REVIEW: Soundline Audio SL6-6 Speakers

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Soundline Audio's latest speaker release is the SL6-6 center channel. It uses a similar driver configuration to the Bohlender-Graebener 220 loudspeaker. A pair of 6.5" woofers flank the outer portion of the cabinet followed by a 22" planar magnetic midrange/tweeter. While this configuration has the theoretical capacity to beam, I did notice notice any beaming effects when sitting off axis on any content (music or movies).
Woofer Mid/Tweeter Ribbon Woofer
Performance is not identical, Soundline modifies the cabinet and changes over from a ported to a sealed enclosure. They also dispense with the
tweeter, opting for a simpler physical design. In addition, the entire construction of the cabinet is sealed, making for a monopole planar magnetic. I noticed no boxiness as a result of this
Frequency response is stated as 45-20KHz +/- 3dB.
I listened to a variety of materials: Movies, Concert DVDs, DVD-Audio discs, DTS discs.
On concert DVDs where the lead vocals are split between the mains (left/right) and CC you get a wall of sound, with a solid anchoring to the
SL6-6 of the voice, even when seated a bit off axis (about 20 degrees).
I'll specifically cite Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature" DVD, which is recorded almost studio clean. As much as I love The Dan, DFs voice has lost a slight bit of range, and he now strains at the top of his vocal range, which is evident throughout the recording. It's an unusual experience to hear the lead vocals coming through the mains and center, with the backup singers emerging from behind. WBs guitar is mixed to be just left of center, and the blend between the Acoustats and the SL6-6 is very good. It isn't 100% seamless, but nothing will ever be with Acoustat being defunct now for several years.
I have a demo DVD-Audio disc with "Jamie Runaway" from the forthcoming release of 2VN and on this cut a peculiar mixing decision was made -- the Electric Bass seems to be the only instrument in the center channel. I'm not sure what the point of this is, when most CCs will only manage 80Hz on a good day, and DVD-Audio is lacking bass management at this time :-( Good news -- every note of the Electric Bass rings through with appropriate weight and clarity. There's something to be said for using multiple small drivers versus one large driver. I can't tell you exactly where the bass response drops off in room, but every note from the bassist is reproduced on this particular track.
Moving along to ELPs "Brain Salad Surgery" -- Track 8 is a bonus track from their debut LP, "Lucky Man". The last verse of the vocals has the lead vocal wandering from left --> Center --> Right --> Right Rear. I played this section several times, sitting a few feet away from the mains and CC -- this is an excellent demonstration of your CCs ability to cleanly integrate across the front soundstage.
Lyle Lovett's "Joshua Judges Ruth" was remixed into a DTS surround mix a couple of years ago with excellent work done in adapting this to multi-channel surround. Two tracks stand out to me: "She's Already Made Up Her Mind" and "Baltimore". These tracks have a little bit of everything for the audiophile. Deep bass, subtle nuance, and above all a great recording to work with! The lead vocal comes from the CC, and I spent some time seated in front of the CC to get a good feel for it's ability to reproduce sounds. The illusion of the strummed acoustic guitar and LLs voice are eerily real and present with this CC. On "Baltimore" you hear gobs of details, lips smacking and breath inhalations which are obscured with lesser speakers almost jump out towards you.
Closing up with what I consider to be the best Dolby Digital concert recording, James Taylor's "Live at the Beacon Theater". Unlike many concert DVDs this disc doesn't go after the "total immersion" effect. Instead the front trio of speakers reproduces the band, with the rear surrounds used for audience noise and hall ambience. On the opening cut, the backup vocalists flank JT, with the outer vocalists mixed hard left and right, and the inner vocalists blended with the center -- in this particular lineup:
Voc Voc JT Voc Voc. Start listening with your eyes closed and hear where the discrete voices are coming from. Open your eyes and you'll see that finally what you hear matches the visual presentation, as is the case throughout this disc. The placement of musicians on the recording matches the visual presentation. JT's vocals and guitars are always clearly reproduced, with just a mild bit of edge when speaking coming from the recording. On "Shower the People", the close of the song features Arnold McCuller singing over the rest of the group and during that time JTs voice becomes just another backup singer. If your CC doesn't blend well, JT's voice will stick out -- it should not. I'm happy to report with my Acoustats, his voice didn't stick out.
If you own Magnepans, Acoustats, Martin Logans, Newform Research, Apogee (and maybe) Eminent Technology loudspeakers, you should give this CC serious consideration. Currently Magnepans CC is woefully inadequate (-3dB @ 150 Hz) and Martin Logans CCs are more expensive. If you have DVD-Audio you currently have no bass management -- using a CC that is closer to true full range means you might be able to work without a subwoofer for the CC.
The caveats: This speaker is physically large and may not fit inside your space constraints. It is not cheap, at US$1149, but it is worth the asking price in my opinion.
Soundline sells factory direct and you get a 10 day home audition to determine if you're going to keep the speaker.
It's worth the audition.

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Topic - REVIEW: Soundline Audio SL6-6 Speakers Review by kotches at Audio Asylum - kotches 12:00:00 02/10/01 (0)

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