In Reply to: Re: Dear Mr. Welborne... posted by john on January 26, 2001 at 15:46:37:
John,The only way you can really have your cake and eat it too, i.e. use an SET amp and obtain the dynamics you desire, is to go with a horn system.
As for horn systems, the Lowther is my preference because it is a full range driver and thus does not require a crossover. Not using a crossover completely eliminates the phase and distortion problems associated with them. I also prefer the soundstage a point source driver provides. And as for dynamics, the Lowthers are hard to beat if you are using low powered amps.
The Lowther's one short coming is its bottom end. If you can live with 50Hz bass then a cabinet like the Medallions, Hedlunds, Lamhorns, etc. can make you happy for life. These designs will give you quick, clean, detailed, natural and very dynamic sound...even at very low volumes! Piano and percussion is incredible on this type of speaker!
If you need 30-40Hz bass, then you make a slight compromise and cross the Lowther over to a bass cabinet. Yes, you lose a little bit of the dynamics on the **bottom end**, but IMO you gain the body and fullness of the original recording which really compliments the Lowther's midrange capabilities.
Biamping is tricky but it can be done and if done correctly should sound better than driving a multi-driver system with one amp.
I'll tell ya....I've been chasing this speaker issue around for several years. I've listened to a ton of speakers both new and vintage (I go to all the audio shows searching for speakers) and I'm not pushing this Oris speaker just to make a buck. If I wasn't selling it, I'd still be telling people to check them out. I sell what I like to listen to and I wouldn't bother to import a speaker or product just for the sake of having it to sell, i.e. there are plenty of good speakers made right here in the U.S. that I could be selling. Prior to the Oris I lived with the Medallion cabinets for well over two years. If my wife were to deliver the ultimatum..."either the Oris horns go or I go"...I could easily go back to the Medallion cabinets. The Lamhorns are very nice too.
Ron
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