ok need amp advice

scottyboy76

Just bought a set of dcm time windows 3s.

From all accounts, second only to the rare and very expensive time window 7s.

Own some original tws, sound great, briefly owned some tw 1as, had to send back due to ups damage, but while we had them, were very impressed, so much so, we were inspired to find the tw3s.

Problem?, they suck.

No other way to put it.

None of the openness, and wide open soundstage dcm is known for.

Will attach pics of one crossover and top inside of speak, does not seem to be any damage.

Would be willing to sell my two 125 watt adcom gfa 5400s, and try a more powerful amp as these speaks are known to be hungry, they can take up to 400 watts.

Does anyone think the problem might be power requirements?

Also, could these two amps be setup as monos for more power using my adcom gtp450 pre, or if i bought a different pre?

Seriously bummed here, any advice welcome.

heiney9

That pre-amp isn't doing you any favors.

scottyboy76

Yeah, have been looking for a pre upgrade since i bought this rig.

This is same setup that the other speakers sounded great on, thats why i was wondering if it was a need for power.

tonyb

Not every speaker by a manufacturer is a winner, even some well known expensive makers put out duds every now and then. I don't believe your problem is power, maybe the crossovers need to be redone or a tweet is gone. Question is, how much are you willing to invest to find out ?

TNHNDYMAN

You've got me bummed man... sorry to hear they are not living up to your expectations. You knew the pre was a weak link but power wise I don't know what they need. I thought they sounded good, but I had nothing to compare them to. Have you checked all the drivers yet? Maybe you could demo another amp from some hifi store or another member and see if that makes a difference or you could also try the variable out on the cd player (start very low) and hook to amp directly and gradually increase volumne and see if that makes any difference. OUt of ideas- sorry.

scottyboy76

tnhndyman, I tried the variable out, the way you suggested, definitely changed the sound, but not the solution.

I really think a recap is in order, wish we had hooked up my old original tw1s while you were here, you could have heard the difference, I think somehow those were the only speaks in the house we didnt even think about hooking up, and listening to.

The 3s are perfectly functional, and without having heard the difference in the 1as, would not have known, I guess the closest comparison would be sdas with and without the ic cable.

Not an exact example, but close.

Im actually looking forward to doing this, hope you and mrs. hndyman can listen when you come by next time.

AVS forum has a great thread on time windows, A guy named jamie hauser has copious pics, advice, and parts lists on redoing all the tws, think i will start my homework, these are very worthy speaks, and i appreciate travis helping me out getting them, and all who gave advice.

mhardy6647

FWIW, I think that the original series timewindows were the best; they just got ever more rococo thereafter. The originals are surprisingly sensitive; they sound great with PP EL84 amplication (ca. 12 wpc) and are not embarrassing to listen to being driven by SE 2A3 (3.5 wpc).

Joe08867

I have a crazy question. Have you tried switching right for left? I thought the crossovers were set up so the outside speakers played at a different frequency than the inside. Maybe they are in a way out of phase of each other.

I have heard DCM TW3's many times and never thought they lacked for sound.

scottyboy76

have not switched right and left, each has an arrow on back, telling which way to point each toward center, basically telling you which is right and left.

After hearing my old originals i have playing right now, and the defective, but astounding 1as, i can only imagine what these should and can sound like, will be ordering some caps, after making sure there arent simpler fixes, i.e. connecting post problems, loose wires etc.

Joe08867

Can you take a pic of how there setup? They aren't too finicky but they should be set a certain way. The point between the drivers is what should be facing front. The Speaker itself should be angled like a V . I am guessing you knew this but throwing it out just in case.

Also, I think you have either too much stuffing or it's in the wrong place inside them. The stuffing in the ones I have seen has never been all the way to the top. It is usually up to the magnets on the tweets. Maybe it got moved around in shipping or carrying them.

scottyboy76

I have a thread here with a pic, they are pointing forward.

As far as the batting inside, Jamie over at avs forums, whos about as close to a time windows guru, took a look at pics i posted, said the batting is proper, and placed that way because of the transmission line setup.

I thought the same thing, I have seen more batting in speaks.

I will be getting recap in next few weeks, hopefully that does it.

Right now, im listening to talking heads, stop making sense on hifi vhs, sounds damn good, but not with that same spaciousness.