Floor Loudspeaker Reviews

DCM Time Frame TF1000 loudspeaker Review System

Sidebar 1: Review System

The test procedure followed, with minor changes, that established for my previous loudspeaker reviews: each pair was used with a Mark Levinson No.26/No.20 combination—amplification unlikely to be used with any of these speakers but which would undoubtedly get the best from them—a Marantz CD94 CD player used via its optical digital output to feed a Marantz CDA94 outboard DAC unit, and a 1987 Linn Sondek/Ittok/Troika combination sitting on a Sound Organization table.

Interconnect was Madrigal HPC, speaker cable was also from Madrigal. The loudspeakers were carefully positioned for optimum performance, and, where practicable, coupled to the tile-on-concrete floor beneath the rug with Tiptoes. In addition to a rigorous listening test, with no other speakers in the room, the DCMs were used for an extended period of everyday use.—John Atkinson

COMPANY INFO
DCM Speakers
7676 S. 46th Street
Phoenix AZ 85040-6400
www.dcmspeakers.com
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COMMENTS
dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on April 7, 2017 - 11:17am

I loved the original DCM Time Windows, and I passed over them only when I decided to get the Dahlquist DQ-10's for the living room and LS3/5a's for the upstairs. The 1970's was an amazing time for speaker innovation, what with the three that I mentioned, the Bose 901, the Advents, the HMT's, and some great floorstanders like the HQD's, the IMF's, and the FMI's to name a few. The big ones were out of range of my budget then, but it's remarkable what I could afford on what would be a $50k salary today.

I've read here about how audiophiles can get much more for their money today, in terms of sound quality compared to the 1970's, but if those "affordable" speakers today are bland-looking boxes like the Advents were then, then I wouldn't be too excited about a review comparing, say, the 12 best affordable systems of the 1970's to the 12 best affordable systems of this decade. But, if there were much to be excited about with today's systems, aesthetically as well as for sound quality, that might make an interesting review.

Anton's picture
Submitted by Anton on April 7, 2017 - 12:25pm

When I was in college, I had a buddy who had a pair of these with a pair of Bose 901s sitting on top. His system was in a low ceilinged basement with peeling paint on the concrete walls. Lots of tapestries and head shop type decoration/accessories.

The 'Apocalypse Now!' soundtrack played back on his Linn table was hallucinogenic.

Talk about more than the sum of its parts.

I will love them forever.

monetschemist's picture
Submitted by monetschemist on April 9, 2017 - 6:53pm

... in the Audio Critic. I wanted them so badly...

For me that magazine was "shocking" in the truest sense of the word. Could there really be the kind of differences in equipment that were noted in the early days of TAC?

Whatever, I bought into it hook line and sinker. My fourth cartridge was a Fidelity Research FR1 Mk3F, thanks to TAC. My first MC head amp was a Marcof PPA-1, thanks to TAC. I bought and built a Hafler DH-200, thanks to TAC. I never did manage to find Time Windows nor Fouriers nor Threshold here to listen to (probably a good thing, but anyway).

Fortunately for me, the magazine was even harder to find in Vancouver than some of the gear they recommended, and when I moved offices in 1982 or so, I was no longer near the Vancouver Public Library main branch where I could find TAC back issues.

When TAC went off in new directions claiming that everything sounded the same, I was once again shocked. And by then, I didn't really believe it.

By the way if anyone is still looking for a DH 200 or a PPA-1 let me know (joking, sort of).

The O.D.'s picture
Submitted by The O.D. on April 13, 2017 - 2:32pm

I purchased a pair of the DCM Time Window 7s back in 1996 or 1997 (can't remember which year). 20 years later, they still sound as impressive as they did the day I bought them. I just recently updated to a set of the Paradigm Signature S6's, and with the exception of those fantastic Beryllium tweeters in the S6's, the Time Windows still hold their own. The old DCM made some impressive stuff before they went under.

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