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fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/10/08 Reply with quote  #1 
They're here! And they exceed all expectations (which were set very high)!

Some initial impressions:
Most apparent is how quick and responsive they are -- the active configuration and DSP make a much bigger difference than I had expected. They just feel so fast and snappy compared to anything else I've heard (including $100k+ speakers on $30k amps). With over 5,000 watts on my front soundstage now (for a total of 10,000W including sub and surrounds), the sound is HUGE and completely effortless! The Catalysts are incredibly nimble yet full of unrelenting, crystallized slam when called upon.

I played a few favorite music tracks and the Catalysts handled them with aplomb and dynamism. Acoustics instruments shine -- guitar plucks are crystal clear and cymbals shimmer appropriately.

In fact, that word keeps popping into my head as a descriptor -- CRYSTAL. The sound characteristic is crystalline beauty... at least until 120dB hits and melts your face (even at those levels it is still remarkably clear). I look forward to getting the stands for the Left and Right speakers to get them at an ideal height -- the tweeters are currently only 20" off the ground.

As a filmmaker, the center channel is my baseline. It is the heart of a system. Your HT is only as good as your center channel. In my quest for center channel perfection, I almost had JMLab-Focal build a custom center which was essentially a Grand Utopia BE flipped on its side. How crazy would that have been? Well, now I know that would have been a serious waste of money and space! The Catalyst center channel is my new point of reference. The gauntlet has been thrown. There's a new king of the hill.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was auditioning and seriously considering some of the best audiophile speakers on the planet. Boy am I glad I stumbled across Mark's designs!

Ok, back to work! I'll type out more detailed impressions soon... stay tuned!

Here are a few quick snapshots:
mfine

Registered: 07/31/07
Posts: 534
Posted 11/10/08 Reply with quote  #2 
they make that TV look tiny
fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/10/08 Reply with quote  #3 
I think that might actually be "in Mark's room"
mfine

Registered: 07/31/07
Posts: 534
Posted 11/10/08 Reply with quote  #4 
probably his driveway, measured relatively nearfield to try and isolate the speaker output from any reflections.  If not, I am buying his house! 
Mark_Seaton

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Registered: 05/29/07
Posts: 1,499
Posted 11/13/08 Reply with quote  #5 
Hi guys,

Here is a measurement of the response of the speakers Peter will likely be listening to this afternoon.

There were some further refinements to the response posted above.  As mfine correctly guessed, these are gated/windowed measurements taken with my TEF25.  There are some humps in the 100-500Hz range that are due to the space they were measured in, but this is a pretty good single-measurement look at the response above 100Hz.  These are taken at an arbitrary level, and have no significance to sensitivity or output capability.  The blue line is of course the frequency response which shows only +/-1.8dB of variance at the 1/3rd octave smoothing level many other manufacturers use to show the response of their speakers.  1/3rd octave displays are quite useful for seeing the overal trending of the response, and you can see how neutral this speaker is voiced on axis.  With somewhat higher directivity from the upper end of the 8" coaxial driver, this makes for a neutral to slightly bass strong balance in most listening spaces, where placement and room acoustics still dominate the observed result.  We'll soon hear what Peter thinks.

The brown curve is the phase response.  Remember this is a 3 way loudspeaker, and note that the scale on the right is +180 to -180 degrees.  With a little searching, you will see that many speakers will wrap 1-4 times through this same scale.  The benefit of this characteristic is that above ~350Hz, this measurement shows all frequencies arriving at the listener within a window of less than 0.35ms.  This isn't a quality or a quantity we often hear or look at, but this is actually very good performance... and even better for a 3 way design, where many 2 way designs don't perform as well in this regard. 



Attached Images
Name: Catalyst_Near_Response-thir.jpg, Views: 28986, Size: 99.51 KB



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Mark Seaton
Seaton Sound, Inc.
sales@seatonsound.net
773-290-8436

fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/13/08 Reply with quote  #6 
They just arrived! Quite the workout going up a steep driveway and two flights of stairs   Unpacking now...
MikeDuke

Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 1,013
Posted 11/13/08 Reply with quote  #7 
That's great.  Hopefully you can get them up and running soon.
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I simply love this stuff.
fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/13/08 Reply with quote  #8 
Updated with some eye candy!
Mark_Seaton

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Registered: 05/29/07
Posts: 1,499
Posted 11/14/08 Reply with quote  #9 
Great to hear that the Catalysts met your high expectations, as you have some unique points of reference in having owned both the best Aerial center channel (CC5) and then the ultra high efficiency JTR Triple 12LFs(great sounding pro speaker) which I helped Jeff design.  Both of these are from entirely opposite ends of the spectrum, with the Catalyst and interesting point in between IMO.  Too bad the stands were a little behind the speakers in delivery, but you can get the L/R at the planned height as soon as you return from your trip, although that's a good confirmation that the speakers are quite well behaved both on and off axis.

I am quite excited to get another set running for myself!  ...assuming I get to keep the one of the 2 sets I'm building up next. 

I very much look forward to further impressions of the Catalysts by yourself and others in the Bay Area. 

Finally, thank you for the high quality of "quick pics" of the Catalyst.  It's always nice to have a real photog occasionally contribute, even if casually. 



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Mark Seaton
Seaton Sound, Inc.
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773-290-8436
MikeDuke

Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 1,013
Posted 11/14/08 Reply with quote  #10 
If you did not have the pictures up, there would be some real problems.  Real nice pictures of them.  The room looks great.    Can't wait to hear some thoughts on them. 

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I simply love this stuff.
engtaz

Registered: 09/15/07
Posts: 57
Posted 11/14/08 Reply with quote  #11 
Very very nice setup

engtaz
fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/14/08 Reply with quote  #12 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_Seaton

Finally, thank you for the high quality of "quick pics" of the Catalyst.  It's always nice to have a real photog occasionally contribute, even if casually. 


It helps that the subjects are rather photogenic!
How about I run 'em through a Maxim-style shoot?
fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/14/08 Reply with quote  #13 
Updated with some first impressions.
MikeDuke

Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 1,013
Posted 11/15/08 Reply with quote  #14 
Great first thoughts.  Interesting coments about the JM Labs.  I am running the 1027's with a cc901 center.  At some point, I will match the center and surrounds.  There is just no way I can do Catalysts in my room.  Mark knows the story.  But I am thinking that if I match up the speakers, that should help me out regardless.  I would have to get the CC1000be and SR1000be speakers.  A fully matched system+the SubMersive should be quite nice.  But I am glad that the Catalysts are working out for you,  Some day, I will have an all Seaton theater....   Some Day. 
Again, congrats.

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I simply love this stuff.
wilson1

Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 30
Posted 11/15/08 Reply with quote  #15 
very impressive!

I am located in the SF bayarea, if you ever are ready for an open house, let me know.
engtaz

Registered: 09/15/07
Posts: 57
Posted 11/15/08 Reply with quote  #16 
The more I look the more I yearn for those.  Sweet.

engtaz
fugueness

Registered: 06/02/08
Posts: 137
Posted 11/16/08 Reply with quote  #17 
Quote:
Originally Posted by wilson1
very impressive!

I am located in the SF bayarea, if you ever are ready for an open house, let me know.



Will do! There will be a meet/demo in a couple weeks. Stay tuned!
MikeDuke

Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 1,013
Posted 11/16/08 Reply with quote  #18 

Man, I really need someone in the Philly metro area to get a set of these so I can check them out.
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I simply love this stuff.
SlowcarIX

Registered: 11/16/08
Posts: 2
Posted 11/17/08 Reply with quote  #19 

Quote:
Originally Posted by fugueness
Quote:
Originally Posted by wilson1
very impressive!

I am located in the SF bayarea, if you ever are ready for an open house, let me know.



Will do! There will be a meet/demo in a couple weeks. Stay tuned!

i need to go listen to your setup

sandbagger

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Registered: 06/26/07
Posts: 467
Posted 11/24/08 Reply with quote  #20 
Nice,  real nice Mark, and sounds like they work even better   From what I see looks like you have gotten much better with cabinet design these days, and these even have grills too.

I am looking forward to getting some sparks in the future but untill things settel down in the automotive world,  just cant spend the money.  I will have to settle for my submersive for now.

Now if I only still lived out in the bay area.
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Motor City Custom Audio
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