The Cubes and the Voxative are in awhole different price league.
It has been a long time since i heard Omegas, they were pretty good. i am sure they have gotten better over time.
I am very familiar with the Markaudios Harley (Sibelius) use a custom Markaudio driver.
Note: I helped Harley with a 2nd loudpeaker design which dis not go into production. y partner in that did help (bit) with the Sibelius.
From the Omega website "Omega’s commitment to using premium materials and precise workmanship”. Has anyone looked inside to see what the "premium materials” are? If any kind of MDF i would stay away.
The PEARL have at least the same level of workmanship, but out of outrageously thick solid French Oak. Anthing well-built of solid will be an art-piece as well as a loudspeaker. Commercial loudspeakers built from solid are exceedingly rare. You usually have to get them custom made. I can post pics of some examples if someone wishes to see some.
I do not share FullRangeMan’s derision of various magnets. There is a huge range of magnet qualities. And way more involved in a driver design than what provides the magnetic field.
Each has its pluses and minuses with each, The driver design has to change with each change in magnet. And everyone has a budget. Alnico and NEO cost more, and do not necessary bring any benefits, often the other way round. You have to evaluate the driver in a box, not what magnet it has
If i had to choose i’d pick the Sibelius (aka Model 1) (ignoring price), but i have already built better.
I see the price has skyrocketed, they used to be <€5k. And something diy of similar quality (at least) could be built for less than $1,500 USD.
The cost of the shipping across the Atlantic must be huge. Not to mention the punitive tariffs (being punitive to people in the US IMO) can increase that by a lot more. I am just finding out how hard, and how much extra shipping a single $40 driver made in Japan, back into the US.
Omega are made in the US, drivers are made by Misco so shipping and other costs are a fraction, so have a huge advantage in that respect.
If you are really lucky you might find someone offloading a set of nice diy builds. Unike retail there is a whole lot more choice of designs, they usually go for the cost of the drivers so the dyer can build another pair, something else … often hard to package before any potential shipping. Being able to go listen and bring them home if you liike them.
A personal example. These are competive with speaker scosting 10-20K plus at a retail store. Well designed and built out of 18mmm quality BB ply. Real cheap, but you have to come pick them up.
dave
Further, Markaudio Alpair 10.3 (NLA but the closest equivalent to the PEARL driver fits in Frugel-Horn XL, but the Omega would need to be checked to see if it is better in Joan (larger variation).
