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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: A quest for a better monitor.
Post Subject: IIILZ box insufficiencyPosted by Chirag on: 3/1/2007
Hey Cat...long time no claw,
Wrong? My dog, if I can list my musical machine mistakes...
The original boxes I got with my 10" and 15" reds were respectively the little IIILZ sealed and big ported boxes. The IIILZ box with the little reds was the usual thin tannoy wood with the light brown fabric grill cloth and removable back.
When I first picked them up, the boxes was not properly sealed, farted and so resonant in my listening space I really just wanted to throw it out then and there. I futilely played for a month (as i remember)...initially, I redid the flat stuffing lining the insides, sealed up the wood around the removable back edges with some goop from home depot and later tryed a line level roll off filter so this odd resonance (perhaps room related), around 60-80hz was reduced. Aesthetics did play a role...
I had the same internal sized box made using 1.5" of doubled MDF, the same crossovers and different stuffing made. The protobox did have a removable back so i could figure out stuffing quantity...the final pair do not have removable backs. I really do feel some of the musical weightiness of the resonant "old" box added something to the character of the little driver. on the other hand, it made things like a Lehar duo sound much too serious. All my musical tastes at the time started heading to D minor piano works and smaller "romantic" cello groups.
I'm going to horrify you with a car analogy...until I got the sealed scan speak boxes made for the bass, the very good midrange and charming upper frequencies felt like a 2 liter honda engine...really wonderful for what they could do, but all RPM and no torque.
The 15" boxes on the other hand....they remain ported and really (horridly to some), make fantastic monitors for movie viewing...I managed to watch the whole Decalogue!
Essentially...I believe I got a bad set of old tannoy boxes...but I definitely tried to make them work as I did. Either way, I really do not follow the religion of the resonant box...I don't understand it nor have I enjoyed their aggressive musical signatures.
What do you feel about the old boxes?
Best,
ChiragRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site