Focal Scalas or Diablos with subs?

I'm thinking  granite base plinth sitting on isolation spikes / sub on spikes sitting on base plinth / three or four solid uprights / matching grainte top plinth / Diablos sitting on top plinths with isolation spikes.

I want them to as much as possible blend in with the rest of my rack / be solid & heavy / for the overall height to be the same as the Diablos on stands / to isolate the subs from the Diablos to minimise any distortion cause by vibration.

I'm happy to spend some money on them to achieve the look & function that I'm after.

Sounds like a good job to me.

damn, 2.5k for a sub! Mission accomplished.  >)

Two Fathom F112s are enough to trigger an earthquake! 

Here are some interesting reviews, especially of the Scalas: http://www.audiodrom.cz/en-version.html#interconnects  

There is also a comprehensive Power Cable review called  "Power Up"

Times 2, bit silly isn't it!! Consider it a Christmas present to my audio enablers! 

I do remember over on the DS thread you said "I don't think you can ever have enough bottom end". We'll soon find out

Now comes the tricky part, setting them up so the integrate as well as possible. I found this article which goes into a bit of depth: 

http://www.soundoctor.com/whitepapers/subs.htm

I'm not going to have much/any flexibility as to where I can place them because of room & WAF reasons.

Plan to try one of these: http://www.behringer.com/ES/Products/CX3400.aspx

It will need some extras leads & yes there are a few questions about placing another item in the pathway, but its fun to experiment.

Bryston make a much more expensive one ( http://www.bryston.com/products/other/10B-SUB.html ) but if I was going to go there I might as well have bought the Scalas. If the cheaper Behringer makes a significant difference & I can find the Bryston at a good price second hand we'll see. They seem to pop up on eBay on the states, just have to find out what the cost is to have the voltage changed from 110 to 240.

At the moment I'm putting together a small/cheap room analysing kit (same as my Dad used). So this should help to actually give some sort of measurement when changing various aspects, rather than solely relying on my ears. Will keep you posted.

Hi mate.

happy New Year!

I picked up the second F112 yesterday & unpacked it but haven't plugged it in yet. It certainly is bigger than the F110!

We're still house sitting but are heading home today. So there will be some re-arranging of system happening over the next day or so.

As far as positioning goes at this stage I have decided to alter my current rack so that both subs will be built into the rack (placed on the ground) beneath the centre speaker. They will be around 500mm inside of each Diablo. I felt that this was the best compromise in terms of aethetics & keeping the subs away from corners.

Managed to pick up a second hand Bryston 10B-sub active crossover through the classifieds on Audiogon. Now just have to arrange for the voltage conversion & some extra XLR leads when it arrives.

Correctly set up, it will be interesting to see how close you think it might get to the Scalas.....80-85% would be exceptional!

The only issue with attempting to make some sort of quantifiable judgement like that will be I MUST NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GO TO THAT SHOP & LISTEN TO THE SCALAS AGAIN. So it will be based on some inflated memory in this flawed thing I call a brain!

Obviously hard to say until everything is bedded down & dialed in but I'd tend to think that the system will have more bottom end than the Scalas but less midrange. Warmer but not as tight.

Did a quick set-up of the f112, moved the f110 around & pop it stops working again. Sigh, I was really hoping that 2012 was the year of damm intermitant electrical faults, but it would appear that they might be slipping into 2013 already. Fingers crossed, touch wood etc.

& some EDITED fool crashed in to the back of my car on the way home yesterday morning, while I'm sitting stationary at a set of traffic lights no less!!!

PS: check out these custom granite plinths I found on eBay in the UK. Not the cheapest & I'd say to heavy to ship over here, but not bad.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/rsacoustics/m.html?item=170960328389&pt=UK_Sou...

This is the sort of thing I use: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-QUALITY-Granite-Chopping-board-Work-Top-S...

You can find them in most big Supermarkets.

Finally got my crossover back from the repair guy, apparently it had a loose connection. At least he didn't charge me.

So have it all set up & must say it is impressive

The Diablos seem to respond well having 80hz and below removed. Could be my mind but they seem to enjoy being able to focus on what they are good at, mids/highs. They just seem to have more sparkle to them?

The filters on the subs are set at 80Hz / 12dB slope & this is reflected on the cross over, so far this seems to work well. Bass is well controlled & is almost seamless. I've still got some fiddling to do with getting the phase right & level matching which should improve integration further.

Not sure if anyone saw my post over on Macs thread about the soon to be realesed JL Audio crossover? Looks interesting, should be out in the next month or so.

Good, glad you're getting there Neuphonix.

On the subject of Focal... It won't be for a good while, but do like to plan ahead... Since acquiring the Accuphase, I have heard Focal are supposed to be an even better match than Harbeth.

Now as you already know about my acoustically challenged room, but to remind, it's approx 13ft long and 7.6ft wide... would you have any idea which model would be the best fit? are they all front or rear ported?

Mac

hi Mac,

Were you thinking of floorstanders or stand mounts? I guess for a room that size stand mounts would be the way to go?

When I was in the process of buying my Diablos I initially went in to look at the Electra 1008Be stand mounts I had read good things. Unfortunately they were out of the shop at the time so I never got the chance to hear them. They have the Berylium tweeter like the Diablos, metal tweeters might not be everyone's cup of tea but I'd say that this one would be one of the best available. I can't find anything specific, but the picture on the Focal website seems to show that they are rear ported so might not be perfect for your room.

Haven't heard the Chorus range, but they are all front ported so might work a little better in a corner.

You'd have to wonder if either would give you the same bass as your Harbeths? Perhaps more detail though?