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Orions [message #15136] Wed, 21 December 2005 22:23 Go to next message
akhilesh is currently offline  akhilesh
Messages: 1275
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
I drove witha friend yesterday 250 miles each way, to hear a set of Orions, built by a real nice guy: Steve.

These are the best speakers I have heard, other than the ones I have built of course

If I had to buy a pair of sepakers, these would be it (we ll, I guess you are not totally buying them if you buil some of them).


-akhilesh

Re: Orions [message #15137 is a reply to message #15136] Fri, 23 December 2005 09:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Wassilak is currently offline  Bill Wassilak
Messages: 402
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Are there plans available for them, and the type of drivers there using in them.
Bill W.

Re: Orions [message #15138 is a reply to message #15137] Fri, 23 December 2005 17:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Manualblock is currently offline  Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (13th Degree)
Forgive my intrusion but those DIY are mucho dinero. I think what AK; about 2800 for the kit? I was examining the plans some time ago; I do believe they are phenomenal sounding and the theory is sound, but too rich for my blood. You need EQ and seperate amps plus the drivers. Lot of committment.

Re: Orions [message #15139 is a reply to message #15138] Fri, 23 December 2005 19:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
steve f is currently offline  steve f
Messages: 238
Registered: May 2009
Master
I had the pleasure of auditioning the pair at Sigfreid Linkwitz' cottage. All I can say is Wow! They are the best loudspeakers I've ever heard. Yes they are pricy for DIY, but they are better than ANYTHING that the hi end manufacturers build. That is their true competition. Wilson, Von Schweikert, JM Lab, etc. all fall short of the mark. The difference isn't a small one. So a four grand investment, including amps is much better than spending forty grand for a lesser product. The user does have to accept a few absolutes. Eight seperate channels of amplification, tubes need not apply. The only downside is that you need to be able to pull the speakers away from the walls.

Steve

Re: Orions [message #15140 is a reply to message #15139] Tue, 27 December 2005 15:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Retsel is currently offline  Retsel
Messages: 23
Registered: May 2009
Chancellor
We have Linkwitz to thank for so carefully and fully laying out the theory behind open baffle (dipole) designs. However, once the design theory is understood, the same effect can be had much cheaper using alternative drivers. I use Lowther DX4s on open baffle which is based on the Basszilla design. This was really cheap because I already had the DX4s I added a couple high output woofers on open baffle to get the open baffle bass, which is supurb.

Retsel

Re: Orions [message #15141 is a reply to message #15140] Tue, 27 December 2005 21:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
steve f is currently offline  steve f
Messages: 238
Registered: May 2009
Master
Yes, quite a few variations can be built off the basic Orion type design. I am curious. Did you develop an active crossover and EQ? What was your choice of bass driver?

Steve

Re: Orions [message #15142 is a reply to message #15141] Wed, 28 December 2005 08:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Retsel is currently offline  Retsel
Messages: 23
Registered: May 2009
Chancellor
I do all my freqency adjustments passively.

I looked at frequency plots of the DX4 on open baffle and I inserted a simple inductor to flatten out the frequency response from about 500 hz and up. It does not even out the frequency anomolies in the 5 - 10 k range, but it does do a good job overall.

I high pass the DX4 using the coupling capacitor between the driver and output tube of my 300B SE amps.

The woofers I use are a set of 15 inch drivers Genesis uses with their subwoofers. I had one from a nonfunctioning subwoofer and a second which was a spare. These are mounted on the same baffle as the DX4s (in a sort of U-baffle). I also have a set of Avalanche 18 inch drivers on open baffle mounted in a W-baffle.

I crossover to the woofers at about 100 hz. I use a 500 watt/channel Hafler amp to drive the woofers.

Retsel

Re: Orions [message #15143 is a reply to message #15137] Wed, 28 December 2005 10:18 Go to previous message
akhilesh is currently offline  akhilesh
Messages: 1275
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
HI BIll,
They use peerless woofers, SEAS midrange and SEAS tweeter (dome).
You can get plans at:
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/orion_challenge.htm
THey are active, and EQed, with I believe the ability to adjust EQ somewhat.

I wouldn;t mess with linkwitz's design. These are the best designed speakers I have ever seen, for home lsitening. THey woul not work in a pro setting, but for home sound and accurate fidelity, they are the best designed.

I woud not mess with the design, simply do it word for word. A friend of mine in Tulsa is polanning to build them, and after they are done, I might be tempted as well.

Their specs are awesome (+/- 1 db from 25 hz up to whatever) but more so is the imaging. THese are AWESOME imagers.
THe only place where they suffer is in dynamics, compared to say a klipschorn or VOTT system, that has been properly equalized.
I listened to them, came back, and re-EQed my VOTT system, which was not too well eqed when I had teh audio meet last week (sorry guys).
THE altec system sounded good, and certainly more "live" in terms of dynamics. However, the orions are on a different planet in terms of 3-d imaging.
After the klipschonrs design of 1948, I really think this is the most significant design in home speaker reproduction to come out. It is also a very attractive design, and does not require too mushc space. A very clever an elegant design indeed.

Kudos to Dr. Linkwitz for sharing his work with us.
-akhilesh


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