Symmetrica Info and Pictures

Rick Craig · « **on:** 10 Jun 2008, 05:17 pm »

Time for a Symmetrica update.

After quite a bit of crossover tweaking I'm ready to finish out the demo pair and start having some listening sessions. For those that have asked for some specifications I can share a few things about the design. The sensitivity is very high (upper 90's) so you can drive these with practically any amp including small SET's. The impedance is 4 ohms; however, I can reconfigure the design for 16 ohms as well.

There are 32 3" woofers per channel which is equivalent to twelve 5" or seven 7" drivers so they can move quite a bit of air. The driver excursion is minimal with the high sensitivity so the sound is very clean with low distortion and compression. Depending on your subwoofer and active electronics the crossover point can be from 80-120hz. We have single or dual 12" powered subs that are designed specifically to go with the Symmetrica.

The symmetrical layout with small woofers is working perfectly and I'm very happy with the results. If one of your top priorities is imaging and soundstage you must consider this speaker. More to come later.

Christof · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Jun 2008, 01:37 pm »

Sounds interesting, Rick. Can you explain the differences that one might experience with this sort of design vs. one of your more traditional designs, for example the RC5?

Thanks.
c.

Rick Craig · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jun 2008, 04:27 pm »

Quote from: Christof on 15 Jun 2008, 01:37 pm

Sounds interesting, Rick. Can you explain the differences that one might experience with this sort of design vs. one of your more traditional designs, for example the RC5?

Thanks.
c.

It's really hard to explain without having you hear an array. Even at that array designs can vary quite a bit and I've heard some that were not so good. The main difference is the soundstage which I think is more realistic with a well-designed array. Arrays also have the edge in sensitivity, dynamics, and freedom from compression (though the difference in dynamics and compression isn't a large amount in comparsion to a large floorstander such as the RC5). Maybe it's time for a Chicago area demo.

martyo · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jun 2008, 04:30 pm »

[quoteMaybe it's time for a Chicago area demo.][/quote]

Absolutely!

FredT300B · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jun 2008, 12:54 pm »

Will the Symmetricas be at the RMAF in October?

Rick Craig · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Jun 2008, 04:20 pm »

Quote from: FredT300B on 18 Jun 2008, 12:54 pm

Will the Symmetricas be at the RMAF in October?

Yes.

Rick Craig · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 01:08 am »

Here's one for the 2008 RMAF. Bases to be added soon...

PDR · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 01:23 am »

Very nice Rick!!!!

Looks familiar

Can hardly wait to hear mine.

Perry

Rob S. · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 02:03 am »

Rick, think you and I can carry a pair of those around the side of my house? Hey, I can recruit someone to help us. I'll get my hedge clippers out and trim up that large shrub. Should be real easy then.

nice photo!

Rob S.

zybar · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 02:11 am »

Pricing?

George

Rob S. · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 03:15 am »

6K with the subs finished. Not sure about kit pricing. Rick can help you there.

Rob S.

satfrat · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 04:24 am »

So what 3" driver are you using with this design Rick? Daytons? Thanks.

Cheers,
Robin

Cacophonix · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 07:02 am »

Those 3" drivers look like HiVi B3S.

Rick Craig · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Jun 2008, 03:14 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 22 Jun 2008, 02:11 am

Pricing?

George

Sorry for my late post. There will be some options (subwoofer base, plinth / base, outboard crossovers, etc.) so I'm in the process of putting together a price list.

Rick Craig · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Jun 2008, 04:06 pm »

More pictures...

Reverb · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jun 2008, 08:43 am »

Very impressive Rick.

Can't wait for the price on a kit, I may have just found my next speaker.

How does the bass of the 32 3" woofers compare to seven 7" woofer?

Curious if the 32 drivers deliver similar punch/slam of the larger 7"ers?

Rick Craig · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Jun 2008, 04:24 pm »

Quote from: Reverb on 25 Jun 2008, 08:43 am

Very impressive Rick.

Can't wait for the price on a kit, I may have just found my next speaker.

How does the bass of the 32 3" woofers compare to seven 7" woofer?

Curious if the 32 drivers deliver similar punch/slam of the larger 7"ers?

The introductory price for the kit is $2,700 / pair (includes shipping to the USA Mainland, no cabinets). The thirty-two 3" woofers will move the equivalent amount of air as the seven 7" drivers up to 3mm of travel. Since these are very high sensitivity and augmented with subwoofers the bass is only a factor down to about 100hz. The cone movement is very small and you can get plenty of slam with very little power input.

Reverb · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Jun 2008, 02:42 am »

Quote from: Rick Craig on 27 Jun 2008, 04:24 pm

Quote from: Reverb on 25 Jun 2008, 08:43 am
Very impressive Rick.

Can't wait for the price on a kit, I may have just found my next speaker.

How does the bass of the 32 3" woofers compare to seven 7" woofer?

Curious if the 32 drivers deliver similar punch/slam of the larger 7"ers?

The introductory price for the kit is $2,700 / pair (includes shipping to the USA Mainland, no cabinets). The thirty-two 3" woofers will move the equivalent amount of air as the seven 7" drivers up to 3mm of travel. Since these are very high sensitivity and augmented with subwoofers the bass is only a factor down to about 100hz. The cone movement is very small and you can get plenty of slam with very little power input.

Sweet!

Does the $2,700 include the 12" bass woofers?

Rick Craig · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Jun 2008, 09:06 pm »

Quote from: Reverb on 28 Jun 2008, 02:42 am

Quote from: Rick Craig on 27 Jun 2008, 04:24 pm
Quote from: Reverb on 25 Jun 2008, 08:43 am
Very impressive Rick.

Can't wait for the price on a kit, I may have just found my next speaker.

How does the bass of the 32 3" woofers compare to seven 7" woofer?

Curious if the 32 drivers deliver similar punch/slam of the larger 7"ers?

The introductory price for the kit is $2,700 / pair (includes shipping to the USA Mainland, no cabinets). The thirty-two 3" woofers will move the equivalent amount of air as the seven 7" drivers up to 3mm of travel. Since these are very high sensitivity and augmented with subwoofers the bass is only a factor down to about 100hz. The cone movement is very small and you can get plenty of slam with very little power input.

Sweet!

Does the $2,700 include the 12" bass woofers?

No - the subwoofers are extra.

jgb0194 · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Jun 2008, 07:16 pm »

Hi Rick,

You using the NeoPro 5i ribbons in these?