Alacrity Audio Caterthuns
I wonder how they stack up against the RR3s of this parish (or any other, for that matter):
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Those of us who listen through smaller monitors tend to become immersed in the performance, in rather the same way a pair of headphones allows. Like with all speakers, once accustomed, we tend to listen through the 'faults', glossing over them. Also like headphones, small monitors tend to allow a personal intimacy and involvement with the music, in spite of perhaps obvious limitations. It's also worth noting that some audiophiles hate listening through headphones, because of their characteristics, just as other strongly prefer large speakers. (Of course, many prefer small monitor speakers, and a large group listen exclusively through headphones.)
Having spent some time with decent larger speakers, I fully understand the appeal, and in many senses the superiority of larger speakers. I would own some in a heartbeat, if I could. They can offer a more 'complete package' for sure, but it seems only the very best large speakers recover what most decent standmounts do so well, which is a sense of intimate involvement, a believable accuracy (even if on a smaller scale), and oodles of detail (sounstage, image, seperation, texture, speakers 'disappearing').
Just as headphones become almost part of the listener, so I feel small monitors do. Maybe partly because they are often listened to nearfield, minimizing room effects, and also partly because smaller cabinets are easier to make inert. Large speakers usually impress with scale and dynamics, and tone and timbre, but in doing so seem to trade off what is great about really good smaller monitors.
Unfortunately, it seems to me one has to get really serious (in terms of investment and engineerring) to get the best, of both worlds.
I didn't think I was so pretty...
That was my review on the Pig
I enjoyed them a lot, quite a different presentation to the RR3, although I haven't heard those in quite some time. I made the comparison with ProAcs in the review - if the coin was music, they'd each be on the other side of the coin!
I like both ProAc Response series and the Caterthuns - in very different ways! Quite a different take on the music. Maybe the Truth lies somewhere between! :-/
Still, this is teh internetz. I am allowed to write rubbish!
On a semi related note, I get faaar too much bass (and humps, at that) if I position my speakers close to the wall. Although they are tiny, they are about four feet away from the rear walls (admittedly that is the back of two alcoves). The 'main' wall runs about two feet behind, but in both cases out the side of the speakers.
As a rough guess, the right speaker (looking at the system) is about 1 - 1.25 metres from the side wall, and the left about 5 metres.
I will have to get busy with a tape measure, and check for equi-distance clashes.
Same for me Dave but my RR1's are pretty tolerant of most room positions.Mine are as far apart as I can get them as recommended by Mr Ackroyd himself.
They have responded to every system upgrade I have thrown at them and just keep getting better and better. Personally never felt the need to get 'big' speakers per se and like most hifi things there are always trade-offs and compromises.
I have a degree of ignorance when it come to most things, does that help?
I would hazard a guess that the only way one would 'get' what your design does is to listen to it. I have no idea of the efficacy of 'your' science, but the proof is in the pudding. Welcome to 'Chews.
Thankfully, he also aknowledged that they can be sensitive to siting and supports, and that Blu-tak can be improved upon, but I think he really 'gets' them.
jon
j