K
karma
Guest
HI All,
Here is a question for you long-time electrostatic speaker owners. Do the speakers ever quit changing? I have noticed that even after 15 or more years, my CLS IIA speakers continue to change and continue to get better. At this stage of use, the changes are small, subtle, and not noticeable on a daily or even monthly basis. But periodically, I notice the speakers have changed once again, always for the better.
I bought my CLS II’s (later upgraded to the A’s) when they first hit the market. I’m still using the original panels and they sound glorious. My original expectations of the speakers were unrealistic as time has proven. I foolishly thought that once the initial break-in period was past (stated as 40 hours) the speakers would be stable and unchanging. I was wrong. Additionally, I think 40 hours is not realistic and should be stated to be about 100 hours. Even after 100 hours, the speakers continued to change.
I have no long term experience with other ML speakers or other brands of electrostatic speakers. This continuous changing of the panels may apply to all stats, not just CLSII’s.
I’m trying to determine the following:
1. Have other CLS owners noticed the long term changes I have?
2. Have owners of other ML models noticed this effect?
3. Have owners of other brands of electrostatic speakers noticed this effect?
Let me give you a little background that is applicable to the question. After the first two years of CLS ownership, my system (see my signature) has been stable with the exceptions of a new cartridge once in a while and new tube sets. I have fully replaced the tubes in my power amp three times and my preamp tubes twice during my CLS ownership. As you tube amp folks know, each tube set change results in a new sound until the new tubes fully break-in. Even then, the amp may not sound exactly the same as it did with the old tube set. Then there is the inevitable decline in the sound as the tubes lapse into old age. Such is the nature of tubes.
The point is this. From an equipment view, my system has been essentially identical over the CLS years. But, sonically it has not been completely stable due to the tubes. This is not an ideal situation when I try to make the case that the panels change continuously. In other words, what exactly IS changing? I tend to dismiss the possible changes in the tube equipment because they have always settled out to a constant or at least very close. Over time, I have determined that the long term changes I am writing about are due to the CLS’s and not the amplification. Adding strength to my proposition is the basic stability of the system and the fundamental stability of the Audio Research designs.
So, what are your experiences? If you don’t have many years of listening to the same speakers under very stable system conditions, you may not be able to confirm or deny my proposition. No matter. I still want to hear your views. But do try to qualify your opinion with a consideration of the stability of your system. I believe trying to determine subtle speaker changes when the system is constantly changing would be difficult if not impossible.
Thanks, Sparky
Here is a question for you long-time electrostatic speaker owners. Do the speakers ever quit changing? I have noticed that even after 15 or more years, my CLS IIA speakers continue to change and continue to get better. At this stage of use, the changes are small, subtle, and not noticeable on a daily or even monthly basis. But periodically, I notice the speakers have changed once again, always for the better.
I bought my CLS II’s (later upgraded to the A’s) when they first hit the market. I’m still using the original panels and they sound glorious. My original expectations of the speakers were unrealistic as time has proven. I foolishly thought that once the initial break-in period was past (stated as 40 hours) the speakers would be stable and unchanging. I was wrong. Additionally, I think 40 hours is not realistic and should be stated to be about 100 hours. Even after 100 hours, the speakers continued to change.
I have no long term experience with other ML speakers or other brands of electrostatic speakers. This continuous changing of the panels may apply to all stats, not just CLSII’s.
I’m trying to determine the following:
1. Have other CLS owners noticed the long term changes I have?
2. Have owners of other ML models noticed this effect?
3. Have owners of other brands of electrostatic speakers noticed this effect?
Let me give you a little background that is applicable to the question. After the first two years of CLS ownership, my system (see my signature) has been stable with the exceptions of a new cartridge once in a while and new tube sets. I have fully replaced the tubes in my power amp three times and my preamp tubes twice during my CLS ownership. As you tube amp folks know, each tube set change results in a new sound until the new tubes fully break-in. Even then, the amp may not sound exactly the same as it did with the old tube set. Then there is the inevitable decline in the sound as the tubes lapse into old age. Such is the nature of tubes.
The point is this. From an equipment view, my system has been essentially identical over the CLS years. But, sonically it has not been completely stable due to the tubes. This is not an ideal situation when I try to make the case that the panels change continuously. In other words, what exactly IS changing? I tend to dismiss the possible changes in the tube equipment because they have always settled out to a constant or at least very close. Over time, I have determined that the long term changes I am writing about are due to the CLS’s and not the amplification. Adding strength to my proposition is the basic stability of the system and the fundamental stability of the Audio Research designs.
So, what are your experiences? If you don’t have many years of listening to the same speakers under very stable system conditions, you may not be able to confirm or deny my proposition. No matter. I still want to hear your views. But do try to qualify your opinion with a consideration of the stability of your system. I believe trying to determine subtle speaker changes when the system is constantly changing would be difficult if not impossible.
Thanks, Sparky