In Reply to: Re: Dear Mr. Welborne... posted by john on January 26, 2001 at 15:46:37:
John: A quick thought on this before I get dinner ready: I also use Lowthers, however in the more common Medallion II cabinet from Lowther - America...a speaker system Ron also was/is very familiar with before the Oris. Bert Doppenberg also liked the Medallion, but was convinced of finding yet another, subjectively 'better' approach to emplyment of Lowther drivers. I suspect your concern for integration of higher and lower frequencies has in part to do with the rather quick reflexes of Lowthers. All I have heard about the Oris system (properly set up -- which is dependent on all sort of factors) is that it is very, very good. I also was a musician for a long time (drums and percussion), and Lowthers easily provide the most lifelike reproduction/illusion of the real thing I have heard. The Medallions do not go very low, however they are very capable within quite a broad bandwidth for a single-'full-range' driver. And as you say, Avante-Garde (check my spelling on that one)systems are too expensive -- unless you have too much money, which teachers like me don't. If you have never heard Lowthers, try to before a more serious committment to the Alon Lotus you mentioned. High and mid frequencies can be almost scary real, and sound superb with SETs like Ron's Moondogs (dear companions of mine!)and other circuits. Bert D. and Ron know Lowthers intimately, and have done considerable research/trial and error experimentation regarding that issue of integrating them with bass cabs, both with and without crossovers. But driver integration is not a problem peculiar to Lowthers -- any multi-way system is going to have certain idiosyncracies regarding how well it can blend high and low notes -- and related transients. Crossovers are sort of a necessary evil, I guess, in this respect. I really like the crossoverless Medallion system, but wish I could maybe afford to try the Oris horns. I think they are a very wise resolution to the Lowther (happy) problem. And flared horns like that have been used since the 20s! I have two such antique horns that I use for some old receivers I have restored -- and they are just a blast to listen to -- however, like their more contemporary bretheren, are a bit shy with bass response. If you can't afford Oris horns, consider, perhaps some other Lowther designs -- they are wonderful after having been broken in and loosened up a bit.Erik
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