AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Omega Speaker Systems => Topic started by: chadh on 6 Jan 2007, 03:44 am
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Louis,
I have a birthday coming up, and have to field all sorts of enquiries about what I want for a gift. Is there any chance that the 4.5" hemp drivers are about to appear? My in-laws have a knack of finding the world's ugliest sweaters and I'd just as soon not have them add to my collection this year.
I'm sorry if this is premature, but is there any word on pricing at this stage?
Chad
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Hi Chad,
Happy Birthday and I did get in small amount for reviews and more are on the way. The drivers fit all the speakers that have used the Fostex FE127e and will be a direct replacement. It has been very long in getting them ready and they are now. We have 2 patents on them and 3rd if you count the Tone Tubby hemp formula. I will offer them in all the Super 3s and XRSs now and for replacement in earlier speakers. I won't be selling them raw.
The drivers have the same tone and transparency of the larger 8" models as well as more in both extremes. They can handle more complex material and the cones handle more power and won't break up at higher volume. I've had XRSs out from the rear wall 4 feet with exceptional bass with music with real dynamics such as Mahler.
Thanks again,
Louis
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The drivers have the same tone and transparency of the larger 8" models as well as more in both extremes. They can handle more complex material and the cones handle more power and won't break up at higher volume. I've had XRSs out from the rear wall 4 feet with exceptional bass with music with real dynamics such as Mahler.
Hi Louis,
are you saying the 4.5s will actually play louder than the 8s? Also, what are you saying about the low end - greater extension, more tone and transparency than the 8s?.
How does the efficiency compare?
Russell
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Hi Russell,
Sorry about that, they have the tone of the 8"s, but will play louder and have more in both extremes verses the Fostex. The SPL is about the same as the Fostex.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Thanks for the info Louis, and congratulations on getting these things to market. I know you've been wrking on them for a while, and it all sounds very exciting.
If I wanted to replace the drivers in my pair of XRSs, would I need to send the speakers to you? Or would you send out replacement drivers and instructions? And how much would it all cost?
Thanks again,
Chad
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Hi Louis!
When can one place an order a for pair to my Super 3s?
John
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:thumb: Do not abandon hope. I am obtaining a pair of Super 3 Dipoles with the new Hemp Driver replacing the existing Fostex Driver. I currently have the Omega Revolution (B200 Driver), so I am very curious as to the difference in sound and presentation.
Louis is doing the best he can, but true art cannot be rushed!!
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Hi Louis,
I have the Super 3 Bipoles v.1 therefore will need 4 hemp drivers for the upgrade. Do you give a quantity discount? :) :) Need a beta tester? :wink: How do the new drivers compare to the Fostex's in the area of transparency and imaging?
Raja
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Louis,
I've been gone for awhile, but still enjoy my Redwine Audio,Omega Super 3R combo. So are the replacement 4.5" hemps available for a direct swap with the Fostex 127's? Do you have an availability date and cost information yet? Just checking since we talked about this several times last summer and fall. Best to you in the new year!
- Roy
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Hi all,
Many thanks for the posts about the 4.5" drivers. I will figure it all out and come up with a price. I will be making a trip to A broun and when I come back I will get everything sorted out with the 4.5" drivers. The best part is it's a 5-minute swap and all you need is a screwdriver.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Thanks Louis.
Chad
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Thanks Louis, we are all on our toes waiting
John
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LC
Are the hemps "better" then the alnico's-or is it more of a flavor thing?
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I guess I have a question based on the above, Can the 4.5 inch hemps fit in the Super 3 Alnico's?
Would it be worth the substitution if so? :lol:
Thanks, Bill :roll:
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I guess I have a question based on the above, Can the 4.5 inch hemps fit in the Super 3 Alnico's?
Would it be worth the substitution if so? :lol:
Thanks, Bill :roll:
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I guess I have a question based on the above, Can the 4.5 inch hemps fit in the Super 3 Alnico's?
Would it be worth the substitution if so? :lol:
Thanks, Bill :roll:
What he said ^
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They will fit, but it may not sound very good. As I understand it, the Alnico enclosures were optimised for the high maximum excursion of the alnico driver, relative to the standard one. The new Hemp cone is designed to work in the same enclosure geometries as the FE127, which has a relatively small Xmax.
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Louis mentioned to me that he already tested the 4.5" hemps in the Alnico enclosures and they work great in that box as well.
The new 4.5" hemp has twice the cone excursion as the Fostex 127E, but not quite as much as the Alnico.
I've only heard them with the Super 3V2 and XRS cabinets and they have such a better tone than the Fostex and sound less congested. Bass is stronger too!
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:drool: Fresh out of the box and ice cold (It's freezing in Chicago) The 4.5" Tone Tubby Hemp Driver has absolutely killer tone. Y'all gonna love it!!
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Which model were they in? Not broken in yet??!! :o
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Hi Vinnie! It's been awhile, but I've kept up with the progress and success of the Sig 30 and Sig 70 Monos. Congrats! If I didn't already enjoy my modded Clari-T/Omega Super 3R combo so much, I probably would have gotten the Sig 30 already. I'm patiently waiting for the 5" hemps to drop in the Super 3s. Once they're broken in and I get used to their sound, I'll probably sell my amp and order a Sig 30. I'm so addicted to the non-fatiguing, musical, battery driven sound from the Red Wine amp/Omega single driver speaker combo, I doubt I could ever go back to low efficiency, crossover managed speakers and big SS amps again. Looks like I'm not the only one that has moved in that direction. Vinnie & Louis, thanks for the great products you provide the discriminating audio community and the exemplary customer service, too. I'll be in touch with both you guys.
- Roy
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ZLS, Are you doing beta testing for Louis, or are the small hemps (4.5") now available? Thanks. :)
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I would not presume to consider myself a Beta Tester. I believe Louis is at manufacturing facility of the drivers, and the 4.5" will be available when he returns.
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Will the hemps work in the ts3 speaker cabinets?
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skite30, Its reported to be a direct, drop-in replacement for the 127e. So I would assume the answer to your question is yes. If in doubt, call Louis.
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Perhaps to help kill the rumors, I just received my Super 3s a couple of days ago. They use the new 4.5" hemp driver. I got them in the Italian Alpine Gold/Pearl 2-tone. Louis is a true artisan in every positive sense of the word. They are very beautiful. The pearl laminates take on the color of whatever light is hitting them. Warmer light makes them more creamy looking. Cooler light seems to whiten them a bit. When I get a chance to get them under some nicer lights, I'll post some pictures (I've promised Louis a few shots).
As I'm somewhat new to the audiophile community, I'm not sure if I can give an objective opinion. I've been running these whenever I haven't been sleeping (I live in a small apartment, though I'll be moving into a house within a month!) to help break them in. Getting in about 16 hours a day of break-in. I can say that every day has been a pleasant surprise. The bass is starting to really come in nicely. And I'm only about 36 hours into it. Easily the nicest speakers I've ever owned. A friend of mine owns some Mackey studio monitors. While those are nice, I like the design and aesthetic behind the Omegas more. Listening to Portishead's Dummy last night (first time in a while) was incredible. It has never sounded that good. Sparklehorse's new album really shown on the hemps. Lots of dynamics and subtle tones delivered so crisp! Massive Attack's Mezzanine is already sounding fuller today. Day one found the bass a little wanting, which I was expecting. As I was somewhat worried that too much concert photography without earplugs might have done my hearing in, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that I've really noticed a difference from day to day.
As I'm building this system on the cheap, I'm current driving them off of a Super-T amp powered by an SLA battery. I'm using a gold radioshack interconnect to a 60GB video Ipod. A friend sold me some cheap monster speaker wire that's fine for me for now. I'll probably pick up some Skylan stands next so I can set them up proper in the new house. Then new cables. Then perhaps a Sig30 when I can save up the dough!
Ryan
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IMO you've probably saved yourself thousands of dollars with your (IMO) wise decision to purchase some of Louis's little gems.
I'm a relative newcomer to the magic of single drivers, and I'm hooked! aa
Enjoy!
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I've posted some "OK" pictures of my beautiful (and sonicly excellent!) 2-tone Pearl/Italian Alpine Gold Omega Super 3 Hemp Loudspeakers here:
http://psychenaut.insomnianow.com
After I receive my stands from Noel at Skylan and after I move, I'll post some better pictures in better light!
I've just now passed 140 hours into the break-in process and all I can say is WOW!
Enjoy!
Ryan
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Do these new 4.5" drivers use a XBL^2 motor?
Thanks!
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Do these new 4.5" drivers use a XBL^2 motor?
Thanks!
I don't think so, they are Tone Tubby drivers, not Hemp Acoustics.
Lin
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Oh, thanks. Any word on when some Hemp XBL^2 drivers are showing up in Omega products? (Admin, feel free to move this question to another thread, if too OT).
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Oh, thanks. Any word on when some Hemp XBL^2 drivers are showing up in Omega products? (Admin, feel free to move this question to another thread, if too OT).
Hi kfr01,
The answer is Never... Louis has his own OEM hemp driver designed using the patented Tone Tubby hemp formulation used for the cone. These have nothing to do with Hemp Acoustics and/or Adire.
Louis mentioned that the new 4.5 hemp drivers have 2 additional patents pending. I forgot what they were for...I think one is for the motor design. Louis?
These have been in development for a long time, so it is great to finally see them out and about! I've never heard a 4.5'' wide-band driver sound so good! :)
-Vinnie
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Thanks for the info., Vinnie.
I'd be interested in knowing more about these drivers and the new technologies they utilize.
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:drool: Louis's Hemptone Drivers + Vinnie's Sig 30 = Wow!!
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Vinnie is correct in stating that I have my own drivers and that I'm not connected to Adire or Hemp acoustics in any way. The cone is the most important part of the driver.
I will release more about the 4.5"s soon.
I will have a shipment coming in about 2 weeks so they will be available to retrofit.
Hi opnly bafld,
I did have a great time at the show and I also got very bad news from my family when I returned so I was taking care of this, which took me away from audio for a few days.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Hi opnly bafld,
I did have a great time at the show and I also got very bad news from my family when I returned so I was taking care of this, which took me away from audio for a few days.
Thanks again,
Louis
Sorry to hear that Louis.
Lin
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All,
I had the chance to hear the new 4.5" hemps in the Super 3 XRS cabinet the other day.... I had a hard time believing how BIG the sound was coming out of these. They sound very "juicy" and you can sink your teeth into 'em (not literally). They convey a lot more harmonic information and have a fatter sound. They also take a lot of power and don't break up or shout like the Fostex does when pushed hard, and we really pushed them hard with the Sig 30 and they loved it.
I need to hear ZLS's Super 3 Bipoles (wired in 4-ohm) with the Sig 70s :drool:
Louis is also planning a Super 3 XRS Bipole (floorstander version of the Super 3 Bipole) using the new 4.5" hemps. This is the one I am counting on, especially if Louis decides to use something similar to a Max Hemp cabinet and sand-filled base!
Vinnie
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All,
I had the chance to hear the new 4.5" hemps in the Super 3 XRS cabinet the other day.... I had a hard time believing how BIG the sound was coming out of these. They sound very "juicy" and you can sink your teeth into 'em (not literally). They convey a lot more harmonic information and have a fatter sound. They also take a lot of power and don't break up or shout like the Fostex does when pushed hard, and we really pushed them hard with the Sig 30 and they loved it.
I need to hear ZLS's Super 3 Bipoles (wired in 4-ohm) with the Sig 70s :drool:
Louis is also planning a Super 3 XRS Bipole (floorstander version of the Super 3 Bipole) using the new 4.5" hemps. This is the one I am counting on, especially if Louis decides to use something similar to a Max Hemp cabinet and sand-filled base!
Vinnie
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Are the Hemp 4.5"s available yet? :D I have a pair of the Bipoles and want to do the driver switch. It's remarkable how large the 4.5" Fostex's sounded in the bipole configuration but they, like you said, didn't appreciate being fed a lot of power and would sometimes sound strident at high volume. This weakness was especially evident with orchestral music which often has a very large dynamic range.
Raj
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for bearing with me in my absence, but now I'm back.
I do have a shipment of 4.5" hemps and I put away 20 units for retrofits. There will be a lot more to come. Please call me to place an order as this is the easiest for me.
Many thanks Lin and I really appreciate it greatly.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Louis,
Do you have any pricing information? I'm wondering how much it would set me back to outfit my XRS speakers with the new drivers.
Thanks,
Chad
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Further Rambling And Musing On The Omega 4 1/2 Inch Hemptone Driver
I have over a 100 hours on these drivers and I have certain impressions I would like to share. I have these drivers in the Omega Bipole configuration, and I am driving them using the Red Wine Audio Sig 30. I have previously posted about the Bipole speakers (love them) so I will just concentrate on describing the sound of the drivers.
These drivers have been described as big sounding (Vinnie Rossi) and juicy sounding (by myself). I was listening to my system the other night, and in between being carried away to rhapsodic heights, I asked myself what do the drivers sound like? They sound good I said to myself. What do you mean good, good doesn't describe anything. Well, I said to myself, they are easy to listen to listen to. Well self I said again ( I talk to myself a lot, hopefully not out loud) why are they easy to listen to? Because I find myself relaxed when I am listening. Why can I relax? Because the quantity and quality of harmonic information that these drivers convey! All of the cliches are true. I hear the rosin on the bow, the wood on the upright bass, the burnished glow of the brass. I (my brain) does not have to work as hard to create the illusion of reality. The sound has a roundness and depth ; it is rich with information. Thus the terms big, juicy, sounds good come into play.
I have had the pleasure to be able to listen to three drivers that Louis has utilized. The Fostex, the Visaton B200, and now the Hemptone Driver. I have no trouble saying that IMHO the HempTone is better than the Fostex. The B200 driver is more analytical, but a wonderful driver in its own right. I, personally, am into juicy.
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:D Louis, will the Hemps be available for the Super 3 Alnico's? Will it be worth the sub??? How much will they cost??
Thanks :lol:
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Louis mentioned that the new 4.5 hemp drivers have 2 additional patents pending. I forgot what they were for...I think one is for the motor design. Louis?
These have been in development for a long time, so it is great to finally see them out and about! I've never heard a 4.5'' wide-band driver sound so good! :)
-Vinnie
I am interested in this. Have the applications been published?
Thanks!
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:D Louis, will the Hemps be available for the Super 3 Alnico's? Will it be worth the sub??? How much will they cost??
Thanks :lol:
id like to know as well
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Hi, everyone!
I haven't posted in ages but haven't forgotten the Forum. I just haven't had anything to contribute, until today.
I received my new 4.5" hemps today and just finished installing them in my Super 3Rs.
Installation was easy: Remove the 4 screws retaining the Fostex driver, remove the red and black clips from the back of the Fostex driver, attach the clips to the hemp driver, and screw in the 4 screws (making sure to tighten them evenly, and being careful not to over-tighten). A variable-speed drill with a Phillips-head bit worked well for me. Each speaker took about 5 minutes from start to finish.
I have pictures, but I need to figure out how to post them.
I don't have any impressions of the sound yet, as the drivers only have about 30 minutes on them. The only thing I can say right is that they work out of the box.
Updates to follow, after an appropriate break-in time.
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Hi Ryan,
Many thanks for your wonderful post and I'm sorry I missed it. I'm very happy you have the system running great and they are breaking in nicely. Massive attack is great for break in as well as to listening. Amazing bass. The pictures look great and the 2 tone alpine gold/pearl is very popular.
The 4.5” hemps will fit any speaker that used the FE 127. The alnico cabinet is also a drop in replacement, but the port will have to be reduced by a ½ inch to get the best sound. It’s not a problem with the deep cabinet as the X-max is smaller but closer to the alnico than the 127e.
I’m getting more of the drivers in and I will have more set aside for retrofit. The cost is $180 for the pair.
Many thanks Tralfaz and welcome back. I’m very happy you posted bout the retrofit and how easy it is. I spent a lot of time making sure that the drivers were a drop in with no modification to the wiring and the cabinet. This makes it very easy to do and not having to send the cabinets back saves down time and shipping costs.
Patent #’s are listed on the drivers. No XBL and not working with Hemp acoustics or Adire.
Hi ZLS,
Great post and believe me I know how hard it is to write about sound. Your post makes a whole lot of sense. They have an ease to them and a transparency that you can’t get with paper cones. The TT cone is the best hemp cone out there.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Just got my 4.5 hemps a day earlier than expected. Had originals playing when Fedex rang the bell. The refit was a cakewalk and fired them up immediately. I had an original master/uncompressed CD that a friend made already in the machine. I was going to play some FM and get the breakin process going but couldn't wait to hear the new hemp so CD it was. I was way surprized how good it sounded. Even as is I can tell it's something special.
Louis, everyone dreams of having a hit, you have a home run in this. I'm very happy for you. Glad you have patents on these. Back to some listening.
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the port will have to be reduced by a ½ inch to get the best sound. I’m getting more of the drivers in and I will have more set aside for retrofit. The cost is $180 for the pair.
Louis just to claify for those alinco super 3 narrow owners out there interested in retrofit. Can we reduce the port by ourselves or does the speaker have to be shipped back to you to replace the port?
Myself i cant even use a screwdriver but thats another story....
thanks
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Same question as above?? I can't even spell screw driver. Louis you mentioned adjusting the port and the terminals?? Can we do this at home or can we just replace the drivers ourselves since I worry about sending them for fear of damage? :duh: :duh:
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Hey Louis!
No problem on the timing of your response. You're a busy guy!
In the meantime, I've finally moved, received my stands from Noel (took much longer than expected and a little bit of a pain, but that's another story), and am about settled. The breakin has made a lot of difference. I'd estimate I have somewhere in the 400 hour range now and they sound incredible. The stands have helped a bit, too.
At some point I'll be shopping for cable, but that will have to wait, as there are other priorities around the house. I'm not sure if I want to go with the DNM or your R cable, but I'll figure that out when the time comes. Talking to Creston on the phone and his ideas about rewiring the cabinets strangely turned me off as a potential customer.
The new Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire albums sound incredible, but I still need to sit down and give them a good listen with the volume a little higher. Flaming Lips, Sparklehorse, Love and Rockets, Portishead, etc. are all old favorites that have become a whole new listening experience. I'll be having a few old friends over sometime soon to get their reactions.
When I get a moment, I'll be taking some much better pictures of my speakers. I have them in a room with better natural light and they look nicer on the Skylan stands. I'll post again when I get them up!
Thanks again!
Ryan
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Hi all:
I just upgrading my XRS units and, like everyone else, it was exceptionally easy to do. As an observation, I was struck by how much "beefier" :weights: the hemp devices are relative to the Fostex - by weight and density/strength of the connector panel. Since I'm still in the break-in phase, I can't report on the sound vis-a-vis the Fostex, but I'm certain that it will be special (and less "hot" compared to the older drivers).
- jdk
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I have about 70 hours on my new Hemp 4.5" drivers so I thought that it would be time for a review. :)
The installation process was very easy. If you can handle a screwdriver and maybe a pair of pliers it will be no problem. When I removed the old Fostex drivers I noticed that there was some caulking material perhaps used for vibration suppressing on the frame legs. A question for Louis. Should this caulking be applied in the same manner to the Hemp drivers? Here is a photo that shows the two drivers and you can see the much larger magnets and the generally more substantial construction of the Hemp.
http://rajacat.smugmug.com/photos/135192692-L.jp
I thought the Hemps sounded better than the Fostex's the first time I applied the power. After a while they developed the inconsistent performance that is common during break-in such as irritating treble. Sometimes I'm not sure if it is my ears, the time of day or my mood. Presently, most of the inconsistency has disappeared and the new drivers are sounding very good indeed. aa They can handle MUCH more volume without sounding congested and over taxed. I've found that they perform quite well with orchestral music having no problem with the large dynamic range. The speed of the drivers can shock you if you are relaxing and all of a sudden there is an unanticipated climax. With the Bipoles I don't think that a sub is required for the vast bulk of music. The Bipoles can function as full range speakers and a sub is a luxury which must be carefully integrated to be effective. YMMV.
I think that the new Hemp drivers are a no-brainer upgrade. For less than $200 a pair you get almost a new speaker because there is THAT much difference between the Fostex's and the Hemps. In addition to being able to handle more power there is better resolution, improved transparency and just generally more PRAT. I think that the Omega Bipoles really highlight the particular characteristics of these little drivers and because there are two opposing per cabinet they can really fill a room with music and expand the sweet spot without sacrificing much in the way of imaging. I can walk around the room, between and in back of the speakers and the sound is still satisfying and when you are between the speakers, the musicians are still in place and you are among them. The Hemps make music that SMOKES :smoke: :D They sound very organic and analog.
Raj
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Hi Louis (or anyone else who might know),
I'm curious if there has been any measurement of the hemp drivers in the Super 3 Bipole cabinets. In particular, I'm curious as to how low the bottom end measures.
Thanks,
Brett
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did we ever hear from louis about the port changes on the super narrows?
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Hi kbuzz3,
It’s not that hard to do if you can get the ports out. They are glued in. Once this is done it’s very easy to do. The hemps will fit right in the alnico cutout as it’s the same as the hemps and the screw holes line up as well.
Hi bbchem,
Very easy to do and you shouldn’t have a problem. I can go over it with you over the phone as well.
No worry at all.
Hi Ryan,
Thanks and sorry about the late post. It’s really crazy over here lately and it’s a good thing for sure. Vinnie has got me set up with a laptop computer and I’m finally getting the cable line installed so I can be on all the time. Finally getting out of the Stone Age.
Break in on the hemps is major and the just like the Fostex drivers. The smaller they are the longer they take to settle in. 400 hours is a lot and glad you got the stands from Noel. They do make a difference for sure.
Hi JDK,
Many thanks and very happy it was an easy swap. I made sure of the basket being a drop in and since I had to tool up for a new one it wasn’t so hard to do. The terminals being the same size is a big plus too. The hemp driver has a much stronger motor and it doesn’t stick out like the FE126s. This wreaks havoc on the back wave. The cone is also stronger and lighter. Paper breaks up way faster than Hemp. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts when the break in.
Hi Rajacat,
Many thanks for your review and I couldn’t agree more with what you found in the sound verses the Fostex. I worked very hard to get this right and it took quiet a few prototypes, but I’m so happy with the results. The drivers are overbuilt and can handle more power and more complex material. The hemp tone is a big plus too. This has a lot to do with the cone not breaking up as traditional paper does. The transparency is one of the highlights of this. I also knew I was on the right track after hearing this latest version and after 2 years said this is the one.
The caulking is not needed anymore from what I find and I do treat the back wave of the hemp drivers.
Making this a plug and play retrofit was a priority and so happy to hear the many posts stating how easy it was to do.
The Bipoles are a speaker I have been making for some time now and the first to do it. I’m so happy that they now sound their best and so happy you are enjoying them.
Hi brett,
They go as low as the XRS’s in room (high 40’s), but have a lot more output with all the room gain.
Hi kbuzz3,
The port change is about ½ inch and you can even try it with out changing it, as the tuning would be more towards a faster presentation.
Thanks again,
Louis
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I recieved my drivers and installed them yesterday. I can confirm the ease of putting them in. I am technically incompetent and cant even hang a picture. The replacement time, with power screwdriver was less then 8 minutes. Easy Easy Easy.
As for sound...well too early to comment in substance, but the hemps do not have the bite the fostex has. Which is a great thing. Bass is much better as well. Im running them in without a sub and its a nicer balance then the fostex. So can anyone comment on break in time. It has too be shorter then the fostex right???
PS im using this new trends audio thing for break in. Its not a sig 30 killer by any means, But it is as good as advertised. Suprised the heck out of me...or are the hemps that much better then the fostex? Well stay tuned for a post when i have time to put my RWA sig 30 back in the system. Of course its the Omega edition.
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:lol: Got my Hemp drivers for the Alnico's, I would like some recommendations for amount of time and what conditions and music type/volume to break them in?? Thanks, Bill :roll:
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Hi kbuzz3,
Great to hear you have the drivers installed and how easy it was to do. This was really important to me when we designed the new basket.
Got to run them in for a while and it's about the same as Fostex in time.
Hi bbchem,
They'll take about the same time as the Fostex and I would go with music with strong bass and play them at a loud enough level so the suspension moves a bit. You need to get the speaker loosened up.
The hemps in the bookshelf super 3 cabinets will all of a sudden sound great though the break in time. It's not a progressive break in.
Thanks again,
Louis
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The hemps in the bookshelf super 3 cabinets will all of a sudden sound great though the break in time. It's not a progressive break in.
0m
hope so....after an initial postive listening session, the treble has been harsh harsh today. This is at about 20 hours...on a more positive note...they are quite speedy and sounds can come out of nowhere which is a very tough thing to pull off. I can also say with confidence that the decay on notes is light years above the fostex....nice, long. smooth with a great finish....
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:icon_lol: Thanks Louis, the overall dynamics are very good but as Kbuzz pointed out there is the high frequency harshness. I have about 60 hours on them and am now playing Black Sabbath, should have enough bass. The sound overall is fuller than the Fostex and it seems to spit sounds out in more directions.
Super easy to install, thanks Bill :thumb:
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im going with classic prince today, hoping the synth's and drumbeats will help the process. I do reccomend the wired out of phase with blanket approach, as that worked very well with my fostexs. Use of a break in also helps. But alas ive got to find mine.
Hope that sudden lock in point is not at the 200 hour mark, as ive got a long long way to go it so. After the blankets come off i think ill go with led zep to cleanse my system of gremlins caused by the latter prince catalog.
I am very positive on this driver however, the fostex break in was a rocky road. If you can live with that im sure the hemps will be equal or less of a problem. wish i had a basement or garage...that would speed up the process ....
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Hi Bill,
The Black Sabbath will help it a long for sure. The tope end does smooth out after some more time and the bass gets stronger too. I use a mix of bass tones and music and them bass tones again.
Hi kbuzz3,
It won’t be as long as the alnico. Those took forever. In your cabinets the sound will be night and day when they break through. Led Zeppelin 1 on repeat for a week.
Thanks again,
Louis
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wow. Right now my new 4.5 hemps sound just right. Could it be I am experiencing their breakthrough as I listen to them? Or is it just me liking my good old drum and bass so much? Bass is boss!
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Hi Louis,
Just want to take a moment and let you know how much I'm enjoying the Super 3 Bipoles with the hemp drivers. This really is an improvement on an already excellent product.
After taking receipt, I immediately set the drivers up in my garage and blasted FM radio through them for about 75 hours. I did have a little bit of a problem removing the Fostex drivers from the cabinets. The little sleeve that fits over the connections on the drivers were really tight and they would not just pull off. After a while I found that a little twist back and forth loosened them enough to remove. No problems after that.
My first impression after the 75 hour break-in was very positive. Bass, soundstaging, and overall dynamics was what struck me immediately. I have to admit that at the 75 hour mark, grunginess in the vocals was apparent, but I had no worries...break-in was not complete.
The next 25 hours were a bit harrowing. The grunginess in vocals also became apparent to me in the higher frequencies. This continued pretty much through the entire 25 hours leading up the magic 100 hour mark, but I had faith that things would continue to change.
Damn Louis, you are dead on with 100 hours! I figure give or take an hour or two, everything really came together at the 100 hour mark. Everything is really coming together now. I've never heard speakers this good and am proud to say that I own a pair. All the previous adjectives apply...juicy, more dynamic...these guys just produce more sound. On some of my better recorded cd's there is no doubt where musical instruments and vocals are coming from...you can reach out and point to them. Another thing I noticed, as did others, is that everything holds together at higher volumes. But, I've also noticed how much more satisfaction I get at lower volume levels...there is more sound at lower levels.
Anyway...sorry for the ramblings, but I did want to let you and everyone else know that I enjoy the the new drivers very much and also to say YOU DA MAN! :thumb:
Oh yeah, I followed your recommendation on reconfiguring to dipole and am enjoying that as well.
Thanks For Everything,
Brett
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Hi Brett,
Great news and sorry about the delay in responding.
I couldn't be happier with the way the hemp 4.5s are working out. They just do more of everything. In all the cabinets I'm hearing the hemp tone and the added bass and fullness that the speakers are capable of. The drivers can handle more power and more complex music, but not lose any of the low level detail.
Sorry about the terminals being hard to remove and I just pretty much yank them off in one shot.
The break in has a little of the roller coaster ride in them, but not as bad as the 8" drivers. At 100 they just make the change. In the Super 3 bookshelf cabinet it's very dramatic.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Dear Hemp Users,
I'm beginning to break in some Super 3s. I've got them set up out of phase and mono in the basement with an old 15 watt Akai receiver playing bass-heavy soul. I have a hard time judging how loud I can go with them, though. Is it easy to burn out the voice coil on the hemps in an 8-hour session?
Steve Luntz
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Hi Steve,
No worry at all and they can handle it. I have had them on for a week straight.
Thanks again,
Louis
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Please help! I am interested in trying out a pair of super 3 XRS's with the 4.5 hemp driver, but I am very consered about how bright, fatiguing, or strident these may sound. I am a fan of what you might call warm sounding loudspeakers with fabric dome tweeters (Spendor's, Harbeth's, Audio Note's). I listen to primarily jazz, folk, bluegrass... on the system I am putting together. I know that a 30 day in home trial is offered, but I don't want to waist anyone's time (or money) if these drivers are not considered to be on the lush or warm side of the musical spectrum. So super 3 xrs owners out there, tell me how they sound! How do voices sound? Midrange sound?
Thanks in advance!
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Please help! I am interested in trying out a pair of super 3 XRS's with the 4.5 hemp driver, but I am very consered about how bright, fatiguing, or strident these may sound. I am a fan of what you might call warm sounding loudspeakers with fabric dome tweeters (Spendor's, Harbeth's, Audio Note's). I listen to primarily jazz, folk, bluegrass... on the system I am putting together. I know that a 30 day in home trial is offered, but I don't want to waist anyone's time (or money) if these drivers are not considered to be on the lush or warm side of the musical spectrum. So super 3 xrs owners out there, tell me how they sound! How do voices sound? Midrange sound?
Thanks in advance!
I'm not an XRS owner, but I'd go for it. Check them out. What do you have to loose? I love my Omega Super 3 Bipoles with the hemp drivers. I would imagine the XRS's have a similar sound. My speakers truly sing with jazz, folk and bluegrass. I don't know about "warm". Warm sounds like coloration to me and I assure you the Omega speakers do not color...at least not in my opinion. They do reproduce sounds that I would consider accurate. Voices have uncanny clarity and the midrange is full.
I've had issues with brightness, but I believe that I have mostly tamed it and what is left is going to require more work on room corrections.
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Its tough to compare these to conventional speakers. They aren't "warm" but at the same time are absolutely non-fatiguing. I can listen to the XRS for hours. The midrange is the strong suit of these speakers, IMO... voices and acoustic instruments are very accurately portrayed. The detail is very good, to the point that they do no favors to poorly recorded music. They are fast with very accurate rhythm and dynamics... percussion instruments are defined precisely. They are also phase and time accurate because there is no x-over which produces excellent imaging, soundstaging and a clarity that makes for a very realistic sound.
Possible downsides:
Its a 4.5" driver, it can only move so much air. Maybe not the best choice for large rooms. Maybe an 8" driver would be better for larger spaces? I will say you will probably be VERY surprised how loud and how much air they can move for their size. My friends can't believe the little drivers can do what they can.
Bass extension... these aren't true full-rangers. Again, you'll be surprised how well they can do with bass once they are broken in.
Value for money with the XRS are spectacular. Buy them, I can't believe you'll find anything better for the money.
My system: Yamaha Burner as transport->Audio Alchemy DTI/XDP jitter reducer and DAC->Trends T-amp, battery powered. Adire 10" xbl^2 sub.
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I've got the Super 3 XRS's and, as you may have read on some earlier posts, have had, like all of the great loves of my life, some ups and some downs! Louis himself says it best when he says that the XRS's are an unforgiving speaker, and if you read much about the single driver philosophy you know that that directness is exactly what many listeners love about single drivers: no crossovers to color the source, no "engineering" to make the source sound better at the speaker, something very pure, direct and present.
We all remember when it was fine to throw a cruddily mastered Boston lp onto our Technics turntables and cranking up the pot on our Circuit City JVC and listening to our Cerwin Vegas thump and bump and thinking it just didn't get any better. Then we had the opportunity to play our same BOston record on someone else's hi fi system and we heard the record differently. Then we played the same record on a SUPER system and realized, sadly perhaps, that the record sounded, well, like crap, not because the system was bad but because it was so good: it emphasized the poor commercial mastering of the lp, something that had been hidden or veiled during our earlier listening sessions on our Tech/JVC/CV combo.
The XRS's, and all single driver speakers I suspect, are the end result of many listeners' attempts to strip all the muck away and attain a least the illusion of the purest sound available. It's a valid philosophy, imho, and is why I'm both keeping my XRS's after entertaining the idea of selling them and also urging you to research the 'single driver theory' more before purchasing some. I'm pretty sure we all know the danger of recommending a piece of hi fi gear unconditionally and the XRS's haven't changed my mind about this reflex of caution. They are beautiful, killer speakers that will engage your heart and your mind and really make you think long and hard about what it means to be so deeply enthralled by various performances of recorded music. They are also brutally direct in some instances and, again imho, in no way should they be called "warm". I recently had the chance to listen to some very highly regarded Spendors on my system in addition to some brand new Quad 22ls and both sounded quite a bit "warmer" that my XRS's, but also muddy, confused and bloated after my lean and mean XRS's.
I recognized then and their that I'd gone on a hi fi diet and wasn't about to dive back into the overly sweet and rich land of crossovered speakers.
BTW, some well-recorded acoustic music sounds so bloody good on my XRS's that it's creepy.
Also, these guys' blog is pretty informative: http://singledriver.blogspot.com/
Food for thought.