RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers

Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Posted by Bill Way (A) on October 6, 2015 at 10:06:02

In Reply to: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers posted by Ross on October 5, 2015 at 14:58:40:

I always enjoy someone else taking a critical look at these old things.

Transient response/timing and treble frequency response are somewhat intertwined, so separating the two is always problematic. Yes, the top rolls off quite a bit, and I use the minimum feedback setting on the amplifiers to bring out the top end and relax control on transients a bit. Lowering the feedback gives something of a less refined sound, and that helps.

Midrange is a little recessed, depending on setup. I find the mids best when the woofers are at ear-level. Yes, the sound is somewhat distant, especially at low SPL; it is much better at a normal, or slightly above normal level.

Crossover updates/mods: definitely worth doing. Like some other owners, I moved the crossover PCBs to the outside after replacing some caps with beer-can-sized ones. Also modded them for bi-wiring. I hard-wired the speaker wires (anticable) to the PCBs. Bi-wiring made a pretty big difference in low-level detail and harmonics, as John Bau predicted. My bi-wire pairs are kept several inches apart for almost all of their run, FYI for those interested in Vandersteen's theory on how bi-wiring works.

I've tried mine without the grills, and without the grills but with the dampening/filler material on. Terrible both ways - lots of glare and honky mids. This may have to do with mine being much too close to the ceiling and walls, which already makes them a little honky. All is compromise.

Imaging and the "disappearing act" only fair with my setup, but can be astonishing when on rigid stands away from all walls.

Power needed for mine is very low, as they are fed a signal with an 80 Hz 6 dB/octave high pass, to help integrate them with a sub. I have Manley 120s running in triode, 60 watts/channel. An Advent receiver drove them quite loud, though its amp section was pretty awful.

Maybe thanks to their gentle top end, they can sound really good with mid-fi gear. My sister-in-law has a pair driven by some cheap Onkyo receiver, and they sound ridiculously good.

Pretty amazing for a cheap speaker from many years ago.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - Ross 14:58:40 10/5/15 (14)

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers / Followup #2 - Ross 13:33:13 03/5/16 (0)

Soundstage & Imaging of Spica TC-50 Speakers - jeromelang 22:34:46 10/14/15 (0)

Known for having fragile drivers - genungo 07:11:56 10/11/15 (0)

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - Duster 16:27:29 10/10/15 (2)

Very cool! (nt) - Crazy Dave 14:34:40 10/13/15 (1)

RE: Very cool! (nt) - Duster 16:33:51 10/13/15 (0)

available: Spica TC-50 Speakers - hifitommy 21:16:47 10/9/15 (0)

available: Spica TC-50 Speakers - hifitommy 16:07:56 10/9/15 (0)

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - Bob_C 10:33:04 10/6/15 (0)

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - Bill Way 10/6/1510:06:02 10/6/15 (0)

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - seikosha 05:56:02 10/6/15 (0)

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - mondial 00:09:55 10/6/15 (0)

This might help...... - Winston Smith 23:47:16 10/5/15 (0)

I think the Triangles exaggerate transients, because the Spicas are as good as it gets - Timbo in Oz 15:37:09 10/5/15 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: REVIEW: Spica TC-50 Speakers - Bill Way 10/6/1510:06:02 10/6/15 (0)

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