Interesting read on speaker designs

kiwi_1282001 said:
His website is also a very informative and interesting read on the challenges and possible solutions to realistic in room reproduction of music.

I can't help but think that if he were to come up with a product that was more cosmetically pleasing he'd enjoy greater commercial success.

He calls out the Wilson line of speakers as being "status symbols". I am sure there is at least a microscopic possibility that the qualifying manufacturer fraternity might be broadened. :lol:
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I'm not sure that he's interested in commercial success. Seems to me that he has a lot of opinions on loudspeaker design and how all of the current mass-produced speakers fail miserably. Of course he's come up with a loudspeaker design unlike any other in terms of producing a "live acoustic event" in your home. :rolleyes:
 
Doug - I have heard speaker systems built around his principles and it was like nothing I've ever heard. I have a friend who built a direct radiating dipole system for $3500 in parts and it would give the XLF/Thors demo I heard at RMAF a run for their money. I'm not kidding. His system looked like sh!t, but it produced dynamics like NOTHING I've ever heard. All driven with a home made 300b 9 watt amp.

I was the one doing backflips over Clayton Shaw's designs at RMAF....which are also direct radiating dipoles. Again, butt ugly, but man....the sound....and wonderfully efficient too.

Clayton is sending me a pair of his new baby speakers to play with. Note the "best of show for the money" at the bottom: AXPONA 2014 Show Report ? Digital Products | The Absolute Sound
 
Mike said:
Doug - I have heard speaker systems built around his principles and it was like nothing I've ever heard. I have a friend who built a direct radiating dipole system for $3500 in parts and it would give the XLF/Thors demo I heard at RMAF a run for their money. I'm not kidding. His system looked like sh!t, but it produced dynamics like NOTHING I've ever heard. All driven with a home made 300b 9 watt amp.

I was the one doing backflips over Clayton Shaw's designs at RMAF....which are also direct radiating dipoles. Again, butt ugly, but man....the sound....and wonderfully efficient too.

Clayton is sending me a pair of his new baby speakers to play with. Note the "best of show for the money" at the bottom: AXPONA 2014 Show Report ? Digital Products | The Absolute Sound
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I have not read the article in the first post yet, but I'll get to it. I wish I could try a pair of these speakers after reading the "best of show for the money" bit! Still expensive to me, but at the same time very reasonable. I love my Paradigms and always will, but I still would like to hear those speakers! If they are that good and if my ears like them, I'd fear that I would go to lengths to save up for a pair and have them while still keeping me Paradigms as well.
I would maybe stick these speakers on my main system if they really overcome room issues (I doubt it since no speaker I'm aware of really does that, but if this guy has come up with one that does for this price then he may not be human, I don't know) and put the Paradigms in the Vintage system, but then again I also like my DCM TimeFrames. So I'd probably have both sets in the main system with a switch. However, I think what I would really have is a problem with liking 3 sets of speakers equally, not good. HA!
 
MacFly said:
Mike are you saying the Emerald Physics speakers are that good ?
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The speakers I heard (which my friend built) are based on the same principles - direct radiating dipoles. I will post a picture, but they will no doubt produce enormous laughter. But people stop laughing after they hear them. Let me put it another way....a mutual friend who just bought the $60,000 Polymer speakers was absolutely crushed when he heard what our friend John built for $3500. The most expensive thing in his system is his vintage Western Electric 300b tube. To add insult to injury, he uses bulk wire from home depot. I'm not advocating this direction by any means....they have zero WAF and need a lot of room - plus, he has put tremendous time and effort (years) tweaking every little piece.

eqejuzaq.jpg


We added some diffusors (built by another member of our club)

ta2u4u8y.jpg


This is the subwoofer he built. I believe he said it was flat down to 10hz.

7yhuputy.jpg


u9egupyp.jpg


As for the EP's, they are excellent speakers - especially for the money. That being said, I think Clayton's newest designs are going to be a home run: Lumina ? SPATIAL AUDIO
 
16x14 open on 1 side to the breakfast area, wall where gears is 12 ft, wall to the right has 2 windows and a fireplace, windows are covered with wood shutters and curtains. behind the sofa is a full length bookshelf.
vaulted ceiling. carpet with large rug,L shaped sofa. right speaker is facing the fireplace, left speaker has open area to the left and facing the end of the sofa, both are 1' from the back wall , toed in a little. Speakers are not professionally set up

Kevin
 
MacFly said:
16x14 open on 1 side to the breakfast area, wall where gears is 12 ft, wall to the right has 2 windows and a fireplace, windows are covered with wood shutters and curtains. behind the sofa is a full length bookshelf.
vaulted ceiling. carpet with large rug,L shaped sofa. right speaker is facing the fireplace, left speaker has open area to the left and facing the end of the sofa, both are 1' from the back wall , toed in a little. Speakers are not professionally set up

Kevin
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Should be fine. Hopefully you can hear Mark's.


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Mike said:
The speakers I heard (which my friend built) are based on the same principles - direct radiating dipoles. I will post a picture, but they will no doubt produce enormous laughter. But people stop laughing after they hear them. Let me put it another way....a mutual friend who just bought the $60,000 Polymer speakers was absolutely crushed when he heard what our friend John built for $3500. The most expensive thing in his system is his vintage Western Electric 300b tube. To add insult to injury, he uses bulk wire from home depot. I'm not advocating this direction by any means....they have zero WAF and need a lot of room - plus, he has put tremendous time and effort (years) tweaking every little piece.

eqejuzaq.jpg


We added some diffusors (built by another member of our club)



This is the subwoofer he built. I believe he said it was flat down to 10hz.

7yhuputy.jpg




As for the EP's, they are excellent speakers - especially for the money. That being said, I think Clayton's newest designs are going to be a home run: Lumina ? SPATIAL AUDIO
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Nudies!!! Yikes! Ok, the sub I could do without. On the other hand, once one is over the initial shock if the main speakers (if he was going for shock value, he succeeded beyond his wildest imagination). I look at those and think: string those little white lights all over it and there ya go, pretty.:D Yes, they will never pass WAF (although I don't have that problem myself, wish I did sometimes).

Wait a minute, Mike if these things sound as good as you say then this is the brightest light of hope I've seen in audio in a long time! The "high-end" audio gear Bluebird of happiness has been long absent and replaced by the chicken of depression for years. Now you show us a $3500 pair of speakers that blows the stuffing out of $60k pairs! Something like this can make one feel like flipping the bird to all those who say that you can't possibly have speakers that sound good for less than $30k. (Not being mean, just a potential feeling). Why? Because $3500 is within reach (by saving up) to tens of thousands more folks who would then have the opportunity to have better sound. The Luminas aren't terrible prices either assuming I'm looking at MSRP.
Do I understand correctly that the speakers mentioned for Best of Show are essentially the same concept and same price and thus perform the same or am I totally confused?

I actually want to hear these things (any one of them, your friend's, the Luminas or the ones from best of show)! However, that isn't gonna happen seeing that there is zero access in my surrounding area. I still would never buy without listening anyway especially considering at least on the Luminas having Beryllium which usually sounds extremely harsh to me, at least as far as tweeters go. This may be an entirely different thing with these speakers we are talking about.
 
MusicDirector said:
Do I understand correctly that the speakers mentioned for Best of Show are essentially the same concept and same price and thus perform the same or am I totally confused?
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You are correct. Point Source, open baffle dipoles. It was explained to me that this is taking dipoles to a whole new level. The inventor is that Linkwitz guy: http://www.linkwitzlab.com

Clayton Shaw is another pioneer of the design philosophy: http://www.spatialaudio.us/lumina

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MacFly said:
I need to hear Mark's or go back to David's and listen for sure .
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Kevin, you can come listen anytime. My room is bigger, and an open type floor plan, it would give you a different perspective than David's room. It might be worse or it might be better, but at least you can get a second opinion.
 
MDP said:
Kevin, you can come listen anytime. My room is bigger, and an open type floor plan, it would give you a different perspective than David's room. It might be worse or it might be better, but at least you can get a second opinion.
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Mark thank you for the invite , hearing the D3's in a open room I think would great. hearing a big wide sound stage would be awesome

Kevin
 
MacFly said:
Mark thank you for the invite , hearing the D3's in a open room I think would great. hearing a big wide sound stage would be awesome

Kevin
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Prepared to be "ruined by Raidho!" I'm sure in Mark's room, they are awesome.


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