I always liked the Usher products, I use to stop in and visit them regularly when I was living in Taiwan back in 1999 and 2000. I bought several of their amplifiers.
@@garyteng999 Improving the sound of a speaker, is a combination of a few things, not just one. You probably would not be able to tell the difference ( maybe in your mind ) Check the wiring, if it's a see through jacket, check to see if it has gone green in colour, if so chance it. I use 14g silver coated copper wire. Get rid of the lugs and solder the wires direct to the drivers..
I was a dealer for the Usher line from when the Texan brothers brought them in til mid 2008. My memory exactly matches Danny's. We did very well with the Be-718, and I personally owned these speakers twice. We also sold the sonus faber Electa Amator II; that is, until we stocked the Be-718.
This cabinet isn't used any more, but I believe they still make a bookshelf using the same woofer and DMD tweeter. They previously had used DMD tweeter in this cabinet too after some drama regarding the small amount of beryllium in the tweeters
Some hi-fi reviewer is against upgrading a speaker because the upgrade destroys/distorts the original sound signature of the speaker. I think the Be-718 clearly demonstrates the upgrade maintains the sound signature (the impedence curve, spectral decay curve, and on-axis response remain the same), but it improves the sound quality significantly. So much so that Danny's upgrade became the standard in the American market, while the rest of the world kept the original/cheap parts version. In the sports car world, the American version usually gets a downgrade (in horse power, equipment, etc) while the rest of the world gets a higher performance version, nice to see it is the other way around in the hi-fi world sometimes.
Preaching to the choir, bud, but apparently no one else has the patience to set up their system until it sounds right to them. I had to do a lot of experimenting: positioning the speakers and the microphone. I eventually found that my denon microphone performed better than my Yamaha microphone. After approximately 100 runs, my speakers sound the best I've had them sound: they aren't "audiophile" quality but they are "autistic accepted". $2000 per system that sound as good as my headphones (hifiman xs), sometimes better, with better imaging imo. Considering all I use is Spotify, I'm good. And considering how much time it took to set up, it keeps me from upgrading. 😊
@@kohnfutner9637 You did good bud. Thats how it should be making the most of what you have first. It takes less effort to do room eq than buying expensive equipment that will leave someone unsatisfied. It's a game changer for me and I can't listen to music without it. I am done experimenting with equipment and swapping. This hobby is ridiculous if room eq or room treatment is not implemented. It doesn't make sense but just fooling oneself.
Tiny Dancers, the name given this model of Usher bookshelf speaker, were first manufactured around 2007. Their performance over time has apparently been good enough to sustain production. The original model was known for having a low crossover point at around 1.8 kHz, which is why Usher provided the drivers required to pull it off. These are endgame for a high end bedroom or office system.
Nice! Question, Danny. I've got the most recent version of this speaker which is now called the Usher Dancer Mini-X Diamond. I rebuilt the crossovers and while the stock crossovers have a similar appearance and parts to these 718's in your video they did not have an electrolytic in there at all - all Rapport poly's and sand cast. I replaced all poly caps with Vcap ODAM (I know not your favorite) all bypassed by a Miflex KPCU .1uf, resistors changed to Mills, and wiring GR Research internal speaker wire. I left the inductors which were large gauge and robust. Sounds amazing. They use Diamond tweeters in these now (used to be soft dome then Beryllium) and the woofer appears to be the same or very similar. Question is, while I have not measured these I do hear a bit of a subtle ring when a particular key on a piano, for example, is hit that seems like it's within the midrange, possibly around that 1 khz area, and am now wondering if it is also due to not enough stuffing. The stuffing it came with is like a thin"sheet" of polyfill that's stapled on one side of the cabinet and wraps to the back and around to the other side where it is stapled. That's it. Should I put some more polyfill in the cabinet? I've got a bag of loose polyfill on hand, can I use that and stuff some in the cabinet? Any idea how much? Thanks!!
The ODAM is actually pretty good for the woofer cap, but it holds back openness and space in the top end. Then again, that by-pass cap will help that a little. Give a little added stuffing a try and hear what happens.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thanks, Danny! I do recall that some months later when I added the Miflex bypass caps to the ODAM's it really did in fact open things up quite a bit for sure. I've been reluctant to put a poly cap on it like the Sonicap (then bypassed by KPCU) because these diamond tweeters on these Usher's, while really really nice sounding, can be a touch toppy and revealing and I damped them down a bit for my tastes and gear. Might have to at least try some Sonicaps though one day. I'll give the polyfill a try, thanks!
Sean kind Thd insides with No Rez and maybe some glass wool near the port and behind the woofer if it’s not braced enough glue in some diagonals from sides to rear before adding no Rez
Woofer response and sound quality could be different with different amps too. Everyone has different taste and different room and audio gear. You will not know until you try it for yourself. I don't think He can design damper amount or xover that can make everyone happy. I have tested many xover parts on my DIY speakers. For example I had to switch many xover parts to make sound that I was looking for when I switched from tube amps to Tr. amp. I usually ended up using more oil cap on tweet side and less damper on woofer. Maybe he could give choices of resistors to control tweet level at least.
@@stephenyoud6125 thanks. These are robust actually. If you look up the new model, they changed the cabinet where it’s now rounded in back, full 1” thick walls, braced, and the front baffle is actually 1.5” thick. They weigh 33 lbs each. Kind of tanks. But I’ll definitely add some fill and will make sure there is some near the port. Thanks!
That woofer looks like the wilson watt puppy, maybe use the same magnet gauss and size, the only caveat is the 350 hz little dip that maybe affect the conga sounds and the side woods looks like a sonus faber, eitherwise I bet these speaker gives very good soundstage
I had a pair of these. They were advertised as having JPS internal wiring and came with two different crossovers....one was named "USA crossover" I don't recall the differences in the crossovers makeup.
Excellent work Danny , I brought a pair of these years ago . Unfortunately the BE718’s in the UK use the standard x-overs I don’t think upgraded crossovers was available over here back then . I’m into diy so wouldn’t mind upgrading the x-over components. Don’t suppose there’s a parts list ? If not suppose it’s worth changing all caps and resistors to same value sonicaps and mills resistors?
Danny idk how you feel about reggae but you should check out "Mike love and the full circle live at home in Hawaii" it is a tremendous live recording. Mike love is probably one of the best male vocalists of his time and he is also a virtuosic guitarist and his band is incredible. It's the tightest love performance I've ever heard and it's extremely well recorded.
Danny, that seems like sneaky behaviour on the part of the manufacturer. They got you to develop a high quality crossover that makes a reasonably priced speaker sing and gets great reviews. Then they discretely revert to a more basic crossover for some markets using crappy parts, all the while benefiting from the reputation garrnered from the great reviews. I'd be rightly annoyed if I had bought one of these only to find it had the crappy crossover! Its like buying a Ferrari only to find it has a Kia engine under the hood!
Well, this really was not a factory mod even though it was factory installed. It was implemented for the North American importer. So it only went in the models sent to North America.
Don't tell the snake oil police that better parts sound better, because they say all wire & parts sound the same, this is because they have had their brains boiled by listening to others that have no idea & haven't listened for themselves, another brilliant video Danny 👍
I need bigger wires running from Spotify headquarters to my receiver. Oh and higher gauge interconnects between where the audio data is downloaded to the point it is uploaded.
You are absolutely right, I went so far as to reorient my speaker cables so that they were parallel to the earth magnetic field to avoid flux linkage. The results were amazing, greater sound stage, more open and dynamic...worth the effort...
your poking fun isn't funny have a little think about it a scam gets uncovered quickly yet the cable industry has been around for decades and keeps growing it's a huge market, sure some of the prices are ridiculous but it's not just cables ! amps speakers , source components have gone silly to. If what electrical engineers that claim there is no difference were right all amps and speakers would all sound the same and there would be no hi end because what would be the point. You can't measure timbre, tonal colours, stage depth and width, resolution, pace, rhythm, timing, yet these all exist
I dont think the spakers were produced in China, but rather Taiwan (or perhaps you have adopted the official Taiwanese line, claiming Taiwan to be the real China?)
I had mine with crossover same like that. Comparing it to my xavian xn175mk2, i like the xavian more. My be718 xover was upgraded with high quality cables, mundorf caps and hieg end resistors by the previous owner. But the difference is not much.
What I saw in the measurement there told me that there was not enough insulation in the box. Sticking some felt in the port was a way to quickly confirm it. It was not left with a port stuffed.
@ Regardless, “stuffing” equals what measurement-wise? Did you stuff each speaker? How did you know how much to stuff - trial, error, or measurement? Hahaha My point, and my “bunged” Tannoy’s are here to validate “stuffing”. Time to measure bungs!
@@zizendorf No, sticking a piece of felt in the port was only done on this speaker (that I just measured) to see if that extra energy, showing up in the spectral decay, was exiting the port.
I always liked the Usher products, I use to stop in and visit them regularly when I was living in Taiwan back in 1999 and 2000. I bought several of their amplifiers.
I have done this mod on my BE 718's and the sound is great
Imagine how it would be if you did the upgrade
I have a pair of be718, just wondering change the wire in the box improve the sound?
@@garyteng999 Danny supplied good wire to me
@@garyteng999 Improving the sound of a speaker, is a combination of a few things, not just one. You probably would not be able to tell the difference ( maybe in your mind ) Check the wiring, if it's a see through jacket, check to see if it has gone green in colour, if so chance it. I use 14g silver coated copper wire. Get rid of the lugs and solder the wires direct to the drivers..
The speaker that put Usher on the map. I knew you were involved with it, fantastic story. I always liked the Usher sound
Always like this channel... Happy new year from Italy
I was a dealer for the Usher line from when the Texan brothers brought them in til mid 2008. My memory exactly matches Danny's. We did very well with the Be-718, and I personally owned these speakers twice. We also sold the sonus faber Electa Amator II; that is, until we stocked the Be-718.
Well that’s awesome to hear from someone that actually worked with the actual units in their time. Very cool to hear! Thanks 🙏
Had a pair once upon a time on which i modded the xover with the GR research kit. Took it from like a 6/10 speaker to a 9/10 speaker
This cabinet isn't used any more, but I believe they still make a bookshelf using the same woofer and DMD tweeter. They previously had used DMD tweeter in this cabinet too after some drama regarding the small amount of beryllium in the tweeters
Great Story... Thanks
Awesome story.
Some hi-fi reviewer is against upgrading a speaker because the upgrade destroys/distorts the original sound signature of the speaker. I think the Be-718 clearly demonstrates the upgrade maintains the sound signature (the impedence curve, spectral decay curve, and on-axis response remain the same), but it improves the sound quality significantly. So much so that Danny's upgrade became the standard in the American market, while the rest of the world kept the original/cheap parts version. In the sports car world, the American version usually gets a downgrade (in horse power, equipment, etc) while the rest of the world gets a higher performance version, nice to see it is the other way around in the hi-fi world sometimes.
Parts quality yes but I don't really see the upgrade from changing the values in this case
I have tried room sofware correction. Any speaker will sound better if implemented. Do this first if in a budget.
Preaching to the choir, bud, but apparently no one else has the patience to set up their system until it sounds right to them.
I had to do a lot of experimenting: positioning the speakers and the microphone. I eventually found that my denon microphone performed better than my Yamaha microphone.
After approximately 100 runs, my speakers sound the best I've had them sound: they aren't "audiophile" quality but they are "autistic accepted". $2000 per system that sound as good as my headphones (hifiman xs), sometimes better, with better imaging imo.
Considering all I use is Spotify, I'm good. And considering how much time it took to set up, it keeps me from upgrading. 😊
@@kohnfutner9637 You did good bud. Thats how it should be making the most of what you have first. It takes less effort to do room eq than buying expensive equipment that will leave someone unsatisfied. It's a game changer for me and I can't listen to music without it. I am done experimenting with equipment and swapping. This hobby is ridiculous if room eq or room treatment is not implemented. It doesn't make sense but just fooling oneself.
Parts exspress used to sell usher drivers , i purchased a lot back in the day for custom builds . Great sounding stuff
Great video - really interesting. Thank you
It looks kind of like the bigger hi-vi swan powered bookshelf speakers
Tiny Dancers, the name given this model of Usher bookshelf speaker, were first manufactured around 2007. Their performance over time has apparently been good enough to sustain production. The original model was known for having a low crossover point at around 1.8 kHz, which is why Usher provided the drivers required to pull it off. These are endgame for a high end bedroom or office system.
Nice! Question, Danny. I've got the most recent version of this speaker which is now called the Usher Dancer Mini-X Diamond. I rebuilt the crossovers and while the stock crossovers have a similar appearance and parts to these 718's in your video they did not have an electrolytic in there at all - all Rapport poly's and sand cast. I replaced all poly caps with Vcap ODAM (I know not your favorite) all bypassed by a Miflex KPCU .1uf, resistors changed to Mills, and wiring GR Research internal speaker wire. I left the inductors which were large gauge and robust. Sounds amazing. They use Diamond tweeters in these now (used to be soft dome then Beryllium) and the woofer appears to be the same or very similar. Question is, while I have not measured these I do hear a bit of a subtle ring when a particular key on a piano, for example, is hit that seems like it's within the midrange, possibly around that 1 khz area, and am now wondering if it is also due to not enough stuffing. The stuffing it came with is like a thin"sheet" of polyfill that's stapled on one side of the cabinet and wraps to the back and around to the other side where it is stapled. That's it. Should I put some more polyfill in the cabinet? I've got a bag of loose polyfill on hand, can I use that and stuff some in the cabinet? Any idea how much? Thanks!!
The ODAM is actually pretty good for the woofer cap, but it holds back openness and space in the top end. Then again, that by-pass cap will help that a little. Give a little added stuffing a try and hear what happens.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thanks, Danny! I do recall that some months later when I added the Miflex bypass caps to the ODAM's it really did in fact open things up quite a bit for sure. I've been reluctant to put a poly cap on it like the Sonicap (then bypassed by KPCU) because these diamond tweeters on these Usher's, while really really nice sounding, can be a touch toppy and revealing and I damped them down a bit for my tastes and gear. Might have to at least try some Sonicaps though one day. I'll give the polyfill a try, thanks!
Sean kind Thd insides with No Rez and maybe some glass wool near the port and behind the woofer if it’s not braced enough glue in some diagonals from sides to rear before adding no Rez
Woofer response and sound quality could be different with different amps too. Everyone has different taste and different room and audio gear. You will not know until you try it for yourself. I don't think He can design damper amount or xover that can make everyone happy. I have tested many xover parts on my DIY speakers. For example I had to switch many xover parts to make sound that I was looking for when I switched from tube amps to Tr. amp. I usually ended up using more oil cap on tweet side and less damper on woofer. Maybe he could give choices of resistors to control tweet level at least.
@@stephenyoud6125 thanks. These are robust actually. If you look up the new model, they changed the cabinet where it’s now rounded in back, full 1” thick walls, braced, and the front baffle is actually 1.5” thick. They weigh 33 lbs each. Kind of tanks. But I’ll definitely add some fill and will make sure there is some near the port. Thanks!
Lovely box!
I will start looking for a pair imported here from the US :-) Very nice video
That woofer looks like the wilson watt puppy, maybe use the same magnet gauss and size, the only caveat is the 350 hz little dip that maybe affect the conga sounds and the side woods looks like a sonus faber, eitherwise I bet these speaker gives very good soundstage
They image quite well after the upgrade. Wilson Watt Puppy's up next. :-)
Nice video, Danny.
I Have a Pair, but the tweeter is broken, your best recomendation for repair this bookshelf
Contact the Usher importer and see if they can get you a replacement Be tweeter.
Very cool story.
I had a pair of these. They were advertised as having JPS internal wiring and came with two different crossovers....one was named "USA crossover" I don't recall the differences in the crossovers makeup.
Yep, that one had my handy work in them.
Those loudspeakers look like my TAOC FC3000 CORONET.
Is there any downside to the floorstanding version of the encore over the standmount? Does it image as well?
There is zero downside, it plays lower, and you don't have to buy stands.
@@dannyrichie9743 👍
Another great episode! Hey, what’s your T-shirt size, by the way…😎🙏
I wear a large. Thanks!
Can I still get this upgrade kits outside US? I have a pair of be718 in Taiwan now.
Yes, I can ship you everything you need.
Excellent work Danny , I brought a pair of these years ago . Unfortunately the BE718’s in the UK use the standard x-overs I don’t think upgraded crossovers was available over here back then . I’m into diy so wouldn’t mind upgrading the x-over components. Don’t suppose there’s a parts list ? If not suppose it’s worth changing all caps and resistors to same value sonicaps and mills resistors?
I can send you everything that you need.
Danny idk how you feel about reggae but you should check out "Mike love and the full circle live at home in Hawaii" it is a tremendous live recording. Mike love is probably one of the best male vocalists of his time and he is also a virtuosic guitarist and his band is incredible. It's the tightest love performance I've ever heard and it's extremely well recorded.
Why did they tilt the front?
buy them at 2nd hand market when they crop up for sale.
Any thoughts on how this would compare to the Tyler T1 that you designed the crossover for and did a video on about 3 years ago?
Closely.
I do believe Usher did or still makes Tad Speaker cabinets.
this was a fun one...
Danny, that seems like sneaky behaviour on the part of the manufacturer. They got you to develop a high quality crossover that makes a reasonably priced speaker sing and gets great reviews. Then they discretely revert to a more basic crossover for some markets using crappy parts, all the while benefiting from the reputation garrnered from the great reviews. I'd be rightly annoyed if I had bought one of these only to find it had the crappy crossover! Its like buying a Ferrari only to find it has a Kia engine under the hood!
Well, this really was not a factory mod even though it was factory installed. It was implemented for the North American importer. So it only went in the models sent to North America.
The original crossover was very similar in terms of values so the USA version was only a slight change but with better parts
Why does the new one have three inductors?
They always did.
I read the review. That sucks that they gave credit to a Taiwanese and Apolitto
They are from Taiwan
The company is from Taiwan, but assembly is in China like everything else.
Electrovoice is top not this...😂😂😂
Don't tell the snake oil police that better parts sound better, because they say all wire & parts sound the same, this is because they have had their brains boiled by listening to others that have no idea & haven't listened for themselves, another brilliant video Danny 👍
I didnt buy into the whole notion of heaver gauge wires, speaker chords... I am a total believer. When I heard the difference it was UNMISTAKABLE.
I need bigger wires running from Spotify headquarters to my receiver. Oh and higher gauge interconnects between where the audio data is downloaded to the point it is uploaded.
You are absolutely right, I went so far as to reorient my speaker cables so that they were parallel to the earth magnetic field to avoid flux linkage. The results were amazing, greater sound stage, more open and dynamic...worth the effort...
V
your poking fun isn't funny have a little think about it a scam gets uncovered quickly yet the cable industry has been around for decades and keeps growing it's a huge market, sure some of the prices are ridiculous but it's not just cables ! amps speakers , source components have gone silly to. If what electrical engineers that claim there is no difference were right all amps and speakers would all sound the same and there would be no hi end because what would be the point. You can't measure timbre, tonal colours, stage depth and width, resolution, pace, rhythm, timing, yet these all exist
How can i upgrade my Boston Acoustics cs260 speakers. Gordon from South Africa 🤗
I dont think the spakers were produced in China, but rather Taiwan (or perhaps you have adopted the official Taiwanese line, claiming Taiwan to be the real China?)
I am pretty sure we shipping the completed crossovers to China for assembly.
I had mine with crossover same like that. Comparing it to my xavian xn175mk2, i like the xavian more. My be718 xover was upgraded with high quality cables, mundorf caps and hieg end resistors by the previous owner. But the difference is not much.
Oh.great, you received a Lips in LLC tee.Ickey Mickey is my favorite accountant.Im not sure if you can call his music,music.
Looks like another daughter got married. Congrats!
Ah yes, reason for his groomed haircut! lol
Well, that was two years ago but thanks for remembering it.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 joy for babies
Wait isn’t he the XO designer of this speakers? Or my memory is off.
The hi fi biz is very strange. They all have access to the same tools as you but some how it bypassed them...??????
I can give you every tool a mechanic could ever want and you still won't be a mechanic.
When will you go an upgrade for my Bluetooth signal? Or whatever connects my receiver to Spotify. 🤔. Maybe i need thicker air waves amplifiers.
1
I’m against everything this guy stands for. I can’t handle the deception I’m out .
Please explain to the audience - what deception is hurting your tender little feelings?
@ one day you’ll figure it out for your self
Troll
Ah, I am so sorry that I hurt your feelings. Do I need to send you a little Hallmark card to make you feel better?
So, in other words, you improve this expensive-overpriced speaker by stuffing the port. LOL That's some crappy design engineering! Whatever works...
What I saw in the measurement there told me that there was not enough insulation in the box. Sticking some felt in the port was a way to quickly confirm it. It was not left with a port stuffed.
It clearly makes sense sense@dannyrichie9743
@ Regardless, “stuffing” equals what measurement-wise? Did you stuff each speaker? How did you know how much to stuff - trial, error, or measurement? Hahaha
My point, and my “bunged” Tannoy’s are here to validate “stuffing”. Time to measure bungs!
@@zizendorf No, sticking a piece of felt in the port was only done on this speaker (that I just measured) to see if that extra energy, showing up in the spectral decay, was exiting the port.