[chadbang]

Er, sorry head-fiers for my rants concerning loudness buttons, lousy systems and general unhappiness on the high-fi front. I promise [crosses heart] to no longer go on easily inspired tirades (...maybe).

I was basically bummed out because I sold my B&W and upgraded to some Proac Tablette 2000s and felt like something went terribly wrong. I had heard that they were "lean" sounding. Well, you could have called them that or you could have said "they sucked!" Brittle midrange, excessive highs, nada bass. (although through a combination of "loudness button" subwoofer and five hours of toil I did get the sound "just right" at one point (never to be exactly duplicated again.)

Well something WAS terribly wrong [here comes the major egg on face and apology]. When I hooked up the speakers I noticed they seemed to call banana plugs. I didn't have any, so I figured just wrapping the binding posts (a tenuous affair) would make the connection well enough.

Well yesterday headed down to the used audio shops to see if there were any other speakers I could pick up if I unloaded these "miserable" Proacs. I didn't make any moves, but (almost as an afterthought) I did pick up some banana plugs. I figured what the hell, three bucks. Give it a last shot.

WHOOPS. Apparently you MUST use bananas with these speakers. As I they were second hand, I didn't get a manual with them. (and I also idiotically wrote off a nice thump that had developed when I turned on my preamp. Hmm, a sign?). Anyway, these Proacs just did a 360 degrees turn around from tinny and biting, to fat and warm sounding. Just the super smooth sound I was looking for.

What a maroon!

Sorry for the tirads.

And these speakers are NIIIIICCCE. Now I'm finally hearing the "Proac sound" and I like it. I like it, I like it.

I had no idea I had $#%^ed up with that connection! I still don't quite understand why wrapping the binding posts didn't accomplish a correct connection, but I know now something was very wrong. Why would an incorrect connection have resulted in that "thump" when I turned on the preamp?

 

[chadbang]

Here's than binding post, sorry for the lousy pic.


Actually, having seen a few reviews of the tablette on the web, with one guy calling them "really difficult mot%^&*kers to amplify - very detailed and lean." I wonder If I'm not the first to make that mistake. Because there is no way these speaker are "lean" they are very warm sounding!

 

[BoardC3]

lol dont worry we all have brain farts sometimes. atleast you got them working and your happy with the sound.

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

chadbang, there is a great line from an even greater movie that sums up what happened to you, the movie is "one flew over the cuckoos nest" and the line when applying it to yourself is "I didn't know whether to **** or wind my watch."

don't worry about it, it happens to the best of us at one time or another, with me it happens quite often and I use that line because it adds a little humor to an often un-humorous situation.

p.s. it takes a big man to admit his wrongs, and in my opinion an even bigger one to admit it on an internet forum, for what that's worth anyway!!!

 

[Mr.PD]

What model of B&W's did you have? I got to listen to a pair of Nautalus 800s a couple of weeks ago and I was blown away.

That picture......., well it just looks like you are going to be doing a biwire soon, huh?

 

[chadbang]

I had the B&W 602 S2. The 800 series is would think is a whole other beast, that's the big time (and big money)! Any you have to remember, I like a speaker (like I prefer the Senn 600s over other headphones, although some consider it "veiled") with a very laid back character. The B&Ws were a bit forward and bright to me, they reminded me a LOT of the Grado presentation, which, as you know, many people adore! The B&Ws also had amazing dynamic response (which I do miss about them). That kevlar woofer really can jump. Great dynamic response! Some of the instrumental track on Pet Sounds blew me away on the B&Ws. The Proacs don't have that same dynamic sound, but in the long run, I think my ears will be thank me for their smooth presentation.

 

[wallijonn]

Chadbang,

As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a moroon".

I don't think those are banana plugs, as banana plugs usually are about 1/4" wide and are inserted into binding posts. Them thar be high quality signal posts.

I'm glad you were able to resolve the problem so easily. And I can see why you had a "thump", you basically had an intermittent connection.

The same thing happened with my alternator. The engine light started coming on, and I said to myself, I'll be damned if I take my car in and they charge me $50 just to look at it. I poped the hood only to find a loose nut. There's no telling what mischief they could have pulled on me. Thank goodness you didn't schlep the speakers down to the store - that would've been embarrasing. ever have a bad RCA cable?

 

[kelly]

Mmmm. Banana plugs.

pla·ce·bo
n. pl. pla·ce·bos or pla·ce·boes
1.
A. A substance containing no medication and prescribed or given to reinforce a patient's expectation to get well.
B. An inactive substance or preparation used as a control in an experiment or test to determine the effectiveness of a medicinal drug.
2. Something of no intrinsic remedial value that is used to appease or reassure another.

 

[chadbang]

3c. Eliminated the short in the connect to my preamp.