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Loving the new Audio Nirvana Super 8s in monitor cabinets I just acquired, I'm interested is possibly going Lowther (best of the best single drivers, right?) in another system, but am not too interested in horns.It seems lowtheramerica is not going to be doing cabinets anymore (Mr. Dicks has told me); so, I am looking for other sources of very well-made, floorstanding, complete Lowther speaker packages.
Follow Ups:
Whoa, lots of opinions here and in the Rethm thread. Super! Here are some additional thoughts of mine on the whole topic:- I've never heard an OB. This is the one type of single-driver implementation that's never caught my interest, but since I've never heard one, that doesn't make a lot of sense.
- I do not worry about the treble performance of any Lowther, really, as I find I just don't notice the roll-off. Treble is affected so much by room and placement (toe-in), and all of our hearing is so rolled-off above 15K by middle adulthood, it's just moot!
- I worry a little more about bass, as some of them are *seriously* bass-lite to the point where integrating with any sub becomes difficult, but on that note a sub to me is always a necessity. My main speakers now are flat to 35Hz but I still use a sub. Speakers that are rolling off in the 50s are Ok with me. I think my REL Stadium keeps up with about anything.
- I am leery of any design that puts anything between the amp & driver. I don't know for sure, but I take seriously those who say that any network is going to dilute the magic. I am getting magic even out of these wonderful Audio Nirvana drivers in little boxes that cost all of $650/pr. I want up that magic to the highest degree possible while filling in the midding mid-bass in a floorstanding enclousre with WAF (although she's quite generous).
- Along those lines, I have no interest at all in DIY. I don't have the time and I don't have the talent to build something that's suitable for the living room. Just not happening!
Look up "Je Labs" on the web. Build YOURSELF a pair of the simple Open Baffles and start out with a pair of Jon VerHalen's Lowther PM6a's (Alnico magnets) I have descovered recently (Purely by accident cause I aint smart enough ta thunk of such thinns on my own) that Lowther Alnico based drivers are "Magical" in this simple Open Baffle designd. Waaaay more so than even my more expensive DX-4's. I have Medalon III cabinets, with all internal turns slowly bent/curvedrom Baltic Birch layering. Also have pair of Tractrix 150 HZ front horns, and both 1.3 and 2.5 Big Port Baltic Birch boxes. It goes without saying that at least one subwoofer will be absolutely needed . Spent lots of time and money (not to mention hassle) either building, having built, or purchasing cabinet types to maximize my full range driver collection (which is fairly vast), just to realize that he simplest OB with a specific driver type does the trick.I have just finished putting together three more OB's of varying sizes. All will include a 15" OB woofer centered ten inches off the floor and powered and crossed (likely around 150 HZ with Bashplate amps). Gonna find out if tall and wide or tall nd narrower baffles withh an added helper woofer will add something to the magic already derived using my simple squatty Je Labs OB's crossing my corner loaded subs around 85 HZ? Oh, by the way, I ALWAYS run my Lowthers without any filtering or crossovers. I have always heard sonic degredation with either limiting my full/wide rane drivers. Good Luck.
Click the link to another thread on this forum to read Lance's comments along the same lines, but in greater detail.
Hello,Lowthers are about efficiency, immediacy, purity, and simplicity. Did I mention efficiency? They allow you to use very sweet low powered SET amps, which may be the primary reason to use them in the first place. These qualities are diminished when they are used with filters/eq. Yes, the rollercoaster frequency response is part of the character of the Lowther...
I would not recommend a bass reflex box for the Lowther. I have a pair of the DX4 and DX55 and even in a large rear loaded horn they are bass lite. My friend's Beauhorns (rear and front load) sound excellent but are bass lite too. Try calling Jon at Lowther America (who btw provides excellent customer service) about his Medallion cabinets.
Also, if you go to the official Lowther UK website you will find that they recommend rear loaded horn enclosures, again, to maximize the driver's efficiency without eq (which I believe is used in BB and Martin Kings designs). This is important if you plan to use a 2.5 watt SET amp to drive them. Of particular interest is the Audiovector (?) cabinet, which is a combination front and rear load; I suspect the front to boost the mids and roll the highs and the rear to boost the bass. Anybody build this cabinet?
If power is not an issue you are better off with a different driver.
Beats the heck out of the medallion cabinet. Plus you actually end up with a full range speaker that doesn't have that lowther shout:)
Martin King has a MLTL design for DX3 I used it without the correction circuit he recommends and of course with no real bass.
Lowthers are beautifull if you dont mind the whizzers.
Be sure to get subwoofers....and supertweeters.The best I heard the lowthers was in the Oris horn.
Best of single drivers IMHO old Alnico Oval Telefunkens or Saba.
Good from 100hz to 10khz
His LT-2000 can be configured with 3 different Lowther drivers. Check the link below.Dave
Greets!My recommendation also.
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