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Analysis Omega Speaker Review by Robert Learner
| Permalink | Speakers $20k and up , Writer: Robert Learner | Posted by Robert Learner on Jan 07 '09
German Physiks & Vitus Listening Session
| Permalink | Shows and Expos , Speakers $20k and up , Systems $20k-$50k | Posted by Josh Ray on Apr 10 '08
Vegas 08: TAD
TAD, Pioneer's premier brand, showed off a new line of products by designer Andrew Jones. The new TAD products include a mega monitor (shown above) featuring the same beryllium mid/tweeter and custom drivers as the big daddy TAD Reference 1 speaker. Also new are a center channel and prototype monoblock amps.
While I didn't get a chance to hear the new gear, one TAD employee showed me shots from earlier in the day where the TAD room was packed with listeners sitting on the floor and smashed against the walls. Indeed, the large TAD room was one of the most popular at CES. If the traffic is any indication, expect to see and hear a lot more of the new TAD speakers this coming year.
Check out our gallery for more TAD photos.
| Permalink | Speakers $20k and up , Vegas 08 | Posted by Josh Ray on Jan 25 '08
Vegas 2008: Sonicweld
What can I say about Sonicweld I haven't already said before? Actually, quite a lot. In Vegas, the Sonicweld complete super system had a larger room than at the RMAF and for great results -- there's nothing quite like judicious volume knob cranking for concert-level decibels. And yet, while the space was larger, I feel the Sonicweld system was just itching to peel the paint off the walls with 120dB blasts.
As for technology I didn't cover in my RMAF analysis, one of the interesting elements of the Sonicweld Puserod speakers are the six titanium midrange drivers. The magic happens in the mid, as we know, and these 2" drivers with all of 1 gram of moving mass and neodymium magnets make the mids pop like almost nothing else out there. Simply, the Sonicweld system is, if nothing else, a speed demon that, with such tiny decay between the notes, lets you "hear into the music" with 1080p-like detail.
This super accuracy means the Sonicweld system has a prototypical Precise-type sound. Tube junkies will think it needs more warmth and may get scared off by the hyper real dynamics. Then again, I heard comments from tube heads who couldn't get enough of the Sonicweld sound. When you're at this level, tonal characteristics are simply a matter of personal taste.
One element everyone can (or should) agree on is the Sonicweld bass. I'm a firm believer that only a powered, EQed sub can truly handle the monster lows and Yello's "Planet Dada" track over the Sonicweld system was just worlds of sternum-pounding fun. While other systems were able to bang out the deep notes, the Sonicweld double 15" subs are truly in a class of their own if, for no other reason, than they integrate seamlessly with the rest of the system via the central DEQX processor. This digital EQ combined with two of the most serious 15" aluminum cone drivers ever devised created a bass experience that allowed you to feel the subsonic notes without bloat in the other frequencies. Absolutely wild.
Hear these speakers if you get a chance and ogle more Sonicweld pics here.
Permalink | | Posted to Speakers $20k and up | Systems | Vegas 08
Vegas 08: Acoustic Systems
If you're familiar with the the brand Acoustic Systems and the mad scientist Frank Chang, well, forget everything you know. The story from CES isn't the stick 'em tweaks, but the new Acoustic Systems Tango loudspeakers ($20k, big pics here). The speakers combined with 1200 watt (yes, into 8 ohms) monoblocks by Karan Acoustics simply blew me away and provided one of the very best Vivid style sounds at the show.
I last heard the Acoustic Systems Tango speakers at RMAF and wasn't thrilled. Same Karan equipment, but at CES the Tangos appear to have new midrange and bass woofers. While at RMAF the sound was nice and laid back, at CES it became lively and exciting and just made me want to get up and dance. Vivid sound is defined by a warm tone with in-your-face precision and attack. The sound isn't laid back or mellowed for everyday listening, but big and full and tons of fun.
While the magic is in the midrange and treble, the bass is in another world entirely. I put on the loudest, most annoying hiphop track I had then took a gander at the triple 8" drivers -- no movement. The system was hitting in the low 20s and the drivers were barely breaking a sweat. I asked Frank Chang about the driver technology and he was either coy or confused by my questions. I'm a junky for driver specs but I could find out a thing.
What he did reveal is a unique "pressure releasing" port system in the form of a little notch the size of a fig newton. A few other companies have used tiny pressure ports (typically in subs) with great results and the new Acoustic Systems Tango really takes it to the proverbial 11. Fantastic job and I can't wait to hear the speakers and amps again.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Posted to Speakers $20k and up | Vegas 08
Vegas 08: Hansen Audio
Every time I walked past Mr. Hansen of Hansen Audio and asked him how the show was going, he would say, "Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic." The reason, it seems, is the Asian markets can't get enough of his super expensive and fantastic sounding speakers.
The Price V2 speakers ($39k) with a lineup of CAT equipment where running tunes. I did get a chance to play my demo disc, and would say the sound fit roughly into the Refined category, but I didn't get too much good listening as I spent most of my time talking to Hansen's Wes Bender about photography, cameras, flash angles and the occasional speaker product.
Permalink | | Posted to Speakers $20k and up | Vegas 08
Vegas 08: Magico
Magico's V3 speakers ($25k) did duty on the main system with a monster Boulder amp while Magico's new speakers (roughly $60k, shown above) were on static display by the door. When I came into the Magico room, Harry Pearson of TAS was taking in the tunes and talking up Alon Wolf of Magico about a review pair. Alas, I didn't get a chance to hear the setup with my demo disc (Harry educated me on astrology instead) but I did snap some pics of the bigger Magico super ply speakers which, when I first saw them, made me whistle at their amazing looks and construction.
While I was taking my shots, everyone who walked by made some kind of flattering exclamation. Indeed, the new Magico is one of the most original and unique examples of industrial design ever to hit a box-type speaker. The new Magico will be ready for prime time with the completion of new nano-tec dedicated bass woofers.
Check out our gallery for more Magico CES pics. One shot shows the new speaker's 80lb baffle milled from a 300lb block of aluminum. Wild.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Posted to Speakers $20k and up | Vegas 08
SonicFlare Top Speakers of 2007
Sports cars have nothing on hi-fi. Each year, hi-fi manufacturers create new speakers and components with more space-age tech and bling than Bugatti. To show you what hi-fi is all about, we decided to present our Top Speakers of 2007 with their corresponding super car identities. After all, racy looks and extreme performance is what hi-fi is all about.
We chose these loudspeakers based on the buzz they received over the course of 2007. While there were many new and exciting prototype products this year, the loudspeakers on our list are all commercially available and showing up in rock star and hi-fi fan's living rooms everywhere.
Hi-fi, like sports cars, is made up of numerous fantastic speakers, each with their own unique strengths. So if you’re new to the glorious world of hi-fi, forget plastic speakers and find out what “sports cars for your living room” is all about.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Posted to Articles | Speakers $10k-20k | Speakers $20k and up | Speakers $2k-5k | Speakers $5k-10k
Vivid Audio G1 Giya Super Speaker
Well, hello there, beautiful! Vivid Audio's new $54,000 Giya G1 super speaker will be, without a doubt, one of the most talked about speakers this coming year. With its wild design and automotive paint finishes, the Vivid Giya isn't for stuffy audiophiles but serious hi-fi fans who have a passion for sound, style and the good life. Kanye, we know you read SonicFlare. Time to crack open the piggy bank.
The new Vivid Giya will descent upon the masses at the upcoming CES in January. The Giya, as Vivid's top of the line speaker, takes their patented technologies to the max. From the custom drivers to the supercar-derived cabinet construction, the Giya builds off designer Laurence Dickie's work at B&W creating the famed Nautilus series of super speakers. Laurence Dickie is not unlike Carol Shelby and his new hot rod is sure to get people all fired up.
At CES, the Giya will be presented with a bevy of Luxman's top-tier B-1000 and C-1000 electronics. We recently covered the Vivid/Luxman system at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest where it walked away with rave reviews. Check out our coverage for more about the Vivid/Luxman sound and why it won the SonicFlare Superstar Award.
SONIC CIRCLE SOUND
While we haven't heard the new Vivid Giya speakers, we have heard their little brother speakers, the K1 and B1. It's possible that the Giyas will sound differently, but, most likely, they'll simply take the beloved Vivid sound to the proverbial next level. Using our Sonic Circle to analyze the sound, the Giya speakers, when combined with Luxman amplification, will be a Vivid-type system (yes, the "Vivid" name and Sonic Circle "Vivid" category are the same). See our analysis of the K1/Luxman system for all our notes. Suffice it to say, Vivid/Luxman is one great pair that will have many journalists and hi-fi fans raving.
TECH TALK
So what's the story on the big twirl up top? All of Vivid's speakers are made using advanced, patented cabinet construction and bass loading. Where the smaller speakers use double drivers on the front and back of the speaker in a bipole radiating fashion, the new Vivid Giya's dual 12" woofers are mounted, as you can see, on the sides with their magnets mechanically coupled. The big twirl is used to load the bass and prevent audible standing waves. The bass of the smaller Vivid K1 speaker was, at the RMAF show, absolutely amazing, especially considering the size of the room and the low 30 watts of power. The Giya, at four times the volume, should be a bass giant.
Additionally, Vivid's new bass woofers, like the rest of their patented drivers, are designed in-house and built from aluminum and use a unique short coil, long gap magnet construction. The tweeter and midrange domes use Vivid's patented tube loading to achieve reduction in back waves and superior performance.
Stay tuned for our coverage and analysis of the Vivid G1 Giya at CES. And if you're interested in purchasing a pair, visit the North American importer On A Higher Note. The first 100 owners worldwide will receive a miniature 1:4 scale Vivid Giya statue crafted out carbon fiber and presented in a custom, engraved case. Also, if you're at CES, be sure to check out On A Higher Note's room in the Mirage penthouse featuring the Giya/Luxman super system.
SPECS:
Frequency Range: 23Hz to 44kHz (30Hz - 40kHz +/- 2dB)
Sensitivity: 91dB, 6 ohm nominal, 4 ohm minimum
Power handling: 800 watts
Weight: 154lbs
Size: 67"h x 14"w x 31.5" d
Permalink | Comments (14) | Posted to Speakers $20k and up
RMAF 07: Sonicweld $99k Super System
Paging Kanye West: Your new speakers are here. At $99k, the Sonicweld system has enough polished aluminum to out-bling Bugatti. And with active x-over, room correction and amazing sound, the Sonicweld system was the best Precise-type room at the show.
Being the nosey guy I am, I asked everyone I ran into what their favorite room was. Sonicweld came up a number of times usually accompanied with arm waving and copious gushing. Taste is subjective, of course, but the Sonicweld's Precise-type sound was simply seductive. The speed of the 2" midrange array was incredibly fast with class-leading definition between notes. The sound wasn't too cool or sharp or etched, just perfectly flat and amazingly revealing. Those who like their sound colored, look elsewhere. But for those with a love of absolute accuracy (and have a recording contract at Aftermath), put Sonicweld at the top of your list.
Sonicweld is located in Utah (along with 50% of the other high-end speaker manufacturers) and sells direct with in-home installation and optimization. $99k is steep, but the man behind Sonicweld Josh Heiner revealed there's a new system in the works. Once he's finished milling his current backorder of super systems, he's going to get down to a sub $10k system for the rest of us.
TECH TALK
The speakers are 4-ways with a silk dome tweeter, six 2" titanium midrange drivers and six 4" aluminum woofers. Double outboard 12" subs are in separate enclosures. Unusual for Precise-type speakers, the titanium drivers run wide-range while the six woofers are bipoles firing forward and backward. All drivers feature individual ICEpower amplification controlled by a DEQX digital crossover and room correction unit. And that's just the beginning, check out their website for all the tech that goes into these amazing speakers.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Posted to RMAF 07 | Show Superstars | Shows and Expos | Speakers $20k and up | Systems | Systems $50k-$100k
RMAF 07: Vivid/Luxman Super System
If you've ever heard or read about Vivid speakers, know that the sound at RMAF was completely different. At past shows, Vivid has demoed with a variety of gear (Pathos is the one I can recall), but this time, Vivid was matched up with Luxman equipment, both companies now under the wing of On a Higher Note by Philip O'Hanlon (whose past projects saw the launch of Halcro into the big time).
Talk about synergy. The Vivid K1 speakers ($20k/pair) with the Luxman L-590A II integrated ($9000) were simply out of this world good. Flushed out with a Weiss Jason CD player, the total system cost comes out to roughly $40k.
Philip is one man who loves the system-centric approach. He picked up these two brands simply because of the amazing synergy. Philip is packaging the smaller Vivid speakers and a Luxman integrated for a package price of $15k and marketing it to doctors, lawyers and rockstars everywhere.
MusicGiants, of lossless downloading fame, was a joint exhibitor in this room. After I played my demo track, Philip smiled and said, "You have to hear this." The sample tracks he put on simply blew my mind. What was the deal? Hi-rez tracks downloaded from MusicGiants and burned onto a DVD-A. Philip wanted to have a direct computer connection to play these hi-rez tracks, but the rig didn't arrive. While SACD and DVD-A may be dying a quick death, computer-based hi-rez playback could very well be the glorious future we've all hoped for.
As for the system sound, everyone I talked to said this system was unlike anything they've heard from Vivid before and, while past Vivid rooms weren't anything to talk about, most everyone I talked to raved about the new Vivid/Luxman super system. Interestingly, Vivid/Luxman is placed in the Vivid group on the Sonic Circle. I didn't name the categories with Vivid in mind and the speakers could very well be in another group. But the Vivid/Luxman system together provided one of the absolutely best Vivid-type demos at the show.
Vivid, if you know anything about this South African company, has its roots in famed Brit company Bowers & Wilkins. While some of the Vivid tech is derived from the B&W Matrix/Nautilus stable, to me, the Vivid speakers, both at this show and shows past, sound nothing like the B&W 800 series. B&W has a very distinct sound, and Vivid exhibits none of these characteristics.
Luxman is a classic Japanese company, recently revamped with new lines of solid state and tube components. I've heard the new Luxman MQ-88 amp (KT88 tubes) outside of the show and the sound is, upon first blush, a really great and unique Vivid-style sound. It's unlike any other tube gear I've heard before and, to play Nostradamus for a second, will really appeal to a lot of the new school American hi-fi fans who are gravitating towards this kind of rich and powerful sound.
TECH TALK
Vivid has some very interesting tech behind it. First, the driver compliment. The Vivid K1 is a 3.5-way speaker with all custom aluminum drivers. What you can't see is the two additional woofers on the back side, putting out frequencies below 100Hz. The front woofers mirror the back woofers, but run all the way up to 900Hz to mate with the midrange dome (which, in turn, runs up to 4kHz).
As for construction, the "cabinets" are "carbon fiber loaded polyester compound." While I'm a little rusty on my polyester compounds, this method creates a cabinet with walls that vary in thicknesses to kill cabinet resonances. Additionally, like a sports car shaped in a wind tunnel, the Vivids are shaped to virtually disappear from driver reflections that would otherwise be bouncing off of the hard edges of a traditional box cabinet.
Interestingly, the Vivid K1 speakers are rated at 89dB sensitivity (6 ohms) while the Luxman pure class-A L-590A II integrated amp puts out all of 30 watts into 8 ohms. The system had no right to sound as powerful and full as it did. I hung out in the Vivid/Luxman room on two occasions and people would come in and say, "Wow! So how many watts is that amp?" And Philip O'Hanlon would tell them, and then smile as their faces contorted in confusion. There's something funky going on inside the Luxman amp. Check out the website for all the tech talk you can handle and expect to see the L-590A II winning all kinds of awards from around the interwebs.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Posted to Integrated Amp $6k to 10k | RMAF 07 | Show Superstars | Shows and Expos | Speakers $20k and up | Systems | Systems $20k-$50k
RMAF 07: Proclaim Speakers
The Proclaim Audioworks DMT-100 ($26k/pair) defy categorization. Using an outboard crossover with a variety of tone controls, a listener is able to manipulate the sound to his or her liking. I explained the Sonic Circle concept to Proclaim's designer Daniel Herrington and he said, with a few turns of the crossover knobs, one could shift the sound from Precise to Refined to Emotional and anywhere in between. And with the adjustable driver positions, the Proclaims are able to create all kinds of sonic fireworks. Definitely not for the beginner, but experienced audiophiles are going to be in hi-fi heaven tweaking these guys into the next century.
The speakers were paired with 50 watt Red Rock monos. A GamuT preamp/amp combo was waiting in the rack, but Red Rock was a co-exibitor, so the GamuT amps never received any play time, though they are, I'm told, a better match for the speakers.
The finish on these speakers is amazing. Check out the next page for more pics.
Permalink | | Posted to RMAF 07 | Shows and Expos | Speakers $20k and up
RMAF 07: YG Acoustics, Best Speaker in the Multiverse?
YG Acoustics created a bit of derision among show-goers who felt a little miffed at YG's claim of being "The Best Loudspeaker on Earth. Period." Every company either claims to be the best in the world or makes no claims at all. YG's claim, however, was so bold and, with big banners proclaiming their greatness strewn around the hotel atrium, so in-your-face, most comments I received were negative. Regardless of the success of their marketing, when you claim to be the best in the world it helps if your room is, in fact, the best.
So was the YG room the bee's proverbial knees? While the sound wasn't bad, there were a number of serious problems. First, it's important to point out that there is no "best in the world," only different sounds and the YG Acoustics' new $70k Anat Reference Studio speaker is, as far as I can tell, a Precise-type sound, created to measure super flat with zero cabinet resonances, and won't immediately appeal to lovers of Refined speakers (like Wilson) and Emotional speakers (like Lowther). Second, the YG Acoustics room suffered from "big speaker, little room" complex and, as such, had unfortunate peaks and valleys. Physics, in this case, worked against YG in putting out the best they had to offer.
Additionally, YG paired up with top of the line Krell gear, which pushed the sound of the room into the Refined category. The YG Studios put out lots of big sound, but the presentation was muddled due to the bass problems. I played through my entire demo CD and found a lot to like, but the speakers really need a room about three times the size to show their full potential.
That said, one guy in the room was raving about the smaller Kipod speakers and bugging the YG crew to hook the little guys back up because, he felt, the big Studios "don't sound anywhere near as good as the Kipods." I'm sure the Studios are much better than the Kipods, but it's clear he was reacting to the room problems.
It's worth noting that YG's new marketing man Dick Diamond (quite possibly the greatest name ever) is a fantastic guy and understood the problems with the room/speaker interaction. He was instantly hip to the music on my CD and excited about YG's future, regardless of "best speaker in the world" status.
TECH TALK
As for the the tech aspects, the Anat Reference Studios are the new upgraded versions of the Anat References. The new features include the new Scan Speak Revelator 3/4" softdome (not dual ring) with a hex magnet system, replacing the Vifa dual ring radiator. Additionally, they've moved up from the Scan Speak kevlar pulp 10" woofer to the higher-end Scan Speak Revelator woofer.
As for construction, these speakers are amazing pieces of aluminum craftsmanship. Keeping reading for more pics...
Permalink | Comments (3) | Posted to RMAF 07 | Shows and Expos | Speakers $20k and up
High-End Publicity
Perhaps you've read about the KEF Muon speakers and their launch at the Milan Furniture Fair in April ’07. The speakers themselves are truly beautiful and truly costly ($140k pair). They deserved the finest and most stylish public introduction and I believe the ultra-hip furniture fair in Milan, Italy was the perfect choice. What was most impressive in their public introduction was the melding of baroque setting with a super-high-tech visual presentation to complement the incredible form design and reportedly high-end sound. The 5x10 meter LED floor synchronized organically to the music… matching the beauty of the KEF Muon speakers. The video is from the launch by Moving Brands. Moving Brands designed the LED installation with Ross Lovegrove, the Muon’s product designer. Spot the grey bearded Lovegrove about halfway through the video.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Posted to Shows and Expos | Speakers $20k and up | Writer: Sandy Greene
Vegas07 Pro Driver Roundup
Vegas '07 is the year pro drivers became legit in the American hifi subculture. Companies like Eminence, TAD, JBL, B&C, Hemp Acoustics (above) and others are creeping into the space where Scan Speak, SEAS, Peerless, Vifa and others once reigned. Eminence is the largest manufacturer of raw drivers in the world, but rarely provide pulp for the audiophile crowd. Zu really began the trend, working with Eminence for a number of their parts. But until now, pro drivers have remained the pariahs of hifi.
So what's the deal with pro drivers versus typical cones?
1. Low excursion: Typically, a pro driver will feature multiple mini surrounds, as seen in the picture above. Low excursion = snap and attack. Most hifi drivers are made with monster excursion and massive rubber surrounds. While the bass is deeper, the driver is mechanically slower peak to peak. As Adam from Zu says, "it's just physics."
2. High efficiency: While standard drivers have sensitivity in the 80s and low 90s, pro drivers are high 90s and into the triple digits. There are many high-eff drivers from Lowther, Fostex and others, but there is one big difference...
3. High power handling: Made for blowing the gray matter out of musicians and their fans, pro drivers can handle just ungodly amounts of juice. It's not uncommon for pro amps to be rated in the 1000s of watts, despite the high speaker efficiency. Lowther, Fostex and others are made for tiny watts and don't produce the SPLs of the pro guys.
4. Bass: The boom is an interesting issue with pro drivers. A 15" will typically be rated in the 50Fs range, while a similar hifi driver will be down in the teens. An 8" driver in a hifi setup can produce solid bass into the 20s while an 8" pro is considered a midrange driver. There are many ways to get deep bass from the pro gear, but with the low excursion, the thrubbing lows of the hifi world aren't typical.
5. Highs: Pro drivers are typically mated with a compression tweeter which, like their bass brethren, wail until your rims fall off. Crossovers typically happen in the 1.5k range, though guys like Zu and others take their crossover way, way up. This means that a 10-15" driver has to produce really clear midrange way higher than a similarly sized hifi driver would ever dream. That's why "full-spectrum" 2 ways are far more common in pro equipment than in hifi.
So are pro drivers better than their hifi kin? Up for debate, but there's no denying that there's a shift in the hifi market and more pro-based speakers are on the way. Keep reading for pics of the numerous companies showing pro-derrived speakers at Vegas07...
Permalink | Comments (1) | Posted to Speakers $10k-20k | Speakers $20k and up | Speakers $2k-5k | Speakers $5k-10k
