Apogee "Studio Grand" Loudspeakers

[GSelken]

I recently auditioned and ultimately purchased a pair of Apogee
"Studio Grand" loudspeakers which will replace the IRS "Betas" in the
larger of two listening rooms. These relatively new speakers from Apogee
might be described as an improved "Duetta" panel mounted atop a dynamic
cone subwoofer.
I had neither seen nor heard Apogees in the past; but after reading a
very enthusiastic review by Tony Cordesman (who has used his Apogee's
"Divas" previously as a reference) in "Audio" magazine, and after hearing
very positive comments about Apogees over many years, I decided to finally
check 'em out.
I've always enjoyed the soundstage, coherence, instument attack, and
palpable pressence presented by panel dipoles; but I've yet to hear a
full-range panel which had both the frequency extension and dynamic range
suitable for all music genres. At the same time, I'd yet to find a hybrid
which did not somehow unacceptably compromise a panel's "raison d'etre."
At the same time I recognize that dynamic monopoles can often present a
more accurate portrayal of recorded microphonics, overall dynamic levels,
frequency extremes, and certain sonic details often confused by a dipole's
rear-wave reflections. My B&W 801s (used in an A/V room and second
listening room) are an excellent example of a good overall dynamic
loudspeaker design, and serve as a constant reminder of their strengths
(as well as the potential strengths of surround sound.)
To the point: I think these new "Studio Grands" are a very successful
hybrid. They are natural sounding, lyrics and intrumental lines are clear
and articulate, dynamic woofer integration is seemless and smooth
(extending sub 20 Hz), dynamics are reproduced convincingly without the
need to resort to loud volume levels (although they may be played quite
loudly without strain), and the timbre, attack, and stage all seem limited
only by the quality of the recording. I'm really pleased!
I'd love to hear comments, questions, etc. from Apogee owners or
anyone at all. Except for a very brief flirt with Internet, I'm new to
this forum and would enjoy getting some interaction here or via EMAIL on
AOL or CIS (my CIS id# is 71361,2112). Gary
GSe...@AOL.com

[david (d.s.y.) wong]

I own a pair of Apogee Duetta Signature speakers and I would like
to exchange some ideas and thoughts on Apogee speakers. I have been
watching for discussions on Apogee speakers in r.a.h-e. If anyone
is interested in sharing experiences with Apogee speakers, in
particular the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers, I would be
happy to exchange information in r.a.h-e or through email.

There are many aspects which can be discussed. Some broad topics
that come to mind are:

- Room placement of the Apogee speakers.

- Room acoustics factors.

- How Apogee speakers compare to other panel speakers?
e.g. Magnepans and Martin Logans

- How ribbon speakers compare to electrostatic speakers?
e.g. Martin Logans

- How ribbon speakers compare to box speakers?

- Full-range ribbons versus hybrids involving box (sub)woofer?

- Optimal matching of interconnects and speaker cables.

If anyone would like to discuss via email, please let me know and
I will write on various topics. If anyone is interested, please share
any of your audio experiences with Apogee speakers. Comments on the
broad topics above as well as any specific topics would be appreciated.

The July/94 issue of Audio contains a review on the Studio Grand.

I understand Stereophile will be coming out with a review in
some upcoming issue.

David Wong Email: wo...@bnr.ca

[Mitchell Erblich]

My prejudice of the Apogee speakers and ribbon speaker in general is the
weakness of their bottom 2 octaves (20 - 40Hz, 40-80 Hz) bass. I know of
very few speakers that can produce sound in this frequency range and
lower accurately and with minimal distortion. All of them have some type
of feedback mechanism (servo controller on a voice coil) and have extremely
large current capacity as an included amplifier.

Any speaker that doesn't have the above is either not reproducing the freq
range or generating large amounts of distortion.

My current speakers which are discontinued have a new modification which adds
to the distortion-less sound in this frequency range. There are multiple
servo controllers per channel, so as to control each woofer independently. This
new expensive modification with 1.2Kw per subwoofer tower allows me to generate
16 Hz frequencies with sufficient volume and overhead as make me believe that
anything that doesn't have this technology, is lacking.

BTW, the new Genesis speaker line has a speaker with supposely 5 servo's per
channel. I am planning to attend the HIFI show in LA in late April to see and hear
these speakers. They also have special extremely low mass tweeter/midrange
drivers that allow them to produce huge dynamic range with great precision. I
think there is a write-up of them is the current Stereophile magazine.

Mitchell Erblich : merb...@ossi.com

[David Grubbs]

david (d.s.y.) wong (wo...@bnr.ca) wrote:

: I own a pair of Apogee Duetta Signature speakers and I would like

: to exchange some ideas and thoughts on Apogee speakers. I have been
: watching for discussions on Apogee speakers in r.a.h-e. If anyone
: is interested in sharing experiences with Apogee speakers, in
: particular the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers, I would be
: happy to exchange information in r.a.h-e or through email.

I own a pair of Apogee Sintillas, am VERY inpressed w/ all Apogee
"Grand series" speakers, however I think my Sintillas sound great
as well, eith only a few problems which are fairly major. 1) I like
to listen to music loud w/ the Sintillas 2 of the 4 tweeters are mounted
in fornt of the misrange driver withe the other 2 mounted behind. The prob.
is with the tensioning of the drivers the tweeters can "slap" into the
midrange at moderate volumes on some program material causing a audiable
noise similar to droping a sheet of foil on the floor. At LOUD volumes
the tweeters can turn 90 degrees and get stuck on the sides of the mids
sometimes causing a direct short and shutting off my Krell KSA200. I know
that 1 ohm is not very far from a direct short anyway (for those who dont
know Sintillas have a nomial imp. of 1 Ohm) but what to do? I have since
learned that air from the bass panels also cause the tweeters the flap a
bit, I am curios to know if the Diavs have this same problem sinc their
tweeters and mids are more taught and kept seperate? I have learned
to keep the volume at a reasonable level or listen to my surrond sound
system if I want to play the living shit out of some music. BYW even
tough I complain about the dynamics of the Apogee Sintilla I have never
a speaker as beatufil as an Apogee, Apogee's i think are no less than
absolutely beatufil!
post responsesss, comments, or questions if you like!
dmg -oo