[grsimmon]

Greetings;
I have zero experience with open baffle speakers,  but have been following Linkwitz Lab's website for years.   So I'm wondering:  who out there makes OB speakers for sale that are ready to go / plug and play?  At this point I don't care how many drivers, if they're active or passive, etc.   Ones I am aware of include:

Linkwitz Labs (2 models)
Jamo (2 models,  but maybe discontinued? - can't find on website)
Emerald Physics

Can you please tell me who else is out there?   Thanks very much -

[JohnR]

Kyron Audio Gaia - http://www.kyronaudio.com.au/Gaia.html

Legacy Audio Whisper - http://www.legacyaudio.com/products/view/whisper-hd/, http://www.legacyaudio.com/products/view/whisper-xd/

Hawthorne Audio Duet: http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/catalogs/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=6

[mikeeastman]

Spatial Trilogy T2- http://www.spatialcomputer.com/page7/page7.html

Serenity Acoustics Super 7-http://www.serenityacoustics.com/

[GT Audio Works]

Gradient Helsinki 1.5       http://www.gradient.fi/Gradient/Helsinki_1.5.html

Lotus Group Granada       http://lotusgroupusa.com/Granada.htm

Soulsonic                        http://www.soulsonicspeakers.com/products.html

[InfernoSTi]

Hawthorne Audio makes a whole line of OB speakers now, not just their "duets".  They make four varieties of "solos" and "trios" (the same is true for "duets").  They also have a "References" line that uses a large waveguide for a proprietary 10" AMT tweeter. 

Best,
John

[bhuff]

Hello
Thought I would add two more to your list of commercially available open baffle speakers for those not wanting to build.  Holistic Audio (Jack Caldwell) and Manzanita Audio Solutions (John Busch).  John is a member of audiocircle, been in the open baffle design/business for many years and has four different products.  IMO you need to hear some of the speakers before deciding as many of these companies do not allow returns.  Hope this helps.

[lowtech]

Big distinction between OB and dipole, IMO.  The Linkwitz models are; most all of the others are not.

[MJK]

Big distinction between OB and dipole, IMO.  The Linkwitz models are; most all of the others are not.

That is a very general statement and I cannot agree with it at all. From Wikipedia under "dipole speaker" :

"The term dipole derives from the fact that the polar response consists of two lobes, with equal radiation forwards and backwards, and none perpendicular to the axis."

So OB's are dipoles, along with just about all other open backed speakers if the front and rear radiation is equal or close to equal. Now if you want to make a distinction between the radiation pattern of the sound field created by different dipole speakers that is a different discussion.

[Rudolf]

That is a very general statement and I cannot agree with it at all. From Wikipedia under "dipole speaker" :
"The term dipole derives from the fact that the polar response consists of two lobes, with equal radiation forwards and backwards, and none perpendicular to the axis."

That's right. The difference between large OBs and dipoles like the Linkwitz LX521 would be in the width and number of lobes. See http://www.mellowacoustics.com/articles/Disk_in_a_circular_baffle.pdf Fig.5-7.
Which is quite the same as what you already said: 

Now if you want to make a distinction between the radiation pattern of the sound field created by different dipole speakers that is a different discussion.

[MJK]

Deleted.

[lowtech]

Generally speaking (but less so), a dipole pays specific attention to polar patterns across the entire frequency range.  This is done to provide a uniform radiation pattern (front to back; figure-8), which greatly improves power response, which generally improves sound.  An OB, OTOH, is often an (over sized) driver placed into a open-back box with or without a rear-radiating tweeter.  The two speakers are guaranteed to measure and sound very different.

Agree now?   

[MJK]

No, you are placing a lot of restrictions on the general definition of a dipole. Equal radiation front and back and a null at 90 degrees, baffle width or shape are not included in this simple definition.

[poseidonsvoice]

As the competitor to Linkwitz Orion and 521 loudspeakers, there is also Music And Design's NaO II RS and NaO Note RS:

http://musicanddesign.com/products.html

Linkwitz' designs are here:

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/

Both are innovative, very interesting, well thought out designs with clear objective data (for all to see) augmented by numerous subjective reviews on the internet.

Instead of agreeing or disagreeing on the definitions of 'OB' versus 'dipole'  (unfortunately marketers have obfuscated the issue), let's just talk about directivity control which is what I would be after. Whether that is done with a dipole, or a waveguide, etc...it doesn't matter (as Sigfried has shown with the Orion versus Pluto designs). What matters is the degree of directivity control, to what frequency, polar pattern in the horizontal axis,  etc... Some manufacturers publish this data - and that in and of itself is rare. Dipole designers include Linkwitz and Kreskovsky (of NaO loudspeakers). Most don't, so you'll never know unless you measure them yourself. They concentrate on marketing hoopla and beautiful cabinetry...

Directivity control is the crux of loudspeaker design. Either you get it or you don't. Agree or disagree, doesn't matter to me.

Rant over.

Best,
Anand.

[JohnR]

The question was about ready-to-go OB speakers... any others known? (links always help )

[Rudolf]

Mainly ripole woofers, but complete systems too:
http://audiocircle-rl.dyndns.org

While famous for his field-coil drivers, he has two dipole speakers to offer:
http://www.wolfvonlanga.com/speaker-systems/salon/

Most "transparent" dipole sound ever:
http://www.perfect8.com

http://www.lyngdorf.com/products/loudspeakers/dp-1

[GT Audio Works]

If you have a spare 2mil and a concert hall sized room available, these might interest you
http://transmissionaudio.com/

[lowtech]

Equal radiation front and back and a null at 90 degrees, baffle width or shape are not included in this simple definition...

I believe you just agreed with what I said.  While a large driver placed in a box with open back *might* produce equal radiation front and back, it will not produce a null at 90 degrees.  If it lacks a tweeter, the problem will be even more obvious.   There are also major off-axis differences between a true dipole and an "OB". 

To answer John's and the OP's original question, here's a couple other dipoles I found with the help of Google:

• Jamo Reference 909
• Audio Artistry Dvorak
• Forsman VSS4/6 & D2

I'm sure there are at least a few others.    Like I said, many "OB" speakers that are advertised as Dipole are not.  OB speakers are a dime a dozen. 

[fsimms]

Salk and Philharmonic Audio make some hybrid open baffle speakers.  GR Research also has some open baffle models.

Bob

[JohnR]

The question was about completed speakers (not kits)

Salk do have a full-range OB speaker but it's in the "archived models" on the website so not sure if it's still available.

http://www.salksound.com/archos%20open%20baffle%20-%20home.htm

Can't find anything on the Philharmonic site.

[Poultrygeist]

Emerald Physics


http://www.emeraldphysics.com/