From: fry@chilli.reo.dec.com (Brent Fry [ISVG Europe])
Subject: Re: Celestion SL6S port recommended
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Digital European ISV Group, Reading, UK
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 13:59:15 GMT

In article <199209121252.AA19141@world.std.com> DPierce@world.std.com writes:


   Brent Fry write at length...
   >
   >I have owned Celestion SL6S speakers for some 6 years now.  Never liked
   >the sound, and especially agree with comments many have made that they
   >are dull, and lack bass extension.  Aluminum tweeter and about 8"
   >mid-bass unit, two way design, British stuff.
   >

[... your own very lengthy remarks omitted cause I'm not the one
     to address them properly...]

I am not in the least offended by your remarks, since I don't pretend
to be an audio engineer.  I should go on record that I didn't mean to
recommend Joe Average should start to fiddle with his speakers in a
totally random manner, as it is a very difficult thing to get right (I
know!), which is the gist of your and others' postings.  Take these
warnings seriously, readers.

I would just say that you are rather unnecessarily hard on my claims,
but at the same time I appreciate the concerns you have raised.

Despite claims of the "measurement freaks" in this group (I am not
singling you out in any way; no flames please), I would re-iterate the
view that the final test is the human ear.  I don't want to go into
any defense of this position, so blast away !!!  I won't fight back.
If you think I have a wooden ear, well, fine.  Maybe my tastes are
"strange"; we'll never know.

By saying the final test is the ear (a good ear), this is not to say
that sound engineering principles are out the window.  Absolutely not!
But, again, the acid test is the ear.

So, I do not recommend anybody fiddle with their speakers unless they
are careful and willing to take the _risk_ of ruining them.  One guy
mailed me and said basically, "I'd be interested to know whether you
could ever sell them."  Well, I don't really care.  The pleasure I get
while I own them [and my entire system] over a very long period of
time is all I am interested in, not commercial re-sale potential.  
[ I would hope that a potential buyer would judge with his ears, and
not really care much whether a system had been tweaker, but then again,
people in general have no idea what they're listening for ! ]

The Celestion drivers and cabinet construction are good basic material
to work with, but in my opinion the SL6S just didn't live up to the
"legendary" reputation I was led to believe they had rightly achieved,
at least in Britain.  In this country, there's the legendary duel
between Quad and Linn advocates.  Quad are the measurement guys,
and Linn more the "trust your ears" freaks in the final analysis.
I'm in the Linn camp, if I have to choose sides.

There is one thing, though.  The radial surround cracking problem was
real while the box was sealed, and I don't understand why it's been
completely eliminated with porting, given your statements that it
shouldn't make any difference?  I haven't changed my volume levels at
all; if anything, I've reduced them now that things are "right".
Couldn't you possibly be wrong on this one point?  Would you say
Celestion just improved their surround materials in the meantime, and
completely discount my observation?  Visual inspection reveals no
difference in driver construction, but then who am I to say?  I
couldn't prove there's no difference...

Thanks to _all_ of you for your comments.  But, hey, don't blast me
out of the water.  Gently, gently, please.  I _like_ this NewsGroup !!!
I withdraw from this thread, but will be reading any follow-ups.

   |                Dick Pierce                |
   |    Loudspeaker and Software Consulting    |
   | 17 Sartelle Street   Pepperell, MA  01463 |
   |       (508) 433-9183 (Voice and FAX)      |


--
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