Philharmonic Audio - Dennis Murphy - Page 104

Originally Posted by Eternal Velocity 

I'm glad they fulfilled your expectations. I'm using about a handful of fill, with the speaker baffle about 5.5 feet from the rear wall, and the drivers about 4 feet from the side walls (would have prefered more). I think the delay does add to clarity without taking away the open soundstage. I only have about 5 degrees of toe-in. I think you're going to love what you get out of these speakers. Now go add a 650w @ 4 ohm stereo amp - IE the Crown XLS2000 - and four Funk Audio TSAD subs - and finish things off with some ceiling treatments.

Originally Posted by Nethawk 

My apologies for the delay, it's been a crazy weekend around here.
I picked up my speakers on Friday and had a chance to sit and chat with Del. Wonderful guy, I had a great time with him and wish we lived closer together, I'm sure we would become friends.
The speakers themselves are amazing, all it took was a few seconds with the demo CD to realize I had made the right choice. Hopefully with more time I will be able to provide a more detailed review, but after Friday night and Saturday morning I have had little chance to listen. Classical, folk, rock, alternative and quite a bit of African music has been pushed through at this point and there have been no disappointments, and many interesting surprises. I will say this - all that talk about these not being good speakers for rock music might have been over-exaggerated. I didn't play but a few classic rock and alternative tunes and they were just as much a surprise as anything else. For example, for the first time ever I was able to make out the lyrics to Linkin Park "Bleed it Out". They were words - who knew?
I still have to experiment to gain the right amount of fill, distance from back wall, etc. but for now with just the bottom front of the speakers with fill they sound just fine to me.
Not to brag or disappoint others who missed the opportunity, but the center channel speaker is just as amazing as the towers.
Pics are below, Del did a great job of matching color of my custom stand, even though we did so by sharing pics via email. The speakers look great in my home, and will enjoy hosting events in my HT for years to come. Apologies for divergent white balance, my pro flash system seems to be destined for Canon repair.

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

I would suggest skipping the ceiling treatments and concentrating on good California Cabernets. Anyhow, the installation looks great Nethawk. I'm very happy to hear the Phil's do well up against the rear wall. And I'm also glad you like the center. I wish I could continue to make those, but something had to give. And I'm sure Jim Salk will do a great job with the design. Sorry I missed you. But nothing on this planet could get me to drive down Rt. 66 and back on a late Friday afternoon.

Originally Posted by woodsart 

New furniture pics 004.JPG 1912k .JPG file



Very, very comfortable!!!

Love the "Inmate" chairs!!!!



New furniture pics 002.JPG 1727k .JPG file


Perfect chair and ottoman for 2 channel with the phils, at least for now!!!

Ahhhhh, I feel as though I am "held captive" in these chairs!!!!!

Originally Posted by Nethawk 

Originally Posted by Delwon 

Hey Nethawk...thanks for the kind words, but I think I got lucky on the color match. Like I said earlier, it's always a crapshoot working off email pics since the original photo and the monitors and its settings all make a difference. I'm glad it all worked out. The color really looks great in your pics.

Originally Posted by ccotenj 

@nethawk...
oooo... i bet you are happy today...
that match job is really nice... but more importantly, how do they sound?
when is the open house so i can hear them?

Originally Posted by fuzz092888 

Congrats Net, It's about time you finally got to enjoy those things. Everything looks awesome and I kinda sorta hate you for getting the last center

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

Wow! That looks awesome! I like.
Congrats on your beautiful Philharmonic speakers!

Originally Posted by Saturn94 

The wait is finally over. They look great! Enjoy!

Originally Posted by mrlittlejeans 

Sometimes you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
The Phils are some of the best speakers I've ever heard. I decided I don't want to be without a pair and I also decided to go for the Phil 3's as there was always a small part of me wondering what I was missing. I know Dennis says there is no difference except for some bass response but I think the power handling on the revelator is a bit better than the SB and I sometimes like to listen to music louder than normal and I think the Phil 3's might be a bit better than the 2's in that regard.
Where I'll put them isn't decided yet. My theater room doesn't have enough room for the 3's and the 3.7's so I can't pull an ADTG. I'm just mailing the check to Del now so it will likely be two months before I get the 3's. You could say I've got some time to decide where I'll put them.
I've also got some Soundfield Monitor 1's arriving in a few weeks so I could potentially have a nice little shootout... M1's weighing in at $1,300 vs Phil 3's vs Magnepan 3.7's at $6k.
One thing is certain - I'll be keeping the Phils long term. Dennis has made a helluva speaker and I thank him for it.

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

Hi. Here's a high gloss red mahogany Phil 3 I just picked up from Del. It isn't hand-rubbed, so it doesn't have a mirror finish. But it is high gloss and very attractive for a lot less money.
glossmahogphils 003.jpg 193k .jpg file

Originally Posted by Saturn94 

Nice!
Is that a new coffee table?

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

Hi. Here's a high gloss red mahogany Phil 3 I just picked up from Del. It isn't hand-rubbed, so it doesn't have a mirror finish. But it is high gloss and very attractive for a lot less money.
glossmahogphils 003.jpg 193k .jpg file

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

Hi. Here's a high gloss red mahogany Phil 3 I just picked up from Del. It isn't hand-rubbed, so it doesn't have a mirror finish. But it is high gloss and very attractive for a lot less money.
glossmahogphils 003.jpg 193k .jpg file

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

Red high gloss rules!
The piano high-gloss is $1500/PR.
But how much is the regular high-gloss?
Speaking of red high-gloss, while we were in Cancun, there was a grand piano in red high-gloss finish. It immediately reminded me of my red Phil3.

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

The total upcharge for the gloss red ribbon mahogany is $150. $100 for the veneer, $50 for the gloss. Or, you can divide the piano gloss price by 10.

Originally Posted by Delwon 

I guess both Dennis and I are charging too little for what we do

Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy 

I think for $50, everyone should get the gloss.
Really? $50 for both speakers? 2 speakers gloss (like in that red mahogany Phil3 picture which looks damn good) for just $50? Both speakers? I can't believe it.

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

I can't believe it either. I think I misinterpreted an e-mail Del sent me. The $150 is just for the gloss. I think the total cost for the ribbon mahogany, stain, and gloss is more like $370.

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy 

Hi. Here's a high gloss red mahogany Phil 3 I just picked up from Del. It isn't hand-rubbed, so it doesn't have a mirror finish. But it is high gloss and very attractive for a lot less money.
glossmahogphils 003.jpg 193k .jpg file

Originally Posted by Lee88 

This is my first post.  I have been lurking around for more than a year and have put in my deposit for a philharmonic 3 before the CAF.  I stayed with the older design and is just a preference for a rounded edge over a cut edge.   
Nice speaker Del.  Mine isn't gloss, just standard mahogany stained red.  Nice work on matching on the veneer.  You just make me itch to get my hands on mine.  Guess it will be ~end of Aug before the cabinet is done.  
I have some placement constraints and can't go for mirror gloss finish because one side will be in front of the tv and will become a Christmas light in a theater setting.  Normal red stained wood shine is good for me.  I have yet to overcome WAF (size), so it will be interesting when I receive it!  I hope the philharmonic 3 can convince and change her mind.
Please allow me identify the reasons why I choose philharmonic.  First of all, I have not heard any of Dennis's voiced speakers when I placed my order.  However I am hooked to ribbon tweeters after hearing Golden Ears. Philharmonic 3 is the only speaker within my stretched price range that has both a ribbon and planar as tweeter and mid, and reaches frequency of a sub.  I figured if I factor the price of the sub into the front 2, the philharmonic 3 falls into my needs, wants and price range.  I ended up with Dennis's design instead of Salk and Ascend primarily because of the Neo8 and Raal.  From the forum, Dennis also mentioned that he chooses the drivers and cross over design based on the range that the drivers behaves properly, predictably and within the design limits.  This is akin to all cylinders (drivers) firing in harmony.  I know nothing about the ML-TL design and can't really figure it out unless I hear one.  I guess I'll find soon about the slow, hard hitting bass.
Using the wine metaphor, I correlate Dennis as the crossover designer on the speakers that he has voiced to the winemaker of the winery.  The "black" art that creates the cult like following in the wine industry is very similar in nature to the tweaks that Dennis does on every pair that he approves. That itself is priceless. I trust Dennis's ears.  Del's work has been marvelous.  The veneers matched nicely and he has really paid attention to details on those speaker based on pictures that I  have seen.  I look forward to enjoy my speakers  voiced by Dennis, ML-TL design by Paul and made by Del in due time.