Danny Richie "fixes" the Linkwitz Arion loudspeaker

csmgolf

09-04-2020
"Count me as another that finds fully active speakers to be the way to go. I have fully active Legacy Calibre with crossover duties handled by the Wavelet processor. 6 channels of amplification and lots of ability to adjust and tweak the sound."

As noted I'm a big fan of the Linkwitz Orion - enjoying them as I write this.  I've got all kinds of speakers from Harbeth 40.2's to Magnestand 1.6's (modified Maggies), to many others.  And... I must say the Orion's are "at the top of the heap" in their performance.  

But, I've developed an interest in the Legacy speakers for a lake house I've built about 75 miles from Legacy's operations in Springfield.  I've ordered the Aeris, but I'm reconsidering, because of it's massive size and weight, which I will not be able to manage.  As a close alternative, I've been considering the Calibre - which seems to me to sound very, very close. 

@csmgolf - do you still have your Calibre's and what do you think about this direction?  

You mean Ritchie rips apart another classic speaker without ever hearing it, replaces a bunch of parts with different parts and gets it to measure….. flat?

Another day another dollar another speaker neutered.

God help us all in this hobby.

Not "just" flatter frequency response (so that’s now a bad thing? ;-), but also improved spectral decay (aka waterfall plot) response, phase coherency between drivers, lower baffle panel and enclosure resonance (Linkwitz specified un-braced .75" MDF, Richie braced 1.5" MDF) , and a few other loudspeaker performance characteristics. Plus air core inductors in place of iron core, film capacitors in place of electrolytic, and good resistors in place of sand cast. For those who consider such matters important. I personally wouldn’t even consider a loudspeaker that digitizes the signal in its x/o.

First time I'm hearing of this mr. Danny Ritchie. Everything he says is correct. Orion was a continuation of the Audio Artistry line of speakers, using better drivers and thus smaller cabinet & fewer drivers for home use.

Problems:

- Cabinet vibration coupling to Mid/high driver.

- Edge diffraction

- HF scattering due to wide baffle design

- Dipole pattern up to HF aso...were known to the late SL (rip), thereof the new LX521 design were all these issues were addressed.

ASP/Multiple amp issue:

SL was a speaker designer, and thus cared less about peripheral circuitry. He firmly believed "electronics sonic signature" did not exist, only THD figures were of relevance. Just look at the nr of OP amps in the ASP...my goodness gracious.

Well, we know better.

Orion vs LX521:

"Unfortunately" soundwize - Orion is the winner. Dont ask me why. Might be due to very expensive drivers used in the Orion, or maybe fewer nr of drivers allowing fewer crossover points.