[Canyoneagle]

I'm looking at numerous high-efficiency, "musical" speakers (primarily Omega, Dali, Zu and Hornshoppe), and I've recently come across three models offered by Morrow Audio www.morrowaudio.com .

In a similar price bracket, there are several very nice options, and I'd love to hear some opinions.  I'll probably end up with 3 sets of speakers, starting with a pair in the $800 range (Omega XRS, Hornshoppe or Morrow Nirvana), a pair in the $2k-$3k range (Omega Revolution A8, Zu Druid) and a set of open baffle (Omega, Morrow).

My first purchase will be at the cheaper end of the spectrum, followed by OB's, then the "apex of the price/performance curve" speakers.

Any ideas on the $700-$1,000 range?
Initially, I'm looking to drive these with an affordable integrated tube amp, but will replace it with a Red Wine Audio amp after a few years.
I favor musical experience over analysis of the recording.

I've modified the original title of this thread, so we can open the discussion on this very exiting realm of audio.
Perhaps we can make it into a buyer's guide/directory........

thanks!
Michael

[nonoise]

Michael:
Go with the Hornshoppe Horns. I've had mine for only a few weeks now and of course, I'm biased, but these are the best value in audio today. I don't see myself 'upgrading' from now on. These are the most 'musical' speakers I've heard. Call Ed and talk to him: he got me to take the leap and I'm glad I did.
By the way, I'm using a RWA Sig 30 and the pairing is magical. And, Ed offers a 30 day, money back offer as well. Some other speaker makers don't.

Good luck,
Tim

[PaulFolbrecht]

Initially, I'm looking to drive these with an affordable integrated tube amp, but will replace it with a Red Wine Audio amp after a few years.

Hi Michael,

I can't speak to your speaker question (well, cept to say I love my Zus), but had to comment on your "long-term plan" regarding an amp.  If you don't mind me asking, why, if you like RWA so much, don't you simply buy the Sig 30 now?  It's not likely more expensive than the other amps you'd be considering (well, certainly not by much), and, unless you know something I don't, they're not planned to change radically in the next few years, either.

I just had to ask. 

[Canyoneagle]

Nonoise:  Thanks for the great endorsement of the horns!  I wish I could go to the Rocky Mountain expo to listen to the RWA/Omega room and then compare to the horns........

Paul:
I totally understand your post.  perhaps I WILL go ahead and commit to the sig 30 now.  What's an extra grand anyway?   aa
My main rationale (flawed as it may be) was to find a used amp for $400 or less to cover for the next few years,at which point I may lose a couple hundred bucks when I sell the amp and jump to the latest RWA offering (hmmmm, monoblocks?)
This way, I could focus the cash on some speakers (a couple of sets) that could be properly driven by smooth tube power on the cheap.

I'm loving the fact that I can re-build my music system for less than a small mortgage!!!!!! 

Thanks again,
Michael

[PaulFolbrecht]

I totally understand your post.  perhaps I WILL go ahead and commit to the sig 30 now.  What's an extra grand anyway?   aa
My main rationale (flawed as it may be) was to find a used amp for $400 or less to cover for the next few years,at which point I may lose a couple hundred bucks when I sell the amp and jump to the latest RWA offering (hmmmm, monoblocks?)
This way, I could focus the cash on some speakers (a couple of sets) that could be properly driven by smooth tube power on the cheap.

Actually, my question was stupid!  Of course you can find a good used amp for well below what a Sig 30 costs.  My apologies.  After all, the Dared 2A3 integrated I own cost me around $500 used and is a stellar performer.

Good luck..

[JLM]

Don't know any of those drivers and didn't see any names associated with the testimonials.  This guy has a newsletter and builds some unique stuff

Regardless, build quality on the open baffle appears very low.  It seems over priced for an unknown driver with a few pieces of unfinished MDF.  Unless you go for curved sheet materials, open baffle is definitely DIY territory.  Just buy prefinished shelving and continous hinges, use a drill, and you're done.  Check out the open baffle circle below for good ideas. 

IMO open baffle requires a at least 5 feet (10 feet is better) clearance behind them to minimize smearing from the backwave and 10 feet (15 feet is better) between speakers and listener to allow the dipole sound to cohere into something that images versus a confused wall of sound.  Again IMO the only good sounding horn tweeter/midrange drivers are wooden (or highly dampened). 

The Hawthorne Audio Isis 15 inch coaxial drivers might be just as good (construction appears to be better) for $139/pair and are rated down to 40 Hz in open baffle (I've heard them and believe it versus the 70 Hz stated by Morrow).  The Isis isn't the most detailed driver out there (should be no surprise with a 1 inch and 15 inch driver pairing).

Note that ported designs have a fast bass roll off and often compensate by providing a bass emphasis just above that roll off.  With ported designs mating to a sub is a bit tougher.  And square cabinets allow the rear wave to bounce straight back (and for the most part, through) the cone material, causing smearing.  All that said, don't know why you'd mess with the "Presence" when it's only $150 more for the "Nirvana".

With The Horns you'd pay for fairly complicated wood cutting.  I've found The Horns to be very placement fussy.  Small floorstanders can get "lost" behind/around furniture and these are narrow and light enough to be quite tipsy.  With the Omegas you're paying for very nice cabinetry, but again you have square cabinet smearing.  These both use small Fostex drivers, that by the laws of physics, mean that they're not as efficient as a comparable larger driver.

A better alternative in this price range IMO is the Brines Acoustics FT-1600 Mk II.  Transmission line bass roll off equals room lift and is deep, musical, and fast.  The sloped baffle avoids square cabinet midrange smear and it uses a bigger, better, and more efficiency Fostex driver.  A variety of kit options are available to fit your needs.  Bob does good work and is a good guy to deal with.  I own it's big brother, the FTA-2000, and it's been compared to speakers at 3 times the price: 

http://www.geocities.com/rbrines1/Pages/FT-1600_MkII/Main.html

[Canyoneagle]

I'd forgotten about the Hawthornes!
I really like the aesthetics of their "duet", and the idea of having built-in bass augmentation (assuming it works - I'd assume these speakers are VERY location sensitive).
As far as DIY, I have toyed with the idea of buying some drivers and going nuts with baffle design and placement.  I love working with wood, so who knows?
I checked out the Brines site, and I like the LT-2000 (dx-2 driver) for just a small bump in price.

The selection of fine cottage industry speakers in this affordable price range is staggering!
One thing that I find very appealing about all of these fine-performing speakers is the frequent comparisons to speakers costing several times the price.
It is also apparent (from this thread alone, and many others) that ALL of these great products have very devoted owners/enthusiasts, and, ultimately, my ears are the best judge of what will suit me best.  I'd be willing to venture a guess that any of these speakers would make me smile (especially for such a small outlay).   

In respnse to this, I've modified the title of this thread to "affordable high performance (musical) speakers"

Keep 'em coming!  This is becoming a nice collecting point for this highly exciting genre of audio.

Michael