Modern Shahinian Obelisk

Jack, it is always nice to hear about others that have finally found their stopping off point with regards to the speaker merry-go-round. It seems that a lot of fellow Shahinian owners feel very much the same way here, no other will quite do.

I would love to hear Diapasons, that would indeed be a treat I am sure, as Hawks were another step up from the Obelisk in a couple ways, and I would love to make that step someday. My Obelisks are doing the business for my room/space though, quite happy with them.

I am curious, what size listening space do you have your Diapasons in? Would love to hear more about your system too. As far as the super tweeters go as an add-on, I too have heard them to be a good thing. One wouldn't think they would add much to the already multiple tweets in the Diapasons, but just goes to show you, until you try something, you never know!

My system too is more or less down to the tweaking stages, unless somehow I come across a sum of money, then I will be upgrading the electronics to either some Plinius separates or Dynavector amplification. For the moment, very pleased with the older Plinius 8200 integrated and my Naim streamer as source. All good for now! Enjoy your Shahinian's Jack! Lovely speakers I am sure. Tim

Is there a trend here? I, too, after 50 years of restless dissatisfaction and relentless replacement, have discovered Shahinian speakers. In my case, a 30 year old pair of Obelisks provided me with something I had been missing for all those long decades: the full rich power of an orchestra. There is a fullness and roundness to the sound of Shahinian's designs which captures the upper bass presence of real orchestral instrument like nothing I'd ever heard. And the sound of massed violins? Unmatched in my experience for solidity and sheen. (If you listen to orchestral music, as I do, you really should try to hear Shahinian poly-directional speakers (Obelisks, Hawks, and Diapasons).
As luck would have it, I was able to acquire a pair of Hawks and have stopped searching. (Just for your information, the system I had at the time of the Obelisks' appearance used Alon Circes ($12,0000) with a Nola subwoofer ($1800) and a Nola designed and built special x-over. The Obs I had cost, when new, $1800 and were 30+ years old, yet at the first moment, I knew I had found home.
If anyone cares to read my fuller description of my perception of the sound of Shahinians, you can refer to several of my older postings.
In addition, I live in Marin County and would be happy to entertain anyone who would care to come by to hear what I'm talking about.

I'd encourage anyone who has been at high end audio for years and still never achieved their goals to try something different: wide dispersion or omni speakers, take your pick.

FOr me, directional designs are enjoyable but are harder to set up to enable being immersed in the sound. Omni's or other designs that deliver a broader dispersion pattern are better able to make me suspend my disbelief that what I am hearing might be real.

One of many reasons I like the OHMs and that they have been successful for so many years is that they are inherently omnidirectional but also designed to enable closer placement to walls than a pure omni design, which makes for a better fit into more people's rooms.

Rpfef, don't get me going on Hawks-Diapasons for that matter! I can see where the Hawk would provide maybe a bit better midrange just due to the use of bigger mid drivers, and also the rake of the top cabinet giving some options there, but the Obelisk aren't lacking much overall for me. Very happy with mine, overjoyed would be putting it mildly.

I can also see the benefit possibly of the bass driver being moved up on the cabinet face, might give a bit smoother output in that location versus being so low to the floor on the Obs, but then again, their probably is more design goals that went into those placements I would think for reasons.

I agree Map, so many people seem to not want to take the time to at least try any of the omni units for whatever reason, and some that do, I dod not think they give it enough time for their ears to somewhat adjust to the differences in presentation and sluff them off all too quickly. I do realize, they certainly are not for everyone, but they sure can work well in rooms that are otherwise tough.

My Obs can be put within a foot of the wall behind them and still sound very good, as long as they aren't close to corners, it is do-able. But they sure like to be out in the open, well away from boundaries/walls. Good room treatments can go a long way with any speaker, and omnis are no exception.

Have had my Obelisks in the main setup for a couple months, this weekend I might bring the Larsen Model 4's out and put them in for awhile, see how all goes. With either speaker there, I have that gloriously open, wide and deep soundstage, no sweet-spot here!

Good to hear from other Omni lovers, enjoy! Tim

MR.FRAZEUR1:

Why should I not 'get you going' on Hawks and Diapasons?
I, for one, would not at all object to hearing your thoughts on them.
I myself have never heard Diapasons nor the new Obelisks and, though the basic designs have been unchanged over the years, a steady improvement in drivers and adjustments to the system have, as I know from my own experiences, resulted in significant gains. Nevertheless, as I can also attest through experience, every single poly-directional speaker Richard Shahinian ever designed, including original versions from 1977, sound wonderful and satisfying.
So, go ahead, let yourself go and tell me what you think.