kzone Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 Usher is changing their 520 to MK II, which remains the same cost, but has only single wire terminals. I think X Audio is clearing their current stock, so do consider getting them... The new ones will be available in PVC, Veneer and Gloss. how about the centre S525? there will be new version too?
petetherock Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 No idea, I didn't ask, you may want to enquire at X Audio, which is the local dealer for Usher.
sty Posted January 11, 2013 Posted January 11, 2013 I have been using the Usher S520 MK II since Sep 2012. Was not aware that they have change till I unpack the speakers.
petetherock Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 Even the new 525 is single wired. Just checked. I listened to their new User Mini Dancer 1 and 2, the Mini One had the best balance of the lot (including the Mini X, 718 and Two). A simple two way floor stander. But it had imaging, depth and pace. Sometimes a simple setup is better. There is also a change, the 2013 model has a wider cabinet, with slanted sides. Do take note if you are looking at the Usher range. The entire series may have some updates. Some are cosmestic, others are cost cutting, and some have new cabinets. Check with the seller. Those keen on the biwire 520 / 525 should get theirs now.
Juniorsg Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 is the change from biwire to single affect the USHER series only?
petetherock Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 is the change from biwire to single affect the USHER series only? I only know of the 5 series. I suspect this is a cost cutting measure. The higher models should retain the biwire capability. The 2013 Dancer Mini 1 model is the one on the left:
C130 Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 I only know of the 5 series. I suspect this is a cost cutting measure. The higher models should retain the biwire capability. The 2013 Dancer Mini 1 model is the one on the left: hi Pete, the photo shows dancer mini 2 model of different colour. ;) dancer mini 1 is of 1 driver and a tweeter.
petetherock Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 hi Pete, the photo shows dancer mini 2 model of different colour. ;) dancer mini 1 is of 1 driver and a tweeter. Yep, thanks, the right one is the 2012 model.. Slightly slimmer...
petetherock Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 This is a beauty... Ferrari Red - for the Danish Market... Not in production...
alvin1118 Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 cool, slimer mini 1 or is that mini 2 slim?
petetherock Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 ? That's the BE 718. All 2013 Dancer models are wider.
petetherock Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 This is of course after a few days, but I tried the same music in my room with the B&W 804D, and I was surprised how close the BE equipped Mini Dancers come to the far more expensive Diamond equipped speakers. If you can get these Dancers at a good price or if our local distributor lowers their markup, and you partner them with some serious stereo equipment, they will surprise you with their imaging, bass, slam and pace. I have very good memories of the Mini 1... and if you add their X 616 centre and the 718, you can also get a solid HT system, just that you need a lot of high quality power to make them sing. I am not talking about Emotivas, but Usher also makes their own power amps and pre, and the stereo version is 150w per channel, and does the first 30w in Class A... They weigh > 40kg... very solid power amps...
madamesimplifi Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Does anyone run their S520s with tube amplification? I am very surprised how well they work with 15w and it makes them quite engaging and not as inefficient as expected.
nk7 Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Does anyone run their S520s with tube amplification? I am very surprised how well they work with 15w and it makes them quite engaging and not as inefficient as expected. What are you using btw?
kinetic Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I am moving into a share house, and I'm thinking of selling my B&W 603 MK1's in favour of a couple of the Ushers for my room. I listen to a lot of alternative/rock music ranging from acoustic to heavy (Think Gomez, Pearl Jam, Deftones, Nirvana and on and on). Would the Ushers be a good move? Cheers.
lebowski Posted January 31, 2013 Author Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) I am moving into a share house, and I'm thinking of selling my B&W 603 MK1's in favour of a couple of the Ushers for my room. I listen to a lot of alternative/rock music ranging from acoustic to heavy (Think Gomez, Pearl Jam, Deftones, Nirvana and on and on). Would the Ushers be a good move? Cheers. I've owned and listened to plenty of speakers and I believe the Usher S520's are a terrific little speaker. In my opinion they sound best with plenty of power behind them, where they really come alive and show what they're capable of. For $300 or so, they are ridiculously good value for the performance they give. Edited January 31, 2013 by lebowski
madamesimplifi Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 Totally agree they are fantastic. I have always thought of them to be a bit 'sterile' despite having all the resolution and bass and never expected they can change to be quite engaging with a few watts. Must be I like distortion...
pete_mac Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 If anyone does find the Ushers to be a bit bright, you can easily experiment with some 1ohm and 2 ohm 5w wirewound resistors in place of one of the metal bridging plates on the speaker terminal plate. This assumes that you are only using standard cables and not biwire cables, though! Adding a resistor here will slightly attenuate the tweeter output. I've got a bunch of various resistors here, including some nice Mills resistors, and really must find the time to experiment a bit. I also recall that an audio mob in the US once offered upgrades to the S520 including mills resistors, upgraded capacitors, and an attentuation switch which reduced the tweeter output by 1 and 2dB. Sadly they no longer offer this service, nor will they provide any info.
L J T Posted February 2, 2013 Posted February 2, 2013 Does anybody have any experience with the matching centre channel? 525?
SteveC Posted February 2, 2013 Posted February 2, 2013 Yep, I have had one for a week! It's big! Basically like 2 s520's lying down side by side. Build quality is exactly like the s520. I had a much smaller Wharfedale centre before this and the difference is significant. $300 from RK Cable plus delivery. Not really a big investment when you consider you get 2 woofers and a tweeter from the s520. Have only tested a couple of movies but it sounds right to me having all 3 fronts matching. I run the centre and rears via a Marantz AVR. Fronts are through Emotiva XPA-200. All run through Audyssey. I have the s520 on the SW-520 Bass stands. Rears are a couple of Wharfedale Bi-poles which do the job and hang flat on the wall.
bebop Posted February 3, 2013 Posted February 3, 2013 I got a pair of S520 which I am going to put on a desk. In terms of isolation, is was thinking some speaker spikes (wooden or metal) or foam isolation pads. Which would be the best way of isolating the speakers?
madamesimplifi Posted February 3, 2013 Posted February 3, 2013 I would probably just stick some Bunnings gel pad feet. Auralex foam is quite good though as each pair comes in 8 pieces of foam (4 for each speaker). As a result, they can cater for larger speakers since the base can be widened by allowing a gap, and you have the options to sit the speakers level, angled up or angled down.
nk7 Posted February 3, 2013 Posted February 3, 2013 If anyone does find the Ushers to be a bit bright, you can easily experiment with some 1ohm and 2 ohm 5w wirewound resistors in place of one of the metal bridging plates on the speaker terminal plate. This assumes that you are only using standard cables and not biwire cables, though! Adding a resistor here will slightly attenuate the tweeter output. I've got a bunch of various resistors here, including some nice Mills resistors, and really must find the time to experiment a bit.I also recall that an audio mob in the US once offered upgrades to the S520 including mills resistors, upgraded capacitors, and an attentuation switch which reduced the tweeter output by 1 and 2dB. Sadly they no longer offer this service, nor will they provide any info. You know at first I did find the Ushers a bit bright but possibly either got older or got used to the brightness with the AU-317 but I am enjoying them without issue nowadays. Yep, I have had one for a week! It's big!Basically like 2 s520's lying down side by side. Build quality is exactly like the s520. I had a much smaller Wharfedale centre before this and the difference is significant. $300 from RK Cable plus delivery. Not really a big investment when you consider you get 2 woofers and a tweeter from the s520. Have only tested a couple of movies but it sounds right to me having all 3 fronts matching. I run the centre and rears via a Marantz AVR. Fronts are through Emotiva XPA-200. All run through Audyssey. I have the s520 on the SW-520 Bass stands. Rears are a couple of Wharfedale Bi-poles which do the job and hang flat on the wall. Interesting, I may have to buy another pair to try in a surround sound setup later on...Although I'm more a fan of 4.0/4.1 setups rather than 5.0/5.1. Those bass stands do movies justice? The oomph I mean...
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