Do we want to sit in the orchestra?

[Mandryka]

am.

I'm planning on replacing my speakers & tuner/amplifier - I've been looking at speakers that cost £300 - £500 (quite a lot for me, but at the lower end no doubt for some people), but I'm wondering if it's worth spending so much given that I hear everything through a permanent whistle from the tinnitus (which I also think was brought on by several massive penicillin shots.)

I would consider Mordaunt Short speakers. I'm no audiophile, but I have some and they compare well to the (infinitely more expensive) B&W speakers owned by a friend of mine.

[Roffensis]

Certainly the link between early penicillin therapies and tinnitus was made in a standard pharmacology text that I used in the early 1970s, Flossie.

However younger GPs tend to look at me aghast when I mention it - maybe it has gone out of fashion.

I just wish the tinnitus would go too

That's pretty awful, sorry to hear that. Not fun when you appreciate proper music. I did not know of the penicillin link, which makes it worse. For what it is worth, I would stear clear of most modern speakers if i were you. Firstly, their range is a lot poorer than it was in the golden 70s. Today, there are different requirements. A lot of manufacturers bow to the pop industry which means a hard sound, bright, punchy and frankly tiring to listen to for long periods. I have a quadraphonic set up as you probably surmised, but i am also an Organist, love classical music and some decent pop. That steered me to speakers, four identical ones, that a friend of mine had in 1979 which literally blew me away. None of the hard sound, but laid back, tuneful, fast, clear, with a incredible wide range right down to bottom c on an organ (16 herz) and with a top end that really tinkles, given its renowned tweeter. Imaging is glorious, and things are actually in the room with you!! which speaker? Celestion 44. These have something of a cult status now, I got mine off a well known auction site in top nick for £450 all four. One pair was £200. They often appear, and beleive me they are worth seeking out. If I tried to put wide range material through modern speakers believe me in a large room they simply fail. Dismally. I don't care what they say about "long throw" and reflex ports etc. Believe me they fail.

As to hearing damage, I hear you!!! When I began playing in the 70s, one organ would really scream and literally overewhelm, today it seems quite polite. Sometimes my ears pop though, and i still get the lot!! I blame the Liverpool climate I live in, I never had it when I lived down south!!

Hope you find decent speakers. If you want a speaker that is laid back, musical, warm without colouration, and great for orchestral and classical, I'd look for Celestions, otherwise audition first if you don't want Celestions!

Richard

[MrGongGong]

how do you get your Celestion 44's to go to 16HZ when their stated bottom is 25Hz ?
and what do you mean by "poor" range ?

[Roffensis]

how do you get your Celestion 44's to go to 16HZ when their stated bottom is 25Hz ?
and what do you mean by "poor" range ?

Yes I know, good question to which I don't know, but can only guess that the stated spec is flat from 25Hz up. in other words below that the curve will roll off gradually, but not so much that something is not coming through in the bottom octave. I have scores of both vinyl and Cds of organs, and have heard bottom C of a 32 foot through these. I used to use a KEF sub but now don't bother.

As to poor range I mean a fake lower bass via reflex ports, typically stopping at around 35 to 40 Hz. The smaller cones of today simply cannot move as much air either.
ATB

Richard

[Flosshilde]

Roffensis, The speakers I have are Marantz, which I bought in the mid-seventies. They've been excellent (they were first connected to a Boots portable stereo record player - the sound was a revelation after the original speakers!), but the foam round the actual cones has crumbled, & they go dead (individually) & crackle etc. The cables are the realy thin 2-core cables which connect by a 2-pronged attachments at the end of the cable & placed under screws on the speaker. No plug-in sockets for cable on the speakers, so can't even up-grade the cables!

I can see what you mean about modern speakers & the sound they produce. I've been looking at reviews & they never seem to test speakers with classical music, & the terms they use in talking about the sound don't seem appropriate for classical.

[Roffensis]

Roffensis, The speakers I have are Marantz, which I bought in the mid-seventies. They've been excellent (they were first connected to a Boots portable stereo record player - the sound was a revelation after the original speakers!), but the foam round the actual cones has crumbled, & they go dead (individually) & crackle etc. The cables are the realy thin 2-core cables which connect by a 2-pronged attachments at the end of the cable & placed under screws on the speaker. No plug-in sockets for cable on the speakers, so can't even up-grade the cables!

I can see what you mean about modern speakers & the sound they produce. I've been looking at reviews & they never seem to test speakers with classical music, & the terms they use in talking about the sound don't seem appropriate for classical.

Good for you, and thanks for comments. Early foam surrounds did indeed crumble, and modern ones may do in time?, the Celestions used rubber surrounds, which I have heard called "everlasting", but these to date show no sign of hardending or cracking. Happy days. If one really likes their speakers but they are failing, there are are companies that will restore them, one I think is in London. The problem I dread is one of my tweeters going, they are not made anymore, and Celestion do not service either, which does not impress me one bit. [/I] Reviews are not what they were in the 70s either!!!

Richard

[Flosshilde]

Roffensis, Just found a pair on ebay - currently £79 + £50(!) delivery. From the picture they look about 3 feet high - is this correct?

(there is also a pair of tweeters for sale )

[Roffensis]

Roffensis, Just found a pair on ebay - currently £79 + £50(!) delivery. From the picture they look about 3 feet high - is this correct?

(there is also a pair of tweeters for sale )

Not quite 3 feet, 30" high, 14 wide", 10" deep roughly. Yes I saw the tweeters!!!..............watch what they go for!!! If you can private message me, I'll give you some helpful advice. y the way they are rated at about 40 watts, but rumour has it they'll take a vast amount more than this. Both my amps are well over 125 watts each, and no sign ever of distortion, not unless yu want compound Tinnitus!!

Will be in touch tomorrow,

Richard

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Although I generally prefer the "glow" created by huddling all the violins on the left, I don't think the balance is significantly disturbed by having the 2nd violins facing backwards. The resonance is omnidirectional.
In concert halls, any antiphonal effect is lost unless you happen to be sitting near to the front.

[Roffensis]

Although I generally prefer the "glow" created by huddling all the violins on the left, I don't think the balance is significantly disturbed by having the 2nd violins facing backwards. The resonance is omnidirectional.
In concert halls, any antiphonal effect is lost unless you happen to be sitting near to the front.

Ideally I think any orchestra should recorded as is, ie how players are set out ...full stop. I think the golden ideal was met by RCA and Reiner, with a single stereo pair over the orchestra, and I think a single mono in the hall. Today, those recordings still sound fantastic. The quadraphonic recording technique yeilded still further realism. I see no argument in spot miking or spreading violins accross a front image. It is a false representation, or am I just too purist?

R

[silvestrione]

RCA and Reiner! Hmm, one of those available in local Oxfam, on LP. Must try it out: might have been Mozart 40 and 41, not sure.