Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

Audio Discussion => Equipment Reviews => Topic started by: OldiesButGoodies on January 14, 2017, 03:20:50 PM

Title: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on January 14, 2017, 03:20:50 PM
The speakers are beautiful,  finished in black.   Listened to some Beatles and the reference standard,  Pat Barber.  A DSP 2x4  active crossover is used to pass only frequencies above 100 hz to the towers (and EQ things a bit,  I am sure),  the rest goes to a subwoofer.  They sounded as you would expect speakers in that price range to sound like:  wide/tall soundstage  and excellent imaging (Rev though it holographic), very accurate/precise,  as you would expect from a good line-source design.  So yes, I am envious - congrats PBJ! (custodian in possession). 

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/579/32187296111_8533b13c82_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/R3hiKe)Audio (https://flic.kr/p/R3hiKe) by Jose Sifontes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/), on Flickr

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/444/32267608706_7bf5f33612_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RanVT9)Audio (https://flic.kr/p/RanVT9) by Jose Sifontes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/), on Flickr

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/400/32307028385_82c22ea55b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RdRXYM)Audio (https://flic.kr/p/RdRXYM) by Jose Sifontes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/), on Flickr
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: MacGeek on January 14, 2017, 04:38:38 PM
Very nice.  An outboard sub, I assume.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: geoffr on January 14, 2017, 04:40:44 PM
Wowie zowie!
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: bearjew on January 14, 2017, 05:26:29 PM
Very nice.  An outboard sub, I assume.

The speakers go to about 100Hz and roll off from there.  We're using a sub, but it's just a cheap polk, as budget is a factor.  It really only tackles the super low stuff though, and it's doing the job quite well surprisingly.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on January 14, 2017, 06:06:21 PM
Very nice.  An outboard sub, I assume.

The speakers go to about 100Hz and roll off from there.  We're using a sub, but it's just a cheap polk, as budget is a factor.  It really only tackles the super low stuff though, and it's doing the job quite well surprisingly.

Agree, did not sense the need for anything better,  maybe change its position a bit if that.  The bass was really good even w/o the sub.   :P

OBG 
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on January 14, 2017, 09:29:27 PM
Really good subs will just get you evicted from an apartment.   Those are beautiful, I can't wait to hear them.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: papabearjew on January 15, 2017, 01:44:08 AM
Looks like I'll be up especially late tonight. Pepe, thanks to you and Rev for helping BJ getting these set up. We did turn the sub 90° so the woofer is aiming right into the room. Talk about a wall of sound. These things are incredible. WAF was as expected (-) but she wasn't enamored about the Silvers either. I did have to move the clock to the left a bit.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: Kingman on January 15, 2017, 07:46:03 AM
Congrats to PBJ!!!! Rock on!!!
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: scorpio333 on January 15, 2017, 08:27:02 AM
Those look amazing! Glad you got them and enjoy them. WAF be damned, just keep her from hanging clothes on them!
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on January 15, 2017, 09:25:48 AM
How do these differ from the Carver's? or are they Carver's without the name... should they be called James's?
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: bearjew on January 15, 2017, 09:43:24 AM
How do these differ from the Carver's? or are they Carver's without the name... should they be called James's?

These are the Carver prototypes without the crappy super tweeter, and they use an active EQ like they were originally supposed to have; the retail model has giant out-board passive crossovers.  They're still Carvers in my opinion.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on January 15, 2017, 12:45:52 PM
OK... confused. Thought you were getting a pair of James's custom designed / make speakers... that were suppose to be a better/ refined version of the Carver
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: bearjew on January 15, 2017, 02:48:37 PM
OK... confused. Thought you were getting a pair of James's custom designed / make speakers... that were suppose to be a better/ refined version of the Carver

Very long story for another day and another venue.  I'll give you a call this week if I have some time.  On my way to Baltimore right now.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: Kingman on January 15, 2017, 04:32:09 PM
Bet they SOUND better than the production model.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on January 15, 2017, 04:49:28 PM
Bet they SOUND better than the production model.

I just commented about them in the Stereophile TAS (The Absolute Sound) site.   I am sure they sound better without the massive mess created by a complicated passive x-over, but IMO they also look better without the supertweeter monstrosity on top.

These sounded great despite using a regular miniDSP 2x4 - which essentially means the sound is limited to 48Khz processing.  The sound would be improved further with a miniDSP HD (an easy future swap for BJ/PBJ).  The miniDSP approach also allows for tailoring the speakers to the room they are in (if you want to get geeky),  something the production model would not be able to accommodate.   

OBG
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: papabearjew on January 16, 2017, 12:04:05 AM
What's the Stereophile site?
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on January 16, 2017, 10:34:42 AM
Sorry - meant to write TAS site - The Absolute Sound - site.  Here's a link:

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/carver-als-line-source-loudspeaker-system/?page=3 (http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/carver-als-line-source-loudspeaker-system/?page=3)

Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: papabearjew on January 16, 2017, 03:32:03 PM
Hey Pepé. Nice review. Any chance you can crop the photo to remove my family photos?
Thx
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: Magnaryder on January 16, 2017, 04:38:35 PM
I called Steve the other day to talk to him about his new Audeze 'phones and he mentioned the new ALS arriving. Damn, you guys must live under a lucky star. Those are damn fine speakers! I've been lucky enough to hear(IIRC)every iteration and each is better than the last. Sensational score

Congrats

ray 
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on January 16, 2017, 05:05:30 PM
Hey Pepé. Nice review. Any chance you can crop the photo to remove my family photos?
Thx

Will do.  I have 3 accounts in TAS - need to remember to login to the right one so it will let me edit.   ;D
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: papabearjew on January 16, 2017, 08:10:09 PM
Hey Pepé. Nice review. Any chance you can crop the photo to remove my family photos?
Thx

Will do.  I have 3 accounts in TAS - need to remember to login to the right one so it will let me edit.   ;D

Thanks Pepé.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: papabearjew on February 05, 2017, 03:20:22 AM
This week (beginning Feb 5th) would be a good week for anybody that wants to come audition the ALS speakers. I have TIDAL HIFI and of course you're welcome to bring vinyl, cassettes, or reel to reel tapes (1/4", quarter track, 7.5ips, 7" or 10.5" reels. Now that I've lived with them and played them extensively for a while all I can say is holy shit. They have a truly "amazing" soundstage and incredible clarity. They just plain sound so real.
One correction from previous info. The sub is a PHASETECH Power 10 not a Polk. I'm very pleased with it. You guys with manual turntables can see the Q-up I added to BJ's Funk Firm turntable. I found a special on two for a reduced price so I ordered the extra one for Pepé. It's simple but awesome. I know Pepé loves his.
Title: Re: PBJ/BJ's Carver Line Source Prototypes
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on February 05, 2017, 04:35:18 PM
This week (beginning Feb 5th) would be a good week for anybody that wants to come audition the ALS speakers. I have TIDAL HIFI and of course you're welcome to bring vinyl, cassettes, or reel to reel tapes (1/4", quarter track, 7.5ips, 7" or 10.5" reels. Now that I've lived with them and played them extensively for a while all I can say is holy shit. They have a truly "amazing" soundstage and incredible clarity. They just plain sound so real.
One correction from previous info. The sub is a PHASETECH Power 10 not a Polk. I'm very pleased with it. You guys with manual turntables can see the Q-up I added to BJ's Funk Firm turntable. I found a special on two for a reduced price so I ordered the extra one for Pepé. It's simple but awesome. I know Pepé loves his.

At some point when BJ has time I would like to try them with the miniDSP 2x4 HD.  The HD version has twice the bandwidth  and processing power than the one James sent with your speakers.  Since they sound so friggin good with the basic 2x4,  I would love to hear the improvement with the high def version  (I have one).

OBG