Carver AL-III's

Ricardo
Ricardo Posts: 10,636
edited October 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
Picked them up at Noel's yesterday. Put them in place of the 1.2's and have been playing all day (took the day off :)).

So far, here are my impressions:

-Lots of detail; amazing how instruments can be separated and how natural/vivid they sound. Same with vocals.
-Soundstage not as good as the TL's (not a surprise).
-Did not expect the lower efficiency of ribbons; needs the volume knob a lot higher than the TL's, but still fill the room nicely.
-Detail can be enjoyed at any volume level (while the TL's at very low volume have very little detail)
-although they do not have the punch of the TL's, they throw a decent amount of lows.

So which is better? I don't think one is better than the other; different speakers that make different things good. Right now I am really enjoying them...still braking in some tubes, so things should get better in the next couple days :eek:

Some pictures of the speakers and new gear.
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Comments

  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited October 2006
    There is a huge difference in efficiency between those two speakers. Your observations very closely mimic my thoughts between ALs and SDAs. Well, I get more bass out of my ALs, but there is a reason for that. Also, I thought the ALs were far and away better than the SDAs.

    Either way, congrats. They look great.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,497
    edited October 2006
    IIRC they are rated at 88 dB. Norm and I found the AL-III's with the three crossover adjustments took a bit more power to drive than the AL-III + which had no adjustments. Which is better is subjective, up to the owner. I sold my SDA's because I preferred the ribbons.

    Njoy.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited October 2006
    Congrats on the new speakers!!
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2006
    You don't need a huge soundstage to have a great speaker, enjoy.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited October 2006
    Welcome to Ribbonworld.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    Shizelbs wrote:
    Well, I get more bass out of my ALs, but there is a reason for that.


    And that reason is...??
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    SCompRacer wrote:
    IIRC they are rated at 88 dB. Norm and I found the AL-III's with the three crossover adjustments took a bit more power to drive than the AL-III + which had no adjustments. Which is better is subjective, up to the owner. I sold my SDA's because I preferred the ribbons.

    Njoy.

    By the way..they are in GREAT shape :)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    dorokusai wrote:
    You don't need a huge soundstage to have a great speaker, enjoy.

    True; it's just an observation...after listening to only SDA for a year or so, the difference is very noticeable.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2006
    Congrats, rookie! BTW, I don't think that 'rookie' thing is too appropriate anymore! Yo've learned how to spend that money with the best of 'em! ;)
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
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    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    audiobliss wrote:
    Congrats, rookie! BTW, I don't think that 'rookie' thing is too appropriate anymore! Yo've learned how to spend that money with the best of 'em! ;)

    Look who's talking......

    BTW, there's a pair of gold Monitor Audios really cheap in Audiogon...go for them!!!!

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1165626661
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited October 2006
    The reason you get more bass out of The Amazings instead of the ALS-III?

    The Amazing Plats have 4 x 12" woofers per speaker, and yours have one 10".

    "There is no substitute for radiating surface area, and a real mans amp."

    The Plats have the 60" ribbon and yours have the 48"er. The ribbon will actually go down to 20 cycles, but not with a lot of chutzpah. Hence, the augmentative woofers.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    George Grand wrote:
    The reason you get more bass out of The Amazings instead of the ALS-III?

    The Amazing Plats have 4 x 12" woofers per speaker, and yours have one 10".

    "There is no substitute for radiating surface area, and a real mans amp."

    Got it; I thought we were talking about the same speakers :)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,497
    edited October 2006
    HTrookie wrote:
    By the way..they are in GREAT shape :)

    They are beauts. I liked the Oak much better than the Black ones. So did the wife.

    Just prior to getting hooked on ESL's, we were going to bypass the passive crossover and try an active one. Check out some of the old threads in the speaker forum at Carver Audio if your interested.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2006
    HTrookie wrote:
    Look who's talking......
    :eek: that hurt...;)
    HTrookie wrote:
    BTW, there's a pair of gold Monitor Audios really cheap in Audiogon...go for them!!!!

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1165626661
    Curse you!!!!!!!!!!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2006
    George Grand wrote:
    "There is no substitute for radiating surface area, and a real mans amp."

    When are you going to get a real man's amp? :)
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited October 2006
    Wow. Very nice system. I'd love to hear ribbons one day.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,335
    edited October 2006
    Congrats Ricardo! Enjoy the music!
    Carl

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,552
    edited October 2006
    -Detail can be enjoyed at any volume level (while the TL's at very low volume have very little detail)

    HA! You want more detail than you'll know what to do with at low volume on the SDA's? Upgrade the crossovers, use Sonicaps. Then you too, can hear Norah Jones ****.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited October 2006
    F1nut wrote:
    HA! You want more detail than you'll know what to do with at low volume on the SDA's? Upgrade the crossovers, use Sonicaps. Then you too, can hear Noarh Jones ****.

    You kill me, :D
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    F1nut wrote:
    HA! You want more detail than you'll know what to do with at low volume on the SDA's? Upgrade the crossovers, use Sonicaps. Then you too, can hear Noarh Jones ****.

    Hmmm....I am extremely happy with what the Solens did; any other difference that the Sonicaps bring? Wil they hurt the bass response I got?

    Also, if I ever do this, you need to tell me in which song you are hearing her ****...I don't think I want to listen to that :)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,552
    edited October 2006
    More detail, more micro detail, better bass. Use the .1uF Platinum for the bypass caps.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited October 2006
    Doro the Carver Hater. The Amazing Platinum Mk.IV's do not present a difficult load at all for any amp. If I was trying to drive Apogee Scintillas, I wouldn't use a Carver amp. The bottom ends of my AR-9's do not get driven with a Carver amp.

    There are really no more major audio purchases in my future. My ears do not warrant any further upgrades, especially something as subtle as an amp change. My ears just aren't going to hear it. Sad, but true, it's the freakin' jets for over 30 years that I have to thank for it. 54 next month too. Not quite as old as Jesse, but getting up there chronologically.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2006
    SCompRacer wrote:
    They are beauts. I liked the Oak much better than the Black ones. So did the wife.

    Just prior to getting hooked on ESL's, we were going to bypass the passive crossover and try an active one. Check out some of the old threads in the speaker forum at Carver Audio if your interested.


    Thanks for the link; very interesting information there...and several familiar names also :)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,335
    edited October 2006
    F1nut wrote:
    More detail, more micro detail, better bass. Use the .1uF Platinum for the bypass caps.


    I'm trading in my Sonicap Gen II 0.1 uF bypass for the platinums just to hear that Norah Jones ****:D

    I like the detail in my 2.3's, even at low volume there great.

    I've also listened to the Mark IV Platinums. Great speaker! A little more airy than the 2.3's. There is a difference in sound, not better just different. I'd have either in my system anyday.
    Carl

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