Sound Dynamics 500 Concert Monitor

These speakers followed me home today, Sound Dynamics 500 Concert Monitors. I am happy to have another pair of these wonderful speakers that match up very well with my tube amp.

I sold off my Sound Dynamics 10S a while back and kind of regretted it since. I am happy to have an updated pair of the same speakers fall back into the rotation.

Of course this pair will get re foamed with black foams instead of the orange originals as I like the look of the black foams. Also new Solen caps will be put in place along with new speaker terminals.

These 500 Concert Monitors are the later version of the 10S, they still have the 10" woofer and horn loaded tweeter, they come in a mirror image set and the cabinet is just a bit smaller.

I really look forward to listening to these speaker again.

Single Ended Tube Amp

A little update on the Electrohome tube amp that I recently picked up, first off it is a Single Ended tube amp as opposed to a Push/Pull tube amp. There is a tone of debate on which sounds better and for the price I paid for my amp there is no debate.

The 6BQ5 tubes run around 5.7 watts per channel of pure Class A power, plenty of power for very efficient speakers at a normal to semi loud listening level.

I have run the gauntlet of speakers through this amp and only two pairs really shine and bring out the best in the audio signal and believe me this amp is extremely revealing, open and absolutely clean and clear, so much I hear things I never heard before.

So, which speakers sounded best with this amp?

Tannoy Oxford Gold, hands down winner....

There is something about the horn loaded tweeter that is spot on with this amp. The Oxford Golds are 93db efficient and the 10" woofer rounds out the solid bass perfectly. The tweeters are nearly time aligned with the woofer, so the sound is great. The highs sparkle, the mid range is spot on as if you are in a studio with the musicians and instruments right in front of you, it really is amazing to listen through these speakers. When listening to my audio sources through solid state equipment, the Tannoy's do not shine as well as they do with tubes.

Another great speaker to run with the tube amp is the Sound Dynamics 10S, once again a very efficient speaker at around 96db, the bass is much fuller with the Sound Dynamic but the overall sound is more like you are at an 1000 seat concert room.

The recessed horn loaded tweeter throws out a wider sound stage and is not recording studio precise as the Tannoy's. These speakers are time aligned due to the recess of the tweeter, smooth across the mid range and deep in the bass. Like I said these are like you are at the concert where as the Tannoy's you are in the studio.

I am absolutely  awe struck in what I am currently listening to and feel that I have reached a peak in performance and I will find it hard to top this set up.

Sound Dynamics 10S Speakers

I finished a full rebuild and upgrade to a very large pair of Sound Dynamics 10S speakers last night. These speakers arrived my way in a sorry state, but they are worth the effort in restoring. The cabinets are in good condition.

These speakers are highly efficient competitors to Cerwin Vega speakers made by Audio Products International, best known for Energy 22's and the Mirage line up of speakers.

These speakers use a 10 inch woofer crossed over in the 1st. order to a horn loaded dome tweeter. These speakers are easily over 96-98db in efficiency, they play loud and clear.

 
The woofer needed a re foam and I opted to go with black foams as opposed to the original reddish/orange foams.

The crossover got a new 4.7uf  metal polyester Tenta Cap that is +/-5%. The tweeter level control got a full dousing of DeOxit.

I replaced the original spring clips with new banana pug binding posts for better connectivity to modern connectors.

Also added was a bit more dampening material to help with the back wave from the woofer.

Sound impressions so far........ Pretty nice, the horn tweeter is clear without being harsh, the bass is spot on and very full. I did have to play with the tweeter control to get the balance that I like and loud, hell yeah, these can rock.

I have lots of material to listen to before I give these up to the next speakerholic.

Just arrived today, Sound Dynamics 10S and Bose 601 series 1

Not a bad Canada Day to start, on the way to pick up a pair of Bose 601 series 1, I stumbled across a pair of Sound Dynamics 10S made by API, the same guys who made the Energy 22's.

Both speakers are in need of serious re foaming and new caps in the Sound Dynamics, the Bose 601 was missing a woofer that I happen to have a spare of, that is why I took on the project.

Pictures will follow in the coming days.