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REVIEW: SP Technology Timepiece 2.0 Speakers

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Model: Timepiece 2.0
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $2,795.00/pair
Description: 2- way, 8 inch single aluminum cone woofer and 1 inch waveguide loaded tweeter.
Manufacturer URL: SP Technology
Model Picture: View

Review by Tasos ( A ) on February 17, 2004 at 13:01:40
IP Address: 206.135.201.254
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for the Timepiece 2.0


I have owned the Timepiece 2.0 speakers for several weeks and am blown away by the sound quality and value these offer.

Having owned a handful of excellent high-end speakers, including Thiel 2.3, Vandersteen 2ce, Aerial 7B and Reference 3A models, and having visited a multitude of rooms at both the Stereophile and CES shows over the past few years, I write from a vantage point of at least some high-end listening experience.

Quite a few high-end speakers cannot reproduce deep bass; the ones that do often sound compressed at realistic listening levels. My favorite aspect of the Timepiece speakers is their powerful reproduction of bass notes -talk about realism! These can blow dry your hair with the proper music. Yet the bass notes are very well-defined, not just a blob of muddled low frequency noise.

In addition, the Timepiece speakers offer a smooth treble rendition, making music sound more natural. There is very little perceived grain or hash. The very high frequency range may be slightly rolled-off, but this is an advantage to my ears.

The most important spectrum of music - the midrange - is reproduced naturally without being too forward or, worse yet, recessed sounding. On Eleanor McEvoy's SACD, "Yola", McEvoy's voice sounds detached from the speakers, centrally located with great presence. There is good soundstage depth, but this varies on the recording, as it probably should on an accurate speaker. Imaging is outstanding, and a broad stage is presented with the location of instruments easily discernible in space.

I like that the Timepiece 2.0 speakers are not another 'me-too' product. There are plenty of 2-way speakers on the market utilizing good drivers and various crossover topologies, but differing from each other largely in minor ways. The Timepiece speakers utilize an innovative waveguide tweeter (which crossover is set at 950 Hz), a very rigid cabinet (by means of some innovative thinking beyond just thicker panel walls) utilizing a type of transmission line port, and several other innovative features, most of which I (not being an engineer) largely do not understand.

As a benefit, the Timepiece speakers are very well finished, with a black piano finished faceplate and real wood veneers on the sides. They are designed and manufactured in the good ol' USA.

If you are in the market for speakers and have $3k or even substantially more to spend, I recommend discovering the SP Technology speakers. As these speakers are rather inefficient, bring an amp with at least 200 watts/channel to the table, and you will enjoy awesome sound.

I have a feeling this company will do very well with the Timepiece model and gain well deserved attention for the superb sound quality and value they bring to the market.


Product Weakness: very inefficient; need stands for proper placement

needs stands for proper placement (I use the SP Technology Stands); requires powerful amp

Product Strengths: awesome frequency response; ability to play loud without compression; smooth response


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Musical Fidelity A308cr
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Musical Fidelity A308cr
Sources (CDP/Turntable): MF TriVista SACD; VPI Scout
Speakers: SP Technology Timepiece 2.0
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost Red Dawn
Music Used (Genre/Selections): pop; jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 17 x 13 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments: carpet; several rugs on the wall
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Richard Gray 600s
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: SP Technology Timepiece 2.0 Speakers - Tasos 13:01:40 02/17/04 ( 0)