Re: Deciding between NRT and RAAL Towers -- Potential upgrade from 2EX for music/movi
Originally Posted by
davef
Sorry choir, but I also do not agree with this. There are very noticeable differences between the 2 tower versions (NrT dome or RAAL). RAAL's are more detailed but more relaxed sounding, the NrT has more energy with a more forward presentation, it attracts more attention to the highs (more "zing") if that is what is preferred...
After living with the S1-NrT's for five years, I was able to bring the S2's in the house for a trial period. To my ears, what Dave states above is what I clearly discerned as the main differences in the two Sierra's! However, due to a very small listening room (90sf), I kept the NrT's. To me, their dispersion characteristics were easier for soundstage placement in my challenging music room.
Two years after the 2EX appeared, I ventured into their well tested waters. Any issues I had of sonic transducer blends or vertical dispersion characteristics (from the S2's RAAL Tweeters in my listening environment) Completely Dissolved Away...WOW!! I again compared my venerable S1 NrT's to the new S-2EX...NO CONTEST...I quickly sold the NrT's!!!
IMO, vocals, instrumentals, upper percussion cymbals and high frequency strings should never be presented Out into your room as they are never recorded that way in a live performance! Think of your main speakers as the recording mikes. A few close miked vocals might have the performer dead center, but toward the back of your L/R speaker plane! The entire soundstage and musician space should be presented in the recorded venue ambiance behind your speaker sound system!! The high frequency RAAL Ribbon products preserve this 3D deep holographic soundstage presentation through their speed, recovery and wide horizontal dispersion. Additionally, the wonderful transition and seamless blend of the EX mid/woofer with the RAAL tweeter creates a single point source that opens up this huge recorded soundstage and accurately places all musicians and singers in their proper spaces and time! Setup and balanced room acoustics also has a large bearing on this extensive soundstage potential, but certainly the RAAL + 2EX woofer/mid are up to the task! Although I never heard them, my assumption would be similar differences between the NrT and RAAL Towers...up front and "in-your-face" (NrT's), or the laid-back "in a properly placed and recorded soundstage" (RAAL's)!
Of course in my library, not all recordings and genre of music fit into this "live" soundstage illusion...much depends on that venue (recording hall or studio), miking techniques and the sound engineers recorded goals, formats and experiences.
Attached I've included a 2D graphical drawing that visually displays what I'm trying to convey and what I Hear in my well balanced, synergistic 2.1 reproduction playback music room!! Now, time for my 5th cup of coffee, or maybe I'll just go and run a 5K race!
Ted
Sierra RAAL V2 Towers, Axiom EP 500 Sub, Morrow SP7 Grand Reference Speaker Cables, Phillips CD880 XLR Balanced Variable Line Output to Orchard Audio Strakrimson 375w/per ch Stereo Ultra GaNFET Amp..... (Dedicated 2.1 Acoustical Music Listening Room)!