Pairing Heco Direkt Speakers

[*DavidF*]

Hi Folks,

The thread on these speakers that I could find was 2017, so thought best to start a new one.

I just bought a pair of these speakers, the two driver ones. Has left me scratching my head as they sound like the best thing I have heard in one of my systems and awful in the other one (where I had planned to use them).

My main system is a cord qutest -> chord prime (pre) -> shanling SP-80 monoblocks (2x EL34 valves 50W each push-pull). This is where they were *meant* to go, replacing my trusty B&W 705 speakers. I love the 705s and they have an almost "liquid", natural sheen quality to the treble and vocals in this set up, but I was hoping to improve on the lower end. Namely to get it as musical as the mid - high and a bit less "thumpy" / non-tonal in the bass. I don't need bass to be especially "huge". The Direkts completely disappointed sounding veiled and missing air, this being way more than positioning (that I played with). Room acoustics are pretty good: big thick rug in front, drapes to the sides, wall paintings etc: so not "treated" but pretty OK.

Moved them to my system two which is Meridian Direktor DAC -> Meridian Prime Headphone and Pre Amp with the PSU upgrade -> pair of 50W class B solid state Musical Fidelity XA-50s -> speakers. Smaller (bed)room, ok acoustically. Here the speakers just completely blow me away. It's like the best of headphones and hi-fi combined. Nothing is missing. Handles gentle through to thunderous, and at all volume levels such that cranking is not required to get sound quality. Huge bass but NOT thump thumpy and very musical / tonal. Wonderful pure treble that easily equals the B&W 705 nautilus that I have used in this system also. It rather makes my little transistor power amps sound near tube-like (as in the good aspects: so musical not warm). I'll stop raving now, before people think I am an agent for the manufacturer.

Luckily I bought these for under half the retail full price. I had heard them in a large audio store briefly where the qualities I only notice more of were apparent in spades. This was a less than ideal listening environment (not a pre-booked demo) on some Marantz gear (integrated amp plus a CD player).

I cannot compare the Direkt to other highly sensitive (db) speakers. I know that in my limited experience I have found the few horns that I have listened to rather artificial and thought these would fatigue me.

Wondering what other gear members who have these Direkt speakers have partnered them with, and if they have also had the same great to awful experiences? Any thought on why they sound so average with my valve amps and great with the transistor ones?

Maybe for my main rig I need to wait for some B&W 704s with the bass unit to come in sale in walnut that I like? I'm wondering if driving these will be pretty much the same as the 705s, as I am unlikely to be able to demo old speakers at home. A subwoofer is not an option here. I may be able to demo some new Martin Logan ELS or Monitor Audio Platinum 100s - a little out of my budget but the high gloss ebony stripey finish I think is just gorgeous and will go with my decor.

Love any thinking and experiences that anyone can share

Thanks,

David

(PS Started the same thread on one other forum as the speakers seem a bit rare outside Germany)

 

[marko]

Maybe Guy @ Puresound might have suggestions - think he imports Heco. 

 

[JezR]

I would move the power amps from the second system into the first and see what it sounds like then, then do with the same with the pre, then source.

See how the sound changes with these three moves should show up where the change happens.

 

[hifinutt]

my favourite amp with these was the grandinote amp, fabulous bass and sound . some sound advice here  . 

 

[Cable Monkey]

You need to move your electronics from the good system into the room where the bad system is. This will tell you if the problem is your room or your electronics. You decide from there.

 

[*DavidF*]

They both sound good and my Chord Qtest / Chord Prime Pre is staying put for MANY years, as i just love them too much   However good thinking!!

 

[*DavidF*]

my favourite amp with these was the grandinote amp, fabulous bass and sound . some sound advice here  . 

Those look awesome ... and I can imagine .. but waaay above my budget for a "system b"

 

[*DavidF*]

Excuse the slow response, busy at work then a short vacation

Firstly, I have to say that I moved the speakers back down stairs and second round they didn't sound so wrong.  In fact they sounded good, but not as good as the Shanling e34 valve with B&W Nautilus tweeter.  While I like good bass  I'm more of a treble / good mid range "head" than a bass "head".  As much about how our noggins process music I think.  I can imagine that someone else might prefer the Hecos as less forward - if that's the right word - in that set up.  Initially it was chalk and cheese.  I'm wondering if three days freezing cold in DHL vans and warehouses meant that the passive cross-overs needed time to thaw out?

With my main rig I managed to insert a very small KEF sub (PSW 2000) that I have.  It has an RCA high pass filter that strips out under 90hz (or so) before passing on to my mono blocks.  This has allowed me to move the B&W 705s a little further into the room (as I'm not chasing a bit of extra bass), seems to cause the single mid / bass unit not to move so much and makes the mid-range to my ears even better.  Means that I am running an extra 1.5m of RCA cables, but I am very happy.

For those interested in the HECOs they sound to my ears awesome in my system b.  On the transistor amps (MF XA-50s) I prefer the treble to the B&W 705s, as there they are a bit  too bright.  I'm totally amazed at the top, mid and bottom end.  My room means that the speakers need to be near corners and near the back wall: not a problem at all.  I have them very toed in towards the listening area, but the sound is great in the sweet spot but also moving about.  Though wide they are very thin, and placement seems to be super flexible.  They also sound good in both a large space and a pretty small one.  These could very well suit someone with placement issues due to room layout.  I think that the downward firing bass ports that are slightly tilted forwards may be the reason for this.

While I am not using the speakers as planned, I am delighted by them.  I think my slightly odd for pairing valve amps are just fair synergy rather than excellent.

Appreciate all your helpful comments.

 

[*DavidF*]

With regards to my system B I'll be looking to improve on the MF class A/B 50w XA-50s.  I'm looking to do this on a lower budget and second hand.  I'm not that familiar with power amps, so reading up.  I had thought about Naim's entry level NAP 100, which I think with haggle could be obtained for about €450.  The reviews are great and it's relatively modern, but on various fora members seem to think that would be a poor match (reading some threads).

I have seen a couple of pairs of Meridian 205 monoblocks, that are class A.  They are getting pretty ancient (late 90s) and I think I could pick these up for about €450 as well.  The repair schema / electronics diagrams seem available.  Quad 306s (dumping current) seem very cheap in good state but also getting ancient.   Or lastly Linn LK (85 / 100) seem very cheap and have a fan base.  Updating the caps and resistors in the MF amps seems impossible as I cannot get hands on the schema / electronics diagrams.  They sound pretty OK, but I don't think that they are optimal for the speakers.  Wonder if any of you have opinions on this short list?  As second hand I'm pretty unlikely to be able to demo on my set up.  Also if in your opinion none will make much improvement on the XA-50s plus the Hecos.

Thanks!!

Edit: I can also get a Wadia A-102 pretty much new for €550, but the class D thing freaks me out a bit. Should it?