Wow, what a long and enduring thread. Can't say I've read it all but I thought I'd add a wrinkle. In case you don't know and may be interested, Blue Circle Audio has introduced a new speaker based on the latest Ohm driver. It's called Penny. You can see the details on their web site. Disclosure: I have recently become a Blue Circle retailer (and Green Mountain Audio). This is a home based business in northern Colorado, Departure Audio.
Penny is different from other Ohm models as it uses conventional bass drivers for frequencies below around 90 hz. There are also a few other tricks that Blue Circle is not revealing. Penny's were singing at the last RMAF and sounding quite good. Some final tweaks are being made and the final speaker will be available soon. I will have a pair later in the spring and can't wait hear them in a real world room. Also, how they compare to the exceptional Green Mountain models. Again, just an FYI for Ohm lovers. I don't believe there are any other manufacturers using the ohm driver so this is a alternative for omnis.
Julian |
Interesting about the Blue Circle speaks.
There are other makes using Walsh designs, like German Physiks, but none other than OHM using OHM walsh drivers that I know of.
I'd like to see what is under the hood on those PEnnys. Maybe you could share some pics?
I recall a piece by the late John Potis that indicated that introducing the OHMs in his household to Blue Circle amplification took them to levels never heard before. I have that comment in the back of my mind when I say how I would love to introduce my OHMS to a really good high powered monster amp some day, maybe a larger Class D. I think I could survive easily with the Blue Circle amp as well were I to splurge though! I have this vision of it as the ultimate amp for the OHMs, at least among those that I have read about, based on John's published observation's. |
I found the link to the piece by John Potis that I mentioned:
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/bluecircle_bc8.htm |
Mapman,
Very interesting, that Potis piece. Thanks. Makes me think that even the 100's will shine further with more robust amplification, although, as I've said, they seem to sing nicely with the 80 watt Unico. |
Here's something interesting for you guys: I sent the following email to Jim Smith, the author of the book (which I recently bought and highly recommend) called Getting Better Sound. I asked: I have a question for you.
My heart kind of sank when I read the section of your book dealing with "wide dispersion speakers." I have a pair of Ohm Walsh 100 S3's. As I'm sure you know, the Ohms have a modified "Walsh" driver with the inverted cone, damped in the back to reduce rear-wall reflections, and supplelemted with a supertweeter mounted so as to fire at a 45 degree angle into the center of the room. They really disappear into a very expansive soundstage.
Given this design and your comments on wide dispersion, I'm wondering how much of your speaker set up advice still applies.
Thanks in advance! Here's his reply: Re the Ohms, German Physiks, MBLs, etc, they all can produce a very involving sound, in part because of their uncanny soundstaging, not in spite of it.
Speakers of that class are the only ones that I know of that go beyond tone and dynamics to deliver a compelling involvement from the soundstaging. Aside from the speakers I listed, IMO, the last loudspeakers to deliver to truly deliver that experience were the Beveridges in the 70s and early 80s.
Except for some placement issues (such as separation), virtually everything else in the manual is applicable. I do think it takes some canny voicing to get the best of these, but it can be worth it.
Although their phantom imaging off-axis is more interesting, they still have the least colored response precisely in the middle seat. Even they can't repeal those laws of physics. :)
Best,
Jim Smith Food for thought, no? |
