard and reference versions have now been constructed and paying customers are taking delivery. The invitation which started this thread is effectively the product launch.

If this thread is a product launch, the commerical sponsor forum would be more appropriate, correct?

[Once was an audiophile]

The fact that I would never replace a 4-way active speaker with a 2-way ported passive one does not imply that I am not interested what other people are doing.

i have to hear your system decky next year perhaps you can change my mind about active 4 way speakers you might have something special that i have not heard before

[Once was an audiophile]

They perform just as well at the low levels of 80db or so that I listen to - its just if you want to play them loud they will do it no worries. And if you listen to the low levels I listen at you can use an amp like the Leben at about $3K rather than Mikes Macintosh's at $20K. That said virtually all audiophiles I know like it LOUD ie 100db not 80db - which is why they need an amp like the Mac's that can do 1.2K on peaks. We actually found some music that clipped those Mac's the other day - amazing.

Thanks

Bill

i like quality watts bill no need to turn it up to 100db

ps i would not live with the mac amps at mikes not up to speed

[Paul Spencer]

I think its best Mike explains whats going on with the foam. Evidently he is doing some stuff no one else is.

Thanks

Bill

My guess would be it's related to baffle diffraction. Often it's simply ignored, or reduced with rounded edge treatments like the ML1.

I spent a fair amount of time with the smaller models in the TDL Studio series transmission line speakers and found their bass to be amongst the most natural and realistic I had heard.Lovely speakers.

Oz,

I repaired a TDL speaker and when I opened it up it simply had a tapered shelf port and a stuffed interior. I found the bass to be actually a bit boomy and having neither tightness nor depth. At the time it was sitting next to my TLs, which were admittedly quite a bit bigger, but there was no comparison. Not that it was a fair comparison. My TLs cost about the same for parts than the retail price of the TDL.

[Once was an audiophile]

Ha Bill, Umm -- Yes I know the VACs--OK but not up to the Lamms, they will easily outplay the VAC/ BATs/Carys/ARC/etc/etc-- the only Tubes that approach the Tube Research are the Lamm ML2's NOT the

2.1's which sound is a retrograde Step. The Tenor 15 W not the big brothers are Ok also but none of the above match the Tube Research Labs.

Willco

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/pics/lamm21_guts.jpg

wow that is a lot of $$$$ wilco it better be good i bet it will get better with modds

i have heard the vac very good amp but its modded and now even better the stock its amazing how we can spend $14,000k on a amp and it still needs tlc to make it great

[ozcal]

My guess would be it's related to baffle diffraction. Often it's simply ignored, or reduced with rounded edge treatments like the ML1.

Oz,

I repaired a TDL speaker and when I opened it up it simply had a tapered shelf port and a stuffed interior. I found the bass to be actually a bit boomy and having neither tightness nor depth. At the time it was sitting next to my TLs, which were admittedly quite a bit bigger, but there was no comparison. Not that it was a fair comparison. My TLs cost about the same for parts than the retail price of the TDL.

Hi Paul , the ones I remember you repairing were the RTL 3'S .I have a pair of RTL2'S which were imho the pic of the RTL series.As you say the RTL (RELFEX TRANSMISSION LINE) are not actually proper TL speakers but the studio series were a whole different kettle of fish, The 0.5 and Studio 1's were small but full tl speakers and the sounded great imho.

http://digilander.libero.it/piani/tdl_electronics.htm

Edited December 22, 2010 by ozcal

[kdoot]

If this thread is a product launch, the commerical sponsor forum would be more appropriate, correct?

The point was that there isn't likely to be any kind of formal launch that people might otherwise expect. This guy we know, he made a new speaker, it sounds pretty good, feel free to come around and have a listen. Other people have liked them so much they paid him to make them some too.

Moreover: Bill likes the gear so much and enjoys this hobby to such an extent that he's going to send a pair of speakers around the country to let others have a chance to experience them. Crazy but true. Myself, I've bought some of Mike's cables and enjoyed some of his hospitality. Neither Bill nor myself are commercial sponsors.

Sorry for causing confusion.

[Guest Drizzt]

I look forward to hearing more about the design and technology employed in this speaker.

With regards to TL speakers I have only heard 3 speakers with TL tech, and all have sounded 'odd' to me. I'm not bound to one topology or another as I have found ported and sealed speakers to sound natural to me, IMHO it comes down to the implementation more so than the topology chosen. I have heard very poor sealed and ported speakers. My current favourite speakers (mine) are sealed but that wouldn't stop me from contemplating ported in the future.

[Decky]

i have to hear your system decky next year perhaps you can change my mind about active 4 way speakers you might have something special that i have not heard before

I do have a lot of good music. Some really good green teas and at least three different sorts of coffee.

As far as the speakers are concerned you are welcome to come any time or anyone else for that matter. I will be working on a new preamp next year so I might have something interesting to show you.

Edited December 22, 2010 by Decky