Apogee Duetta Signature Rebuild

[User211]

Bernard, no they are not related to Graz's new speaker output. They are chiefly the work of the UK restorer, who was trained by Graz. With input from me, of course!

The old pair will either go back to the restorer part-ex, or I'll sell them.

Re the "glad I'm still posting here" comment you didn't think I'd leave you alone forever here in cyberville did you?:ROFL:

BTW: Just showed the Porsche to the wife. Response: "what do you want you new speakers to be in sh*t brown for?". Ahem!:ROFL:

 

[Bernard]

Re the "glad I'm still posting here" comment you didn't think I'd leave you alone forever here in cyberville did you?:ROFL:

Alone? No! There's always Mariah's fan club. In any case, you are too kind, sir!

BTW: Just showed the Porsche to the wife. Response: "what do you want you new speakers to be in sh*t brown for?". Ahem!:ROFL:

I thought you Brits were more restrained, and would refer to said colour as that of human waste.

I assume you will take her remark into consideration when deciding. BTW I was looking at the CLX on the ML site, and found the best-looking colour to be Aniline Red.

 

[Gordon Gray]

Hi Justin,

Glad you are walking in places where no audio types have chosen to go.

You are obviously very excited and I wish you the best on the "new and improved" version.

FWIW, given my experiences with vibration attenuation and resultant sonic improvements, I'd try the new external bracing system on your current Apps before proceeding further.

Best,

Gordon

 

[Bernard]

Justin, I don't know if you've already covered this in the thread (been a long time since I read it), but rake angle is a factor with ML's, so I was wondering if you've played with that.

 

[User211]

Oh I don't know Gordon, people have been modifying Apogees for years. The point is you can go way beyond the commercial design without incurring too much cost. The bits simply are not that expensive, yet due to the overheads and profit margins incurred by large companies, this sort of construction usually only makes it into unaffordable or very high priced designs.

There is of course a risk that the reason I like them so much is partially due to some added resonance, but I doubt that. As you know from my reports on these pages I like many others have heard some of the world's finest kit. I still rate these speakers as "up there". When a pair showed up at RMAF a few years ago, they still made 4th best speaker of the show in someone's rankings.

I have commisioned Jon to build these speakers. The results are of course uncertain, but I believe the philosophy is sound. Therefore, there is little point in trying the stands on my existing pair. For my money they'll better the pair I have by an appreciable margin. It's a gamble... but life would be pretty boring if you never took the slightest of risks, and I reckon the risk is small and the potential rewards sufficient enough to warrant the expense.

 

[User211]

Yes Bernard - on the pair I have it is possible to alter the rake angle by adjusting the spikes. Ideal according to the manual is 2.5 degrees. Mine are set at that angle. The maths is flookily cool - an plumb bob dropped from the top of the speaker should be 2.5 inches from the base to give a 2.5 degree tilt There's a marginal change in sound when set to say, 1 degree - a little brighter perhaps, but 2.5 seems ideal.

Brits a little restrained? The wife says it isn't all like Pride and Prejudice over here these days Besides, someone else has that champagne type colour, and who else is going to want sh*t brown? It will surely remain original.

I prefer to think of it as coffee bronze, of course, which the cultured man within me has decided it undoubtedly is.

 

[timm]

This is awesome Justin! Congrats on the new venture. Some of this sounds similar to what they are doing to some of the maggies over in their forum on audioasylum. The external adjustable crossover and the mye stands come to mind. What will b interesting is the acrylic back. I assume it is open for the rear wave but I bet that does something significant to the sonic signature by itself.
Will the adjustable crossover be preset or based on user input? Any bi-amp capabilities here.
Awesome news. Just when I thought everyone was settling and you are pushing the envelope again. Congrats Tim

 

[Bernard]

Justin, I take it you have a dedicated room, so your wife does not have to live with, um, "coffee bronze".

BTW your system page/picture is in serious need of updating.

 

[zaphod]

do them hot pink like Gilbert had for his custom CLS

does anyone else even remember the hot pink CLS?

 

[MiTT]

do them hot pink like Gilbert had for his custom CLS

does anyone else even remember the hot pink CLS?

I do - from the old site... they were fantastic!

 

[User211]

Yo Tim - Graz is the one who has done extreme things with the Synergy and Definitive speakers. Synergy costs more than I am prepared to pay, unfortunately. These should be good, though.

The x-over will simply be a two step affair. Flat or a mild roll-off over 14KHz. As to amp options I'm sticking with my 211s. Have tried a few more amps than I've talked about here and I still love them. Just want to make what I have got as good as possible - that's the goal, really.

Back covers are open and will look like this. If you save the pic and open & zoom in on it you will see the engraving. The hole is for the umbilical.

 

[User211]

Due to compression all you see is some blurred text! Soz.

Anyway Bernard your assertion is correct and I believe this thread is keeping track of my system well enough!

 

[Gordon Gray]

The 211 tube amps driving the speaker design?

 

[Brad225]

Sounds a bit one dimensional don't you think Gordon.

 

[User211]

They won't notice the difference, Gordon. In theory. But then everything works - in theory.

Seriously - they should be fine. They'll see close on exactly the same load.

 

[Ps68]

Hello Justin, What finish are you thinking of? (Poo colour aside;-)) ) Material wise?

 

[Ps68]

Actually, I really like that Porsche colour!

 

[User211]

Hello Justin, What finish are you thinking of? (Poo colour aside;-)) ) Material wise?

Not sure what you mean, Paul. The front covers are wood sprayed by a car paint shop. They're then waxed just like your car is.

The 2013 911 4S Porsche colour is anthracite brown. But we may use macadamia which you can see if you Google it on a Porsche.

If you know the paint code, you can have the colour.

 

[Gordon Gray]

Justin,

Very excited for you. Must be great to design and own one of a kind.

What's the ETA of the new kids?

Gordon

 

[Ps68]

That's it then Justin, I guess solvent free auto lacquer onto wood. It's just that as I saw the bronze-ish colour I thought of the possibility of you using one of the liquid metal finishes available from specialist finishers, a couple of which are near you.. They look like solid bronze, pewter or whatever mix you choose.. Just a thought!