Apogee Duetta's

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audioluvr
audioluvr Posts: 5,439
in 2 Channel Audio
Going to audition a pair of first gen Duetta's to possibly replace my SDA 1C's. But not sure if I'm looking in the right direction. I can only go at most 2 ft from the back wall and I don't want to use a sub. Would these still best my 1C's ? Or should I look for something else?
Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,608
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    How much are they?
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  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 701
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    One of my faves from back in the day !

    Bk
    Dayens Ampino , Yamaha wxc-50 , Polk SDA 1c’s ( my first love .. ) , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM

    B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL

    Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Salk Supercharged Song towers ( difficult choice between these and my family if I had to choose ... 😩 ) , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN RIG

    PS Audio S300 - sitting in the closet for now …

    Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    I have the Duetta 2 in my dedicated room, I'm not sure you are going to get the full potential of them without having them placed at least 4' from the back wall.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,874
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    don't you need a killer ($$$) amp for those?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Puritan PSM156
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    I have a krell ksa 300s powering mine, and I could use more power sometimes. I heard a pair of apogee Diva's properly powered with 600 watt audio research 610t monoblocks on the mids and highs and and 700 watt krell monoblocks on the bass panel. The apogee's sound better and better with lots of quality power.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
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    So my Sony AVR won't cut it. Got it.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • honestaquarian
    honestaquarian Posts: 3,186
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    audioluvr wrote: »
    So my Sony AVR won't cut it. Got it.

    Your Sony AVR will likely shut down or blow up trying to drive some Apogees.
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    honestaquarian wrote: »
    audioluvr wrote: »
    So my Sony AVR won't cut it. Got it.

    Your Sony AVR will likely shut down or blow up trying to drive some Apogees.

    It won't shut down with the Duetta they are an easy load just very inefficient if you want any volume out of them. I'm sure audioluvr was just kidding about using an avr.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
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    It's the ideal placement that finally prevented me from buying these. Just not ideal for my LR which is where I'd want them.

    I do have a Sony AVR ! It's in the upstairs of my barn though.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 701
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    How much were they and what condition?
    Refurbished by any chance ?

    Bk
    Dayens Ampino , Yamaha wxc-50 , Polk SDA 1c’s ( my first love .. ) , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM

    B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL

    Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Salk Supercharged Song towers ( difficult choice between these and my family if I had to choose ... 😩 ) , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN RIG

    PS Audio S300 - sitting in the closet for now …

    Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    gyosa wrote: »
    How much were they and what condition?
    Refurbished by any chance ?

    Bk
    He should buy them if they were refurbished and being sold at a decent price. It costs a small fortune to have the bass panels replaced, because you can't buy them, you have to have one of apogee's approved installers do them for about $2,500.
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    The bass panels usually aren't bad, but the foam surround deteriorates and they start buzzing at certain frequencies. You can't replace the foam without ruining the bass foil.
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  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 701
    edited September 2020
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    That’s why I wondering if they had been refurbished.
    They are expensive “project” speakers - but wonderful when working properly.

    Buddy of mine had a pair back in the day and they were awesome.
    Probably the best sounding speakers I’ve ever heard.

    One of the reasons I’m so in love with the RAAL ribbon tweeter.

    Bk
    Dayens Ampino , Yamaha wxc-50 , Polk SDA 1c’s ( my first love .. ) , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM

    B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL

    Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Salk Supercharged Song towers ( difficult choice between these and my family if I had to choose ... 😩 ) , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN RIG

    PS Audio S300 - sitting in the closet for now …

    Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
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    He wanted $1,500 including all the brochures and original boxes. No mods, all original.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    I paid $1550 for my duetta 2's with the boxes and original packaging, $1500 isn't bad for a pair of duetta's with all the original packaging. Usually they are well taken care of when they still have the original boxes and packaging.
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    gyosa wrote: »
    That’s why I wondering if they had been refurbished.
    They are expensive “project” speakers - but wonderful when working properly.

    Buddy of mine had a pair back in the day and they were awesome.
    Probably the best sounding speakers I’ve ever heard.

    One of the reasons I’m so in love with the RAAL ribbon tweeter.

    Bk

    They do sound better than my Polk sda2A TL's, but the 2A's definitely have more punch you in the chest bass.
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  • gyosa
    gyosa Posts: 701
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    That’s the nature of the beast ..

    But , ohhhhhhh, those liquid highs and mids ....

    Bk

    [/quote]

    They do sound better than my Polk sda2A TL's, but the 2A's definitely have more punch you in the chest bass.[/quote]

    Dayens Ampino , Yamaha wxc-50 , Polk SDA 1c’s ( my first love .. ) , Kimber Kable 4TC, Sony 42” - BEDROOM

    B&K EX-442 ( it will go in my casket when I die ... ) , PS Audio 4.6 preamp ( old school , but it still jams on ... ) , Eversolo DMP-A6 , Boston Acoustic voyager 7’s - POOL

    Parasound A21, Eversolo DMP-A8 , Yamaha wxc-50 , Kimber Kable 4vs , Salk Supercharged Song towers ( difficult choice between these and my family if I had to choose ... 😩 ) , Sony XBR-A8F 65” OLED - DEN , MAIN RIG

    PS Audio S300 - sitting in the closet for now …

    Onkyo TX-nr609 , Polk atrium 7 , Boston acoustic sound ware (4) , Boston acoustic sub , B&W center , Sharp 65” TV - PATIO
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    gyosa wrote: »
    That’s the nature of the beast ..

    But , ohhhhhhh, those liquid highs and mids

    Truly wonderful sounding and the bass is more detailed than any speaker I've ever owned.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
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    Good information.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
    edited September 2020
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    Well I broke down and went and spent some time demo'ing with the owner to see if these would be a good candidate for replacing my 1C's.

    They were in great physical shape and I noticed no buzzing or flaws in function. He was running them with a vintage pair of NEC M50 monoblocks and playing MP3 music via a Sonos. My first impression was that they didn't need a sub as they produced plenty of low low frequency output. Other than that I was not impressed by what I was hearing. The mids and highs were harsh and exhausting to listen to for very long and there was absolutely no imaging at all. It's as if everything was coming out of a small boombox.

    Now I don't know if this was because they are old and were in dire need of a crossover rebuild or they were revealing how horrible the amp, pre and source was. Needless to say I walked away comfortable knowing I don't have to move speakers when I get home.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,189
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    MP3s? Some people really know how to demo a speaker.
    George / NJ

    Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
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    Crown D150 amp
    Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
    iFi nano iDSD DAC
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    Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
    Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
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    Gardenstater wrote: »
    MP3s? Some people really know how to demo a speaker.

    Right? I was thinking about bringing my Belles 350A Reference and the Rotel pre I picked up here but the guy said he had it set up right for a demo and texted me a pic of his other ones being run off McIntosh monoblocks.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,279
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    Something is a miss, did he have the Duetta bi- wired, and what position was the switch on the back of the speaker set to? The only speakers I've ever heard that have better imaging is my sda 2a TL's. Mp3 pretty much says it all though, he must not have known what he was doing.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,439
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    They were bi-wired. I didn't look at switch position but he said he's owned Apogees for over 20 years so I'd think he would set them up right. Part of me thinks they were just revealing the imperfections of the source but them sounding like they were playing mono recordings bothered me that's why I looked in the back to make sure the speaker cables were hooked up right.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter