Danny Richie "fixes" the Linkwitz Arion loudspeaker

For whatever reason, your link would not open.  I was able to find it from the GR Research site.  Oddly that had the same link name.

More than 10 years ago I became interested in the Orion speaker system after reading the Linkwitz site.  I was then able to hear the system in a private owner's home but came away disappointed.  Some time after that I planned to visit the Bay Area and contacted Mr. Linkwitz about an audition.  He graciously agreed.  He and his wife were very welcoming and he took as much time with me as I'd hoped.  I brought a few familiar recordings for my frame of reference.  Unfortunately I was again disappointed in the performance compared to my expectations from reading his description of the system.  That was long ago enough that I can't remember exactly the points of my dissatisfaction but I had to eliminate them from consideration based upon my own tastes.  That was somewhat disappointing in part because he was so nice and such a gentleman, and I know he is admired as a designer.  I wrote it off as simply a difference in personal preferences.

Now I've only had limited experience with Danny but I found it very interesting to hear his description of these speakers.  I understand the Orions generally have a positive following, but once again in this hobby, one size does not fit all.

I’ll tell you why. It’s EASY to take apart someone else’s work. Danny has been doing that since he started, repairing other peoples speakers, years ago. He was a VERY harsh critic, of the late Brian C. of VMPS.

They use to go at it, because the fix, was usually, someone else put the speaker kit together incorrectly, or it was the cheapest kit VMPS sold and a few mods, tightened them up..

I saw a 35 lb speaker, come out weighing 60 plus lbs.. AND a big article on how it was fixed... I laughed about the BIG pat on the back about a speaker that was one of Brian’s earliest kits, and upgrades that had not been installed. The 3.00 dollar fix turned out to weigh in at close to double the weight. When a piece of light or expanding foam was the answer, and a different cap, installed in the XO. Late 80s and 90s
I knew Brian C. very well. He was a really good guy. I personally like his speakers above ALL others. STILL do.

I’ve had text exchanges with Danny. He is an easy going guy for sure.
The crew he works with are, over the top (Jay) cabinet guy. I’ve owned the 123 LS6 and own his servo bass units, currently.

Now ask me about the TEC in the plate amps he uses for the servo system, and I’ll tell you another clever tale, about the guy that modifies them. How the servo REALLY works.. How good are your programming skills, because that is what it boils down to... Mine.. ok at best or use to be, C, C++, Basic, Visual Basic, heck even a little assemble code. a master batch file writer. :-)

I have NEVER done a job, that I didn’t think a little change might not hurt.
When folks say "it went perfect", I always say "wish that would happen to me". I’m my own harshest critic.

I ALWAYS take pause with the HAUGHTY.

Regards to all

I wish I had an Orion to measure, but DR accuses Linkwitz of a number of bone-head mistakes, which I doubt, not because I’m a huge fan boy but because the late Dr. Linkwitz was one of the most meticulous speaker designers I’ve ever ever seen. Without measurements I can’t prove it, but there are not a lot of speaker designers I know who took as much care in every aspect of their design as Dr. Linkwitz.

One thing I find kind of curious is his discussion of compensating for the rising impedance of a tweeter: In real life it’s almost never done nor is it needed.

You compensate for the rising impedance of a woofer because not doing so can throw off your low pass filter design. It’s written about here:

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/12/crossover-basics-zobel_8.html

However, since tweeters have no low pass filter, just a high pass, it’s a moot point, unless you have a truly high output impedance amp (i.e. tube) which can make it seem brighter, but just a tad.