DCM Time Frame comparison

hjames · May 5, 2012

Over the last couple months I've managed to collect a few pairs of the DCM Time Frame speakers.
I just got the TimePieces yesterday ... The TF1000s came earlier this week, and the TF700s were a couple weeks back.

The TF600s & TF400s came with black painted oak caps - ugh - I stripped them down to bare wood
and wiped with Watco's Danish Oil cherry finish, which looks great against the black grill cloth.

I'll post more info later, but I promised folks in another thread I'd do a quick comparison photo image -
so here you can see front and back of the TF700, TF600, TF500 and TF400 speakers.

(The TF500s & TF1000s don't have logos - I want to find a pair of the larger, later style logos for them.)

The order below is (JBL L200 custom 3 way with Walnut Smith Horn and 2" Mid- driver) and the DCMs are
TF1000, TF700, TF600, TF500, TF400 and a TimePiece satellite in the front.

And again, from left to right: pictures I took earlier, before I got the TF1000s & the TimePieces:

TF700, TF600, TF500, TF400 ...

I had to rebuild one of the cups for the TF500 with JBweld & converted it to to dual banana connectors - the others came that way.

I'd like to find a pair of TF2000 speakers at some point to complete the collection.

phatster · May 5, 2012

To make your quest complete you should make a point to talk to the original engineer who was brain child of DCM -Steve E. {can't remember spelling},other AK'er's will know.I saw a short video of him recently giving a presentation about speakers.He is definitely out there!Maybe he would have a line on the 1000/2000.The video was interesting as Steve gave insight as to what other speaker brands he "used" to model his creations.I appreciate your passion for DCM!

hjames · May 5, 2012

Sure - I saw a good chunk of that video with Steve Eberbach too ...
Here is a link to the AK thread about it - http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=436156

Direct link to the video is here - http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19914615/highlight/234880

I think Dahlquist, Carver (Amazings), and Magneplanar were the original impetus for DCM!

Here is a 3 page DCM TF1000 review that was part of a larger file CygnusDen uploaded in a later post.

Here is also a DC Speaker Repair Procedure document - another part of a larger file CygnusDen uploaded
- I split the file into discreet parts (Spec Sheets, reviews, etc)

Thanks to him so much for adding to the pooled info!

hjames · May 5, 2012

DCM Time Frame Spec sheets I got from other AK members ...
The first one is for the TF500 & TF350 models
The second is for the TF700 model (thanks Rodney!)

5/11 - Just added TF1000 spec sheets & Owner's Info (Thanks to CygnusDen!)

5/21 - Just added TF400 & TF600 spec sheets to make them all complete

Posting updates here just to keep then in a single post

If anyone has more of these DCM Time Frame Spec sheets,
please post them in the thread -
or let me know and I'll link them up into this thread

ronaldw441 · May 5, 2012

Completing the collection

hjames said:
I'd like to find a pair of TF1000 & TF2000 speakers at some point to complete the collection.

You'll also need some TF250's.

Ron

hjames · May 5, 2012

Links to DCM TF Rebuild threads

DCM TF700 Refurb thread - great crossover info!
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=171233

DCM TF600 thread - Beneath the socks!!
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=404302

DCM TF600 Crossover Revealed thread
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=172335

DCM TF400 Series II - Rebuild thread (non-AK Thread)
http://www.daicompacific.com/DCM.htm

Nice AK thread discussing the TF400 and a few other posts
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=203284

DCM TF350 thread - Rebuild with great pix:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=74591

And for replacement foam? "Audio Fan" just posted this in another thread:
Foam similar to what covers Timeframes can be bought as speaker foam from here "http://www.thefoamfactory.com"

Again, I'll add more info to this post once I find it!

hjames · May 5, 2012

DCM TimePiece Specs and Images

Found a Spec Sheet for the TimePiece Speakers - they sound interesting -
I'm not sure if they or the CX17 would be better for Center channel in a surround system with a roomfull of TimeFrames?

They are kinda cute 8x8x16 ...
Front port, concentric Mid/tweeter
FreqResp 60-20kHz but center doesn't have to go too deep.

Anyway - here is the spec sheet and some pix from another site ...

Update: Got a pair of these just before Memorial Day weekend and set one up as center in my Home Theater system.
I can tell it doesn't go as deep as the TF1000s I'm using as Mains, but dialog is clear and tonality otherwise matches very well.

Shackman55 · May 5, 2012

The TF700's are my main speakers in the house. I have had technically better, but no speaker has ever made me as happy as these DCM's. I have been offered some deals on other speakers but these have almost cured my fever to collect them. My criteria is now "Would this pair make my music listening better?" I used to cycle through a variety of them, but for a long time now, I can't bring myself to go to the effort of changing them out. As to the badges, take a look in the Bartertown seemed to me there was a pair up for grabs there.

Blue Shadow · May 5, 2012

hjames said:
...I'm not sure why the smaller ones would be compelling.

Larger ones, not smaller ones!

There is an AKer that prefers his 350s to the TW. Since the TW was the top-of-the-line, this is saying something. He did replace the woofers to allow them handle more power.

krowmagnum · May 5, 2012

Nice collection of Time Frames. I have a pair of 700's in my main system with a pair of Ohm Walsh 2's and they compliment each other in sound and looks.

I had a pair of 600's but passed those onto a friend because the 700's are so much better. The TF-700's are still my favorite speaker after hundreds of others have come and gone. Including Time Windows.

hjames · May 5, 2012

ronaldw441 said:
You'll also need some TF250's.

Ron

I want to hear larger Time Frames, not smaller ones!
Plus, I'm just not sure why the smaller ones would be compelling.

There are a pair of TF250s and a pair of TF350s available locally -
but both sellers want more than I care to pay for them ...
I'm not paying the same for the TF350s that I paid for the TF700s!

Blue Shadow said:
There is an AKer that prefers his 350s to the TW.
Since the TW was the top-of-the-line, this is saying something.
He did replace the woofers to allow them handle more power.

I've read that Time Windows were an earlier models, not necessarily "top of the line".
I haven't heard any Time Windows myself, so I don't have an opinion yet.

But before I add more speakers to my collection,
I still have that Dahlquist DQ10 with sub system that no one seems to want to buy!

krowmagnum · May 5, 2012

hjames said:
I want to hear larger Time Frames, not smaller ones!
Plus, I'm just not sure why the smaller ones would be compelling.

I've read that Time Windows were an earlier models, not necessarily "top of the line".
I haven't heard any Time Windows myself, so I don't have an opinion yet.

But before I add more speakers to my collection,
I still have that Dahlquist DQ10 with sub system that no one seems to want to buy!

I agree... There's only one way to go on the Time Frames. Larger, not smaller.

I had a pair of Time Windows and TF-600 Time Frames and they were both good speakers and similar. I think the Time Windows are better, but neither were for me and I think they were TOTL for DCM at the time. I already had a pair of TF-700's so that may explain why I sold the Time Windows and the TF-600's. Without the TF-700's I would probably still have the Time Windows.

I never heard the TF-350's but I can't imagine how they could be better than Time Windows. (Unless there was something wrong with the Time Windows). Anything is possible and everyone has their own preferences, but I would bet the mass majority of people who have heard both would disagree.

Those DQ-10's and sub set-up would be nice.... Luckily I'm too broke and too far away.

elgato8905 · May 5, 2012

krowmagnum said:
I agree... There's only one way to go on the Time Frames. Larger, not smaller.

My experience is different... I have two pairs of TF-600's, a pair of TF-1000's and I just recently got rid of a pair of TF-700's. I've also owned the Time Windows and a bunch of the lower number Time Frames. To my ears... The TF-600's win over all of them hands down. In fact hjames... If you were in Southern California, I'd make you a sweet deal on my TF-1000's. Eventually they'll be sold off.

Having said all that though... I will say that the DCM TF models have been amongst my favorite after trying probably over 100 different types of great speakers. They have been my daily drivers for over a year and I have no plans on changing them anytime soon. :thmbsp:

hjames · May 5, 2012

elgato8905 said:
My experience is different... I have two pairs of TF-600's, a pair of TF-1000's and I just recently got rid of a pair of TF-700's. I've also owned the Time Windows and a bunch of the lower number Time Frames. To my ears... The TF-600's win over all of them hands down. In fact hjames... If you were in Southern California, I'd make you a sweet deal on my TF-1000's. Eventually they'll be sold off.

Having said all that though... I will say that the DCM TF models have been amongst my favorite after trying probably over 100 different types of great speakers. They have been my daily drivers for over a year and I have no plans on changing them anytime soon. :thmbsp:

My current 2 channel setup in the living room means the speakers have to kind of float in the midst of that room. I do love the space - its got skylights and a cathedral ceiling and is wonderful for jazz and sunday mornin' chillin' sessions.

It was great for magneplanars, not bad for the DQ-10 system. The custom JBL L200s with Smith horns play well - but I suspect the TF600s with the rear facing drivers aren't at their best in this space - with no wall nearby to reflect off. That's probably the only reason the TF700s sound better in this space at the moment. All speakers are a bit of a compromise with real living spaces ...

I did notice a change when I put the Jolida JD202BRC back in the system. I have a Carver receiver that has more power and works better with the Dahlquists and their passive sub, but the DCMs TF700s at 90db are almost as efficient as the custom JBLs - they play great with 40 watts of tubes!

Whenever I get rid of the big 4341 JBL studio monitors downstairs, I'd love to move the big DCMs downstairs, and they'd probably be just right for that space. It'd sure simplify everything downstairs - letting me get rid of the biamp gear and all of that ...

ScramMan2 · May 5, 2012

Blue Shadow said:
There is an AKer that prefers his 350s to the TW. Since the TW was the top-of-the-line, this is saying something. He did replace the woofers to allow them handle more power.

Thanks Blue Shadow .. thats me. I have the TW-1. Original unmodded.

Prefer my modded TF-350. New caps, new woofers in both, 5-way binding post input terminals. The originals had crummy push terminals. End caps are minty original oak, and the socks are in very good condition. I power these with 36 w/ch of KT88 tube output from my PrimaLuna Prologue 5. Makes them sing, I hear every little nuance of changes with power cords and interconnects. I'm looking forward to adding a Redboy passive pre soon.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=400212

Thanks for uploading the spec sheets Heather.

hjames · May 5, 2012

ScramMan2 said:
Thanks Blue Shadow .. thats me. I have the TW-1. Original unmodded.

Thanks for uploading the spec sheets Heather.

You're welcome. I just think they are very cool speakers & sound amazing.
Anything relevant I can find I'll load to this reference thread here and share with all of you!

hjames · May 9, 2012

I did get an email back from Steve Eberbach today. He sounds interested in this support thread and
sounded willing to share some of his info with us, but I gather its been quite a while since he dug
through his archives, and it could take some time for him to do so. Lets be patient with his gift!

So - don't expect anything right away, but whatever he may be willing to share would be fantastic to all of us fans!
Anything I get that he clears for publication will get posted to this thread - but again, it may be a while ...

Plus - I gather he also has a life beyond his time with DCM so many years ago ... (smile) so your patience is a virtue.

Thanks again for your interest and your support!

ranch 22b · May 9, 2012

As someone who really appreciates his work (TF 600, TW 1), I hope he responds! And I tip my hat to you for contacting him.

elgato8905 · May 9, 2012

ranch 22b said:
As someone who really appreciates his work (TF 600, TW 1), I hope he responds! And I tip my hat to you for contacting him.

YES!!! :thmbsp:

ramzilla · May 10, 2012

My TF600 are looking forward to hearing from their biological dad.

DCM Time Frame comparison

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