Tír Na HiFi

Hi All,

New to this forum, based in Dublin and hoping someone may be able to help me out.

Im looking to purchase some Duevel Planets and as they have no dealer here easiest option is to buy them direct. However, while I love the idea of Omni Directional I would also like to listen to them before shelling out. So my question is does any one have a pair? And if so could I have a listen? I'll bring biscuits.

I read the scam alert so understand you may be reluctant with new members happy to answer 20 questions :-)

Thanks

Redmond

Haha, welcome Redmond. If you're a shill then at the very least you're creative!

Anyway, I have no experience with omnis personally, but personally I'd be very concerned about room issues. I have a strong suspicion they need space and lots of it if you don't want to get caught with all kinds of standing-wave issues, etc. Now I'm a bit biased because I have the worst room on the planet, but like you say, I'm not sure I'd be buying them without a really good dem first.

Sorry I can't help further, best of luck with the search.

I don't know anyone here with them - but they do look interesting alright. Would it be worth a cheap flight somewhere to hear them in a showroom? I know its not the same as hearing them in your own room, but it'd give you an idea at least?

Welcome on board and look forward to meeting you sometime...


fran

thanks for the quick replies guys -

on the room - think I'l be OK but good point - however they are supposed to be quite forgiving with regard to placement.

on the flight - yep that's my initial plan, but even in the UK there are not a huge amount of dealers and they are in awkward places.

will have a think on it.

and looking forward to throwing around some ideas with you guys.

I suppose by way of an introduction I should tell you all whats in the locker

my main system is

Rega Planar 2 - original one with the RB200 Arm - Shure M97x Cart and Stylus
Shanling CD-S100
MF X- Pre
MF X-50s
MF X-PSU
MF X-Tone
MF X- LP
B&W DM602s

most of the time Im listing to Vinyl on this. the shanling I find disappointing - I had a Arcam Alpha 7 before this and I think it was better.

I also have a second system - A&R A60 and T21 going to a pair of Scandyna Blueroom speakers. - Have a pair of rogers studio 3s for this system but they need to be repaired. Also have PC plugged into this system accessed via a tablet - but Im having some issues with the power supply on that at the moment.

as you can tell - latest and greatest I am not.

R

Those Rogers seem to be a smart vintage buy - they don't command the premium that the LS5/3a ask for, but there's good stuff on the sonics all over the web.

Have you listened to lots and lots of speakers?



Fran

not recently I have not - whats really driving me to consider the planets in the Omnidirectional aspect of them. Im not planning on using the system to sit in one location dedicated listening sweet spot. I like the flexibility that the planets offer, and the fact they are unusual, im interesting in hearing how they perform. I like to move around when listening. From what I have read they are surprising when listened to. My main concern is I listen to a wide variety of music and they may struggle with electronic and rock.

if I were going with standard boxes that would open a Pandoras box (no pun intended), and Im not willing to torture myself as I have done before. - I have had a selection of Monitor Audios and B&Ws - admittedly all several years ago. - that said, always been tempted by some 800s

as for the studio 3 - they do sound pretty good, obviously not LS3s but nowhere near the money - and if your just into bling - would take someone knowing what they are looking for to tell the difference - just by looking at them (from the front)

R

I suppose my one worry about the moving around bit is how do they soundstage? With every speaker there is a sweet spot - its bigger with some than others, but nonetheless there's always a spot where it all comes together. So many things depend on how your room is set up so its hard to offer meaningful advice. One thing I have noticed though is that planar speakers (quad electrostatics) do tend to sound really superb around the rest of the house - a piano recording really sounds like someone is playing a real piano in the next room. Its just that when you then plonk your ass down into the (tiny) sweet spot they image so incredibly well that's what we all focus on.


Fran

so I bit the bullet and went in blind - was it a good idea...?

well so far so good - but they are different. being used to sitting in one spot and have the music delivered to you its really odd to hear it coming from all directions, and sounding good at the same time. I've not listened long enough to give a proper opinion - but I definitely don't hate them, and may end up loving them. Will take a couple of weeks and most of my music to tell I think. Im sure Ill be repositioning several times too. Difficult to describe how they sound using the vernacular that you would normally ascribe to speakers.

for anyone that is interested - here is a pretty good review (I've read all I could find)

http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/duevel_planets_e.html



R

Congrats on the purchase and well you may wear....