[earlmarc]

While surfing the net I came across these speakers. They are sold as DIY are are priced as an affordable set of speakers? I've read some post on the planar asylum about some preferring them over other dipole designs like the Maggie 3.6R. Does anyone have any experience with these speakers. Here is the website:

 http://musicanddesign.com/index.html

[jholtz]

John Pastuck from Minneapolis brought his beautiful NaO's to the 2004 Iowa DIY event that I hosted. John K. has some variations available depending on the customers tastes. These were based on Seas Excel drivers. They sounded superb and basically shared the best sound award in the unlimited class with Salk Sound HT3's. Both are exceptional speakers. 

http://www.audiodiycentral.com/rep_iowa2004.shtml

HTH

Jim

[andyr]

While surfing the net I came across these speakers. They are sold as DIY are are priced as an affordable set of speakers? I've read some post on the planar asylum about some preferring them over other dipole designs like the Maggie 3.6R. Does anyone have any experience with these speakers. Here is the website:

 http://musicanddesign.com/index.html

Hi Earl,

The NaOs are "DIY" in the sense that John K sells you the plans, instructions and the crossover PCBs for a very reasonable price and you then have to buy the drivers and build the boxes ... and the crossovers.  (NB: they are not "box speakers" ... they are dipoles.)

You have several construction options, including:
* 3-way active (the latest NaO)
* 2-way active with a passive crossover between mid and tweeter (the original NaO ... which requires fewer power amps)
* one or two Peerless 10" woofers, and
* choice of Seas tweeters for the front (there is also a rear-firing tweeter).

Mike Barney had Maggie 3.6s but got rid of them when he built his NaOs.  From my own listening experience (as a Maggie IIIa owner) I know the NaO has fantastic, punchy bass down to 20Hz and Mike assures me the NaO doesn't give anything away to the 3.6 in terms of imaging and HF.   

So IMO they are a mighty good speaker ... just as soon as I can sell my IIIAs, I will start building some NaOs (I've already purchased the 3-way active crossover PCBs from John K).

They are similar to the Linkwitz "Orions" in the sense that both speakers use dual, LF-equalised Peerless 10" woofers but the NaO has the mid/tweeter crossover happening at 2.5Khz, whereas the Orion crosses over at about 1.5Khz.

Regards,

Andy

[R_burke]

For those of us who are DIY handicapped/just aint got no skills, like me.

I contacted music and design to ask them if they knew of anyone who builds their speakers and they responded that they would do it.  Pricing was < $2500 for mini w/subs

Now if I can only find some to listen to around the SF Bay Area