We had our 25th meeting on 9-19-15.
This time LVAC member Les hosted. This was Les’ second time hosting in 2015 – the first time was in January, 8 months ago. In the interim, Les had moved from a condo to an apartment and re-installed his audio and video system.
Les had also taken his speakers from the prototype stage (or, as I called it in January, “a DIY project”) to a finished furniture quality system. Both the appearance and sound quality (which was good to start with) have improved. Les credited part of that to the assistance he received from LVAC member Barry, who spent several hours in Les’ living room Thursday evening tuning the system with Barry’s TEF system to prepare for the meeting.
As he did in January, Les presented a wide range of vinyl, CD and video source material. He contrasted the differences between those media. The music ran the gamut from classical to jazz to rock including vintage and current recordings. As was the case in January, all of the different genres of music sounded great on Les' system. The system does not discriminate on recording quality, either. It features several octaves of “lower mid-range” often missing from other systems which highlight the full sound range of pianos,guitars, many other musical instruments and male and female vocalists. The system was very neutral without sounding thin and bright as many audiophiles would think that horn speakers with solid state electronics would be.
Les also played selections submitted by other members. One of them, "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens, which member Jonathan brought on both vinyl and on CD, proved that CDs don’t wear out but records do.
Thanks to Jonathan as well for loaning Les a Musical Fidelity V-DAC for the demo. It “Plugged” and it “Played.”
Les presented two separate speaker systems using the same “front end” starting point in a form of an “A – B” comparison. He is obviously a big JBL fan, so all of the drivers are by JBL. Les called the systems “The Big Horns” and “The Black + Whites” – looking at the photo it is obvious why. An equipment list and photos from Jonathan and Les follow.
During the meeting, Les mentioned that he would like to sell any or all of his equipment to any interested party.
So, once again, there you have it - yet another successful LVAC meeting. Thanks again to
Les for hosting, the various members for showing up, and you for your support.
Equipment for Les' September 19, 2015 LVAC Demo
System 1 - The "Big Horns"
Speakers
Bass
1 Pair
Vintage JBL Apollo Cabinets with JBL LE15A woofers (refoamed by OC Spekers)
Midrange/HF
1 Pair
Custom 36in Smith Horns In Walnut And Maple with JBL 2451J drivers and Truextent BeX
diaphragms.
Electronics
Amplifiers
2 JBL UREI 6260s - 150 watts per channel each at 8 ohms
Crossover
Rane AC23 three way electronic crossover (set for two way at 350 Hz)
Equalizer
SAE Mark 17 (restored 2014)
System 2 - The "Black And Whites"
Speakers
Bass
1 Pair
Custom LaScala replicas with JBL D140F woofers
Midrange/HF
1 Pair
Custom 24in Smith Horns with JBL LE85 drivers
Electronics
Amplifiers
SAE Mark 3 - 120 watts per channel at 8 ohms dual monoblock
JBL UREI 6260 - 150 watts per channel at 8 ohms
Crossover
Rane AC22 two way electronic crossover (at 750 Hz)
Equalizer
SAE Mark 17 (restored 2015)
Other Electronics
Pre-amplifier
SAE Mark 9b
Equalizer
SAE Mark 7
DAC
Musical Fidelity V-DAC (loaned by Jonathan Meyers)
Play Vinyl
Turntable
SONY TTS 3000 (restored 2014)
Tonearm
SONY PUA 237
Cartridge
Stanton 681
Play CDs
DVD player
SONY SR210P
Video
Projector
EPSON 8350
Photos are below. Photos by Les and Jonathan:
