Sunday, February 15, 2009

Speakers - DCM Timeframe 1000

I've had three pair of Timeframe speakers, and still have the 600's, which are my favorite. A friend has a pair of the 2000's which are so rare that when I called DCM to get a .pdf manual emailed to me, the person who answered the phone had never heard of them. Anyway, the 1000's are nice-sounding speakers, albeit a little on the large size (don't get me started on how big the 2000's are!). Timeframes are transmission line speakers which I'll leave to Wikipedia to explain HERE. Regardless of the technology, I find them to be very accurate, crisp, and clean-sounding speakers. Paired with a good sub, and you have some of the best-sounding speakers for today's dollar. I like the 600's the best because they hit the right size/sound point for me. The 1000's had a bigger sound, not necessarily better, and were too big for my space.

If you have any photos, info, stories to tell about your DCM TF-1000 speakers, please leave a comment or email me.

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24 comments:

  1. I've had a set of TF-1000's since the fall of 1988! Still in my den...along with a DCM Powered Sub. Still sound as good as the day I brought them home.. The imaging it incredible!

    I'd like to replace the grills....a bit worn....but not bad for 21 year old speakers!

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  2. I have had a pair since 1988 as well. Great speaker. Unfortunately one tweeter got blown out years ago by my then brother-in-law. Just the other day got a replacement from PartsExpress (not from DCM since they don't make it anymore). Hope it doesn't turn out to be wasted time.

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  3. thanks for putting words to the dcm experience. as seems often the case for owners of these, i lucked into mine used from the previous owner whose wife couldn't cope with the size.
    i do appreciate them but haven't yet paired them with a powerful enough amp as yet. they operate so effortlessly, that i'd like to try them with something serious like a mac.
    has anyone had to repair the external connection post clip? it looks to have some tricks. i won't be trying it myself, but would appreciate any local knowledge on it if there's any out there.
    thanks,
    tom
    tsweetman@cogeco.ca

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  4. I just inherited a pair of tf1000 speakers and have them hooked up to a kenwood kr-7400. Listening value is priceless!
    Any idea of the monetary vale?

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  5. love my 1000's but i hate the damn spring loaded connectors, wish they had a proper screw type connector

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  6. Celina - Audio Blue Book has them valued at used retail between $258 and $315 for the pair. $350 though wouldn't be unheard of for the 1000's. I bought my pair for $85 and think I sold them for $300. Have fun with them!

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  7. I bought mine new from a Florida "gray" seller from the back advertising pages of a hi-fi mag, for 700 bucks--twas going for 1000 at circuit city. I've dragged it around for ages, and today it's in VA, and still sounds great. No sub woofer--I never thought I needed more base. It's powered by a Kenwood recvr, probably not enough wattage, but I still like the sounds of my vinyl and FM through the DCMs. My wife hates the size of them (oh! my decor....) but she is an exception to the usual gals who believe big is better.

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  8. I just aquired some TF5000 speakers (Im almost positive they are 5000....not 500, but I will check tonight when i get home) they look very much like the ones in the pic - I just have to redo the fabric on them -- I was searching online for specs - info/ I cant find nothing
    rossnjojo@hotmail.com - if anyone has info

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  9. hello all, i have the tf1000 since about 1988 and they are powered now with the adcom amp, originally with sae that was fantastic! using the servo controlled velodyne sub and saint saens organ concerto rocks!!!

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  10. I've a pair of these - original packaging boxes, warranty card - mint condition - one sock is sagging slightly at the top.... They DO sound great, but they just don't compare to the soundstage & accuracy of my Magnepans. So up for sale they will go.....

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  11. Hi there

    My name is Ben and I used to sell the intire line of DCMs. I loved the TF600s & the Time Windows
    But I own a pair of TF1000s since 1980s, I also own a pair of MacIntoush Mc30 mono blocks and Mac C20 as my pre-amp
    I wish I could share the experience listining to them specially on records. I have to say that I liked them even better than Martin Logans.

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  12. I have a pair of tf-2000s (s/n 534 and 535) which have sounded great since my dad bought them new as a demo (never made production because they were too expensive) in 1987. I will never let them go. sentimental, but I couldn't ask for better sound. They were $2000 a pair in 1987, and I have the boxes, warranty cards, and original hand written receipt. Don't get rid of your original DCMs!

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  13. Not sure if I can convince the guy who has them to keep them. He really needs the space, and as you know, these are HUGE speakers. Thanks for the comment though - great info there. If you know of anyone interested in purchasing a pair, have them contact me. Thanks.

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  14. I have 2 pair of TF1000's since 87' hooked into the Fosgate Five Surround processor, Rotel amps paired with Martin Logan sub. Great match up, can't find anything close for the money even by today's standards. My wife and I have replaced the black with biege fabric stockings. She did all the sewing - now has a vested interest in keeping them around.

    DCM is trying to make a come back with the Time Frame Evolution series. Reviews are quit good actually.

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  15. Stumbled on this a bit late. A little over a year since the last post. I auditioned the DCM Time Windows in 82 but went with Polk RTA 12B's instead. I found a pair of Time Windows in 2010 and bought them. Great speakers. I saw several pair of Time Frames hit Craigslist, 250's, 300 & 400's but let them go. I finally saw a pair of 600's for $100 and decided to take a listen. I was 10 minutes into the audition and handed the seller the money. Best deal I ever made. I love the in the room presentation they give not in your face like my Klipsch Hersey's. If I see another pair 600's, 700's or 1000's they are mine.

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  16. I too have the TF700's and love them. A sales guy the other day was trying to tell me I should get rid of these "old" speakers and get something more "up to date". If he only knew what we all know!

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  17. For ten years now I've been the proud owner of TF1000's. Amazing when coupled with a good amp. Mine are powered by Denon POA-6600 Mono Block Power Amplifiers. The speakers are huge - 2 feet wide and 4 feet high. My den is 11' x 20' and has acoustic panels and bass traps. The sound is amazing - soundstage and presance are beautiful. For the price - if you come across these you can't go wrong.

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  18. I might be buying the 1000's soon. Have a line on a pair... Currently own the 600's, and I've done A/B comparisons with them against Acoustic Research AR-9's (blew the AR's away), Bose 901 series IV (quite comparable, with a slight edge to the TF's), and various Klipsch towers, and a pair of Focal Chorus 726's. Nothing has ever beaten the 600's to my ears. Makes me tingle, thinking what the 1000's will sound like, paired with them on my Onkyo M-506 amp. There's a guy on ebay right now trying to sell a pair of 2000's, but he keeps asking too much, and only offering local pickup. He's relisted them 3 times and doesn't learn his lesson.

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  19. Old post I know, But I'm another TF2000 owner. SN 442 & 443. I don't have room for them at the moment to really enjoy them properly, but I can't get myself to get rid of them after hearing them. Very wide imaging and great overall sound. And they go LOUD :)

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  20. Grabbed a pair of Time Window 1a's for $200 that had been refinished cosmetically and had new socks . . those are hooked up to a Carver M1.5t with a Marantz pre that has a subwoofer output that lets me run LP/CD/MP3/Radio and HT through them if I want - right now its just vinyl and MP3 and FLAC. The flac sounds absolutely awesome.

    I have TF-1000's in the living room through a Yamaha HT receiver - these sound great. The room is big enough to let them open up - they get loud - not Cerwin Vega loud - but loud enough - and the other day the dear wife said - that sounds really nice. I could only smile.

    I have another pair of TF-1000 in the family room with the HT set up - again a higher quality Yamaha amp - and TF-600's in the bedroom.

    There is no real way to describe the Time Window imaging with 600w a channel on tap - simply omg.

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  21. I have a pair of black TF1000s Im looking to sell. They are in great shape with a couple of dings here and there, sound great with my HK amp, but now must find a new home.
    im in upstate NY. Make me an offer.
    drwelson@gmail.com

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  22. I have a pair of black TF1000s Im looking to sell. They are in great shape with a couple of dings here and there, sound great with my HK amp, but now must find a new home.
    im in upstate NY. Make me an offer.
    drwelson@gmail.com

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  23. Looking for dcmtf2000 for sale in Austin Texas thx

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  24. Still enjoying my '80's DCM 600's paired to my Yamaha stack M80 although I never thought of adding a sub woofer. I'll try adding as I have a spare Boston Acoustic 10" sitting around.

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