Ratamahatta

I was thinking about this one, I don't want to spend a bunch on it. http://www.amazon.com/Capacitor-Capacitance-Meter-Tester-20mf--200pf/dp/B007MHBCFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364147601&sr=8-1&keywords=Capacitance+Capacitor+Meter

Thanks, Yeah a little bit, the Watkins dual VC with different impedance woofer with 1100uf and 1400uf caps soak up a bunch. I Am powering them with a Rotel 990BX, should be 320 rms into a 4 ohm load. I am going to get a cap tester but know after 35 years these would probably benefit on a cap and resistor upgrade.

I took a much needed break from audio but after a hiatus I am back with some Infinity Quantum line source speakers. There is a high end audio shop nearby in Ft Collins CO. I went there just to look but when I saw these I was interested and after I listened I knew I had to have them. They are in excellent condition, and all the drivers work, The shop owner re foamed the Watkins woofers and cleaned them up, they sound excellent but I know replacing the old caps and resistors will help them sound even better. I also listened to some Vandersteen model 7 speakers truly outstanding but to rich for my blood. Anyone in the northern CO area should check them out http://www.audioalternative.com/ . I plan on either using Dayton 1% or Clarity cap PX on these and have to use 25w resistors from Madisound. Anyone have any experience with these? So far I am really impressed with these the vocals seem to cut right through your ears and play directly to your brain, everything sounds so natural.

I thought it was bad for the ribbons to get dusty.

also the link was for some replacement foam for your carvers

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carver-AL-III-Replacement-Acoustic-Foam-NEW-2-pieces-/390250779267?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5adcc25283 Trust me your Carvers sound better than either of those two, If those are SDA 1A's I would pass, those are not very desirable in the SDA world. I had the Kappa 8.1's and was impressed with the clarity.

I have lass than $2000 in my main rig with the AL 3+, rebuilt M 1.5t and homemade 18" sub and some of my friends spend that much on IC's and speaker wire.

thank you, I have decided against getting anything at this time, well almost I picked up some sweet Jamo C603 bookshelf speakers. But nothing substantial, the Soundlab's are gone, and ML are all out of my price range. Part of the reason I like this obsession so much is the prospects of a great deal, Anyone with money can go out and get good sound but when you do it on a budget it that much sweeter!

I went with my wife today to listen to some Maggies at a shop in Denver today, my wife likes this stuff as well, has a good ear and is a good critic. 1st was the MG 12's as soon as they came on me and my wife looked at each other and said nope. They sounded pretty good but mid to low bass extension bass was lacking big-time, and over-all just kind of sounded weak and thin. I know using a sub would help but I will take my AL III+ over these any day. I messed around with set up and just did not do it for me. Next was the MG 1.7, much better vocals sounded fuller and highs had more detail but still after much listening we looked at each other and we both started shaking our heads. Finally we went into a room where they had the MG 3.6 set up at, now these were something, mid-bass was full vocals were smooth highs were detailed sound-stage was great and excellent separation. I could tell a sub would be needed for me but not a problem as I always do. I felt these might give my AL III+'s a real good run for the money if not do better. I would have to do some serious A-B comparison to reach that kind of decision though, not to mention these were $5,000. These are all my opinions and are suited for my tastes in music, some of you I know will reach completely different conclusions. Which I would suggest as this is a journey and not a destination, well for me anyway. For what I have in the AL III plus its the best money I have spent on speakers ever! If I could ever find a pair of 1.7 or 3.6 and afford them I would most definitely get them though. but probably not in this lifetime, lol.

these are the earlier version, but might be the difference between the AL III and the AL III plus, My funding fell through so these are up for grabs in northern CO. http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/ele/1948371355.html

found these locally for $650 worth it? http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1204bg/

they're gone, he was just too lazy to delete.

thanks guys, that is a 6-8 hr drive one way and I need to sell the other speakers first. up until about a week ago we had about 6 pairs locally.

Thanks all! I found these for a bit of a drive to my home state. I use a sub so I never worry about bass. http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/ele/2003299860.html

thanks for the replies, I found these locally http://denver.craigslist.org/ele/1974571131.html http://denver.craigslist.org/ele/1950802359.html no Maggies though.

I have a pair of speakers that I am selling and when they do I an considering trying some Martin Logans-electrostatic or some Maggies. Has anyone had a chance to compare them to the ALIII? I have a chance to pick up some Sound Lab Dynastat for $750, I hear they got real good reviews. I have only heard the Martin Logans they have in Best Buy (Magnolia), They sound pretty good but no match for the AL III. I have only heard some Maggies a long time ago but cannot remember exactly what they sounded like but remember it was good. I am really digging this non conventional type speaker in the AL III and just would like some thoughts on other non conventional affordable types out there. (IE)affordable $900 used Thank you!

I was going to say its best to get a collection of advise before making a decision. glad you got to it in time.

where were you when I needed you? lol. so much for taking advise on other forums. Thanks for the heads up! I just checked because I am a paranoid bastard and the magnets are fine, mine were all real loose, I mean like rattling loose, I just snugged them up to about three finger tight. question though, where do you get them rebuilt at? just curious

Mine are the AL III plus version, I am not going to mess with the cap on the lows because I don't really think I will notice that much of a difference and it was well within spec. I believe the plus and yours have the same for the highs which are a 150uf 100v and a 76uf 100v so I got 6 of these http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=027-445 I will run two parallel for the 150 and the other to replace the 76. just like this but without the 1uf bypass cap. http://www.thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3707&find=unread others have done the same thing on here with positive results.

You should be able to listen to the high end if you remove the jumpers. There are two sets of screws one holds the ribbon to the panel and the others hold the ribbons themselves together. Mine were all loose, the ones holding the ribbons together and can cause buzzing. I just hand tightened them with a screwdriver as tight as you can get but not ridiculously tight. don't use a drill. Are you going to upgrade the caps in the x-overs?

You will definitely need a amp to push those correctly. I have a Carver M 1.5t on mine and it gets louder than I can handle.

Great choice, I just got a pair of AL III plus myself, had mine just needed re-foaming I would have done it myself, But a woofer was bad so I wound up replacing them both. There are a bunch of places that will re-foam them, I know Parts express will re-foam them and completely rebuild them. I don't know about locally, you will just have to check, I am upgrading the caps on the high side of mine as well, there is a bunch of info on here, and welcome. http://www.thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3707&find=unread

no, the 2.3tl's set up opposite. The tl's came out after these and have 4 stereo drivers and 2 dimensional. These are the regular 2.3's 2 stereo 2 dimensional and 2 subs the subs go to the outside. I have both.

if possible you should set up along the long wall, sda's usually require 3 feet on the sides to prevent reflections getting to your ears before the source of the dimensional drivers, if not possible room treatments on the wall next to the speaker will usually do the trick.

great, when you want to get your hands dirty with some mods on them let me know, I have rebuilt the cross overs and installed new tweeters in mine. there are other mods you can do as well.