Omnidirectional/Polydirectional speakers?

Canyoneagle · « **on:** 19 Jun 2008, 02:10 pm »

In a continuing quest to fgure out what kind of speakers I want to use in my living room/kitchen/dining area (not main listening room) system, I've evaluated several options (mainly sub/sat and wall-mounted mini-monitors).
I'm now thinking that some diminutive floorstanding "omnidierectional" speakers might also be possible.
I'm trying to keep my budget reasonable (less than $1500 new or used) and want something that will be flexible enough to be kind to a wide variety of recordings.
I'll be driving the speakers with a spare Yamaha integrated amp (70 wpc into 8 ohms) and will probably have a cradle for my iMod as the primary source.

The main purpose of this system will be for general listening and for entertaining.

I love the old Ohm Walsh speakers, but I'm not sure if I want to obtain and restore 30 year-old speakers (foam replacement, etc). I am aware of several offerings (used shahinians, the duevel planet, --dont flame-- Bose 901 --, smaller planar speakers (quad, martin logan).

Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Michael

*Scotty* · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 02:32 pm »

Michael, If you want Ohm loudspeakers you might as well buy new ones,see link below and don't miss the sixmoons review.
http://www.ohmspeakers.com/styles_microwalsh.cfm
Scotty

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 02:36 pm »

Scotty,
Thanks so much for the link!!!! For whatever reason, I simply assumed Ohm was no longer in business. SILLY ME!

Cheers,
Michael

TomS · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 04:23 pm »

If DIY is an option, Danny at GR Research has the A/V-0 (omni) and O-3 (omni), both of which can be used as mains. There are also vendors on AC who can supply fully built ones that would probably still be within your budget.

Tom

Oh, I should add I actually had some Ohm "F"'s many moons ago...

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 04:26 pm »

I've done some woodwork, so DIY may be an option. I've never worked with veneers, though, so I guess it depends how much DIY is involved

I'll do some research on GR - who knows?

Thanks,
Michael

TomS · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 04:31 pm »

Quote from: Canyoneagle on 19 Jun 2008, 04:26 pm

I've done some woodwork, so DIY may be an option. I've never worked with veneers, though, so I guess it depends how much DIY is involved

I'll do some research on GR - who knows?

Thanks,
Michael

There is some info on his website, but it's usually best to just give Danny a call. You can buy the kits from him and he can sometimes hook you up with a cabinet supplier. I did that for my AV1-RS's and then did final assembly myself. It was a piece of cake and definitely worth the rewards. Great speakers, especially for what little I spent on them.

Eric · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 05:06 pm »

Mirage also makes some omni directional speakers

biz97 · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 06:53 pm »

Have to second the Ohm recomendation. I started with the Microwalshes (in your budget) and currently use the S3-100s. Love both. John, the president, is a great guy. I would recommend that you give him a call and discuss which speakers would be right for you. They also have a special right now (free veneer upgrade and shipping I believe) and a very generous audition period (4 months I think). Another speaker I had heard about was the deuvel planets. Good luck!

HT cOz · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 08:25 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 19 Jun 2008, 04:31 pm

Quote from: Canyoneagle on 19 Jun 2008, 04:26 pm
I've done some woodwork, so DIY may be an option. I've never worked with veneers, though, so I guess it depends how much DIY is involved

I'll do some research on GR - who knows?

Thanks,
Michael
There is some info on his website, but it's usually best to just give Danny a call. You can buy the kits from him and he can sometimes hook you up with a cabinet supplier. I did that for my AV1-RS's and then did final assembly myself. It was a piece of cake and definitely worth the rewards. Great speakers, especially for what little I spent on them.

How do those 4 AV1-RS sound in your 7.1 setup? I have always been curious on how that would work. Can you locate the speakers as you watch a movie?

Thanks,
Robert

youngho · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 09:41 pm »

Danny Ritchie also designed the X-Omni for AV123, which is a similar design to his GR Research one. However, this product has been "around the corner" for quite a long time now.

Other options include also the Bose 601 series II or III (not IV!), which come up on eBay. There was a pair of Samadhi Ichibans floating around the net earlier this year. Morrison Audio has two newer models (Model 5 and Model 7), although they seem to be pretty similar; you should call Don Morrison to find out more info, as these are in your price range.

And, of course, if you're handy with DIY skills, consider the Linkwitz Pluto.

Young-Ho

TomS · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 10:18 pm »

Quote from: HT cOz on 19 Jun 2008, 08:25 pm

Quote from: TomS on 19 Jun 2008, 04:31 pm
Quote from: Canyoneagle on 19 Jun 2008, 04:26 pm
I've done some woodwork, so DIY may be an option. I've never worked with veneers, though, so I guess it depends how much DIY is involved

I'll do some research on GR - who knows?

Thanks,
Michael
There is some info on his website, but it's usually best to just give Danny a call. You can buy the kits from him and he can sometimes hook you up with a cabinet supplier. I did that for my AV1-RS's and then did final assembly myself. It was a piece of cake and definitely worth the rewards. Great speakers, especially for what little I spent on them.

How do those 4 AV1-RS sound in your 7.1 setup? I have always been curious on how that would work. Can you locate the speakers as you watch a movie?

Thanks,
Robert

My room is pretty small for HT 13x19x8 and my seating position is at the rear wall. Since they are so close to you they don't quite disappear, however the experience is far better than any direct radiators and even the Onix RSS300 dipoles I've also had in those positions. I absolutely love them for my situation. See my gallery for pix.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 10:25 pm »

Decware makes something called the RL 1.5 - it is similar to the old Ohm Walsh...

92 dB with 1 watt at 1 meter
37Hz ~ 22kHz
4 ohm nominal impedance
Crossover main drivers / none
Crossover ribbon tweeter / 6dB @ 8kHz
4 ~ 100 watts
Max SPL 110dB
Size 12" dia. base, 8 "dia encl.x 34.5" high
4th order cabinet, passive coupled
Real Chery veneer
Removable Grill
5 way recessed binding posts on rear
8 inch radial driver / cast frame
4 inch / cast frame / isodynamic planar
Cap is 400v Polypropelene Film&Foil
Shipping weight 35 lbs.
5 years on drivers and cabinets
30 day money back trial

rajacat · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Jun 2008, 10:29 pm »

Omega Hemp Bi/Dipoles. I prefer them in the dipole mode.http://www.omegaloudspeakers.com/super3bipole.html

--Roy

JLM · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 12:14 am »

This looks to be up your alley: Duevel Planets

Here's a favorable review: http://goodsound.com/equipment/duevel_planets.htm

Here's the website: http://www.duevel.com/Produkte/EPlanets.shtml

Duevel sells a number of omnidirectional speakers. The Planets list for $1295 USD.

Duke · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 04:14 am »

Well, if the truth be known, I gots a soft spot in me heart for Polys...

The smaller, upward-angled Shahinian (the Arc) belongs in the category of fairly affordable poly-ish speakers. I think that Renaissance Audio, formerly Morel USA, makes another similar candidate.

The Morrison Audio Model 5 is a compact omni, I don't know the price but it looks to be very high value to me. Don Morrison is a disciple of Stewart Hegeman, as is Richard Shahinian.

Louis Chochos' bipolars are of course high on the list. I haven't heard late-model Ohms or Mirages, but I really liked some of their older stuff. I'm not sure what price range Definitive Technology goes down into, but that's another bipolar.

Note that Maggies are poly-directional, as I would likewise classify any dipolars that have a reasonably wide radiation pattern.

My personal biases lean in favor of the Omegas, Shahinians, Morrisons, Duevels, and Maggies (if space permits). Gee, I really didn't narrow it down much there, did I?

Duke

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 01:35 pm »

Great recommendations thus far!
Of course, Duke, after reading your 4-part posting(s) on some of your new projects, I MIGHT be able to stretch my budget......... aa

I certainly hope we can arrange our SLC get-together soon so I can hear/see some of your handywork!

I'm REALLY liking the omni/polydirectional route at the moment.

Hmmmm....... Maggies, huh? how hard are they to drive?

youngho · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 02:14 pm »

Shahinians will be out of budget. When I asked last year, the Starter was >$2000, the Compass >$3000, and the Arc >$4000.

The Renaissance Audio Chorus looks interesting, similar pricing to the Duevel Planet.

The Morrison Audio Model 5 used to be around $900 when I asked last year, but the exchange rate may have changed that.

nodiak · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 07:14 pm »

Michael, good thread. I tried and liked upfiring speakers before (John C0ckcroft ideas from 80's speaker builder mag), think I'll try again, thanks for bringing it up. Also had Decware Radial 1.5 drivers and had wanted to devise an ob/open back type baffle using sonotube sliced open. May have been too much with weird dispersion, never did it.
The Morrison speakers look great, and like what Don Morrison says about the design and vs. front firing in general (and that I don't need better amps etc.

) . Maybe the Model 5 uses CSS FR125 ?
Don

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 07:25 pm »

Hi Don,
It is interesting how it sort of came up with me. This started as a need to have something in the living room of our new place (ready in the Fall), and I was looking at sub/sat options, wallmounts, etc.
Then I randomly came across some ads for Ohm Walsh speakers on A-gon and I thought "A-HA! omni/polydirectionals would do the trick!".

I've been really enjoying re-discovering this style of speaker through this thread.
I'll always remember my friend's Shahinian's - fantastic little speakers!

The options at the 'affordable' pricepoint are staggering! - Ohm Microwalsh, Deuvel Planet, Decware 1.5, Morrison 5 and 7, and then there's the new model from acoustiscience that this guy has as surplus from an install

zane9 · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Jul 2008, 07:24 pm »

Quote from: Canyoneagle on 20 Jun 2008, 07:25 pm

...The options at the 'affordable' pricepoint are staggering! - Ohm Microwalsh, Deuvel Planet, Decware 1.5, Morrison 5 and 7,..

I highly recommend the Morrison Model 7. A great match to a smaller listening environment, and in particular they provide a truly wonderful experience when playing some well-recorded 'real stereo' recordings.