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Why not more popular?

A couple of years ago, I got my first set of open baffle speakers. I've owned a few pairs of Magneplanars and many box speakers over the years, but my current speakers are the first true open-baffle speakers I've owned. 

I am absolutely smitten with the sound. Musical, dynamic, powerful, and an amazing deep, open, airy sound stage, with none of the weird boxy resonances or port huffing that I've heard from so many box speakers. 

What I don't understand is why there are so few speaker companies making open baffle speakers, and why are they not more popular among audiophiles?
128x128jaytor
fleschler
2,021 posts
 
@mijostyn You and I shared some stats in our lives.   When I brought home the Acoustat X's, my wife let me know how ugly they were as she called them coffins.  Within a year I moved up to the Acoustat 2+2s which we had for about 5 years, the Martin Logan Monolith IIIs for 8 years.  My current wife (I'm was a widower) decided that they stunk as they were dynamic shy, muddy bass, head in a vise and bright sounding in a 25' X 20' X 11'6" room.  Four of my friends and acquaintances had Legacy Focuses so I bought a pair used in 1998.  Satisfaction for my wife and I appreciated them (although I longed for the Acoustat 2+2s).  After decades of upgraded electronics (2006 + 2019), cabling (as a beta-tester) and tweaks (Hallographs/HFTs/electrical type), I have a marvelous audio system.  The one thing I want to change are the speakers for high end types which will provide a more resolving and open soundstage in my custom built listening room.  Von Schweikert, Evolution Acoustics and now another friend suggested Usher and a San Diego speaker manufacturer whose name I forgot now are in the running.  I like Maggies and Soundlabs best of the planars and stats.   I've heard Emerald and several other boxless dynamic speakers at shows and they sounded good, weak bass and less dynamic than I'm used to.  I suppose a case could be made for them.   Legacy's "newer" baffleless speakers can sound good but most come with DSP which I don't want to use.  
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
402 posts
 
"I’ve heard Emerald and several other boxless dynamic speakers at shows and they sounded good, with weak bass, and less dynamic than I’m used to".

You’re not talking about Spatial Audio speakers, they kill what you say on the faults of other older designed OB speakers. Time has marched on.


tweak1
3,676 posts
 
So far I owned EP KC IIs for a couple years, and now 3.4s (with outboard XOs) for over a year. I made 2 inexpensive improvements that paid HUGE dividends to the 3.4s


* I moved the XOs off the speaker bases which vibrate like crazy
* I replaced the crap jumper wires (from speaker binding posts to the XOs) with WireWorld internal speaker cables
Because my room is volumetrically quiet large by audio standards, I also have 2 SVS powered subs
I have owned Accoustat 2 + 2s and Maggie 3.5Rs. The Maggies came in a distant 3rd

hth
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
fleschler, nice post, and kudos on the development of the rig over the years. I laughed when I heard your wife's criticism of the panels; spot on. Those are the weaknesses in comparison to other genres. I can appreciate panels, as I have reviewed a few and owned a few.

Thoughts on speakers to move to... You do realize that Legacy can make their speakers rather active or passive version for you. Read my review of the Legacy Audio Whisper and its other iterations that Legacy Audio did; I think there are three reviews of the process in total before the final speaker. My version, the DSW Clarity Edition has capability to be run fully passive, hybrid with active bass and passive mid/treble, or fully active with Wavelet. So, there are some options for you.

If you are interested in discussing with me the Aspen Acoustics Lagrange L1 (I own the preproduction model following demo, and I have already committed to ownership of the L1 production model based on the performance of the prototype. Owner's review will appear at Dagogo.com), I invite you to contact me. I reviewed the smaller Lagrange L5 MkII for Dagogo.com. You can see the L1 preproduction model that I own on the Aspen Acoustics website.

The Aspen Acoustics is what I consider a new genre, the DLT (Disproportionately Large Tweeter), and it's VERY legit. I love it as much as any genre of speaker I have ever heard, perhaps more than omni, line source or dipole speakers of comparable size. It's an amazing blend of openness and dynamic power. The L1 has LF comparable to the Legacy Audio V and Valor, not playing around. If you wish to discuss with me the speakers I have used, shown in my system, feel free. 

BTW, since you mentioned Legacy, the i.V4 Ultra Amplifier review is published. WOW, what an amp! I am loving what class D is turning into!  :)

jaymark's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jaymark
512 posts
 

Just got my x5's set up yesterday.  With only 12 hours of play time they sound very promising.  They have a big, expansive rich textured sound thus far.

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