Luc Posted August 27, 2012 Posted August 27, 2012 The new Silverline Preludes finally arrived with the box looking a bit worse for wear but it was nicely double boxed and they were in good nick. Inner box There they are! Surprisingly heavy for such slimline speakers @ 27+kilos They definately need these bases and spikes being so tall and narrow Grilles off Just listening to them now and being blown away by the difference between a refined Mira3 and the Redgum. so far they just don't seem too like the Mira3 but the Redgum is loading them up with quite significant bass...I'm surprised by it and surprised by the (so far) gormless presentation of the Rega. Oh, how I wish I had another half dozen amps to run through them. I'm casting a wide net here but I think some tubes would open up some new areas of listening that I've not heard before...if the Redgum is delivering controlled grunt(and it is, I'd not like to wind it up to 2 o'clock but I'd like to get the sound stage that that would present with out the volume..the 'lets make absolutely sure the neighbours really do hate me' kinda volume if you follow me) WAF factor is high, she was totally underwhelmed by Steely Dan's remastered Countdown to Ecstasy as it came via the Rega and then she told me she actually doesn't like that album(I thought she did )...so I chucked a track on off a recently purchased Anthony + The Johnsons album and she liked it, even sat on my knee and listened to a Ronnie Drew track and after the lights were turned back on and the song had finished she said.." it sounded like the sound was coming from there (the sweet spot) pointing to that region inbetween two speakers and she said she couldn't tell where the speakers were. Nice. Just listening to some MP3's as I type and they lack that clarity you expect from FLAC and CD's, it's slightly muddled and you wish it was clearer ...that's why I purchase CD's. Just trying some Morcheeba now with that really oddly discordant Baltic singer, a Swede or a Norseman he is. There is lovely detail that the drummer is displaying in the recording which comes across as the 3.5" ultra lightweight, rigid diaphragm aluminium+magnesium alloy moves in and out, in an out...(I'm watching it as I type). These coned twinned drivers sit above and below the tiny 1" tweeter which at this early stage (2 hours in to a session...I'm sipping a port at the moment) I'm finding non fatiguing at the requisite sane levels of volume that you would use knowing that other people are in the house watching the TV in another room... I keep looking around at them (I'm typing with my back to the system) every now and again in away that I don't think I do with my Quad 11LClassics (thx JD for these lovely standmounts btw if you happen to read this). Positioning is a bit rushed and I'm sure some fine tuning of their position and some movement of the furnishings in my tiny cave will reap further aural pleasure. A fade out on a track by Morcheeba is displaying heavy attenuated bass and I'm looking around again at the speakers to identify where it's coming from... Time for some African acoustics and while I do that I'll try and upload some shots So early days but they're sounding good at the moment and I have them biwired too which the designer Alan Yun doesn't recommend. I'll try some single cables another day. Next thing to do is a total refurb of my cave over the next 12 months which I'm looking forward too, so hopefully it'll look a bit better than it does at the moment. 1
Cafad Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Very nice score Luc! Glad you're happy with them. And you know, if you really want another half a dozen amps to run through them we can make that happen!
Guest JohnA Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Hey Luc congrats on the speakers mate. they do look good and can imagine they have a very high waf factor. Looking forward to reading further impressions once you have lived with them for a while
JUV Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 they do look great luc your wife must be pleased as well. how much are they if you dont mind me asking as im looking for a small to medium floorstander will be very interested in your thoughts on them once settled in
mikey d Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Hey Lee, real nice mate! Amazing how much bigger the sound is with the bigger box. Nice to hear that the Redgum is driving them well. Do you know what the rated sensitivity on them are?
Luc Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 hiya Mikey, yeah they're claimed 91db, these are the full specs: Design (Bass Reflex): 2 way One 1" aluminum/magnesium alloy dome tweeter Two 3.5" aluminum/magnesium alloy mid/woofer Frequency Response: 35 - 28,000 Hz Sensitivity: 91 dB Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms Crossover Frequency: 3500 Hz Recommended Power: 10 -300 watts RMS Yep the Redgum is doing it on it's ear to be honest, tonight I'll give em a workout and for the next 3 days as the handbrakes gone away till the weekend, just me an the dog and a sound system @JUV They are $1500 US and I screwed down a licensed agent of theirs on Audiogon and then I got a quote from PriceUSA and paid them the full amount including transport and they then bought them of the AG guy (Who had a name like a gangster), he sent them from LA to Oregon then they sent them to Hawaii and onto Botany and onto me and somewhere along the way the invoice got written down below $1000US and I skimmed in under the GST/Customs duty radar(so to speak) so I'm real happy as I was prepared to pay those costs. They apparently need 200 hours run in which I was kind of surprised at, I hope my ears can pick the improvement as they age.
JUV Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 thats a score! will be keeping an eye out on your progress as they look about the size my missus wants (everythings a compromise where happiness is concerned) and thinking the next purchase will be the last for a while.
emesbee Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I hope the dog didn't mark them as his territory. Looks like he was thinking about it. 1
Luc Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 I hope the dog didn't mark them as his territory. Looks like he was thinking about it. He was...little bastard...they don't call them Maltese Terrorists for nothing.(Hope I didn't trip the ASIO alarm then...) I know it's early days yet and I really do have my 'L' plates on in audiophile land...but I'm hearing a serious amount of detail in some cherished recordings that I didn't quite realise was there when listening to them through my Quads and really that is my only basis for comparison. I've not tried any seriously heavy rock or any techno/electronic(although Faust is sitting there rather belligerently daring me to put them on...) as I'm guessing that you really shouldn't attempt to overload speakers in their infancy. Lots of things still to try yet; single cables, a T amp, different IC's, a dac(my only one, thank you PeteMac) shoved in the stream etc. I might be doing the Quads a little bit of a disservice as they are not mounted on stands but I'm hoping to fix that shortly with a chippy mate who is going to make me some bespoke stands out of recycled rainforest timber I've collected over the years. I need to ask this and I've a feeling that the answer is already written on the inside of my eyelids as I'm seeing it now:- I'm 2 days into a brand new, long sort after, set of speakers and...I want to move up the food chain ...is this normal? :lol:
Tax Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Congrats Luc! Great to read that they arrived safely and that you are enjoying them!
Tax Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 I need to ask this and I've a feeling that the answer is already written on the inside of my eyelids as I'm seeing it now:- I'm 2 days into a brand new, long sort after, set of speakers and...I want to move up the food chain ...is this normal? :lol: Steady there mate! Yes, it is normal to most of us on this forum, but it is a slippery slope. Enjoy these for a couple of years so you have a fair idea of thier capability and any shortcomings. You will also find what you like and dislike. Try and build a reference point and then work from there. Visit some SNA members locally, listen to a couple of systems, ask them to share their experience. Just because you get more or less of 'something' from a different speaker or other piece of equipment does not mean that it will be better. System synergy is key. All the best and remember to enjoy the 'journey and the music'!
Luc Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 Wise words. Thanks Tax The reference point is going to be the hardest I reckon.
Milo Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Brandy Newy right out of the box - enjoy your SilverLine Preludes Luc! Speaking of 'box', it looks like it was pretty snugly protected with the double boxing and multiple foam wrap around.
Luc Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 Hiya Milo Yes it was, very snug and ultimately very safely delivered.(How were those composers series btw?)
adrocks Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Hey Luc The new speakers look great and its good you reckon they sound great too. They were well worth the wait then. Bad news, is now your on that slippery slide, upgrade amp, cd player, then speakers again. then amp then, cd, speakers again. Before you know it you will have a room full of hifi gear.. LOL. Enjoy the ride, cheers Adam Edited August 28, 2012 by adrocks1
Guest Muon Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Congrats on the new speakers, sounds like you are loving the change, even before broken in Look forward to hearing ya' impressions after that 200 hours, and be interesting what happens if you manage to try a valve amp with them
DAMO 1147 Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 They look great - Luc - put on the hard stuff get those drivers moving - I think it will help break them in not hinder! No new ones yet!! But you can start saving - you may find you have to part with a significant amount of $$ before you hear the difference in an upgrade.
Luc Posted August 29, 2012 Author Posted August 29, 2012 Hiya Adam , yeah your right and if I do then your partly to blame! Hope things are going well for you over there. Hiya Data, yeah I'd love to try a valve amp and I'm wondering how I could sneak one in past the handbrake...I know there are some excellent and well credentialed sneaks here at SNA and I'll take advice from them on how to do it :lol: Hiya Damo, I've not slammed them yet and I don't want to blow the drivers up like that SNA'er with the GBi's did. * I'm taking the clutch out of my UD tomorrow(big job) so will be covered in grease if your planning on picking up that NAD...remember to text me if your coming
wolster Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Great write up and pics, Luc, and congrats on the new speakers. Just one tip: You shouldn't let your wife sit on your lap when you are seriously listening to music.
Luc Posted August 29, 2012 Author Posted August 29, 2012 I'm going to have to do a bit more of sitting the handbrake down to listen so I can drop in the necessary hints to have her thinking that maybe I really do need a different amp...one the glows in the night... to bring out that special something...lol :lol:
Addicted to music Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Your dog is into your new aquisition as well
alistairm Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 They look terrific. Great photos too - enjoyed watching them revealed.
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