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Is this the ultimate 2-way speaker design?

The Epos M12/M15 design that is. A hot-rodded version is the Verity Audio Parsifals. Both use polypropylene mid drivers which "eat detail" but add more body and weight to the sound than paper. Possibly bigger perceived dynamics as well. Both also let the mid driver roll off naturally above 5,500Hz.
The Epos uses a single bass/mid driver which rolls off without a crossover at 5,500 Hz. A single capacitor cuts off the tweeter below this frequency. Obvious advantages I see are:
1) no crossover in the vocal range of 100-500 Hz.
2) No crossover on the 3kHz region where the ears are most sensitive.
So there is no phase shift. Sound is time and phase aligned up to 5,500 Hz. Unlike a 1st order x-over, the speaker will sound good everywhere, not just in the sweet spot. The speaker should be very un-fussy about placement. Reviewers describe the huge soundstage and natural, seductive sound.
Maybe someone has the chart which shows which instruments play at what frequencies but I think 5.5 kHz is above the basic harmonics of most instruments. Most single driver (Jordan JX-92s and Tang-band W3-871s) designs get rough above 5kHz and beaming is also a problem because a larger driver is needed to reproduce the lower frequencies. So a tweeter solves these two problems.
But most designs use a crossover to do the job of integrating the 2 drivers. Crossovers eat power (an extreme example is the inefficient Thiels require with their complex 1st order x-over) and mask detail. So the beauty of the Epos design is one can use a low powered amp. Crossovers also reduce the dynamic range of a speaker. Reviewers have said the Epos is very transparent and even changes in cables are readily obvious. This is at least in part due to the absence of a crossover. So the Epos act as a sort of an active speaker. Except there isn't even a crossover before the power amps.
Most low powered amps sound better and of course, cost less. This is just my experience but higher power amps tend to sound harsher (bipolars vs. mosfets) and when an amp designers attempts to boost the bass, the high frequencies get harsh. Nelson Pass tried to resolve this with his XA amps.Off the subject, but 4 ohm speakers which require a high powered amp better have a pretty sweet high end IMHO.
Downsides to this design are limited bass extension and they cannot be played very loud without losing bass.If you turn up the volume they probably get shrill as the treble takes over in relative volume level. I also wonder, can a single mid/bass driver reproduce the detail compared to separate mid and bass drivers? How fast can a single driver move before it gets congested and starts smearing detail? Also there are probably higher levels of distortion, especially in the bass. Companies like B&W place a premium on low harmonic distortion (although there are other disortions than this!) and relatively high volume levels. So I can see why they don't make a design like this.
Maybe I'm showing my ignorance here but I would be interested in other's comments and their thoughts on what makes the best 2-way speaker design.
cdc
vladimir
346 posts
 
Good two-ways vs. the rest. Hmm.. I don't have either the space or the money to buy those big floorstanders. What to do? This is a never-ending discussion and contrary to what was said, I find it very enlightening especially for those who are starting on this high-end hobby. They can have your cake and eat it too, in a way. Yes, even the best two-ways have their shortcomings but what reasonably priced three-way or floorstanding speaker isn't compromised?

For those interested, I have written two articles here that present one side of this discussion (scroll down to Minimonitors and subwoofers I and II). They need updating but the basis is still valid, IMO.
cdc OP
1,839 posts
 
Vladmir, as you said "what three-way floorstanding speaker isn't compromised" is one of the most frustrating parts of this hobby (to me anyhow). You spend more and the speaker is better in some ways but worse in others. So even spending more rarely gives you better in every way.
I agree with your comments about a minimonitor and sub. Like the part about most 3-ways putting an x-over between 100 and 400 Hz. Right in the middle of the vocal range. Then they put one around 3kHz - again right where the ear is most sensitive. What a mess!
I guess my ideal is a small 2-way monitor 1) put in a small room where the room provides the bass reinforcement so a sub is not needed and 2) play at 75 dB max so the driver's don't get pushed into distortion.
The question I have about the audiomachina is which is better, an intricate 1st order x-over to 1) preserve time and phase coherence and 2) perfect driver integration or no x-over which 1) minimizes amp power required and 2) allows the maximum detail and transparency because of less electronics in the way of the signal path?
Amp designers commonly try to remove as many circuits as possible from the signal path be it negative feedback or additional gain stages and them you've got the speaker crossover putting it all right back in again.
Maybe it's a wash, I don't know.
michaelhwolff
112 posts
 
Well I made the jump. I purchased the Karl Schuemann ulitmate monitors. Luckily, Karl lives in the same state as I and after a couple of e-mails, he came up my way for business. Much to my delight the trip agenda also included stopping at my house and setting up a pair of his monitors.
When I first saw the monitors I knew this was going to be a love-hate relationship. Not conventional looking at all, however, close examination reveals some of the finest craftsmanship I have ever seen. A wrap of the nuckles on the side of the speaker are similar to the feeling that one gets when knocking on the bumper of a HumVee (solid). Finish is jet glossy black, beautifully done.
Now the sound, well I wrote Karl a check that night. I have never heard a speaker like this. I constantly was opening my eyes to verify that there were speakers in the room.
Quick,,,no fast,,,what the heck, just can't describe how quickly these babies handle the music.
Anyway all in all, I got em and am very happy with them. If you get a chance at CES this year, stop and listen. They are an amazing monitor.

Best Regards,
Michael Wolff
pragmatist
336 posts
 
While I prefer panels to boxes,among the two ways I've heard, that I can afford,the North Creek Music Rhythms are outstanding.
cdc2
122 posts
 
Michael,

They must sound incredible, because they certainly are ugly and wow, $12k for a pair of monitors.
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