Thanks Guy for your follow up thread.
You mentioned this speaker is not as detailed as a smaller speaker.
Do you mean a smaller driver for the full-range or a smaller speaker like a mini-monitor?
If a mini-monitor, which speakers are you referring too?
Not being able to hear the Omegas while trying to make a purchase decision is fairly difficult.
All I can go from > are some of these excellent posts and a short list of periodic reviews.
Understanding the aspect of > everything in the speaker world is a compromise, it becomes a question of which compromises to make for obtaining the best sound.
Not having a crossover makes logical sense.
But then > can a whizzer cone attached to a larger 7" cone produce more accurate and detailed higher frequencies and have a flatter frequency response curve than high quality silk dome tweeter.
Or, should one use the omega 5F for greater detail?
Or, would the Alnico magnet make such a difference in driver control to surpass the upper detail refinement of a high quality silk dome?
It also seems from the Omega published frequency graphs, the 7 A's are up and down all over the place as much as 18db from 3k upward.
And of course > two 10" woofers versus one 15" woofer for the lower bass portions?
Questions ??????????????
Guess that's what makes this interesting.
Thanks, daveapex
Hi daveapex.
Thanks Guy for your follow up thread.My pleasure.
You mentioned this speaker is not as detailed as a smaller speaker.
Do you mean a smaller driver for the full-range or a smaller speaker like a mini-monitor?Again, I did not express myself clearly, sorry about that.
I have no proof of that, but I think the Omega 5F might have better midrange, because it’s smaller, this is just an assumption based on my 45 years of fooling around with audio stuff.
I wanted to order from Louis the 5F and the 7F, (The 7A Alnico is too expensive for me, minds you, Common Sense Audio has some Alnico drivers, but there are even more expensive then Louis drivers.) and compare to see which one sound better.
According to other Audio Circle members, the 5F is good and the 7F is also good, therefore, very difficult to know which driver is better.
I choose the 7F, first because it’s a 7” and it should be better in the bass region, plus I think with the whizzer cone it will go a little higher, regardless of what the specs says.
In addition, those 7F are replacing a pair of Audio Nirvana 8” extended range driver which are the basic model with stamped basket and no phase plug, they are good to experiment, but they have a big camel bump on the critical region of 2KHz.
The 7F sound less screemy (Excuse my choice of words, I have a good excuse, my mother’s language is French. In French that would translate into: Criard)
My long term idea was also to re-locate the 7F into a bass reflex enclosure, so that I would eliminate the need for a sub-woofer, but after playing some music that I like very much, like Fanfare for a common man and the same, I realize that I still need my OB dipole sub-woofer, and by the way, I love the sound of them
If a mini-monitor, which speakers are you referring too?I don’t remember mentioning anything about mini-monitor, (That’s normal at 66 years old) between a mini-monitor that require a stand (That can cost quite a few $$$) and is usually weak in the base compared to a floor standing enclosure, that as more base and don’t need any stand, I do prefer a floor standing unit.
Minds you, the 5F in a large enclosure won’t give as much bass as a 7F in a similar enclosure.
I hope I have not lost you half down my fogy explanation.
Not being able to hear the Omegas while trying to make a purchase decision is fairly difficult.Living on planet Vietnam, I understand exactly what you mean by: Not being able to hear… Any speakers/drivers…
All I can go from > are some of these excellent posts and a short list of periodic reviews.
Understanding the aspect of > everything in the speaker world is a compromise; it becomes a question of which compromises to make for obtaining the best sound.Yes, compromise, but which one ? ? ?
I love the bass, I now increasingly love midrange, especially now that I have heard some good extended range drivers and the last, but not least the highs, with details, but sweet.
Every where these days we are surrounded but aggressive sound, even National Geographic and Discovery channel have the aggressive distorted electric guitar as back ground music, very, very annoying.
Now, which compromise will I made for my last sound system, the one that I will bring with me in my grave?
Bass, no compromise there, especially that here in Vietnam, I have plenty of room, but later, when I am back in Canada and as many old farts like me, they will park me in a small room the size of a toilet, therefore, no sub-woofer (Also because of the neighbors) so, a 7F in a large bass reflex enclosure might be the solution, that why soon, I might get built by my friendly local cabinet maker a pair of bass reflex enclosure that will probably cost me around 150 USD/pair. Yes, in Vietnam it’s cheap labor.
For the mids; I am not worried OB dipole or bass reflex it won’t alter the mids. The same for the highs.
Therefore, my only compromise will be the bass, but then, I can always wear my Sennheiser HD-650 with my Bottlehead Crack, I will have plenty of bass at discotheque level if I want to.
Not having a crossover makes logical sense.As you might know already, I have a pair of GR Research V1 with what I call a fairly complicated passive cross-over circuit.
Danny (The designer) will not agree with me I am sure.
Those are good speaker, but I prefer the crossover less 7F even with its bump at 2Khz. (Compromise)
But then > can a whizzer cone attached to a larger 7" cone produce more accurate and detailed higher frequencies and have a flatter frequency response curve than high quality silk dome tweeter.On that, I cannot help/answer you.
At a (Much) later date, I will experiment with my GR Research N3 with Neo tweeter and see which of the two (N3 vs 7F) as better highs.
Or, should one use the omega 5F for greater detail?I might be wrong, but look as if more Audio Circle members are using the 5F, therefore, prefer the 5F to the 7F. You would have to do yourself (Which, I know, is not possible) a side by side test and hear, since it’s not possible, you have to more or less rely on others experience.
If you will go with a bass reflex enclosure, then I will say go for the 5F with a sub-woofer, even if it’s an 8” powered model or go for the 7F in a floor standing bass reflex enclosure, but again, it come down to what type of music do you prefer?
I am sure some Audio Circle members with join this topic to give their opinion and more important, their experience with Omega drivers.
By the way, according to what I read from Louis, the 5F and 7F won’t be available anymore, I think this is a big mistake, to introduce a new and very good product and shortly after make it not discontinued, but unavailable.
Or, would the Alnico magnet make such a difference in driver control to surpass the upper detail refinement of a high quality silk dome? This is my opinion, based on… Well not much.
But for what the extra $$$ the manufacturers are asking for Alnico, I don’t think the extra $$$ is a good investment, however, if you are not poor like me, then it might be worth.
Danny from GR Research ahs a few good dome tweeters that you could buy from him, I don’t want to talk for him, but who knows, he might even accept a return after 30 days if you are not 100% satisfied, but maybe I should not have written that ? ? ?
It also seems from the Omega published frequency graphs, the 7 A's are up and down all over the place as much as 18db from 3k upward. I still look at the frequency graphs and all the time, I am disappointed with their roller coasters curves. What’s more important, is the sound you hear, not the specs, the specs might be a good starting point.
What manufacturers have a straight line frequency graph?
Not even the more expensive Lowther drivers.
And of course > two 10" woofers versus one 15" woofer for the lower bass portions?Mine are Eminence 12” Acoustinator which are guitar amplifier speakers and their specs are nothing to impress, but I love heir sound, up to now, of all the speakers I have owned in the past 45 years they are the one to keep until I kick the bucket.
Yes, they are big, but no bigger than two (One on top of the other) sealed 12” sub woofer.
Questions ??????????????Welcome to the club.
I am many times impressed and influenced by things users write about their choice of products, but some times, they are biased. For what reasons ???
I guess it’s because of their choice of audio components that fill their desire.
For me, first it’s bass, then the naturalness of the mids, it’s like you are there, it’s the abundance of micro details.
Guess that's what makes this interesting.
Interesting and sometime also frustrating.
So much choice and so many different opinions, that’s why you have some many manufacturers, to give you lots of choices and frustration.
I hope this will help you more than confuse you.
I am not audio expert, but now, I know what I want and what I like, it took me 45 years to find out and lots of $$$, but I regret nothing other than the $$$ that could have been used for my retirement.
Thanks for asking me, even If I gave you more than what you have asked.
Have a nice day.
Guy 13
Thanks, daveapex
Thanks JLM for your post, as always, very well written.
I agree with you 100% extended range drivers excel in small ensemble
and solo instrument. I love guitar with my near field set up.
I have just ordered five CDs of Chet Atkins (Mr. Guitar).
