Omega Speakers + Solid-State Amps?

Lawrence of Suburbia · « **on:** 27 Mar 2006, 05:12 pm »

How well might s.s. "flat earth" amps like Naim or Rega work with Omega speakers? I know this is not the usual approach (low-watt tubes), but I am quite smitten with the looks of the 8" hemptone or aperiodic 8's.
My current kit is Naim Nait 5i & CD5x.

Don't wanna violate the tubes/hi-eff speaker brotherhood too much!:wink:

I stumbled into a pic somewhere on the web of an Omega hemp (or maybe Visaton) speaker w. a very wide baffle; not made anymore? (I think wide baffles are cool).

CJ Paul · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Mar 2006, 06:26 pm »

There are definitely people out there not using tubes. I'm running my Hemps off a gainclone.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Mar 2006, 06:38 pm »

I am running the drivers used in the A8's, with a gainclone also.

schotter · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Mar 2006, 07:26 pm »

Omega Super3 XRS with 'gaincloneish' 47Labs Shigaraki here, sounds great.

Dmason · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Mar 2006, 08:45 pm »

Lawrence

I have a pair of the HempTones, the big ones, and have powered them with SET, PP, Tripath, A-Mosfet, and they ALL sound great, to my surprise, and relief. In fact, I would say if I had to choose, I would use the Hafler 250 watt sand amp, just because of the overall ...gestalt, but 2 watts is also plenty, so you can use anything, it would seem, and be very successful. The hemp cones are not at all weird about what you use for an amp, and I would bet the Naim stuff would be bullseye, with their very even tone, and buckets of current.

Both the B200 and Hemp are power speakers, and can sink ALOT of juice, no worries, especially the B200, which sounds better the louder you play it.

CJ Paul · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Mar 2006, 08:47 pm »

Quote from: Dmason

Lawrence

I have a pair of the HempTones, the big ones, and have powered them with SET, PP, Tripath, A-Mosfet, and they ALL sound great, to my surprise, and relief. In fact, I would say if I had to choose, I would use the Hafler 250 watt sand amp, just because of the overall ...gestalt, but 2 watts is also plenty, so you can use anything, it would seem, and be very successful. The hemp cones are not at all weird about what you use for an amp, and I would bet the Naim stuff would be bullseye, with their ve ...

Make sure you know your room and listening requirements before you go out and by that 2 watt SET amp. My room is large and the 5-10 watt Sonic Impact amp was distorting and clipping before I reached decent output levels with the Hemps, so 2 watts isn't always enough.

Louis O · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Mar 2006, 01:49 am »

Hi Lawrence of Suburbia,

I do agree with all the posts regarding SS amp with the Hemps. From the 2 you mentioned the Naim works very well. I have heard this combo. I don’t know about the Rega.

Others are the Clari t and the new Signature 30. WE had great sound at the show with this set up. The new 30-watt amp has plenty of power and is very refined. The Jensen Paper in Oil caps are terrific.

The 47 labs amps are great as well as the Gainclones and the latest one is the Lavardin. I heard this amp and it’s very good, but way expensive.

Wide baffles are the way to go.

Thanks again,
Louis