3 speakers, 2 amps, 1 dac - Omega Super 3U, Overnight Sensations MT, and Fostex P1000-BH shootout

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by thegunner100, Nov 16, 2016.

  1. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    The Scan-speaks move a massive amount of air. 2 neighbor complaints logged to resident SBAFers already.

    @Dr. Higgs will shortly begin terrorizing Jersey City residents, once he receives his speakers.
     
  2. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Plans are freely available for those with equipment and lacking patience.

    If using a SET amp what sort of power do you need for a 4" Fostex driver?

    That's probably only in active mode. I need to ask what the output impedance is when fully passive.
     
  3. fierce_freak

    fierce_freak Friend

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    Anyone try the OSMTM? I'm pretty close to grabbing a set of those to make. Impressions on those are a lot more sparse, though.

    I wanted to do continuum, but I think I'll just have to wait until I can fab my own cabs.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The cheaper 4" is about 92db with a good horn. Impedance is at a minimum around 500Hz and never goes below that. A 2-3 watt SET should be good. Depends upon the design. The Almarro that @JK47 and @struggles brought to the meet was pretty good. I don't know if it was the plate follower or cathode follower version.

    On preamps: most solid state amps will have input impedance around 10k or 20k. An active preamp may be required in such circumstances, depending upon the source output.
     
  5. trung225

    trung225 Facebook Friend

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    If you like the sound from Nelson Pass's F3 and can diy (or have someone do it for you), I think a F5 turbo v3 diy is a very good choice (100W to 8Ohm output)
    http://diyaudiostore.com/collections/printed-circuit-boards/products/f-5t
    From what I calculated, all the cost for chassis, boards, parts is around 600-700$ (600$ if you use Nichicon/Elna for power supply, and 700$ if you use more deluxe Cap like Mundorf)
     
  6. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    @trung225 - have you heard both? Based on what I've read and listened to (F3 clone, F3, and J2), the sonic differences between each FW model seem significant. Part of why I've been wary to recommend them.

    The F5 is one of the few that has a big following, but sadly I haven't tried it yet. Would be great to know whether it shares the F3's distinctive sonic profile.

    The v3 is monoblock, by the way. So 50w in stereo (v2). In mono, it's the build cost you stated but x2.
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2016
  7. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    This thread was extremely helpful.. now I know I never want a fullrange bookshelf :p
    On the other hand it's made me even more curious about class A speaker amps.. I have a deposit down on a LH Labs S100. 50wpc stereo class a amp. Shipping.. some time
     
  8. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    I've read a lot of impressions for full ranged speakers and they really don't mention just how much bass and treble roll off they have. It's really misleading, especially with Omega's specs.

    Oh yeah... I forgot that the LH Labs power amps still exists.
     
  9. Jun

    Jun Friend

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    Has anyone heard a firstwatt sit-2?
     
  10. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    If you guys come around town, send me a message and lets meet up for a listening session. I think the single driver setup MIGHT change your mind about their sound, if not, at least offer a newer perspective.
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2016
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL. Well it's all here. Two 6" Fostex driver measurements in BK-16 box, two 4" Fostex measurements on OB. Cicada speaker. Lowther. Alpair.

    It's not like I didn't warn anyone. I did explicitly mention use of subs, supertweeters, woofers, crossover points, etc.

    And again "wide-bander", not full-ranger.
     
  12. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    I must have somehow missed some of those threads. I did go MIA between February and May/June. I guess I really just had to hear them myself to realize how much I disliked them.

    Thanks for the offer! It'll probably be a really long time until I go back to California though.
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2016
  13. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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  14. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    @Marvey the Almarro was the 318B plate follower model.

    @thegunner100 A BLH desktop enclosure, I would consider at best a novelty. If we had more time at the meet we would have disconnected the super tweeters and let the Sigma do its thing solo. It's actually not bad at all without the supertweeter. It's just that the supertweeter makes it sound oh so sweet...

    @shaizada's Naga's are quite seductive, and show what a small driver can do. Mind you the enclosure is almost 5x the size of the desktop model you guys listened to. But that's where Horns and flea powered amps make magic. Not with pure horsepower, but with well engineered synergized systems.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 17, 2016
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I would advise against it. Better off with a Schiit Vidar + Saga w/ good 6SN7. The BH SEX is decent for the price, but not anywhere good enough for this purpose. It's a parafeed design (to contain costs) and at that uses inexpensive components.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Thanks. That's what I thought.
     
  17. trung225

    trung225 Facebook Friend

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    I have not heard F3, only M2 and F5. I found F5 is more detailed and more solid state (for better or worse) and M2 is more like SET amp. From what I read (on 6moon I know it is not a reliable source), F3's sonic profile is somewhere in between M2 and F5. Actually, I'm in the middle of building M2 for myself, just because it uses transformer for passive voltage amplification, so it is easier to build for the newbie diyer like me.

    Sorry for my mistake, v3 is actually monoblock, so the cost must double. But even that, personally, 1200-1400$ for class A monoblock 100W/channel with schematic from well-knowned Amp designer like Nelson Pass is still a good price. Anyway, if Vidar can outperform it, that will be a great news.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2016
  18. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    You guys need to check out Diyaudio, most Pass amps can be DIY'ed quite easily. Most of the money will go into casing, trafo and finding good input jfets. And there's a F5 headamp as well.

    P.S. Pairing a widebander with subs and supertweeters. At what point it's still considered a fullranger/widebander speaker?
     
  19. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    You mentioned that you only need 2-3 watts for an SET and this is in line with that. Saga + Vidar is totally different (and far more expensive).

    If not the S3X then what else? A 2A3 single ended amp?
     
  20. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    id say 80/100 hz and over 7khz
     

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