I just ordered a pr. of walnut RL-3s today, they were ready to ship & hopefully I'll receive them in a few days, I live in Montana!

 Are there any other Decwareites near Billings, MT? Probably slim-pickens I'll bet!!! Maybe we could get together for good tunes & eats! Any takers?

 I think I'm going to set them up diagonally in my long, rectangular room! I may have less room treatment to do! Any tips or suggestions for a room: 12' wide, 28' long, with a 7' ceiling? Where would I put the first treatments & what kind? Do I come-out from the corner at a 45 degree angle Or can I use little more of the room, I'm not sure how to describe that last choice(maybe a bigger angle, an uneven angle)? Any info would be extremely appreciated!!!!

 Would my SE84cs amps monoed be similar in sound or power as a Taboo? I also have an old Hafler DH-200, but I know it's not any where near as good as the Selects! Thanks for listening to me ramble-on!!!!!

 Kelly Benson

Montana???!!!  I grew up in Dillon (maybe "grew up" is overstating it ).  I think you'll love your Radials, but they really need a good break-in.  I would set them up somewhere where you can leave them running 24/7 for at least 2 weeks (more is better if you can stand the wait) before you set them up in your main room (unless it is also the break-in room).  IMHO a minimum of 400 hours of break-in is necessary before you can give these guys a good evaluation.  Others may disagree.  All that is to say, be patient and don't judge them too quickly.  Maybe you already know all that.  Anyways, good luck and happy listening!  Keep us posted.

Scotty

I'd echo what Mike W. says.  Congratulations!

Thanks so much for your replies, guys!!!! I've pretty much been somewhat of a lurker since the first SE84C's appeared, bought one, then traded it in for 2 Selects right away(serial #'s: 33 & 34)!!!! It's really been enjoyable reading the posts throughout the years, I've learned a lot!!! I'm finally going to get to hear  most of the full potential of my Zen amps on great speakers!!! I could still improve my digital source & will be seeking a replacement for my Yamaha CDC-635, it sounds ok, but I really like the "output level control" with the remote(probably degrades the sound, but it's convenient with the Zens)! Are there any great-sounding changers with "output level controls" out there for under a $1000?

Thanks again for listening & your great replies!!!

Anxiously waiting,
KellyB

Just play what you would normally play as you would normally play it!  You'll have fun listening through the break in period. . . . Just know that some of the hairyscary wild and wooly moments won't last for too long!

You've a lot of fun ahead of you!  I love my RL2s, need to hear them every day and can't imagine being without them. ..unless I had RL1.5s or RL3s in their place!

Sorry I haven't gotten back with any comments yet! I've been on a short vacation, my daughter's college graduation, AND I've been working every day for two weeks straight!!! But I do offer my apologies!!!!

Lon: Thanks for the interest! Let me just say that I've got at least 200 hrs. so far with the 50 that Bob Z. said he log on them before they were sent! They arrived in excellent condition(very nice walnut finish) except for one of the covers was broke( U.P.S.) which was sent in a separate box that looked like something(Alien, no doubt) kicked it pretty hard!!! Bob is sending another one!!! Thanks Bob!!!!

Just a short note now, I'm going to write a review soon! I've only one thing to say: WOW!!! And I'll even say it backwards: WOW!!! I know they're still breaking in but the quickness of these speakers are amazing!!! I have an old set of Stax SRX-III electrostatic earspeakers, that are very articulate & the RL-3s are much better(tighter or quicker) in the lower register! The top end is still a little harsh(some say that it is shouty) but is still interesting to listen to!

I'm happy!!! Thanks for asking!!! I'll get around to writing a good review shortly, right now I'm too busy listening!!!!!! It's been raining all week & my lawn is WAY too long already, I think it will have to be grazed-on by goats! Less yard work, more listening time!!!!!!!!!  Later, Kelly!

Kelly,

I'm awful glad you are digging them.

I have to say that I personally run very high resistors in the tweeters because I find their output to be too lively otherwise in my untreated room. . . . They will lose that harshness in time, just a little more time. . . and still stay detailed and spunky.

Looking forward to further impressions. . . and enjoy!

KellyB,
That's great. I think I remember Bob telling me he had smoked a few tweeters trying to break them in with the test tones which is likely why they are done with music now. I thought the break in time was something like 200 hrs though. If they are still shouty (?) I wonder where you have them passed?
I know Bob runs them very high (>10K) so it is possible that is part of what you are hearing. The sets I have heard were very smooth in the high end.
I am not sure about your room, but I know the radials will do a better job further from the outside walls than other speakers. If you have a wide room, try moving them closer together (maybe as much as 60-72 inches from the walls?) and see how they sound. I would definitely play with the angles as well since those tweeters have varying on and off axis response. It could be as simple as that. The sweet spot for those things shouldn't be hard to find at all. One thing of note might be height though.
Without touching the position of the speakers, try this. Stand up between them and walk backwards all the way to the back wall. Then get closer to the ground and move back and forth in the room. (maybe use a tall chair?) Then try your usual listening position and try sitting up on the back of the seat, standing behind it, kneeling in front of it and getting down on the floor. I found in Bob's room that seating height was slightly low for the standard RL3. I am not sure if it will work, but you can try putting some feet or blocks under the back or front to change the angle too. If your seat is at just the right height, you may be catching the edge of that radial driver or on the opposite end, if it is too high, you may be catching the edges of the tube. (I doubt the latter).

Lot's of suggestions, but after playing with Bob's for a while in a good room, I found that the listening position height could make a big difference in the bass response and the high end smoothness so definitely take the time to experiment before giving any reviews. They sound great from anywhere, but when they are locked in, it is an experience to just sit and listen to them.

Take care,
Robert