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Are there any current high end dipole speakers (dynamic)?

Looking to upgrade my decades old system which includes Mirage M3si.  No they ain't perfect, but the speakers disappear and that kind of sound is very appealing.  Electrostatics (bipoles?)aren't the same (though when my mirage's die, I'll probably get maggies).
Thanks for your time.
berner99
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,278 posts
 

The OB/Dipole woofer system seen in the GT Audioworks are made by GR Research/Rythmik, and feature the Rythmik servo-feedback operation. They are available separately by both those companies (as a DIY kit only), and can be added to any loudspeaker, just like a "normal" (non-OB/Dipole) sub.

The basic kit is a pair of woofers and a plate amp, the latter including a "shelving circuit" to counter-act the dipole cancellation inherent in all OB speakers and subs. Both 8" and 12" woofers are offered, the base version using a pair of drivers in an H-frame. But you can add as many woofers (and associated plate amp) as you want, the GTA speaker having four woofers per side. THE sub for planar loudspeakers!

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,327 posts
 

@berner99 you're got it backwards, re. bipolar and dipole.

https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1190mirage/index.html

I'd like to repeat my question: is anyone aware of any currently produced speakers using similar sets of dynamic drivers firing forward and backward in phase?  That old Mirage design was surely pretty rare.

dvdboulet
78 posts
 
Meaning omnipolar? To some degree gallo speakers are omnipolar for frequencies coming out of the tweeter, though the midbass drivers are standard front firing only.

I'm not aware of any true omnipolar speakers that follow the mirage approach but maybe someone knows for sure.
mwinkc
384 posts
 
Definitive Technology still makes the bipolar BP-10B.
It's comparatively quite inexpensive and I'm sure it's not in the same league as the other speakers mentioned here.
But, it's a well made, true bipolar speaker.
I have Maggie smmgs and 1.6's, both with magnariser stands. I held on to my Def Tech BP-10's because they are excellent, high-efficient, full range speakers and I obviously like the bipole sound. The Maggie's still rule with more life like sound...especially strings, horns and vocals at a cost of tricky placement and current demands. 
For low volume night listening, the BP-10's are actually better than the Maggie's.
headphonedreams
529 posts
 
I read that there were some open baffles speakers on Capitol Audio Fest (I live in Europe and can't go to American shows). Going to a show is kind of a nice way to see what is out in the market right now, although they tend to mostly show the more expensive stuff.

For example Spatial looks interesting and costs $4200

https://www.stereophile.com/content/spatial-m3-sapphire-loudspeakers-linear-tube-audio-z10-integrated-amplifier-lampizator-amber

More to discover