[parmiep]

Hi everyone! I've been scouring this forum for weeks now as part of a speaker hunt, and particularly since my focus has zeroed in on Omega, trying to absorb as much as I can from all of you current and former owners ahead of making a decision. The short version: I'm very torn between the Super Alnico High Output XRS and the Zu Soul 6/ DW6 Supreme, but currently leaning towards the Omega based on the absolutely effusive praise from everyone, and because of how nice it's been to deal with Louis so far.

My situation: I currently have a Sonnet Morpheus Mk II feeding a Rega Elicit Mk 5 feeding some Mission 700s. They're fun, they're punchy, they're groovy. They play great with my wide range of musical tastes from George Harrison to Air to Daft Punk to Tame Impala to Al Green to Queens of the Stone Age to Justice and Fred Again. But they're not particularly refined. I started my quest by looking into Philharmonic BMR Towers, and auditioned some monitors. Very impressive, but also very polite sounding. A deep rabbit hole that took me past ATC, Spendor and Neat took me to DeVore, which eventually led me to Zu and Omega. Much as the DeVores seem lovely, my space doesn't allow for pulling speakers out deep into the room, so that seemed like a square peg into a round hole. Then I realized how much I could get for less of my money with Zu and Omega, and I could get bespoke wood of my choosing, and I'm pretty set on this path, but at a fork in the road.

I had a great chat with Louis, and we arrived at the SAHO XRS with 2 of the Deephemp subs and the upgraded internal material. I'm close to pulling the trigger. I just want to do my due diligence with Omega owners who also own or have owned Zu speakers and can comment here around the Zu Soul 6 and the DW6 Supreme. I realize my Rega SS amp isn't ideal here given the type of speakers and how they're meant for tubes, but I want to swing for the fences on speakers and worry about getting the right amplification later, while also going with a speaker that I can still very much enjoy in the interim.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I'd love to hear!

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome to AC 
Alnico 5 or 8 always will delivery better sound quality than a speaker with ceramic magnet and a crossover.

The Rega Brio amp that I listen sometimes in a friend home has a nice sweet sound.

[seikosha]

If you like the Devore’s, why would you not consider the DynaTens?

[parmiep]

If you like the Devore’s, why would you not consider the DynaTens?

We discussed it, that was his first recommendation. I mentioned that I had read there was more of the midrange magic with the SAHO XRS and he said that was true, and then suggested if that was of interest to me that the SAHO XRS with subs would give me both punch and fun with the mid range of the Alnico and the speed/dynamics/imaging.

Truth be told though, I'm somewhat flying blind here and going off of what I've been reading. It just seems like there's a lot of love for the alnico drivers and if I'm going to with an Omega, go for what they're offering that's really special. But I'm not opposed to a Dynaten. I think that's part of what I'm looking for advice on honestly, so I appreciate the suggestion.

Welcome to AC 
Alnico 5 or 8 always will delivery better sound quality than a speaker with ceramic magnet and a crossover.

The Rega Brio amp that I listen sometimes in a friend home has a nice sweet sound.

I do really love my Rega Elicit, I feel like it's pretty special. I had just read that higher wattage might not play as nice with Omega speakers, but maybe that was just one person's opinion and it's not something to worry about.

[FullRangeMan]

I do really love my Rega Elicit, I feel like it's pretty special. I had just read that higher wattage might not play as nice with Omega speakers, but maybe that was just one person's opinion and it's not something to worry about.

Big power amps are more expensive than a small tube amp and sound cold and sterile, say hi-fi, not as real music, due many output transistors.

But all these monsters have smart marketing ads behind them to golden the pill.

EDITED

[seikosha]

It’s hard to make a recommendation without knowing how loud you play your music, how big your room is, and what you can and can not forgive in a speaker, because in the end, every speaker is a compromise and there is no perfect one.  I’ve got 4 different models of Omegas and I could not name which one is best.  Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.

I’ve got some Zu DW’s, DynaTen Experts and SAM’s.  While I don’t have Devore’s, I have heard them (Orangutans) and the Dyna’s have what I would consider the closest sound to that speaker.  I would also say that the while the single drivers really shine with good tube amplification, the Dyna’s do quite well with solid state as well.  I actually like mine with the Rega Brio.

Single drivers are unique, and with the right music, they can be very very magical.  In the end, it all comes down to the question of whether or not your listening habits keep a single driver system in that special zone.

[parmiep]

It’s hard to make a recommendation without knowing how loud you play your music, how big your room is, and what you can and can not forgive in a speaker, because in the end, every speaker is a compromise and there is no perfect one.  I’ve got 4 different models of Omegas and I could not name which one is best.  Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.

I’ve got some Zu DW’s, DynaTen Experts and SAM’s.  While I don’t have Devore’s, I have heard them (Orangutans) and the Dyna’s have what I would consider the closest sound to that speaker.  I would also say that the while the single drivers really shine with good tube amplification, the Dyna’s do quite well with solid state as well.  I actually like mine with the Rega Brio.

Single drivers are unique, and with the right music, they can be very very magical.  In the end, it all comes down to the question of whether or not your listening habits keep a single driver system in that special zone.

I got a little shy about writing out too much with the intro and worrying I'd over do it 

The Mission 700 are 86db sensitive and the Rega is a 105W amp. I'm usually in the 9 to 11 range for music, and never past that because I'd be getting noise complaints otherwise (and honestly it's pretty loud). The room is 14 x 20, with the speakers along the long wall flanking a long TV stand, so about 7 feet apart, and about 7-8 feet away from the listening position. Given NYC apartments, I'm somewhat space limited and there's no choice but to have the speakers two feet away from a corner, and max 2 feet away from the wall behind it.

As to what I can't forgive, boominess and muddiness, slow syrup-iness, or at the other end of the spectrum, politneness and sterility. I want something fast, snappy, energetic, clean, groovy, fun and detailed. I'd like to hear what's all in the song and hear it all be beautiful or well done, but not to the point that it's more using the music to hear the speakers or like hunting for gear to put microsope on the music for the sake of being able to say I have the best gear. When speakers are described, when reviewers describe it as toe-tapping and head nodding, but also when they talk about good imaging and soundstage or the quality of how voices sound or float in the air. When I decided on the. Missions, I tried the Wharfdale Lintons but they really didn't work in my space, where the Mission 700s worked much better. But as much as they've been fun, I wouldn't say they blow anyone's socks off or that they're magical or hauntingly good.

Hope that helps!

[seikosha]

Yes, it sounds like what Louis recommended would be a strong choice.  Good luck with your decision!

[parmiep]

Yes, it sounds like what Louis recommended would be a strong choice.  Good luck with your decision!

I know you said you can’t pick a “best”, but could you speak to the different strengths and weaknesses of the different Omegas vs. the DW? I’d be curious to hear your perspective on what each one gives you/gave you.

[seikosha]

Here’s a quick and dirty summary of my impressions of the speakers in my room.

3xrs. The little rs5 driver is probably one that people will love or hate.  It’s the most unforgiving of the Omega speakers and the one which will shine the best as you put it in a better room with better equipment.  When it works, there is such a feeling of speed and snappiness to the sound which is addicting and microdynamics are outstanding.  They work very well for low level listening.  For me, they are really not that fun with some solid state amps, but boy will shine with a good tube amplifier.  Also, the imaging is the most impressive of the Omegas.  While all of them image particularly well, the 3 takes it to a higher level.  I really feel like the rs5 needs the bigger cabinet to sound best.  Its weakness is that at times it can sound just a bit too thin and you will wish for more meat on the bones.  It does respond nicely to a subwoofer, but there still can be what I could only describe as a wispiness in the highs.  The 3xrs’s were my first Omegas.  I sold them after I bought the Alnico monitor and missed them so much that I bought a new pair.

Super Alnico monitor.  Everyone says it and it’s true.  There is a great tone to this speaker in much of the midrange area.  It’s like the speaker is just giving you more information wrapped around the harmonics of each note.  The bass is (for a single driver) fat and round in a good way.  It’s probably the most conventional sounding speaker in the single driver lineup.  Imaging is not as tight and specific as that of the other Omegas but this one has good depth.  It also is for me, the least finicky of the single drivers as far as equipment synergy.  As far as weaknesses, it’s the least dynamic of the 3 and there is a probably very small peak in the upper treble region as I do notice it from time to time.  No single drivers have flat frequency response so you have to decide if their peaks and valleys are in acceptable regions for you.

Junior 8xrs.  Switching to the 8inch driver from the Alnico, you will immediately notice a bigger sound.  While the bass is not initially as prominent as what I get from the SAM’s, careful listening will reveal that it does go lower.  I like to think that the 8xrs’s are like a big brother to the 3xrs.  It carries over most of the speed and snappiness of the three and is more dynamic and lively sounding than the Alnico.  The weakness on this speaker is a thin sound on some male vocals.  It’s in a narrow range and occasionally noticeable.

Dynaten Expert.  Although my preferences are for single drivers, I do own quite a few two ways.  Yes, I am definitely an equipment hoarder.  I usually run my conventional speakers in a second system and occasionally throw them in the main room where I quickly get tired of them.  All my 2 ways just don’t deliver in the way a good single driver can.  I bought the DynaTens a few months ago and they are the first 2 ways I’ve had in my main room that I haven’t wanted to quickly replace.  There is a nice relaxed sound to these.  The drivers integrate well and there is none of that typical bass hump that I get with other two ways.  No they don’t image as well, they are not as “immediate” sounding as a full range driver and they aren’t (at the low listening levels that I prefer) as dynamic as my single driver Omegas.  However, the bass is smooth and extended, the frequency response is sounds very linear and it doesn’t make me want to pull them out of my room and go back to my single drivers.  I really wondered if I’d like these when I bought them and it turns out that I do!

Zu DW II.  I find it very hard to describe the sound of these.  I suppose I could say that yes on certain recordings, they can sound bright but it’s not always noticeable.  I think the thing for me is that the Zu’s do nothing outstanding and I just don’t get excited about them.  Everything they do is competent, just not great and when they are in my main system I’ll think, yeah, that’s nice, but the (insert random Omega) is better.  That said, I could totally understand someone else listening to them and loving them to death.  They really are to me very inoffensive.  Basically these days, they live in my gaming system.  They will play louder and fill a room much better than the Omegas and if I listened at higher levels, I’d probably like these a lot more.

Hope that helps.  They are just one person’s findings specific to their room, equipment, preferences and recordings so of course, ymmv!

[parmiep]

It absolutely helps! Thank you so much for going so in depth, it really does help to give some context to the choices I'm mulling, specifically around the DW, Dynaten and SAs. I think based on all of this it confirms the direction of the SAHO over the Dynaten, at least for me based on my preferences and what I'm hoping for. It's definitely worth noting that you like them better than you typically do two ways, but I worry about too relaxed a sound, and your confirmation over the special midrange magic of the SAs is definitely something that seems worth chasing. I do wonder how the SAHO changes things over the SA, noticing your comments about how it's the least dynamic and good at imaging of the three, but the product page description specifically addresses the dual drivers being aimed at improving dynamics and imaging.

As for the DW, definitely interesting to hear given what people say about Zu and it's very aggressive and attacking sound being great for rocking out. "Inoffensive" is not what you'd want to hear there haha. I do wonder how the Rev 6 and Supreme improvements would impact your perspective, and how the Soul 6 compares, but I can't imagine the house sound has changed all that much between them and the type of driver between them is still what it is versus the Omega SAs. I think for this choice, I want to get something that might have some weaknesses but definitely has some really special magic to it.

Anyways, on a bit of impulse I went ahead and snagged a Luxman MQ-88uSE... Seemed like too special of an amp to let slip through my fingers at such a good price from TMR, and I know these speakers play well with lower powered tubes. I figured I'd grab it and then speak to Louis and Sean about it and see what they thought about synergy there.

[parmiep]

An update - I had another conversation with Louis and we're circling in on a high output version of the Super 8, given there's a fair bit of rock and electronic music in my library and usual listening rotation. Louis says that you lose some warmth and imaging from the Alnicos, but gain dynamism, speed and punchiness with a little more of an analytical sound by comparison. Something for me to consider paired with the Luxman MQ-88uSE.

[DaveC113]

You can't go wrong with the speakers you're looking at, just pros and cons.

A lot of it depends on how loud you listen. Zu is good for loud music as their speakers are based on PA drivers, but they have been improved over the years so they sound less like PA speakers. I haven't heard the very latest models, but I'd say for the most part Omegas are better overall but can't play as loud. Zu's larger speakers can play LOUD. Also, since Zu's main driver covers a vast majority of the FR, they aren't massively superior on complex music, but I'd expect you'd be looking at a different system entirely if you want a system that can play symphonies well.

Assuming you go for Omega, same for the Alnico vs 8" FR. I have 3xrs and use a modified version of the 3xrs driver in a horn, and to me the 8" is similar but larger while the Alnico is richer and I largely agree with seikosha so I won't repeat what he said in different words. For the price Omega is amazingly good.

[parmiep]

I'm likely 99% going to go Omega at this point. It just seems like too much value and performance vs. the other options I've been considering, and without big brand upcharge or import fees and tariffs on European options I was considering.

Regarding the choice of Omega drivers - I guess I'm mulling the pros and cons of Alnico or Ferrite. Ideally I don't want to lose the magic of Omega speakers, which a lot of people seem to point at the Alnico specifically for that, but the way Louis describes it the 8 is punchier, more dynamic and more fun. I'm hoping it's more of a different flavors with similar magic vs. being really different. Also hoping the high output layout with two drivers alleviates the issues with complexity too.

[FireGuy]

I've owned Louis' Super 5's (with the RS5 driver) for some years now.  Physically they are what they are.  Keep space in mind and you'll be fine.    Intimate listening environments work well with Omegas. 


I find them to be polite but not shy.  They don't shout at you ever.  They reflect an emotional smoothness that's hard to describe.  If you hold dear imaging as an important element, the RS5 shines and there's one awesome value for the single-point-source driver.  Your front stage is massive.  Ya gotta hear it.


Well-built and Omega a good vendor.  The'll go loud enough but ease your expectation in this regard.  Like most good speakers they love and reward for best recordings and not so much on poor ones.

[DaveC113]

I'm likely 99% going to go Omega at this point. It just seems like too much value and performance vs. the other options I've been considering, and without big brand upcharge or import fees and tariffs on European options I was considering.

Regarding the choice of Omega drivers - I guess I'm mulling the pros and cons of Alnico or Ferrite. Ideally I don't want to lose the magic of Omega speakers, which a lot of people seem to point at the Alnico specifically for that, but the way Louis describes it the 8 is punchier, more dynamic and more fun. I'm hoping it's more of a different flavors with similar magic vs. being really different. Also hoping the high output layout with two drivers alleviates the issues with complexity too.

For me... Alnico has a certain character and some will say it's giving you more information but I'm not sure if it's info in the recording or a subjectively pleasant character that an Alnico magnet adds to everything. And it's not quite as fast and dynamic, which to me is a key aspect of what makes a single driver good. From what I've heard so far it seems like the 8" driver might be the way to go. It's likely what I'd choose. But I can see the Alnico being better for some kinds of music, softer acoustic music, vocals, strings... while the ferrites being better for more dynamic music like rock, electronica, and it'll have some advantages on acoustic music too, and I think it might be a more neutral speaker overall. Personally, I don't see Alnico as being simply superior in every way. I'd have to live with some Alnicos to really understand if it's truly more resolving or simply adding pleasant distortion, so I'm not 100% on that, but if Alnico has a recognizable character than that's not what I'm after. You need to listen for a longer time across many different recordings, and then you have to be a trained listener to really grasp the more subtle aspects of the sound. I listen for spatial performance and timbre of complex instruments like strings, and vocals, especially female vocals. Maybe you just need to buy both and switch out depending on your mood... 

[FullRangeMan]

If it's just PA drivers Beyma have many 10'', 12'' and 15'' PA drivers very reliable, hi sensitivity and hi power handling, inclusive various 12'' and 15'' Coaxial drivers.
My favorite is 12KX coaxial, great bass, enclosure are 100L Bass Reflex.
Woofer can run full range, no crossover, tweeter cut around 2kHz to 4kHz.
https://www.beyma.com/speakers/Fichas_Tecnicas/12KX.PDF

https://usspeaker.com/beyma%2012kx-1.htm

[FullRangeMan]

Also Beyma have the veteran 12GA50 (50mm VC) Full Range.
Hi SPL capable 102dB and 250W rms and work nice in a horn or small BR box.
Inexpensive and Ferrite Magnet.
https://www.beyma.com/speakers/Fichas_Tecnicas/beyma-speakers-data-sheet-full-range-12GA50.pdf