Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
|
Reviews 1 - 5 (13 Reviews Total)
|
| Next 15 |
User Reviews
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
GoldenBear50
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: February 26, 2005
Strengths: Heavy, sturdy enclosures...been moved from Texas to S.C. to Florida and back to Texas. Held up well.
Highs and bass are extremely clear.Weaknesses: Mid-range seems a bit lacking compared to some newer speakers on the market.Bottom Line: Purchased Norman Lab 10's in 1976 to replace a set of Bose 501's. Have used them ever since with great satisfaction. Been thinking of replacing them with a matched set for Home Theatre. Would desire better surrounds and center speaker. Any suggestions?
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At: Waco, Texas
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
scgypsy9
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: February 21, 2005
Strengths: Great sound, very subtle highs and lows. Also, can take just about anything you want to put behind them. Have outlasted a Pioneer, Kenwood and Sherwood Receiver.Weaknesses: Large and heavyBottom Line: I worked at Norman Laboratories in Norman, OK in 1978-1979 building prototypes for future models. I built the set of Model 8's that I have myself. They are not much different than the ones that were for sale, but I did take a little more care in the cabinetry and assembly of these speakers. The woofers came from belgium and we tweeked them with a ferrite solution to improve them.
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At: Factory
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
KET66
a AudioPhile
from Date Reviewed: January 14, 2005
Strengths: Warm; incredible bottom end; crisp highs; efficient. Very muscular. Beautiful cabinets.Weaknesses: Big, heavy.Bottom Line: I have owned a pair of Norman Laboraties model Tens since about 1977. Stunning speakers when coupled with the Norman Labs equalizer. I've never needed to even consider a subwoofer or new speakers as I updated everything else I owned. I recently found a pair of model Nines on ebay and bought them. This was their flagship speaker. I couldn't afford these back in '77. (about $850.00 each then) But I have never heard better speakers. Just a fantastic, powerfully smooth sound. And I am tickled to finally own a pair. Once again, the Norman EQ makes a huge difference. My Yamaha EQ didn't have near the positive effect.
Norman Laboratories built speakers in Norman, OK from the mid '70s throughout the '80s. Other posts have said they went out of business in '95. Could be. I just know that these are collector's items. There isn't a new speaker anywhere that I have heard that can touch them. My opinion, of course.
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At: eBay
Similar Products Used: Norman Laboratories Model Tens
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Todd A Walls
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: December 2, 2003
Strengths: Strong bass for a bookshelf speaker. It rivals most tower systems. Midrange is flat, with an airy high end. Walnut cabinet is solidly crafted.Weaknesses: Consider this the opposite of the Klipsch sound. I prefer a sharper tweeter with more presence when playing dance or house music, but the delicate sound has grown on me as my musical tastes have changed over the years. The clear yet smooth treble makes these undesirable for hard rockers, but perfect for classical vocals and instruments, as well as other music where accuracy is more desirable than power.
Not compatible with some amplifiers. Specifically, I had to return a Peavy power amp because its internal circuit protection would trip immediately with the Norman's, but worked fine with other speakers. I was told that the Model 7's were an "active load", electronically speaking, though I have no proof of that.Bottom Line: (That was the price per pair.)
These Norman Laboratories Model 7's have a 12" woofer and a pair of surface-blocked tweeters as others have mentioned. The cabinet is HDF, high density fiberboard, with a full fiber fill of some kind. It has a low-high brightness toggle on the back, which I switch depending on the acoustics of the current room and my typical listening area.
These speakers don't have a sharp edge anywhere, sonically speaking. I would call it a "sweet" sound, though I tend to crank up the treble to bring it out more.
I purchased them around 1978, brand new, with a pile of dough from my $2 an hour job (and a little help from my dad). I was only 14, but knew good sound when I heard it.
My dad always had these Universal 3C speakers when I was growing up, which are tough as nails and harder than a rock--the opposite of the Norman sound.
The Universals were In-your-face in an instant, while the Model 7's spread slowly through you like a warm shot of brandy on a cold winter day. Go figure, I guess I was rebelling in some subtle way.
Norman Labs have a distinctive sound, like all great classic speakers, and I am sorry to hear that no more will ever be made.
For those of you with experience with other model Labs, the main difference in the Model 7 sound in comparison with those is a deeper bass response. I don't have any testing equipment, but I bought the 7's overtly to compensate for years of listening to a cheapo no-bass Lloyd record-changer. I wanted to FEEL the music. Many of my neighbors have felt it, too, over the last quarter-century--to their dismay. :)
...and this is a bookshelf speaker.
I have personally witnessed the windows rattling on my neighbors house when playing "Children of the Sun" a half-acre away.
Don't bother to e-mail me asking to buy them. I ain't selling, no way, no how. I'm too sentimental for these babies.
To sum up the Norman Lab experience:
I tend to close my eyes when listening to them. It feels like floating.
I highly recommend you look for pair for yourself from some poor lost soul who doesn't know what they have. Buy a slice of audio history. You won't be disappointed.
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At: Audio Warehouse
Similar Products Used: Time Window, Klipsch Reference 7 series.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Campagnolo
a AudioPhile
from Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003
Weaknesses: Wire clips on back look cheap, but have never caused any problem.Bottom Line: I have a pair of Model 8 that have been in my family since the early 80's. They are fantastic. The sound is fantastic. The cabinet is very well built. We have played these for thousands of hours and still love them. If you can find some, buy them.
Similar Products Used: Klipsch RB-35 and Infinity Modulas System
|
Reviews 1 - 5 (13 Reviews Total)
|
| Next 15 |
Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
