2.3TL Rebuild Starts Now

machone

The radio is playing as I type.

I told my wife this morning that I was burning in some new components so I would be leaving the system on with the radio playing. Her reply was "OK just don't turn it up too loud". A year ago it was "your wasting electricity, blah, blah blah".

I think I got her trained

machone

Listening session at 24 hrs of burn-in.

Sounded OK but missing something, a little bass heavy and a little hard on the top end.
Yes, I know they need more time but I decided to re-center them on the 18.5 foot wall on about 9 ft centers. My thinking was this would move them further from the side walls. Well my thinking was wrong because now they became really bad; shrill and boomy at the same time and imaging and the sda affect were poor. I tested them with several albums and was not impressed.

Then I shifted the right speaker to the right about 8-10" and the left speaker to the left slightly to spread them to 10 ft centers.
The difference was profound.
Now they have a smooth top end, the bass tightened up and the imaging and sda affect is wall to wall and quite amazing. I was shocked.
In both positions they are the same distance off the back wall at 8".

Same music, same volume, completely different results.

I can understand how some may say that they are not impressed by SDAs but perhaps the speakers where not set up properly.

These speakers really do need to be moved around to find their spot in a room and when that spot is found they are truly amazing.

michaeljhsda2

^^^This^^^

machone

Still burning in at around 100hrs. Nothing great to report.
I did order spikes

RandyCroissant

Let us know your thoughts with the spikes as well.

machone

Will do when I get them installed. I will probably wait until more burn in time. I'm at 120 hours and things are changing for the better. Sounded very good tonight. Played Constipated Duck from Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow and it was fantastic. The imaging and separation was amazing. Top end is smoothing out as well. Mids are coming around and they are digging deep.

machone

Listened last night at 144 hrs. Just OK. Maybe it was me or maybe they are all over the place.

westmassguy

Our hearing changes by time of day, state of mind, passing clouds, etc..
You're coming along fine.

machone

Thanks wmg

honestaquarian

@machone You ABSOLUTELY CANNOT judge the sound of ANYTHING when it is still in the break in stage. Keep it going and then listen discriminately after the 400 hour break in period is over.
NOT easy to do,but you won't regret it.

machone

Trying to be patient.

Gunther16

For my 2cents worth, my break in of 200hrs is past and gone but speakers are still getting smoother especially at the high end. I had concerns about the highs at about 100hrs in but it is mellowing out more daily. Also I noticed that older recordings seem to be more subjective to the shrillyness than more recent recordings. Also another thing I'm noticing is that as the volume increases the highs become smoother.
Just my observations.

honestaquarian

@Gunther16
It's 400 hours
You are halfway there and I'm STILL jealous!

Gunther16

Ha, Patience is in my blood. I'm getting a chance to compare (side by side) with a pair of B&W 803D2's in acouple of weeks. That should be interesting.

machone

200 hrs is the minimum. 400 MO better.

No kidding, I noticed that my 1A's got better with more and more time.

machone

Almost 300 hours and things have smoothed out. It's time for spikes.

What are my chances of finding someone who has a 1kva Avel Lindberg audio grade transformer for sale?

westmassguy

machone wrote: »

What are my chances of finding someone who has a 1kva Avel Lindberg audio grade transformer for sale?

Post in the wanted section. Someone may have one.

machone

Opinions?

The 1000VA Avel Lindburg transformer is more expensive and harder to aquire. I can order the 800VA and build a dreadnought right away.

Is the 1000 that much better than the 800?

machone

I now have over 300 hours of burn-in time. They are smooth and any harshness is gone to the point that they may be a little too laid back.

Notes:
I used a .5 ohm resistor to replace the polyswitch.
I still have the small wires that came with the speakers for jumpers.
I don't have spikes until this weekend.

Comments welcome

machone

The goosebumps are back.
The 2.3TL's are singing.

amb426amb1

Looking forward to your thoughts on both the spikes and the 1000va transformer you scored. I'm following right behind you with these upgrades.

RandyCroissant

Same here! I would like to know his thoughts, as for the spikes the difficulty in moving and placing those heavy speakers with them is the only trade off.

machone

I can't install the spikes until I finish remodeling the room. I have been moving everything around constantly. My 1A's have spikes but I can bear hung them and pick them up.

Mike Reeter

RandyCroissant wrote: »

Same here! I would like to know his thoughts, as for the spikes the difficulty in moving and placing those heavy speakers with them is the only trade off.

machone wrote: »

I can't install the spikes until I finish remodeling the room. I have been moving everything around constantly. My 1A's have spikes but I can bear hung them and pick them up.

I've invested in a small Two Wheeler to move my SDA's around with, works great and makes positioning them much easier.

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/646072/646072701515lg.jpg

machone

What does Polk use to secure and seal the binding posts and IC connector to the binding post cup?
It is like a flexible hot glue.
They also use it on inductors.
Thanks

westmassguy

machone wrote: »

What does Polk use to secure and seal the binding posts and IC connector to the binding post cup?
It is like a flexible hot glue.
They also use it on inductors.
Thanks

Nothing special, just use regular hot glue on the back of the binding posts, and IC connector to ensure an air-tight seal. Do not use hot glue to "attach" anything. Use 3M VHB Tape and Nylon Wire Ties. The inductors can be dressed with hot glue to dampen micro vibrations, and resonances.

machone

I finished my 1KVA Dreadnought and interconnecting cables.

I Dynamated the Dreadnought case and found some M3 flat head phillips stainless screws with a black oxide finish to attach the SpeakOn's to the Dreadnought and speakers. I used 8-32 pan head phillips stainless screws with a black oxide finish for the case. I also used a stainless cup washer under head of the brass 1/4-20 flat head screw that secures the transformer. This screw came along with the transformer, case and connectors.

I had 20 ft long speaker cables (Belden 5000 10 awg) that I cut in half to make the Dreadnought cables. I used soldered SpeakOn's.







After a couple of listening sessions I can say that the improvements are major.

I teared up listening to Natalie Cole's Stardust followed by a couple of jaw drops on other recordings. The soundstage is a little wider but it was already wall to wall. What set me back in my seat is an overall smoothness, depth and detail that is happening everywhere within the soundstage from the center to the outside. Bass extension is improved, cymbals are silky smooth, voices are amazing and drums are awesome.

I am discovering albums that I thought were just OK to be very good recordings.

All good and very happy.

If there is anybody out there that is on the fence looking at this upgrade put it in your budget and make it happen.

BlueBirdMusic

Quality work, and the pictures are great.

Harry - GA

Gunther16

Awesome!

amb426amb1

Looks great. Gives me inspiration to push on with the dreadnought portion.