AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Omega Speaker Systems => Topic started by: seikosha on 3 Aug 2013, 01:03 am
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A couple of years ago, I recently got back into Audio after a 20 year sabbatical. I've got a small room and had been experimenting with various small speakers; most recently Silverline Minuet's, Harbeth P3's and the Kef LS50. However, the high efficiency/low powered amp approach had intrigued me ever since I started reading about it after getting back into the hobby. I'm a big proponent of keeping things as simple as possible.
Luckily, I had a dealer (Ear Head Audio) near enough to me where I could actually hear products created with this approach in mind. After a couple of visits, I jumped in nervously and placed an order for a Decware Mini-Torii amp and the Omega Super 3XRS's.
I couldn't be more pleased and if you had told me years ago that I'd be enjoying music so much with a single driver speaker and 4 watts I'd have thought you were crazy. I'm getting musicality, speed, soundstaging, imaging and transparency that my other system/speakers never could approach and have been enjoying my music now more than ever. Louis, I don't know how you do it, but I have to say, the sound I get out of these 3XRS's has me smiling and shaking my head in amazement.
(http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z284/wpetew/System_zps2294dc4b.jpg)
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Welcome back to this crazy hobby. :dance:
You are very fortunate to have been able to audition Omega and Decware together since they are both, for the most part, internet direct companies.
They work very well together, enjoy. :thumb:
Lin
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Wow, I love your speakers! Is there special plinths made for them or what exactly are those things underneath your speakers?
I have a Decware Taboo MkII and currently waiting for my Omegas to pair up with them as well. It seems as if Decware and Omega are (at the very least) one of the best-bang-for-the-buck systems out there!
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I like the plinths too, but is there anything coupling them to the floor? I just recently picked up a pair of Super 3S speakers from Louis and was concerned about their stability around dogs and kids. He built some larger bases that look much like yours but are bolted to the speakers and then the bases are spiked. Congrats on your re-entry from another recent convert! I'll try to get some photos and thoughts posted soon, but I'm still breaking mine in...
Dane
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The bases under the speakers were built by Louis. They are the same veneer and have threaded inserts on the bottom for spikes. Right now I'm not using the spikes as I like to move the speakers around a little as I'm really working on dialing in a sweet spot. The bases allow me to slide the speakers around in small amounts without tearing up my carpet and pulling out my back every time I want to move them a half an inch or so. Once I'm completely happy on the location, I'll spike the bases to the floor.
I know, I'm kind of picky about placement, but for me, in my room, the tiniest change in location can make a difference and it can take me a month or more to find the best spot.
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Roger that...my bases aren't spiked yet, either, for the same reason. Just goes to show there's more than one way to skin a cat...my platforms are bolted to the speakers because the Super 3S is 35" tall but only about 9x9. With the shorter height and broader footprint of your model, there's likely much more inherent stability.
Enjoy!
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I like the idea of single driver speakers. I noticed while at the recent CAF that I seemed to prefer speakers there in inverse relationship to their complexity. I listen to headphones a high percentage of the time lately and I think I am more sensitive to crossover artifacts now as a result. However, I also found the 'beaming' of the planars at CAF limiting and have heard that FR drivers also share the trait of fantastic imaging- but only at a very tight 'sweet spot'. seikosha, it sounds like you are alluding to this when you say the tiniest difference in placement makes a big difference. Maybe this question belongs in its own thread but I just thought I would ask. Is there a tight 'sweet spot' with these?
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Nice speakers! I have the same ones with a similar veneer, used with a DIY EL34 SET amp.
The pic was taken when I was testing my new Aikido preamp... the wood for the preamp, amp and speaker stands is all figured maple from the same source.
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/davec113/system%2010-24-12/system10-24-12002.jpg) (http://s99.photobucket.com/user/davec113/media/system%2010-24-12/system10-24-12002.jpg.html)
@dB Cooper, the high frequencies do beam but not as much as a typical planar. The sweet spot is tight but not "head in a vise" tight. There are advantages to narrower dispersion, mostly less interaction with the room boundaries and imaging that is very focused and accurate. I haven't heard the Omega bipoles yet, but I have owned bipole speakers in the past from Mirage, and I would guess the Omega bipoles have a much wider sweet spot.
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@db Cooper (great name btw) the sweet spot isn't too tight at all. Certainly it's no worse for the most part than my other mini monitors. I'm just really finicky in fine tuning all aspects of the sound, overall soundstage, individual imaging, bass response etc. and while it's easy to dial in on one or two of those factors, finding a spot where you can maximize all of them or at least minimize the bad effects is tough in my small 12x11x10 room. I'm 95% there right now and in another room, it'd be so much easier. I have found that the Omegas sound better in a wider variety of spots than some of my other speakers, especially the Kef LS50's which are pretty picky in my room.
My first time around with audio I had a Conrad Johnson/Magnepan setup which had a much tighter sweet spot (with beaming issues) than what I have with the Omegas. I had that system in a really nice large room though and could get some great sound. That same system in my current room would sound horrible for sure.
@DaveC113 I've enjoyed your posts as I've read many as I'd been lurking and learning about the Omegas and have always admired your setup. If those electronics sound as good as they look, (especially that amp, love it!)well then I know you are one happy audiophile
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The pic was taken when I was testing my new Aikido preamp... the wood for the preamp, amp and speaker stands is all figured maple from the same source.
Nice Dave! Did you do the woodwork yourself? Also, can you tell me the speaker and interconnects you're using? I'm sure they are your own build :green:, but what types of wire are you using, sleeving and connectors, etc.?
Thanks!
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Hi beowulf, Yes, I did the woodwork. :) The wire has changed a lot, it always does... currently it is either my D2 or DD interconnects as well as a prototype that uses Neotech UPOCC silver signal wire. The speaker cable is currently the new 14 gauge Neotech EC-UPOCC wire with Furutech UPOCC copper spade connectors. The DD and D2 ICs use Furutech FP-101 RCA plugs. If I had to settle on one configuration I would use one each of the DD and D2 ICs (DAC > preamp and preamp > amp) and the 14 gauge speaker cable with Furutech FT-211 spade connectors.
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Hi seikosha,
Many thanks for your post and welcome back. The system looks great and many thanks for your very kind words. I'm very happy you're enjoying your new system. Frank at Earhead is a very nice and very knowledgeable and I'm lucky to have him as a dealer. Glad he showed you the combo as the synergy is one of the best.
The platforms look great and I agree with finding the best location and spiking them afterwards. They definitely make a difference.
Thanks again,
Louis