Seaton Sound Catalysts arrive! - Page 3

Do have fun pushing the limits a little. I have expectations for plenty of quality photos of those in attendance.

I will definitely let you know..hopefully sometime this summer!

What a great thread title..... And arrive they did in a big way
The trio has once again been reunited and so the triangle of power is complete....

Unfortunately, no glorious pics like fugueness has posted but there are some preliminary pics from my recent meet which can be found in this thread.. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1096878 for those that didn't follow only 2 Catalysts made it to the event.

Mark just couldn't bring himself to removing the pair without first adding the matching 3rd... after a best out of 3 arm twisting I gave in to his idea of painfully living with some Catalysts for a few days

Well last night the missing link arrived and after an enlightning calibration session by the master himself it's all dialed in. I'll leave pretty room response pics to Mark himself but they were very nice or my eyes were glazed as it was into the wee hours at that point.

Being that it was quite late, spirited listening wasn't in the cards so I'll reserve detailed thoughts until I've had some time with these animals.. What I can say at this point is that even at the low volume settings my room has never sounded better. I can't really describe it but after the calibration it's almost as if Mark made the monster catalysts disappear.. Now on to some movies at reference level.... Mark I'll be kind to them I promise

Anyway there may be a few opportunities to experience these if you are close to N. Illinois.. I'm willing to host the Chicagoland meet V1.x for those who would have really liked to listen to all 3.

More thoughts to follow as I get a few movies under the belt.

Thanks
Allen

Amazing! Beautiful! Home theater 'Nirvana'? Sounds like it! They've just been added to my 'bucket list' of things to experience before I die!
May I ask what those of you whom own these Catalysts are using as surrounds to match them?
Mark- Any plans on making matching dipole/bipole...multipole surrounds of your own to go with them?

Seaton is designing a smaller version called the "Spark" designed for smaller apps, surrounds, etc.

^^^

Peter those look amazing!! I was sad I couldn't make it to your meet at your home. I still have to check those monsters out sometime.

Could Mark (or anyone else who has heard the catalysts) comment on how these active DSP speakers compare to Merdian's active DSP speakers?
thanks in advance,
Joe H

Hi Joe,

Many more had a chance to hear the Catalysts this past weekend at the Chicago AV Enthusiasts (C.A.V.E.) meet:
Chicago area meet April 18th - 1st CAVE get together

There are some similarities in that my Catalyst and Spark loudspeakers along with Meridian's are internally powered. The signal input for my speakers is an analog XLR connection vs. the optional digital input to the Meridian's if using their processor. XLR-RCA adapters are provided to enable connection with receivers or processors with RCA pre-amp outputs such as I did with my Denon 3808 this weekend at the meet linked above.

While I intend to have some premium finish offerings in the future, currently the finishes have dedicated home theaters, rather than interior decorators in mind. The Catalyst was designed to enable effortless dynamics in large home theaters and provide the main channel support of very powerful subwoofer systems in a package refined for and intended for home theater from the get-go. It has ~4x the internal power of Meridian's largest loudspeakers with very efficient and capable drivers. The Catalyst is intended to be used with powerful subwoofers, and therefore has a low frequency extension of 50-55Hz from its pair of 12" sealed woofers.

So while both are powered, the applications in mind and the goals for my speakers vs. Meridian's were quite different.

Hope that clarifies a bit.

I haven't heard the Merdians but I have auditioned the Catalysts. The Catalysts reach out and pull you into the movie. The amount of clarity they bring to your ears is AMAZING! Mark demoed the "shoot out" in the movie Open Range...Let's just say many at the C.A.V.E meet felt punched in the face so to speak. The compression I felt paired up with Zman's Subs was more than I've felt to date...in a dedicated HT. Mark's producing speakers and subs that are no joke. Worth every penny IMHO.

Mark and Bluedevil,
Thanks for the replies. Clearly Meridian is targeting a more architecturally upscale market, especially recently. I was really asking more about the sound characteristics of the catalyst/sparks compared to the meridian line. (recognizing that the line spans a wide price range) Interesting choice of analog instead of digital connections to maintain compatibility with most preamp/receivers; I really like the concept of active speakers with dsp crossovers. It seems to have the potential for much better control of the speaker characteristics. I will be in Chicago later this summer and would love a chance to hear them.
Joe H

The same question as above, and as has been asked in the past. Mark can you please answer if you can, if there will be a matching on wall active Diople/Tripole version of the Catalysts for Side Surrounds and Rear EX channels? Is there any time frame for these? Thanks in advance.

Hi Spizz,

I am first offering the Spark which uses the same 8" coaxial driver and DSP to ideally image match the Catalysts. These can also be used as main speaker channels and cost less than 1/2 what a Catalyst does and are pretty manageable in size at 11" x 11" x 17". The directivity of the coaxial design actually works quite well for surround speakers if you aim the axis of the speaker either straight across or toed down aiming just above the far seats at the other side of the room. This places the nearest seats further off axis where the response above ~1-2kHz will be smoothly reduced so the listeners closer to the surround don't get blasted. This effect is much more effective than trying to do the same with a more typical 2 or 3 way speaker.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of dipole surround designs, but I am considering it. One issue is that the Italian made coax' driver's are not in-expensive, where I expect an arrayed/splayed pair of coax's similar to the Spark will be $500-700 more (still internally powered) depending on the design.

It is something I'm looking at, and intend to have at least as a special order item by the end of the year.

A few customers should be reporting back on the sound from their Catalyst LCR + 4x Spark systems within the next 3-4 weeks.

Hi Mark,

Any news on the Spark HP model? I think this model is the best fit for my room and wallet, really anticipating it, hope it's real soon

The first Spark's are about to ship with the first dozen cabinets having just arrived and another dozen right behind them. There is a small backlog to fill and then the Spark should be more readily available.

The "HP" concept is one I still haven't decided on yet. The box needs to be an inch taller just to fit the much more powerful and more expensive amplifier (designed but not yet built). I will need to determine if the performance gains are worth the cost (+ ~$700). At some point later this year I would like to add another offering between the Spark and Catalyst, but the performance, package and cost has to be justified.

The biggest consideration is just how potent the Spark is in standard form.

Yay!

Yay is right!


You guys are going to have a ball. That's quite the attendee list of dignitaries you've got going. Anytime you get that kind of mindshare and some fun equipment like a trio of catalysts in one room you're in for a treat. Not to mention these get togethers are a blast meeting everyone.

We'll I joined the Catalyst club as well. Mark finally beat me into submission and left me with no choice but to man up. After having the luxury of living with them for a bit from my get together, the thought of the Catalysts leaving my place to make the jouney up for the HEMI meet in the next week was just too much for the wife and I. That and I'm sure he's more than happy to not have to carry/lift the beasts back up the stairs as well.

wow, back from the dead,

hahahaa


Love the color!!

I should come by and take a look!

Wow! Those cabinets should hush the crowd that dismisses pro audio based on aesthetics! It's beautiful...

Well done Mark and very nice Peter. Looking forward to hearing/seeing the new setup.

wow those are nice

what finish is that? its beautiful

http://www.seaton-sound-forum.com/post?id=4292198#1

scroll down

Beautiful. Congrats Peter! Will you use them with the grilles on or off? I leave mine off most of the time.

Chris

Thats because pro audio drivers are just so mean


Also fug, is that a DTS-20 under the center channel?

Yep, they are sweet looking and sweet sounding speakers.