flg Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 Hello,I need little help in deciding if the Hoyt Bedford Type 2 will be a perfect match for a Red Wine Audio Signature 15.The listening room, which is also my living room, is 12 feet deep and 25 feet wide. It has a wood flooring and the setup is a long-wall installation.I listen to almost all genres of music, including classical, rock, electronic, jazz and world music (e.g. Archive, J.-S. Bach, Cesária Évora, Dire Straits, Mahler, Muse, Pink Floyd, Queen, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Yuksek). However, I do not listen to rap and metal.As living in a flat, I like low level listening, usually from 8 to 9 o'clock and hardly above 11 o'clock levels. While listening to music, I am looking for tone, transparency, swiftness with a good soundstage and a good imaging. Single-driver loudspeakers are not known for their big bass. However, I would like to have a fair bit of bass, when it is required for details and soundstage.I am close to making a decision but just want a little extra help from those of you who have heard these HB Type 2s.Thanks.
Braddles 63 Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) I have the Trafomatic Aries with some 98db Tekton Lore's and im pretty happy with the match. I was considering the Sig15 as well. These speakers tick all the boxes that you like. Especially the bass. Good at low level too. For similar money of the HB's you could even get the xover with upgraded Mundorf caps. Edited January 5, 2013 by Braddles 63
Krispy Audio Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 The Signature15 was almost MADE for the Type 2s (not literally). The Aries mentioned above is only 6w, so 15w gives you plenty, and I mean plenty, of headroom. And you have the other benefit of having a battery powered amp - a good positive for these highly sensitive speakers. Go for it I say!
New Sensations Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 The Signature15 was almost MADE for the Type 2s (not literally). The Aries mentioned above is only 6w, so 15w gives you plenty, and I mean plenty, of headroom. And you have the other benefit of having a battery powered amp - a good positive for these highly sensitive speakers. Go for it I say! I concur. The sig 15 will give you a more lively top end than the Aries.
flg Posted January 5, 2013 Author Posted January 5, 2013 In fact, I am worried that the HB Type 2s will be short of bass. For example, Pink Floyd's bass riffs in One Of These Days and those in Muse's Knights Of Cydonia, as wall as for soundstage and details in Mozart's Masonic Music and in Bruckner's Symphony no. 8.
Braddles 63 Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) In fact, I am worried that the HB Type 2s will be short of bass. For example, Pink Floyd's bass riffs in One Of These Days and those in Muse's Knights Of Cydonia, as wall as for soundstage and details in Mozart's Masonic Music and in Bruckner's Symphony no. 8.I can't speak for the Hb2 but I do know you won't have this problem with the Lore.Here is a review that may interest you. It' pairs the next model up from the lore, the lore-s with the sig 15. http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/03/02/best-yet-the-tekton-lore-s/ You also maybe interested to know that Eric from Tekton owns a Sig15 and Vinnie from RWA owns a pair of Lore-s. Edited January 5, 2013 by Braddles 63
flg Posted January 6, 2013 Author Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) The Tekton Lore-S is also in my top list with the HB Type 2.According to their specifications, my brain tells me to go for the Tektons however a gut feeling tells me that I should go for the HBs. This is the reason why I am seeking more advice and experience from HB Type 2's owners. Edited January 6, 2013 by flg
Bronal Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) I had a pair of HB Type 2s in my second system in a small back bedroom for about 9 months, before I had the opportunity to replace them with Omega Super 6 XRSs. Before the Type 2s I had Type 1s, so I guess you could say I am an Omega/HB fan. Using a Lyngdorf RP-1 for room processing, I got very good bass down to 40Hz in 'sealed' mode and a decent output (probably around -6 to -9dB) to about 30Hz, measured by the Alan Parsons test CD. Unfortunately your requirements from your speakers are difficult to achieve, in that (1) you listen at low levels and (2) you want good bass. You will get good bass from the HB2s but it will be dynamically compromised. This will apply to any speaker you choose. That's why many amps in the 70s and 80s had loudness buttons to boost bass at lower listening levels. I can't comment on the Signature 15, but the opinion of other luminaries says 'yes' so that's good enough for me. I assume from your post that you already have one. If not, another amp I use with great success is the Ampino - and I bet it's a lot cheaper too in Switzerland. To sum up, the HBs are outstanding value - well made, revealing, image like crazy and very fast. Edited January 6, 2013 by bronal
flg Posted January 6, 2013 Author Posted January 6, 2013 Thank you all for your comments and recommendations. I am getting more confident that HB Type 2 it will be. ... Unfortunately your requirements from your speakers are difficult to achieve, in that (1) you listen at low levels and (2) you want good bass. You will get good bass from the HB2s but it will be dynamically compromised. This will apply to any speaker you choose. That's why many amps in the 70s and 80s had loudness buttons to boost bass at lower listening levels.... If the low bass weight and impact are not what I am expecting, a subwoofer would not be a heresy?
houdinifangs Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Thank you all for your comments and recommendations. I am getting more confident that HB Type 2 it will be. If the low bass weight and impact are not what I am expecting, a subwoofer would not be a heresy? Not heresy at all. I'd suggest a sub from either HB or it's parent company Omega. Easy to integrate and match the speaker tonally
Bronal Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 What a pity you don't live in Australia! I have a pair of HB2s for sale and houdinifangs has (or had) a pair of Omega subs, both at extremely reasonable prices.
DAMO 1147 Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 I have not found the Zu Omens to be too bass shy and they are similar to HB2's. There area few HB owners that have run subs if you want a little more. However IMHO the benefits of the HB 2's and single drivers in general outweigh some of there short comings - for me anyway. It's worth trying them out for sure -
flg Posted January 7, 2013 Author Posted January 7, 2013 (edited) What a pity you don't live in Australia! I have a pair of HB2s for sale and houdinifangs has (or had) a pair of Omega subs, both at extremely reasonable prices. Your HBs look great, bronal. Why did you change them for the Omega Super 6 XRSs? And yes, it is a pity, because I lived in Sydney for three years, but it was a decade ago. Edited January 7, 2013 by flg
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