Super 8 Alnico XRS

Canada Rob · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 03:27 am »

Hello vinagunner,

The Super 8 Alnico was discontinued around 6 years ago, as were all the 8" models (not including the Hoyt-Bedford which are current models). Louis felt it was senseless to continue making the 8" hempcone speakers when the Alnico 6"hempcone Super 6XRS (now called the Alnico XRS) and the Super 6 Monitor (now called the Alnico Monitor) outperform them.

There will be a new 8" ferrite based speaker in what will be called the Paramount series, but it will be months before we see those, not to mention they will be more pricey than anything in the current Omega line. If you are looking for a speaker in the range of the old Super 8, the Alnico XRS would be a no brainer.
See this review: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2010/09/omega-super-6-alnico-xrs-extended-room-speakers/

By the way, what do you plan to run for an amplifier?

vinagunner · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 07:03 am »

DaveC113 · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 07:54 am »

If I remember right the 8" came out before the 6" and was top of the line when it came out, and was meant to remain so after the 6" came out... but it looks like the 6" driver surpassed the performance of the 8" driver.

In any case the 6" alnico is a great speaker, you won't be disappointed.

vinagunner · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 08:37 am »

rodge827 · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 11:35 am »

I had the Alnico Super 8 XRS for about a year and was very pleased with them.
I ran them with a custom 8w 300b amp to comfortably loud levels.
They can do it all very well and excel with voice, guitar, and acoustic music.
Oh and Louis would never build a speaker that didn't rock!
If you got a good deal on them then you are ahead of the game.

Enjoy your XRS8 they are a very good speaker.

Chris

vinagunner · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 01:44 pm »

DaveC113 · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 03:46 pm »

I wouldn't worry about it, the 8" is still a great speaker. I have not heard the 8" alnico but I have heard an earlier 8" ferrite and I was very impressed with it. I don't think the overall sound quality between the two is much different, but the 6" probably has a more even frequency response.

rodge827 · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 09:05 pm »

I had the Compact Hemp, then the Super 6 Alnico Monitor, and then the Super 8 XRS Alnico all with a pair of Deep Hemp Subs.
At the time the 6 was a very good monitor for the money.
It didn't play as deep as the 8, but the 6 far exceeded what I thought it could do.
I can see why Louis decided to try different cabinet designs, and has since built his line around it.
The 8XRS is a very good loudpeaker and with the right amplification you will love what your hearing.

Chris

Canada Rob · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Apr 2014, 01:59 am »

vinagunner,

Try the amps you have first, as you may like how they sound with Omegas. Generally tubes go best with Omegas but I have heard some solid state amps that work well.

jorgen · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Apr 2014, 07:32 am »

hi vinagunner
just scrolled trough this topic. are you norwegian? i can give you help if you want to listen to
a pair of new omega speakers.

on the topic discussed im not able to help though..

du kan i tilfelle du er interessert bare sende med en pm, eventuelt si hvor du bor og nummeret ditt hvus interessert

vinagunner · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Apr 2014, 03:06 pm »

pstrisik · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Apr 2014, 05:01 pm »

What about the Super 7 Alnico - how does that fit in?

jorgen · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Apr 2014, 12:35 am »

Quote from: pstrisik on 5 Apr 2014, 05:01 pm

What about the Super 7 Alnico - how does that fit in?

from my point of view, the 7 alnico fits in just perfectly.. at the moment im listening to "amused to death" gold edition(?) and got to say they fit just perfectly. lots of stuff going on in this album, and it sounds very very nice.

ptrisik; im pretty sure you meant to ask how they fit in a discussion/comparison between the 6 and the 8 drivers. im also interested to hear others experiences and reflections on this subject. i have only heard the 7 and cant add much knowledge or talk about what one do better than the other and so forth.

but to quote Roger: it all makes perfect sense

vinagunner · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Apr 2014, 11:22 am »

Guy 13 · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Apr 2014, 11:41 am »

Quote from: vinagunner on 6 Apr 2014, 11:22 am

Jorgen, ta gjerne kontakt med meg på www.hifisentralen.no. Der heter jeg også vinagunner

Hi vinagunner.
Would you please translate for all our fellow Audio Circle members.
Thanks you.

Guy 13

vinagunner · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Apr 2014, 12:01 pm »

Good Times · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Apr 2014, 12:01 pm »

I've heard the 8XRS and owned the 6. Supposedly Omega were getting the same bass in the 6 as in the 8, hence not stressing about discontinuing the 8. If you can get the same bass, then the smaller driver is obviously the pick (other things being equal) in terms of speed.

The 8XRS are fantastic but I found for heavy and complex music, they would start to break up earlier than the 6s. So unless these used ones are an absolute steal, I'd be tempted to for a new set of 6XRSs.

vinagunner · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 Apr 2014, 06:01 pm »

pstrisik · « **Reply #19 on:** 7 Apr 2014, 01:05 am »

Quote from: jorgen on 6 Apr 2014, 12:35 am

from my point of view, the 7 alnico fits in just perfectly.. at the moment im listening to "amused to death" gold edition(?) and got to say they fit just perfectly. lots of stuff going on in this album, and it sounds very very nice.

ptrisik; im pretty sure you meant to ask how they fit in a discussion/comparison between the 6 and the 8 drivers. im also interested to hear others experiences and reflections on this subject. i have only heard the 7 and cant add much knowledge or talk about what one do better than the other and so forth.

but to quote Roger: it all makes perfect sense

Great to hear Jorgen! I will anticipate the same!

I did mean to put the 7 in compare/contrast with the 6 & 8. It may just be they are all pretty much the same except for driver size.