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General Speaker Discussion Calling all Speakers |
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#1
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Field-Coil Speaker Review: the Wolf von Langa SON
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#2
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Great review Tim.
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Tony D'Agostino Momentum S250 MxV & HD pre; Linn Klimax Organik DSM, SonicTransporter, EtherRegen; Acoustic Signature Typhoon Neo, Koetsu RSP, Boulder 1108; Sf Il Cremonese; Shunyata Everest, Altaira, Sigma & Alpha v2 |
#3
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Thank you Tony!
The tunable field-coil mid-woofer coupled with an AMT tweeter makes for a very different design. |
#4
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$17995 including field-coil power suppy
Basic Specifications The speaker has a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms with 94dB (1w/1m) efficiency and is capable of handling 150 watts continuous power with a 1500 watt peak power (10ms) rating. Frequency response is 25Hz to 25000Hz +/- 3dB. Different from the many lower efficiency speakers on the market today, the SONs are usable equally with low or high power amplifiers. This allowed me to review them with a low wattage SET amplifier and a 110 Watt solid state amplifier. |
#5
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tima, wonderful and interesting review. Classic Audio Loudspeakers is a USA company that specializes in Field Coil loudspeakers. How do think they compare with the WVL? Also, how does this technology differ from Focal's use of EM technology? Thank you.
Best Charles
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__________________________________________ Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest New gear on order: MC2.1KW Anniversary power amplifier; C12000 An preamplifier; MCD12000 An SACD/CD player; AQ 1 meter Dragon balanced IC; 2 meter AQ Hurricane HC power cord; 3 meter AQ Hurricane Source power cord; unspecified 3 meter AQ digital coaxial IC and power cord for my backup MVP851 DVD player given as a surprise gift to me by my dealer Most recent updates: Latest is the last one posted: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals; heating and cooling completely reworked and reinsulated resulting in a much quieter, cooler, and more efficient room (cost about 10,000.00). McIntosh MCT 500 SACD/CD transport; Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode for XVX Chronosonic; WEL Signature digital Coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection replacing the optical connection; New plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes; Thor is now off my floor; MC3500MKII mono block amps (2) and two custom granite slabs; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover; new 75-ohm multi-directional FM antenna for tuner; total of eight additional Wilson Audio Heavy (red) pedestals placed under the MC3500MKII mono blocks; JRiver Media Center 31 Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII mono blocks (2), McIntosh MC1.25KW’s (3). All amps set on floor on custom made granite slabs Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100 Sources: McIntosh MCT500 SACD/CD Transport, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 31) Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; custom made Wilson Acoustic Diodes Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie; custom plinth of X material with Wilson Acoustic Diode feet; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); WEL Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from ActivXO crossover to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to ActivXO; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box Isolation: Wilson Pedestals for D1100; MVP881 BR player; MCT500 transport; Wilson Audio ActivXO electronic subwoofer crossover; plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes; eight Wilson Audio Heavy (red) Pedestals placed under the MC3500MKII mono blocks (four placed under the rails of each amp) Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump. |
#6
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Quote:
The field-coil speakers in Classic Audio speakers adopt the same basic electromagnet technology used by Wolf von Langa and both companies build their own field coil drivers. WvL also builds field-coil power supplies. Both are nicely efficient and capable of being driven by low wattage amplifiers. Classic Audio often partners with Atma-Sphere at shows, using the A-S M-60, which is a wonderfully transparent amp. Compared with the SON, the CA speakers are substantially larger with more drivers and most (all?) include a field-coil driven horn for their upper frequencies versus the AMT dipole used in the SON. I expect efficient horn based speakers with field-coil drivers to have top-notch dynamics. I have not compared the two companies side-by-side so cannot speak to a sonic comparison, but I can imagine the larger CA speakers working in larger spaces and presenting a larger sound stage than the SON. Von Langa does have larger models that would make for a better side-by-side compare-contrast. Several of the CA speakers have lovely wood cabinets. I have little familiarity with Focal so cannot say much about them. Several in their line include 'EM' in their name, which I believe stands for Electro-Magnet and to me that implies an electromagnet - that is a current powered magnet versus a permanent magnet - which is the basis of the field-coil technology. Thank you for your kind comments, Tim |
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