Human Loudspeakers Model 81 Review Thread

tesseract

Senior Admin
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
1,266
Location
Lincoln, NE
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Emotiva XMC-1
Main Amp
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2
Additional Amp
Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 2
Other Amp
Dayton SA1000
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Sony BDP S590 & Pioneer DV-610AV
Front Speakers
JTR NOESIS 210 RT - L/R mains
Center Channel Speaker
Chase SHO-10 - Center
Surround Speakers
Chase PRO-10 - Surrounds
Subwoofers
Chase VS-18.1 x 2 - Subwoofers
Video Display Device
Vizio E550VL
Streaming Subscriptions
h/k TC35C/Ortofon Super OM10/Pro-Ject Phono Box S
Tesseract - Would you like to spend some time with these guys when I am done? You have a great set of ears, and a review from you would be most helpful.

They sound like winners and I'd love to spend some time with them. Currently house-hunting and hope to have a dedicated listening room for review purposes.

I'll reach out to you should it happen soon. Thanks for the offer, Craig!
 

Craig Chase

Member
Lifetime Supporter
Thread Starter
Joined
May 6, 2017
Messages
31
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Marantz 7008 / Outlaw Audio 975
Main Amp
Axiom 1500-4, Axiom 1000-5
Additional Amp
Marantz 250 M
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo 203
Front Speakers
Legacy Signature SE's, Axiom LFR-1100's, Klipsch
Center Channel Speaker
Klipsch RC-64II, Axiom VP180 HP
Surround Speakers
ACI, Axiom, Klipsch
Subwoofers
PowerSound Audio, Rythmik, Axiom
Video Display Device
LG Projector
Screen
Da-Lite 54x96
We are getting close to wrapping things up here. The 81's continue to impress, especially for a hand built, American made speaker selling for $540. I have fired up a variety of discs from Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Mozart and even Bob Seager. About a week ago, the Axiom EP800 was added to the mix, with a 40 Hz crossover being the best sounding option.

When I get a couple of free hours, a full review will be posted.
 

tesseract

Senior Admin
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
1,266
Location
Lincoln, NE
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Emotiva XMC-1
Main Amp
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2
Additional Amp
Emotiva XPA-3 Gen 2
Other Amp
Dayton SA1000
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Sony BDP S590 & Pioneer DV-610AV
Front Speakers
JTR NOESIS 210 RT - L/R mains
Center Channel Speaker
Chase SHO-10 - Center
Surround Speakers
Chase PRO-10 - Surrounds
Subwoofers
Chase VS-18.1 x 2 - Subwoofers
Video Display Device
Vizio E550VL
Streaming Subscriptions
h/k TC35C/Ortofon Super OM10/Pro-Ject Phono Box S
Just took a peek at the inHUMAN line array... WOW!
 

Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 21, 2017
Messages
633
Location
Corpus Christi, TX
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Yamaha CX-A5000 A/V Preamp / Processor
Main Amp
Yamaha RX-Z9 AV Receiver (as multichannel amp)
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Denon DCT-3313 UDCI Universal Disc Player
Front Speakers
Canton Karat 920
Center Channel Speaker
Canton Karat 920
Front Wide Speakers
Realistic Minimus 7 (front EFX speakers)
Surround Speakers
Canton Plus D
Surround Back Speakers
Yamaha YDP2006 Digital Parametric EQ (front mains)
Front Height Speakers
Yamaha YDP2006 Digital Parametric EQ (surrounds)
Rear Height Speakers
Yamaha YDP2006 Digital Parametric EQ (sub)
Subwoofers
Hsu ULS-15 MKII
Other Speakers or Equipment
Adcom ACE-515 (for power management)
Video Display Device
Yamaha DT-2 (digital clock display)
Screen
Pioneer PDP-6010FD 60" Plasma TV
Remote Control
Stock Yamaha Remote
Streaming Equipment
Roku Express
Other Equipment
Audio Control R130 Real Time Analyzer
When I get a couple of free hours, a full review will be posted.

Well Craig, you've had a couple of free months - what about it? :)

Regards,
Wayne
 

Craig Chase

Member
Lifetime Supporter
Thread Starter
Joined
May 6, 2017
Messages
31
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Marantz 7008 / Outlaw Audio 975
Main Amp
Axiom 1500-4, Axiom 1000-5
Additional Amp
Marantz 250 M
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo 203
Front Speakers
Legacy Signature SE's, Axiom LFR-1100's, Klipsch
Center Channel Speaker
Klipsch RC-64II, Axiom VP180 HP
Surround Speakers
ACI, Axiom, Klipsch
Subwoofers
PowerSound Audio, Rythmik, Axiom
Video Display Device
LG Projector
Screen
Da-Lite 54x96
Well Craig, you've had a couple of free months - what about it? :)

Regards,
Wayne

Wayne - My business life has been insanity. Nothing bad - just really busy. I can tell you these speakers are absolute gems, especially for $540. I will get the complete write up as soon as possible. Their next destination will be in my son's guitar recording studio.
 

Craig Chase

Member
Lifetime Supporter
Thread Starter
Joined
May 6, 2017
Messages
31
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Marantz 7008 / Outlaw Audio 975
Main Amp
Axiom 1500-4, Axiom 1000-5
Additional Amp
Marantz 250 M
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo 203
Front Speakers
Legacy Signature SE's, Axiom LFR-1100's, Klipsch
Center Channel Speaker
Klipsch RC-64II, Axiom VP180 HP
Surround Speakers
ACI, Axiom, Klipsch
Subwoofers
PowerSound Audio, Rythmik, Axiom
Video Display Device
LG Projector
Screen
Da-Lite 54x96
Ok - Here is the final write up on the Human Model 81's.

These speakers were a real trip down memory lane. For those of us old enough to remember what audio was like in the late 70's, before CD's, the Human 81's are a tribute to that era. They are an exceptionally versatile loudspeaker with the ability to make music from about 40 Hz up to and beyond our ability to hear.

On Tony Bennett's live SACD, his voice comes through with fantastic clarity. His voice is huskier/raspier than it was 40 years ago, and these speakers pick up that aging voice with ease. You can "see" him walking around the stage, and the 81's gave one a real feeling of enjoying the show.

Diana Krall "Live in Paris" was another disc that had me enjoying the music and forgetting that I was reviewing speakers. Her sultry voice was soothing, and the jazz band accompanying her was palpable, especially the stand up bass.

For old time's sake, I swapped out the Marantz 7703 preamp - Parasound M700 power amp for a 10 year old NAD Integrated amp. Hitting the loudness button and firing up some AC-DC "Live at Donnington" was TOO much fun. The 8 inch woofers hitting the bass drum with authority - I felt like I was in my college dorm room.

On Uriah Heep "Live at Birmingham" (recorded in 1973 - an incredibly well recorded live CD) the 81's show a real prowess in rocking the house without ever sounding congested. July Morning is a true rock anthem of 12 minutes, and Byron's vocals are crystal clear, even through the hard driving band's guitars wailing.

If you ever experienced the EPI and Epicure speakers from 40 years ago, you know quite a bit about the 81's. They are neutral, easy to drive and seemingly bullet proof. They can play any kind of music and make you forget you are hearing speakers.

Highly recommended, and one would be hard pressed to find a better value for $540 per pair.
 

David Eisan

Registered
Joined
Mar 8, 2018
Messages
10
More  
Main Amp
Eisan
With the simple one capacitor XO on the tweeter, I would assume having no baffle step on the woofer would cause the bass to taper off starting around 500Hz and be ~6dB down at the bottom end before the woofer even starts to roll off.

Did you do any measurements of the 81?
 
Top Bottom