Tír Na HiFi

cybot wrote:

Ivor wrote:I have a pair of rosewood Castle Pembrokes doing duty as fronts on a modest TV system. They're very civilised.

I remember them :) You're right, they are very civilised. Maybe too much so?

Yeah, out of curiosity I tried them on the hifi and it wasn't good enough at all. Perfect for living room TV system though, very pretty speakers too.

I see castle have reissued the howards in s3 guise, same lovely box and veneers, all new noisy bits...

http://www.castle.uk.com/ClassicSeries/ ... fault.aspx

I seem te recall that the Howards showed an awkward enough impedance to the amp. A bit of a killer in many ways.

jaybee wrote:I see castle have reissued the howards in s3 guise, same lovely box and veneers, all new noisy bits...

http://www.castle.uk.com/ClassicSeries/ ... fault.aspx

Didn't know that jb? I did go a hunting for reviews etc when they relocated to China with Peter Comeau at the helm. I wasn't too impressed with the reviews of the Knight series so I don't really know about the new Classic Series? I'll be keeping my eyes peeled anyway just in case :) Thanks a million for the link :)

Diapason wrote:I seem te recall that the Howards showed an awkward enough impedance to the amp. A bit of a killer in many ways.

Due to the 1/4 wave design? I never experienced any problems with the Crofts driving them over the years. I do know the sensitivity is a high 90 dB and as far as I recall they present an 8 ohm load to the amp. Of course, it doesn't stay constant and more than likely goes down to something like 3 ohms from time to time. Now you've made me nervous :)

I'd say if you haven't had any cause to be nervous up to date, you don't have any cause full stop!

Fran wrote:I'd say if you haven't had any cause to be nervous up to date, you don't have any cause full stop!

Don't worry Fran I was only pulling his leg :) Anyway I found these snippets from my own archives - just to make doubly sure ha! Take note of the second reviewer :)


Castle Howard: S1 and S2 Models:

Hi Fi News Archives:

Martin Colloms: Castle Howard S1: April '94

" Foremost we have the combination of an above average 90dB/watt sensitivity and a notably amplifier tolerant load impedance, typically 11 ohms but with one minimum value of 7 ohms. The impedance graph indicated that the quarter wave internal design was reflected very little in terms of load variation and the evidence certainly showed bass reflex loading at low frequencies; the system is tuned to 40 Hz with the output effective to at least 33 Hz. A minimum amplifier power of 15W was indicated while 2x100 W could be tolerated without complaint."



May 1996: Castle Howard S2:

Peter Comeau: S2

"The impedance plot gives a true 8 ohm load with the reflex loading of the pipe just showing at 40Hz, and there are no sharp corners to trace, indicating an easy amplifier drive"

I obviously completely mis-remembered that, so. Or Joe Lanigan lied to me!!

Diapason wrote:I obviously completely mis-remembered that, so. Or Joe Lanigan lied to me!!

Ah Joe :) Wonder what he's doing now? Is he still with Richer Sounds?

joe had this really neat trick...

david copperfield style, without saying more than a few words and without moving his hands he could empty your wallet....