SCOTT KUPERMAN'S SYSTEM

My main listening system is comprised of a pair of Duetta-II's sitting atop Subwoofer-10's and a DAX. Using this configuration offers better bass than the Duetta-II's alone. I said 'better' bass, not 'more'.

The subs are being driven by a stereo Audio Research (ARC) D400-II, while the Duetta-II's are being driven by mono ARC VT-150's.

Front end: Well Tempered Lab Classic Table and Classic arm. Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge. My own silver interconnects.

Rek-O-Kut Rondine 16" Transcription rim-drive 78RPM (and 33/45) table with the Model 160 tonearm and a Stanton 500C 78RPM cartridge.

Modified Marantz pre-pre amplifier.

Denon DA-S1 DAC and DP-S1 Transport combination.

Passive buffered line level control via Stax Lambda Signature's with 'W' headphone amp.

Lastly, I use Apogee columns as rear surround dipoles in my home theatre consisting also of Dunlavy SC-IV/A fronts with matching HRCC center. Aragon Palladiums driving the L&R, Palladium-II driving the center, and a 4004-II driving the columns in the rear.

TODD EILTS SYSTEM

I purchased my set of Duettas from the owner of the Hi-Fi store at which I used to work. Having been around the entire Apogee line of speakers for more than three year (most of my college years) had left me rather jaded to good Hi-Fi. I had been away from the store for quite a number of years and hadn't had any recent contact with audiophile types. Most people in my town think that Best buy and Circuit city are the best in town. How sad for them.
Any way I purchased a used pair of Duettas for quite a good price. (former employee discount). When I got them home, it took me about three hours to get them to sing to me. I was not impressed. More tweaking on placement was very necessary. My main room was very wide and shallow. Can we say tunnel. The narrow end of the room was about fifteen feet in width. Just about perfect. I ended up having the around 24" from the rear wall and non- equidistant from the sides. the left was one foot and right was about 18".
My electronics are very solid vintage Pioneer Spec series. My pre is the SPEC-1 which feeds a SPEC-2 for the bass ribbons and a SPEC-4 for the tweeter ribbons.
The power output for the SPEC4 is 150 @8ohms and the SPEC2 is 250 @ 8ohms. The Duettas are around 5 ohms nominal with very low dips. You can do the math if you wish.
I usually let the system warm up for an hour before I listen to anything. The mids are very open and airy probably due to the crossover point of the woofers at 500Hz you can avoid the crossover point in the critical vocal region. The bass is rather robust if you have the Duettas equidistant from the corners of the room, but if you stagger the sides, it seems to help out. These things are very power hungry, but my amps due the job well without overheating.
System flaws- My cables suck-no question. I have been auditioning new cables starting with the source and I'm making changes when vast improvements are noticed.
When looking for new components (cables, whatever) I take only one CD with for a reference. That is a CD from Maria McKee. It is her self titled album from 1989. Track 10 is entitled "Does he have a friend for me". When the Duettas are placed just right, you can reach out and almost touch her.

Thanks for your time.
Todd A. Eilts

MICHAEL MONFORE'S SYSTEM

I have a set of Duetta Series II speakers which I picked up used about 3 years ago. I walked into a great deal on the pair (with original packaging), paying only $650 (US) for them. The finish wasn't in great condition, as a previous owner had painted the original taupe finish over with black paint, and hadn't done a very good job of it. I refinished the covers in a gloss black lacquer, which looks great. I also mounted spike feet under the base and in the rear supports. The associated system includes a McCormick DNA 1 power amp, a PS Audio 4.6 preamp, a California Audio Labs Alpha DA Processor (using a CAL DX-1 CD player for the transport), and a Rega Planar 2 turntable (with a Grace arm and cartridge). Prior to these speakers I owned a set of Acoustat Model II electrostatics, and before that a set of Magnaplaner MGIIb's.

My first exposure to Apogee's was during a trip to California in the mid 80's. I had a brief listen to a set of Diva's, which sounded fantastic. I later met a gentleman at work who had just purchased a set of Duetta II's (with all Krell electronics). I was able to critically listen to these speakers and pretty much concluded that some day I was going to buy a set of Apogee's. During this period I had the opportunity to listen to various Acoustat, Martin Logan and Carver speakers. None impressed me as much as the Apogees. I had my heart set on the Duetta Signatures, but when the deal on the Series II's came along, I couldn't resist.

So how has life with the Duetta II's been? Quite pleasant I would have to say. The Acoustats were great speakers, with surprising bass for a full range electrostatic. But they paled by comparison to the range of the Duetta's. The Duetta's have useful output down to at least 30 Hz. The Acoustats also had severe treble beaming. The sweet spot of the Duetta's is much more forgiving. I listen to a very wide range of music. The Duetta's seem to be able to do justice to just about anything I want to listen to. However they are ruthlessly revealing. There is little question what is a good recording and what is a bad recording. In particular they do a nice job on female vocals. Well recorded vocals are so liquid and natural I sometimes feel guilty I got these speakers so cheap! Imaging is three dimensional and the sound stage wide. They are very position/room sensitive, and the only downside seems to be the inevitable endless experimentation with placement. I have never experienced a problem with driving these speakers (the Acoustats took down an amp once). My biggest problem now would seem to be how I could ever convince my wife to let me buy anything else. I simply can't justify it on the basis of significant sonic improvement. I keep hitting the audio stores and listen to the latest and greatest, then I go home and let the Apogees remind me why I keep them. It is amazing to think these things were built in the mid 80's and they still go head to head with just about anything out there. It is a real shame Apogee folded.

My complements on the web site. I was delighted to find it and will be a regular visitor.
Keep up the good work!

Michael Monfore