"Iain Churches" wrote in message
...

"Keith G" wrote


(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?


I *am* the sodding butler......

('Recordist' atm though - excuse any typos, I'm trying to type silently!!
:-)




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")



Yep, but what put me onto him was the fabulous tune 'Sailing By' that used
to close R4 in the wee small hours, after the Shipping Forecast. A truly
magical experience hearing that late on a balmy summer's night, I can tell
you!.

I have a CD of his better known stuff:

http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Binge.JPG


(But don't let Arny know, or I'll lose my 'vinyl bigot' status...!! ;-)




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.


Good, but 'living with them' for a number of months is the only way, as you
know!



(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.



I think when I got into the horns I was surprised on many occasions to hear
stuff 'for the very first time' - instruments and even words that had never
been properly revealed before even on very familiar recordings! I'm sure
you'll notice the same thing!



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.


Yes, I have Ruarks and Tannoys here that would do some things better also -
including the afore-mentioned organ music..!!