The new RS8 based speakers

Louis O · « **on:** 3 Mar 2017, 11:55 pm »

Hi All,

I while back I finished my newest drivers called RS8. They are the latest 8" full range with a ferrite magnet. It's been a long time since the Super 8's, Maxhemp and Compact Hemp were discontinued. I worked on this driver for a while and now it's ready for production in 2 different floor-standing versions.

I have tried many configurations and like these 2 the best so far.
They both are single drivers and in a wide baffle style. I'm very happy with the cabinet styling and proportions.

They are both upright cabinets with no tilt.

The new RS8 is very similar to the RS5 in tone. The cone material is the same. They really sound like a large RS5. Great fast tight bass and very nice dynamics. They are an 8 Ohm driver and about 98dB in sensitivity.

The response is very linear and finally got rid of the 8KHz peak the old drivers had.

The Super 8 XRS in Zebrawood

The dimensions are:
38" tall x 14" wide x 8.5" deep.

The Junior 8 XRS in Ebony

The dimensions are:
35" tall x 12" wide x 7.5" deep.

The Omega RS8 Driver

Thanks again,
Louis

RDavidson · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Mar 2017, 12:50 am »

Beautiful!

BearCityUSA · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Mar 2017, 12:21 pm »

These are stunning,... And 98db sensitivity. Iguess they can really move some air. And now for the $64,000 question. List price? I hope not $64,000.

roscoe65 · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Mar 2017, 02:47 pm »

Quote from: BearCityUSA on 4 Mar 2017, 12:21 pm

These are stunning,... And 98db sensitivity. Iguess they can really move some air. And now for the $64,000 question. List price? I hope not $64,000.

The Super 7XRS in real wood is $1,895 and the Super Alnico XRS is $3,295. The $2,500 price point seems to be reasonable.

mick wolfe · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Mar 2017, 04:37 pm »

Oh no.....just when I thought I was done buying speakers.

Louis O · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Mar 2017, 11:59 pm »

Many thanks for the very kind posts. I have made many wide baffle speakers, but these are the best looking I think. I kind of made them less deep and this really worked visually. Also using the smaller spikes made a difference.

roscoe65 is really close with the pricing.
Looks like the Junior 8 XRS will start at $1795 in level 1 and the Super 8 XRS will be $2895 in woods only.

I want to share some pictures of RS8 standmounts. When I first got the drivers in I tried them in my current cabs I had on hand. This is well before I decided to go wide baffle floorstander with them.

CAM8 in Ebony

An RS8 in a CAM cabinet. I took the picture diagonally for some reason

SAM8 in walnut on Skylan Stands

This one sounds great

Thanks,
Louis

roscoe65 · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 01:12 am »

Looks great Louis!

The form factor looks like you may begin to compete with the Devore Orangutan 0/93 and Audio Note ANE. The Super 8XRS really looks like it could go head to head against the Audio Note both in size and claimed efficiency.

I personally like the SAM8 (shouldn't that be the "SFM8"?) proportions, but they are the same as my SAM's so I may be biased. I would imagine them to sound really great and it looks like you've made the port larger. However, spending another $420 on the Skylan stands would be a deal killer for a lot of people.

RDavidson · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 01:38 am »

It'd maybe be a deal breaker only if one feels that Skylans are a must. There are much less expensive options. In fact, one could get a lot of milage from much less expensive stands, maybe even DiY, and some Herbie's dots.

roscoe65 · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 01:45 am »

You're absolutely correct. The Skylans are a great sonic and visual match to the SAM's but are no means necessary.

I personally like the SAM form factor. It is one of the reasons I chose it.

RDavidson · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 02:04 am »

Agree too that Skylans compliment Omega monitors very nicely.

danabunner · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 05:48 am »

What are the pros and cons of the 8" Alnico driver vs the 6" Alnico?

roscoe65 · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 12:12 pm »

This new 8" is ferrite, not alnico.

DaveC113 · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 03:48 pm »

Looks great!

I heard the prototypes a while ago and agree they do sound like big RS5s, they're really nice. Fast and well-defined bass for sure.

pursuitofnow · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 04:23 pm »

How would the Super 8 XRS compare to the Super 3 High Output XRS? Seems to be roughly the same cone surface area?

roscoe65 · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 04:25 pm »

The Super 8 XRS has 60% more cone area than the Super 3 HO.

mick wolfe · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 04:48 pm »

Yep....if you measure the RS5 at an even 4" diameter, it would require 4- RS5's to equal the radiating area of a single RS8......provided the RS8 measures 8" in diameter.

pursuitofnow · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 05:17 pm »

Oh, ok I see. I was simply adding 4+4=8, but I guess it isn't that simple

How about the sonic differences between the two? What are the trade offs?

roscoe65 · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 05:34 pm »

I believe the RS5 is about 4.5" in diameter, which would give a nominal cone area of 10.13 in². Assuming the RS8 has an 8" diameter, it's cone area would be 16 in², about 60% greater than two RS5's.

danabunner · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 07:10 pm »

Surface area of a 4.5" cone would be 2.25" squared times pi = 15.9 sq in.

For an 8" cone it would (4*4) X 3.1416 = 50.26 sq in.

roscoe65 · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Mar 2017, 08:16 pm »

We were talking about the area of two RS5 drivers relative to an 8" driver. I had left out Pi as a factor. The ratio is the same but the area is Pi x.