L600 impressions, discussion & eventually a review

Milito · January 2023

H9 I'm looking forward to more reviews as you get more hours on them.

audioluvr · January 2023

I wasn't saying your amp was inadequate with 30 watts, especially in class A. Every amp designer builds based on what they perceive as perfection. For example, my Belles puts out 250 wpc but is quieter and less forceful below 250 Hz than my B&K's. Less watts more output regardless of volume. But the Belles is more musical ( almost to a fault) in the male and female voice ranges. Like you said. Synergy with the amp and pre is what's most important to your ears. As long as it puts a smile on your face, you win!

Clipdat · January 2023

Clipdat wrote: »

If so, that is not enough power for them, imho.

Clipdat wrote: »

30wpc is not enough for the L600, imo.

heiney9 wrote: »

I'm just tired of people always saying "30wpc isn't enough"

In the interest of quoting me accurately, please note that both times I said "in my opinion" afterwards.

nooshinjohn · January 2023

Clipdat wrote: »

In the interest of quoting me accurately, please note that both times I said "in my opinion" afterwards.

So you have said… your opinion is not shared so move on. Repeating your opinion is not helpful or needed.

Clipdat · January 2023

nooshinjohn wrote: »

So you have said… your opinion is not shared so move on. Repeating your opinion is not helpful or needed.

Hahah, what!? Oh! I didn't even realize you were here, John! What are you going on about?

I was simply posting a disclaimer for accuracy and trying to avoid being misquoted, not "repeating my opinion".

Braddles63 · January 2023

heiney9 wrote: »

Braddles63 wrote: »

I will through this one and see how it is received. (he says looking through his fingers)

I found this helped me find a better bass balance. Bit cleaner.

These are 20mm sandstone pavers.

Runs

I like. Did you use sandstone for a reason, or just a random selection based on availability? Just curious. I'm sure you'll get some nay sayers.

H9

I chose them because they were nice and flat so no rocking. They were a good size. They were nice and heavy, and they were the best looking option for getting approval from the minister in charge of home furnishing.

heiney9 · February 2023

Braddles63 wrote: »

heiney9 wrote: »

Braddles63 wrote: »

I will through this one and see how it is received. (he says looking through his fingers)

I found this helped me find a better bass balance. Bit cleaner.

These are 20mm sandstone pavers.

Runs

I like. Did you use sandstone for a reason, or just a random selection based on availability? Just curious. I'm sure you'll get some nay sayers.

H9

I chose them because they were nice and flat so no rocking. They were a good size. They were nice and heavy, and they were the best looking option for getting approval from the minister in charge of home furnishing.

I may try this eventually. If I can find the "right" base.

H9

heiney9 · February 2023

I have today off of work and I've put the L600's through the paces this morning and I'm liking what I'm hearing. Bass is much better, more defined and they are really starting to open up and are becoming even more transparent. More coherent as well.

When not playing music I have been running TV audio through them each night via an optical to my DAC. I think that is helping the break-in.

Only change is I did hook up an new ethernet cable. It's 25' and I still was getting a ground loop type hum. I had an extra Tripplite (I have been going wireless because of the ground loop type issue)

https://www.l-com.com/surge-protector-tripp-lite-premium-rj45-network-surge-suppressor?gclid=CjwKCAiA2rOeBhAsEiwA2Pl7Q_gocw3_wfQBrMOQdaJFRCC61UnPCKN4Nv-gOaVPurVYF2CsqX6myRoCzXoQAvD_BwE

Plugged the ethernet into it and then into the Node3 and no more noise, dead silent. Didn't even attach the green ground wire. It really baffles me. I'm going to run this for awhile and I may change to a mesh system.

H9

heiney9 · February 2023

Getting past the minor issues I experienced today, it was a great listening day.

The bass is starting to become more defined and textured, a lot less boomy than it has been. The transparency is still improving and clarity is excellent. The ability to recreate the nunaces of the sound stage and instruments took a big jump forward since last time. The words to describe is open, open, open. Layers of the sound stage are excellent.

These have surpassed my SDA 1C's in clarity and transparency and scale. I finally was able to emotionally connect with the music today. I threw everything at them today. Acoustic, female vocals, 90's industrial alternative, world music, 90's alternative, jazz. Everything sounded great.

The thought I came away with today is "how the hell are two narrow columns of 4 drivers each producing such large scale sound??" Visually they are 2.5 times less wide than my SDA 1C's. At only 9" wide they are producing sound that seems cannot be coming from such a small foot print. Visually and sonically they put my brain at odds. So I just sat back in the sweet spot and closed my eyes.

These are fantastic speakers. These are fantastic speakers. These are fantastic speakers. Once again, I'm glad I made the decision to purchase.

H9

nooshinjohn · February 2023

Paul Simon's "Graceland" is sublime on the Legends.

heiney9 · February 2023

I listen Paul Simon's Concert in the Park 1991 - which has a selection of Graceland songs and international performers. Both are a great listen.

H9

Milito · February 2023

I agree with your statement about them "producing sound that seems cannot be coming from such a small foot print." I noticed that compared to the 705's I use to own. The bass also got better with time like you said.

Good to hear you're loving them.

heiney9 · February 2023

So it's been a few weeks since I've been able to sit and listen uninterrupted and alone....lol. Spent most of yesterday listening. I've been running the speakers every night when watching evening TV just to get the hours on them.

One conclusion I came to yesterday is, I don't miss my SDA 1C's. That in no way diminishes the SDA 1C's, but the L600's are really starting to show their character. There is a directness in the L600's the SDA's just can't quite compete with. The L600's are more focused top to bottom and they have a very pleasant immediacy that the 1C's don't have. The bass is startling. So deep and controlled.

One other thing is lots of clarity and transparency, but zero, I mean zero harshness or listening fatigue. Vocal clarity is another very strong point.

These are really staring to come into their own and I am starting to be able to emotionally connect to some of my favorite music.

One stand out from yesterday on Qobuz was the HR version of Muddy Waters - Folk Singer. Such a stripped down recording, very well mastered. I got goosebumps. The ambient cues of the recording studio and the sympathetic resonance of the acoustic guitar as well as the sliding of the pick on the strings while plucking, etc. And Muddy's gruff voice......

Still working an tweaking placement. I have the toe-in dialed in and distance between the 2 speakers correct. They need to be farther out from the back wall, but I just don't have the room.

I am extremely happy with the purchase. My room and room treatments are going to be issues I need to address.

H9

nooshinjohn · February 2023

Thank you Brock... Now I don't feel like I committed blasphemy by saying the L800's topped my 1.2TL's in my space. I still get goosebumps on certain pieces of music. Eva Cassidy's "Live at Blues Creek" is available on Quboz, and it is spectacular.

heiney9 · February 2023

To be fair John, you still have a version of SDA, just a different version. I'm cold turkey

But, I totally get where you're coming from and we both can see how fantastic the Legend Series is. I've prepared a bit more coherent discussion/review I'll post later to this thread on comparing my 1C's with the L600's.

H9

nooshinjohn · February 2023

Coherent is a good word actually. I find that the entire presentation of the Legend series, just seems to flow naturally from the speakers and fills my space with a well-balanced sound that never seems to place too much emphasis on one thing or another. Rather everything gets its space within the soundstage to shine.

mikejedi0619 · February 2023

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Coherent is a good word actually. I find that the entire presentation of the Legend series, just seems to flow naturally from the speakers and fills my space with a well-balanced sound that never seems to place too much emphasis on one thing or another. Rather everything gets its space within the soundstage to shine.

I agree as that is what I am experiencing while breaking in my L200s. I know they aren’t 600s but are from the same family. I am sure the 600 has more of everything though

It’s pretty remarkable how neutral these are and I am really enjoying that

heiney9 · February 2023

Yes, I've been hesitant to talk about neutrality since I haven't really put them through the paces so to speak.

But I agree they seem to be a very neutral speaker. Timbre seems to be very accurate.

H9

txcoastal1 · February 2023

Live at Blues Alley
Album by Eva Cassidy

nooshinjohn · February 2023

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Live at Blues Alley
Album by Eva Cassidy

You are correct... I hate predictive text.

heiney9 · February 2023

To finish up some of my thoughts from Monday's listening session: These notes are brief and a little disjointed compared to a "review". These are just thoughts I wrote down in a quick fashion so pardon the grammar mistakes, etc.

The characteristics I’m talking about between the 2 speakers are not necessarily night and day
differences. But the sum of the differences makes the L600 the more appealing speaker.

I’d gladly put the 1C’s back in service with no regrets. Both are great speakers IMO. The L600 just betters many areas and when you add them up the L600’s become a very engaging speaker. The
naturalness of the mids and the top end resolution of the L600’s are superb. Detail and air are exemplary and never get harsh.

This is a very neutral sounding speaker, especially the mids.

SDA’s put out a larger field of sound, which leads to what I heard another Polkie mention about SDA’s that they are slightly diffuse in their presentation. I agree after hearing a conventional speaker. You don’t really notice the diffuse properties until you compare.

The L600’s present a slightly smaller sound field, but they possess an immediacy the SDA can’t quite match. The leading edge of music has more life and is….well…more immediate.

The L600’s are more transparent than the 1C’s which I think relates to the above about the
immediacy, and the SDA’s being slightly diffuse by nature because of the cross talk cancellation.

RD0’s can’t compete with the Ring radiator tweeter. The delicacy, air, accuracy, resolution and decay are excellent with the new and improved ring radiator tweeter. This and the clarity and naturalness of the midrange on the L600 are more than just subtle differences

This is IMO, is where the largest diversion is and you can also thank the cabinet construction for a lot of the reason IMO. It would be interesting the hear an MW driver in the L600 type cabinet.

As I said in an earlier post, I am still simply amazed at the sound and sound field the L600’s put out from such a tall and slender cabinet. Visually and audibly, there is an in-congruence.

The SDA 1C's are large and wide and imposing. The sound they put out is congruent with what you are visually seeing as a large and imposing speaker.

I know I should sell the 1C’s because they will sit here in storage, in the way, for a long time. It’s going to be too much of a hassle to ever swap them in/out. But I’m not ready to give them up 100% yet. Knowing in the back of my mind they are still here…………….if needed……

H9

nooshinjohn · February 2023

Interesting Brock... Thanks for posting your observations. I agree with most of what you posted. The L800's share all those same characteristics, and what I believe is the best implementation of SDA that I have ever heard. The soundstage is huge like you would expect, but it is sharp and clearly defined. The diffuse nature of the previous generations was tamed by the upgrades we have done to them over the years, but the Legend eliminates it.

This is why I feel that some may prefer the older SDA to the new ones. There is a learning curve, as it were, to understanding what you are hearing from the new speakers. The old ones tossed everything up at you in a wall of sound, but the Legends do more than simply toss things out into space. They paint a detailed, three dimensional image that is almost something that can be felt in the room.

muncybob · February 2023

I'm enjoying this read but it also keeps me kicking myself in the a** for not getting in on the sale

heiney9 · February 2023

muncybob wrote: »

I'm enjoying this read but it also keeps me kicking myself in the a** for not getting in on the sale

I did that for the first sale. I wanted L600's but only convinced myself to purchase the R200's. Which was also a WIN. This time around for the most recent sale......it was too good a deal to pass up. I'm glad I pulled the trigger. Hopefully for you, another good sale will come. No regrets for the R200's, which I didn't need, and certainly no regrets for the L600's. They have surpassed my lofty expectations.

H9

Emlyn · February 2023

I still get The Absolute Sound magazine delivered for bathroom reading material and still chuckle at speakers being marketed at $750K a pair. I'd rather have a pair of L600s and keep the remaining $748K in my wallet. If I had it to begin with that is.

L600 impressions, discussion & eventually a review

Comments