Who are the best manufacturers of high efficiency speaker designs?

HT cOz · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 03:03 pm »

If I had that budget I would look at GR Research's new high efficenct OB design. I would then think about the Red Wine PreAmp.

Cheers,
Robert

mfsoa · « **Reply #21 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 03:40 pm »

Or you could get VonSchweickert VR11SEs

96db, 10-100K frequency response, only $150K+

TerryO · « **Reply #22 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 03:51 pm »

A lot of the suggestions made so far are excellent, and I'm sure would satisfy most situations. One that hasn't been suggested and would probably be doable within the suggested budget is the Lowther/Tone Tubby OB combination that Jon VerHalen had at VSAC this last Summer. To my ears it was perhaps the best Hi-Efficiency speaker there, with the exception of the totally over-the-top Experience Music Horns, which were offered for sale at the close of the show for a very reasonable $45,000.

If space were an issue, and the OB's do like a fair amount of elbow room, I'd be looking at one of the smaller double horns or Bob Brine's Pipes. That's exactly what I'd do given my rather limited space, if I didn't already have incredible speakers...but then, I need a project, so who knows?

Best Regards,
TerryO

Scott F. · « **Reply #23 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 03:57 pm »

Quote from: TerryO on 21 Dec 2008, 03:51 pm

A lot of the suggestions made so far are excellent, and I'm sure would satisfy most situations. One that hasn't been suggested and would probably be doable within the suggested budget is the Lowther/Tone Tubby OB combination that Jon VerHalen had at VSAC this last Summer. To my ears it was perhaps the best Hi-Efficiency speaker there, with the exception of the totally over-the-top Experience Music Horns, which were offered for sale at the close of the show for a very reasonable $45,000.

+1

BobRex · « **Reply #24 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 05:09 pm »

Take a look at the VMPS RM30s. They are 93dB full range, and you can add the PBS (powered bass) option and just use the RWA on the mids and tweets. You'll easily attain 100dB from that combo. And get great sound too.

TerryO · « **Reply #25 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 05:32 pm »

Quote from: Scott F. on 21 Dec 2008, 03:57 pm

Quote from: TerryO on 21 Dec 2008, 03:51 pm
A lot of the suggestions made so far are excellent, and I'm sure would satisfy most situations. One that hasn't been suggested and would probably be doable within the suggested budget is the Lowther/Tone Tubby OB combination that Jon VerHalen had at VSAC this last Summer. To my ears it was perhaps the best Hi-Efficiency speaker there, with the exception of the totally over-the-top Experience Music Horns, which were offered for sale at the close of the show for a very reasonable $45,000.

+1

Ok Scott,
I went and looked at your pictures of the main system (Very nice, BTW) and couldn't help but notice that your speakers, while not identical to Jon's VSAC speakers, are similar in concept. Goodman's for the bass modules? That must be sweet, and unfortunately it's getting very hard to find those drivers. What are your Lowther's mounted on?
It looks like glass.

Best Regards,
TerryO

Scott F. · « **Reply #26 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 06:43 pm »

Hi Terry,

It's 3/4" acrylic. The Goodmans are almost impossible to find. Used as a woofer and in a cabinet that size and corner loaded (that's a lot of ands isn't it?) they integrate seamlessly and reach well into the low 20's. One of these days I'll drag my Altec 416-16Z (Alinco) bass bins into the main room and see how they sound. While the Goodmans do great on on 99.5% of the music, there is a very small percentage of music (really aggressive rock/techno) where they don't quite have enough XMAX and the cone distorts at very high SPL's. The Altecs should cure that issue. I'm just hoping they sound as tight and fast as the Goodmans.

Jon's been by a time or two when I first started experimenting with the OB's (after he introduced me to the sound with his PM6As). He really seemed to enjoy the sound. Next time he makes it down to St Louis he said he'd drop by to hear the final design.

All of this is really accredited to Dick Olsher and his Basszilla design. Granted, Dick uses (or used) the DX series of drivers. I've not been a big fan of the DX sound but to each their own. You can tweak them into submission but you loose some of the things that make Lowthers special. My fav's are the PM series. The 2A (plus the Ticonal) and 6A [after a stupid amount of break in time] are the most natural and uncolored drivers I've ever heard, bare none. The thing with Lowthers is, don't try to make them do something they aren't good at....namely produce consistent, quality, low bass. Use them as a wide range driver above (say) 125Hz with a nice SET, supplement the bass with a nice 15" and you may well find the end of the rainbow. I personally like to bi-amp with and active crossover. This relieves my SET's of bass duty and gives them loads more headroom. You'd be amazed the (clean) SPLs that can be achieved with 1.5 to 8 watts if the amp never sees a signal under 125Hz

If you looked closely, I offset the driver on the baffle. Dick and Jon center them and use a wider baffle. I used the Edge program to do a bit of modeling (guesstimating really). I wanted to use the driver placement to offset some of the peak that occurs in each of the Lowther drivers. It worked pretty darned well. And no, this series of drivers does not "shout". I get so tired of all Lowther drivers being lumped into a single stereotype that is perpetuated by the inexperienced. It makes me want to scream. (sorry for the mini-rant)

I've been typing on and off on an article that chronicles my Lowther journey over the years. Sometime next year I'll publish it on EnjoyTheMusic. In fact, I'm helping one of the local guys (MerRev) build a set like mine over the Christmas break.

Jon L · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 07:13 pm »

Quote from: Kevin Haskins on 18 Dec 2008, 05:29 pm

Edgar Horns!

If you can get your hands on a pair and if your willing to suffer through the divorce they are a great set of high efficiency speakers.

X2!
If you can find Edgar Horn Titans used at bargain prices with the Horn Sub, that would pretty much be *it."

If you can find the latest version of Edgar Horn Slimlines (with the salad bowls) with the Horn Sub, it's VERY good also, probably maybe even better in a smaller space. If Horn Sub is not available, the smaller sub can work nicely.

Niteshade · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 07:45 pm »

Klipsch makes the RF-83. It's probably the best horn based system for the money.

raov1 · « **Reply #29 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 02:43 am »

Consider some DIY project: Field Coils are a worthy choice
Fertin : http://www.fertin-acoustic.com/home.php
The new model-7 is making some big waves.
Davinci Audio is using them in their new statement speaker its in your ball range ... well almost 5000(0) a pair

http://www.da-vinci-audio.com/

Supravox : http://www.supravox.com/
Also used in Da Vinci audio

Maybe AlNiCos:
Phy-hp : http://www.phy-hp.com/English/Products/Drive_Units.html
Tonian Acoustics is the US distributor : http://www.tonianlabs.com/

Some of the manufacturers use the Phys in their models including Tonian
Ocellia uses the phy-hps : http://www.ocellia.com/ .. they have a newer model with maybe in your price range or
Musical Affairs : http://www.musicalaffairs.com/ ..
Both with a totally different approach to speaker design.

MerRev · « **Reply #30 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 03:05 am »

and thank you so so much Scott!

Your party this past year really sealed the deal for me- I just had to finally find a way to get a pair in my listening room. The soundstage they threw, the speed, the naturalness etc... Willie's been at the singled end triode game a while and he gave high compliment's.

Quote

I thought your Lowther and Lexan OB's were amazing, your ear for just the right Xover point is
truly uncanny.

I have a pair of 16ohm PM6A's from Jon Ver Halen and plan on pairing it with a 2A3 amp from Handmade Electronics. Here is my favorite pic from Scott's house.

and here's my Plexi panels ready for assembly.

-Chris

chadh · « **Reply #31 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 05:41 am »

I heard a set of speakers from Classic Audio Reproductions at the most recent Audio Karma show. The speakers were huge, and breathtaking. I think they were the T1s.

http://www.classicaudiorepro.com/page5.html

Chad

raov1 · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 05:56 am »

chadh: Where the tweeters field-coils?

chadh · « **Reply #33 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 06:09 am »

Quote from: raov1 on 22 Dec 2008, 05:56 am

chadh: Where the tweeters field-coils?

Yes. I think this was a relatively recent development, too.

Chad

Shogun · « **Reply #34 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 12:02 pm »

I would seriously consider the KCS fullrange from John Kalinowski (JohnK, Kloss). It is based on the Seas Exotic F8-X1, the only manuafacturer that use this fullrange.

http://www.kcsloudspeakers.com/

macrojack · « **Reply #35 on:** 22 Dec 2008, 02:47 pm »

True high efficiency means horns but I found that my horns were 16 db more efficient than my woofers so I had to pad them down anyway. Net result left me with 92 db efficient package.

My horns are the AH300 from Acoustic Horn Company with B&C DCX drivers. I am told that this combo is perhaps the best available for voice reproduction. Maybe so. It is very good.

For bass cabinets, I am using an old pair of JBL L-200 speakers from 1973. By simply bypassing the crossovers and horns in these speakers and adding a dbx Drive Rack PA, I have assembled a very high end, high rez two way that operates near the top of what is available. Bandwidth is limited and the looks will not pass muster in every household but the whole package cost less than $5K.

You need two stereo or four mono amps, of course.

http://www.acoustichorn.com/news/index.php

stone deaf · « **Reply #36 on:** 13 Mar 2009, 04:14 am »

I'm taking delivery of a pair of the new Decware ERR Radials sometime next week to mate with a 6 watt Taboo amp. I'll let everyone know how that works out.

paba · « **Reply #37 on:** 14 Mar 2009, 02:35 pm »

hasn't beem nentioned yet so i will...

http://www.baulsaudio.com/prometheus.html

cheers
Paba

doug s. · « **Reply #38 on:** 15 Mar 2009, 04:21 am »

check out bd designs; their diy kits can be had new in your price range.

http://www.bd-design.nl/index1.html

sometimes used oris horns show up on the market, below your price range. i picked up these oris 150 horns w/custom upgraded klipsch lascala cabinets for bass-bins - fostex fe206e drivers in the horns & 15" fostex pro-audio drivers in the bass-bins; the cost was considerably below your budget. these are ~100db efficient, and are so nice, i have never re-connected my (retail $9400) piega p5 mkll ltd's, which are no slouches by any means. (and also 91db-efficient.) i also have a pair of gemme audio tanto's that i got at about the same time as the horns; i haven't even unpacked them, and have had them >6 months - i have sorta lost interest in trying new speakers for a while...

note - the tad/pioneer ribbons are not hooked up, the actively crossed over oris/fostex set-up is flat to 22khz, w/my deqx active triamp set-up, w/vmps larger subs for the wery bottom...

doug s.

bummrush · « **Reply #39 on:** 15 Mar 2009, 03:28 pm »

Legacy audio are around 91,92,at least i think that's where my studio monitors are at,some of their other models might be higher,but they will still rock just fine with all the power that you might want to use also.