Transpancy, Solid imaging, coherence from top to bottom, deep detailed bass, beautiful mid-range

The SC-4A's are wonderful sounding speakers. My wife and I first heard the 4's about 5 years ago and immediately fell for all the above strengths. However, having no means at the time to indulge in the higher priced high-end equipment, we continued to audition other speakers costing less and sometimes more, but would always end up realizing the wonderful sonic qualities of the 4's. The 4's were not perfect, but in our opinion had the most pleasing overall sound. In the last 3 years, after being persistent with our business of Network Marketing, we were able to purchase the 4A's with all the above qualities, but improved upon, especialy in the area of bass extension and top to bottom coherence. The one important issue is that of room treatments and with carful placements of these treatments, the superb sonic qualities of the 4A's are further enhanced. We also found that the addition of three spikes, due to our carpeting, at each base further cleaned up the low end and imaging was further solidified. The ability to hear between the musicians is breathtaking along with the rock solid imaging. We have heard the 4A's in a room approximately 13 by 16 and in our own room at 17 by 33. With proper placements, the 4A's sounded superb in both rooms with only the intrinsic soundstage suffering in the smaller room. We highly recommend the 4A's but due to the revealing qualities, associated equipment must be on par. I suppose it would be important to readers to know the associated we have: Accuphase DP-75 directly to Pass 2 monos via Dicovery cables.

Almost complete absence of frequency response or ringing related resonances leaving only the room, your electronics, and recordings to alter the tonal balance from musically correct. Most people are not used to hearing bass instruments played back at the correct relative volume level and without the smearing and overhang of ported designs, as this sealed box alignment provides. A focused huge sound stage that correctly changes perspective with the recording production confirms its honesty. One of the very few speakers to offer correct perceived height rendition of vocalists and instruments. Most other speakers portray vocalists subjectively singing from on their knees instead of standing up. I measure flat response to 20hz in my room with an audio control analyzer confirming their claimed very wide bandwith. High sensitivity with a linear 4 ohm impedance curve makes driving these easy even with small tube amps. Outstanding speaker for the money.

The staggered top and bottom woofers require careful room placement to avoid "cavity resonance" frequency response errors. This results when you have the same measured distance from a side wall to a woofer as you do from the back wall to a woofer. The only thing preventing this speaker from assaulting state of the art speakers at $20,000pr plus, is it's understandable cost controlling use of mdf/wood products for the cabinet, instead of ultra expensive composite or machined metal cabinets.

Neutral, life sized presentation, and easy to drive with a wide variety of electronics. Great value for money. I don't know of a better speaker for the money and I've been in the hobby for almost 30 years.

Similar Products Used:

Thiel cs6, Proac response 3.8, martin logan prodigy

imaging

cost & bass

The bass is overemphasized and boomy unless you have a huge room. If you have the patience to finally set these huge speakers up you might be happy. Their imaging is good but the off bias listeing is horrible. You must be in the sweet spot or the speakers are dramatically unbalanced, leaving little room for others to hear a balanced sound. I found that moving my head literally inches left agap in the balance. Sorry John.

Extremely detailed...no coloration whatsoever. Very tight and responsive bass.

Size...you need a big room

I am in the music industry, work for one of the four major labels. I was visiting one my friends who happens to have one the top mastering facitlities in the country. In one of his rooms he was using the old Duntech Sovereigns designed by John Dunlavy. I was very impressed, and he explained how John had left to start his own company. Eventually I was able to audition the IVa's. I love these speakers!! They represent the music as it was recorded, which can show both good and bad. Because they are so accurate, they really show or magnify the strengths and the weaknesses of the rest of your components. For $8000 they will hold their own against speakers 5 times their price, in fact it really comes down to splitting hairs. Of course everyone has their opinions and preferences with sound, but with those preferences usually some sound colorations. If you are looking for a speaker that adequately covers the sound spectrum then the IVa's are for you. They are extremely efficient and you can really hear everything at all sound levels, but you can really feel it when you turn it up. I have them setup in a 5.1 listening environment with the Dunlavy SM-1's for center and rear, which have the same midrange and tweeters as the IVa's. For home theater they are incredible, they can rock, but can also be very refined. They are without a doubt worth the price tag.

Similar Products Used:

B&W Nautilus 801's, Wilson WATT Puppies, Proac Studio 250, Hales, & Thiel.