Omindirectional speakers?

[Guest]

I read a review of the German Physiks Unlimited Mk II in HiFi+ over the weekend and this tweaked my interest as to what else is out there with similar technology.

I remember seeing something in the classifieds here recently that looked similar (speaker wearing a funky hat) but I'm damned if I can remember what they were called, or who was selling them.

Ah ha! My search kung fu was off - I've found them now. Duevel Bella Luna.

So my question is - what's out there? And does anyone have a view on the appropriateness of the technology in general? Seems like a good idea for awkward spaces.

Thanks in advance.

Ohh, found the Duevel Planets now. I like!

 

[Leonard Smalls]

Bella Lunas, and Jupiters much much better than the Planets!

And if you can find a pair, check out Mirage OM1s - I heard a pair sounding most excellent with a Pass Labs X650...

 

[Guest]

At the cheaper end of the scale, Vandersteens are pretty good too (pair in the dealer section at the mo).

 

[sonrock]

mbl speakers are omindirectional too Sir and they are amazing, beautiful mid and high resolutions. whenever you are sitting, the soundstage is still there in front of you, no need sweet spot . their drivers are specially designed + made, so they will produce music "everywhere" 360 degree. thats the reason why you can see the soundstage is the same whenever you sit.

 

[mikehit]

The Shahinian range have been one of the more available Omni speakers in UK for quite a few years but they don't look quite as 'esoteric' as the Duevels.

 

[deggie]

Tom is spot on, those vandersteens are very good indeed, a lot of speek for the money,

very popular in the states.

 

[uctpa08]

So the question is, why are they not more popular (here)? Or in other words, what's wrong with them?

 

[It Cost How Much!?!]

So the question is, why are they not more popular (here)? Or in other words, what's wrong with them?

They present an image in a rather large way lacking definition in comparison to direct radiating speakers.

They generally need to be away from walls, which in UK sized rooms is usually a problem.

People have forgotton Bose 901, 802, 601, 301 etc.., Sonab (pretty cheap now), JBL, and no doubt a few others like Snell who used a rear tweeter. Technically, a lot of planar speakers are run as dipoles, so very similar.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for all the input folks. I'll have to see if I can actually hear some somewhere. In my copious spare time lol.

 

[silencio]

Heard the German Physics on two occasions and was not impressed at all! Could have been room/positioning issue. The Duevels on the other hand were very pleasing. MBL are an absolute cracker. Another one to watch is Bolzano Viletri, especially if you like gorgeous finish

 

[mmar]

Decware radials sound outstanding !

 

[Werner]

There is some fairly recent understanding that in a domestic music listening environment the direct sound and the room-reflected sound should be spectrally balanced. An omni is the easiest way to achieve this. Mind, this is not the same justification as Bose's infamous let's-rattle-it-against-the-walls-just-like-in-the-concert-hall.

Incidentally dipoles are poor at this, as the side nulls seriously skew the reflected spectrum.

 

[JANDL100]

They present an image in a rather large way lacking definition in comparison to direct radiating speakers.

Well, only if you get Omni on the cheap - do it right, like in MBL or German Physiks (quite similar sounding in their Omni capabilities, ime) and the imaging is very very open but superbly focussed.

 

[barnes]

The Shahinian range have been one of the more available Omni speakers in UK for quite a few years but they don't look quite as 'esoteric' as the Duevels.

Shahinian user myself, albeit the entry Compass model.

Try and get a listen, the Compass is very flexible on positioning and I like what they do.

Richard

 

[f1eng]

IME Omnis add a huge amount more of your listening room acoustic to the sound than other types of speaker. All speakers add some of the room acoustic, omnis a lot. This can sound excellent but the "stereo image" is almost entirely a synthetic function of room and speaker position with little to do with any spatial clues in the recording itself.

I liked them a lot on everything but my own recordings, which sounded nothing like the original acoustic (I mainly recorded in churches).

 

[mmar]

check out the " decware " web site , they have very informative white papers on the subject , my experience with there speakers was very positive imaging was precise from the ribbon tweeter and the soundstage huge and natural sounding which I can only assume was due to the fact unlike conventional speakers omni speakers are far less prone to the adverse affects of a room in resepect to direct reflections and time smear

 

[oldius]

I adore my Shahinian Obelisks and I have no desire to change them after seven years of ownership.

 

[Tony_J]

Anyone have any experience of these?

https://www.maudio.net.au/

Their website talks a lot...would be fascinated to know if they stand up to the hype.

 

[johnniebaby]

Decware radials sound outstanding !

They sure do Mick, makes me wonder why I sold them :doh: