Blumenstein Ultra Fi
- Thread starter Doc B
- Start date
Grainger49
New member
Clark,
Thanks! That was my generation but not a band I followed. And I mean that literally as well. But I know a few Dead Heads who were born in 1949 too. That is the "49" part of my moniker.
Thanks! That was my generation but not a band I followed. And I mean that literally as well. But I know a few Dead Heads who were born in 1949 too. That is the "49" part of my moniker.
Molly
New member
First, Jim, I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to meet you last weekend. Clark and I just couldn't afford to have both of us out of the shop at that time. Good news is, I had a chance to put another coat of finish on some of your system!
As for the Nagas, we actually have one pair left, which has been in limbo during a couple of moves and shop and storage reorganization (my parents snatched up the second to last pair). This pair is currently missing the solid wood baffles, which need to be sanded and finished, and also the electronics, but we have plans to finish them as new speakers--the last of their kind. Really cool solid wood for the baffles: bookmatched curly black walnut from a wind-fallen tree of Walla Walla, WA. Having the Nagas to work on again, Clark and I really want to incorporate more solid wood into the cabinet options again, and our gears have been churning over some ways we can do this.
Stay tuned as we'll post when these Nagas are ready to go.
As for the Nagas, we actually have one pair left, which has been in limbo during a couple of moves and shop and storage reorganization (my parents snatched up the second to last pair). This pair is currently missing the solid wood baffles, which need to be sanded and finished, and also the electronics, but we have plans to finish them as new speakers--the last of their kind. Really cool solid wood for the baffles: bookmatched curly black walnut from a wind-fallen tree of Walla Walla, WA. Having the Nagas to work on again, Clark and I really want to incorporate more solid wood into the cabinet options again, and our gears have been churning over some ways we can do this.
Stay tuned as we'll post when these Nagas are ready to go.
Molly,
Yes, we're really sorry you couldn't visit too, but next time for sure.
Yes, somebody should definitely pick this last pair up when they're ready -- a fantastic speaker and to my mind's eye, just one of the most attractive speakers I've ever encountered. Now I have to work on getting the sapele bases oiled and finished nicely and then when the Orcas arrive I can move these into the listening room.
Thanks also for all your hard work on my new Orcas as well!
Take care,
Jim
Yes, we're really sorry you couldn't visit too, but next time for sure.
Yes, somebody should definitely pick this last pair up when they're ready -- a fantastic speaker and to my mind's eye, just one of the most attractive speakers I've ever encountered. Now I have to work on getting the sapele bases oiled and finished nicely and then when the Orcas arrive I can move these into the listening room.
Thanks also for all your hard work on my new Orcas as well!
Take care,
Jim
Grainger49
New member
I just got the opportunity to hear the Orcas. They are amazing!
bainjs and his lovely wife drove 3 hours here for a visit and to let me audition them. After a nice lunch we put the Orcas in the same spot as my Triangle Zerius speakers have been for 7 years and started listening.
So now, I can say I want a pair of these. I'll have to sell something and order them.
Back to the sound, or beginning the sound, they are clean, clear, with amazing images, deeper soundstage than my Triangles (and they are really good at soundstage), impressive high frequencies, but a little light in the bass for Taiko drums without a sub. Just about any speaker at a reasonable price is light in the bass for Taiko drums without a sub.
Joel said that they only have about 100 hours on them. Unless they are going to extend down to 25 Hz with more break in I don't know what else they can do.
I was hearing good high frequency response with Bluegrass, so just to be sure, we put on Kind Of Blue (KOB). The cymbals were amazing! They had sizzle! The piano, saxophone, and of course trumpet sounded very real. I'm really amazed at the highs. The cymbals were as they should be. I admit to expecting the highs to be a little recessed. After all, my hearing in the highs is a little recessed. This was not at all the case.
On KOB the images were solid; the best I have ever heard the piano on this album. Walking back and fourth behind the listening chair I could see that the center image only moves about a foot off center in my room at the extreme right and left. What I mean is that to get it to do that I stood a foot or more to the right of the right speaker, etc. There is a really wide sweet spot. More than I have experienced before.
I could go on, and on, but it would just be repetitive. Clark, you have really done something magic here.
A big thanks to both Bains for this opportunity.
bainjs and his lovely wife drove 3 hours here for a visit and to let me audition them. After a nice lunch we put the Orcas in the same spot as my Triangle Zerius speakers have been for 7 years and started listening.
So now, I can say I want a pair of these. I'll have to sell something and order them.
Back to the sound, or beginning the sound, they are clean, clear, with amazing images, deeper soundstage than my Triangles (and they are really good at soundstage), impressive high frequencies, but a little light in the bass for Taiko drums without a sub. Just about any speaker at a reasonable price is light in the bass for Taiko drums without a sub.
Joel said that they only have about 100 hours on them. Unless they are going to extend down to 25 Hz with more break in I don't know what else they can do.
I was hearing good high frequency response with Bluegrass, so just to be sure, we put on Kind Of Blue (KOB). The cymbals were amazing! They had sizzle! The piano, saxophone, and of course trumpet sounded very real. I'm really amazed at the highs. The cymbals were as they should be. I admit to expecting the highs to be a little recessed. After all, my hearing in the highs is a little recessed. This was not at all the case.
On KOB the images were solid; the best I have ever heard the piano on this album. Walking back and fourth behind the listening chair I could see that the center image only moves about a foot off center in my room at the extreme right and left. What I mean is that to get it to do that I stood a foot or more to the right of the right speaker, etc. There is a really wide sweet spot. More than I have experienced before.
I could go on, and on, but it would just be repetitive. Clark, you have really done something magic here.
A big thanks to both Bains for this opportunity.
Hey Grainger,
Yup, don't listen to them unless you're prepared to buy a set
. I don't know how much more the bass will fill in as much as become even better integrated into the whole, after the 400 hour mark, and then everything smoothes out and becomes more coherent from top to bottom, and I bet you'll even notice the highs being even cleaner at that point too.
Does Joel have the sub with the paper or aluminum cone? That as welll as the stands can also make a nice difference in bass impact and dynamics, so Clark tells me.
I'll find out soon enough -- my whole new set, Orcas, stands and sub will all arrive here next week sometime.
Did you use your paramours or did Joel bring his s.e.x. amp? I think that's what he uses at home but I could be remembering that wrong.
They truly are totally decieving in terms of what comes out of them vs their dimunitive appearance.
These and the Nagas are the speakers that finally made me decide to stick with flea power SET amps.
Glad you finally got a chance to hear them, and how great of Joel and his wife to make the trip.
-- Jim
Yup, don't listen to them unless you're prepared to buy a set
. I don't know how much more the bass will fill in as much as become even better integrated into the whole, after the 400 hour mark, and then everything smoothes out and becomes more coherent from top to bottom, and I bet you'll even notice the highs being even cleaner at that point too.Does Joel have the sub with the paper or aluminum cone? That as welll as the stands can also make a nice difference in bass impact and dynamics, so Clark tells me.
I'll find out soon enough -- my whole new set, Orcas, stands and sub will all arrive here next week sometime.
Did you use your paramours or did Joel bring his s.e.x. amp? I think that's what he uses at home but I could be remembering that wrong.
They truly are totally decieving in terms of what comes out of them vs their dimunitive appearance.
These and the Nagas are the speakers that finally made me decide to stick with flea power SET amps.
Glad you finally got a chance to hear them, and how great of Joel and his wife to make the trip.
-- Jim
Grainger49
New member
Jim
Joel and I both have a non-Blumenstein sub. I didn't try to dial mine into the Orcas as it was pretty well set up for my speakers. I didn't want to get it all out of adjustment. Every time I played it, it mucked up the Orcas' midrange. So I didn't keep it on.It is crossed over too high for the Orca. (Edit: it was too loud for the Orcas) Maybe for mine as well. I'll have to see. It could be filling a hole in my speakers response.
Joel didn't bring his SEX amp. We used my Paramours with 76 drivers, MQ iron and all upgraded caps. We played then on Joel's stands that are a few inches short of the Orca stands, but close enough for me. They were screwed and glued together. A nice tight fit.
They just disappeared. Sounds didn't come from the speakers but behind and all around them. A top notch speaker disappearing act. I will be rummaging through my stuff to see what might garner me the price of admission from an auction.
I look forward to your impressions of the Full Meal Orca Deal. That is a reference to the deal on an everything FP 2.
Tomorrow I will put my speakers back on and see if I can listen to them after the Orcas. Maybe not.
Joel and I both have a non-Blumenstein sub. I didn't try to dial mine into the Orcas as it was pretty well set up for my speakers. I didn't want to get it all out of adjustment. Every time I played it, it mucked up the Orcas' midrange. So I didn't keep it on.
Joel didn't bring his SEX amp. We used my Paramours with 76 drivers, MQ iron and all upgraded caps. We played then on Joel's stands that are a few inches short of the Orca stands, but close enough for me. They were screwed and glued together. A nice tight fit.
They just disappeared. Sounds didn't come from the speakers but behind and all around them. A top notch speaker disappearing act. I will be rummaging through my stuff to see what might garner me the price of admission from an auction.
I look forward to your impressions of the Full Meal Orca Deal. That is a reference to the deal on an everything FP 2.
Tomorrow I will put my speakers back on and see if I can listen to them after the Orcas. Maybe not.
Grainger49
New member
Oops, edited.
Grainger,
I think you really have to look at the Orca sub compared to typical subs the same way you do the Orcas to other standmount monitors -- it's practially a crime to call them a sub -- they don't boom, they have real tone, and more importantly, tone that seamlessly integrates with the Orcas (or Nagas in my current case), plus they match in terms of dynamics, and Clark tells me that all of this will improve noticeably when I replace my aluminum cone drivers with the paper cone ones. Of course the new one will have the paper cone *sub*.
And yes, one will surely let you feel those Taiko drums, and 2 would probably let your neighbors feel it too.
My feeling is that the Orcas are quite usable on their own to approximately 50 hz, which is about all you get from most LPs anyway. On the other hand, there's no doubt that the Orca sub adds some weight and dynamic punch as well as some more extension on the bottom.
Man, I am just itching to get this system going!
When Clark first walked into my listening room his first words were, "Oh, this is an Orca room for sure." Aside from that I'm getting used to the Nagas in the media room, though some more placement adjustments will surely help, as will the stereomour.
-- Jim
I think you really have to look at the Orca sub compared to typical subs the same way you do the Orcas to other standmount monitors -- it's practially a crime to call them a sub -- they don't boom, they have real tone, and more importantly, tone that seamlessly integrates with the Orcas (or Nagas in my current case), plus they match in terms of dynamics, and Clark tells me that all of this will improve noticeably when I replace my aluminum cone drivers with the paper cone ones. Of course the new one will have the paper cone *sub*.
And yes, one will surely let you feel those Taiko drums, and 2 would probably let your neighbors feel it too
.My feeling is that the Orcas are quite usable on their own to approximately 50 hz, which is about all you get from most LPs anyway. On the other hand, there's no doubt that the Orca sub adds some weight and dynamic punch as well as some more extension on the bottom.
Man, I am just itching to get this system going!
When Clark first walked into my listening room his first words were, "Oh, this is an Orca room for sure." Aside from that I'm getting used to the Nagas in the media room, though some more placement adjustments will surely help, as will the stereomour.
-- Jim
Grainger49
New member
Jim,
My first sub was with the Servo-Statik I. It didn't have much boom. Since that sub is dead I'm using a Boston Acoustics sub I bought years ago. The BA has served in both my stereo and AV systems. It is more versatile than the Infinity sub ever was with crossover, level and phase adjustments.
I have a great appreciation for a sub having the same speed as the rest of the system. The Infinity sub never got there. Right now, the Orca's sub isn't economically feasible. At the moment neither are the Orcas.
My first sub was with the Servo-Statik I. It didn't have much boom. Since that sub is dead I'm using a Boston Acoustics sub I bought years ago. The BA has served in both my stereo and AV systems. It is more versatile than the Infinity sub ever was with crossover, level and phase adjustments.
I have a great appreciation for a sub having the same speed as the rest of the system. The Infinity sub never got there. Right now, the Orca's sub isn't economically feasible. At the moment neither are the Orcas.
Grainger,
Understood -- econommics being what it is for each individual, my only real point is that the Orca sub is the perfect pairing for a complete, full range system with seamless integration from the bottom up. And also being the size and weight it is (does not need a forklift to move like so many subs, you can get perfect phasing and best room response simply by moving it around, which I vastly prefer to the so-called variable phase controls.
The bottom line on all this is that if you can afford it, the complete system is well worth pursuing, even if it takes a while and a lot of scraping and saving to get there.
-- Jim
Understood -- econommics being what it is for each individual, my only real point is that the Orca sub is the perfect pairing for a complete, full range system with seamless integration from the bottom up. And also being the size and weight it is (does not need a forklift to move like so many subs, you can get perfect phasing and best room response simply by moving it around, which I vastly prefer to the so-called variable phase controls.
The bottom line on all this is that if you can afford it, the complete system is well worth pursuing, even if it takes a while and a lot of scraping and saving to get there.
-- Jim
Dudes,
I agree with Jim. 130 hours break in on Orcas, Stands, and Subs. This stuff sounds really good. I took my BH Gear to a High End Dealer in S Fla and spent 8 hours with some famous speakers and this stuff sounds every bit as good and it's not broken in yet. The best buy I have made so far in my Audio journey. The Orca gear was a retirement gift to myself.
Pat
Forgot to mention that the Orca gear only cost 1/3 as much!
I agree with Jim. 130 hours break in on Orcas, Stands, and Subs. This stuff sounds really good. I took my BH Gear to a High End Dealer in S Fla and spent 8 hours with some famous speakers and this stuff sounds every bit as good and it's not broken in yet. The best buy I have made so far in my Audio journey. The Orca gear was a retirement gift to myself.
Pat
Forgot to mention that the Orca gear only cost 1/3 as much!
Grainger49
New member
I understand. The Eros was my retirement gift to myself a year ago. That is when I started drawing some retirement funds.
Grainger49 said:
So, Granger, its been a year. How's retirement treating you? I'm actually in between jobs at the present. I think when I retire, I'm going to need a string of heavy duty projects to keep from going insane! I know, I may already be there, but I'm talking straight jacket stuff!
). Thanks, also, to everyone else on here for the awesome feedback. Clark and I are feeling the love! Hank Murrow
New member
Hey, I hope your wife's experience with replacement is as successful as mine. First one @ 54, second @ 60, now 74 and able to walk six miles even on uneven surfaces(right now, beaches and cliffs on the south coast of Crete). My surgeon, Craig Mohler of the Slocum Orthopedic Clinic in Eugene, said that I had the fastest recovery on the last one he had ever seen____ 1 mile without aids just ten days post-surgery!
Suggest that she tune up her immune system by de-toxing(sugar, red meat, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol), and imagine on the gurney before lights out that she will wake up on the left bank in Paris! Worked for me, both times.
Cheers and good Luck, Hank in Eugene(actually south coast of Crete for another week)
Suggest that she tune up her immune system by de-toxing(sugar, red meat, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol), and imagine on the gurney before lights out that she will wake up on the left bank in Paris! Worked for me, both times.
Cheers and good Luck, Hank in Eugene(actually south coast of Crete for another week)
