"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Iain Churches" wrote


Yes indeed. This applies in particular to Readers' Digest boxed sets
(like the
40 sides of Mantovani, which sold in huge numbers!!)

Imagine - 40 sides of Mantovani!!!



I don't have to *imagine* it....

...I've *got* it....!! ;-)

Gosh:-))



(Can't beat a bit of Mantovani when you're doing the polishing wiv yer
yellow Marigolds on!! :-)

Don't you have a butler to do that?

There were stories that Decca had a set of "special" violins that
were used only on Mantovani recordings, to make the unmistakeable
"shimmering sound" !!

In fact, the sound, which made the Mantovani orchestra instantly
recognisable, and helped to make him the biggest selling artist
in the UK pre Beatles, was down to his arranger Ronald Binge
(the man who is best known for his composition "Elizabethan
Serenade")

I am hoping to be able to borrow for evaluation
a pair of Lowther Delphic (2xEX3 in each enclosure, about 170 litres)
in the New year. I am very much looking forward to it.


Right, well I look forward to hearing all about that, come the time. The
worst thing with 'Lowthers' is trying to *evaluate* them - they need using
over a period of time and on a range of material before any meaningful
conclusions can be drawn. Trust me, the 'resin clouds' become very well
defined after a while with them!!

It took me quite a long time to get to grips with them, and to appreciate
there strengths and weaknesses. As mentioned before, I was listening to
an unknown pair of speakers (in facts several sets) driven by an unknown
amp in an unknown room. Two variables too many! But still, I was pleased
by what I heard.


(It has been often said here, quite correctly, that *wow factor* is the
one thing you *don't* need with speakers, but an eventual *my goodness*
factor is definitely to be desired, IMO.... ;-)

Wow factor has never been of interest. I use recordings that I know
intimately, and so I also know how they should (can) sound.


(Btw, ignore the usual silly remarks about top and bottom octaves - they
are no more deficient in these areas that most/many other speakers....)

My personal experience is that the LF is a little weak. One would expect
the eight orchestral basses on Prokofiev Op.25 to have a little more
"grunt"
As regards the top end, I agree with you. I do not find them lacking.



The LF issue is an interesting one - the question of 'perspective' comes
into the equation. Basses in an orchestra that has been recorded well
enough to represent the scale and perspective of an 'orchestral' piece
should never, IMO, sound like the sort of bass that would keep a Chav
happy in his hatchback! I'm not of the school that all speakers should do
all things equally well - cabinet design is paramount here and I'm not
sure I'd recommend 'FR horns' to people who wanted the sort of 'in yer
face', percussive bass that will flap yer trousers!

No trouser flapping required. But realism has to be the objective. I have
heard the Prokofiev handled better by both Tannoy and B+W, but again,
I was also listening in an unfamilar room, so cannot put any shortcomings
down to the speakers alone.

Iain