Analysis Audio Omega Review

bonzo75

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"As dipoles, the Omegas produce an equal amount of output firing to both front and rear. One effect of dipole design is that the Omegas play louder than box speakers rated at the same sensitivity. That was confirmed in the first few days, when the only amplifiers I had on hand were the 55-watt Wavac MD-805 SET monoblocks. That combination produced a lovely, beautifully detailed and spacious sound, with surprisingly robust volume levels (and, truth be told, a bit of clippings to keep me in line). Of course I had more fun with the 700 and 800 watts per side respectively from the Spectron and VTL amplifiers. The Omegas play very loudly without strain or distortion."

"The rated sensitivity of all Analysis speakers is 86dB/W/m — on the face of it, hardly a high-efficiency number. That being so, how can they play so loudly with medium-powered tube amplifiers? Because attenuation of the sound wave traveling through the air is reduced due to the much larger dimensions of the planar membranes and ribbons. Theory stipulates that with the exception of a small area close to the sound source ("nearfield"), the sound wave experiences an amplitude drop of 6dB for each doubling of distance to the listener. Within the nearfield the attenuation is only 3dB. The nearfield extends to roughly three times the dimension of the driver. Although this is negligible for an ordinary tweeter (a few centimeters), the nearfield for a 2-meter-tall ribbon tweeter reaches about 6 meters. The following table compares loudness for two different drivers of the same rated sensitivity, according to the distance from a listener:



Distance: 1m 2m 4m

Ordinary tweeter: 86dB 80dB 74dB

2 meter ribbon: 86dB 83dB 80dB



This means that at a one-meter distance both drivers' outputs are about the same, but at four meters the planar loudspeaker sounds twice as loud. "
 

Ron Resnick

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I read those reviews from Enjoy the Music of the Analysis Omega and Amphitryon. But isn't the sales units reality that more conventional, dynamic driver box speakers are sold than planar speakers of various types? Does any know those sales statistics?

Anyone who bought Focal, Tidal, Magico, Rockport, Wilson, etc., obviously could have bought (often cheaper) planar speakers, but they chose not to. Different people have different sonic priorities and like different sonic attributes.
 

spiritofmusic

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Many more people buy SS than tubes Ron, but this hasn't put you off.
 

bonzo75

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I read those reviews from Enjoy the Music of the Analysis Omega and Amphitryon. But isn't the sales units reality that more conventional, dynamic driver box speakers are sold than planar speakers of various types? Does any know those sales statistics?

Anyone who bought Focal, Tidal, Magico, Rockport, Wilson, etc., obviously could have bought (often cheaper) planar speakers, but they chose not to. Different people have different sonic priorities and like different sonic attributes.

Seriously? How many of those have heard these planars? If you read Philip Kotler's 4Ps of marketing, Product is not the functional attributes of the product itself, but includes Price, Promotion, and Place (Distribution) and for sales one has to manage these 4Ps

Most of the box brands you mentioned are American. They are way superior to Promotion and Placement than these Greek or other EU brands. How many shows have you been to, whether EU or US, that you noticed Analysis? How many where you noticed these boxes? Imagine, they come to the EU with additional tax, and yet people buy them, because higher price is also a marketing strategy. In the UK Absolute Sounds and Kog Audio (distributor) brands are the best placed and serviced and known. Google the number of reviews, you will see the Promotion in place. These American box brands to me are Cokes and Pepsis. But we want to get through this and focus on the sonic attributes of products. I am amazed at how many long term audiophiles have not heard proper horns (you hadn't, for example, till the trios trip).

It is quite clear to me that many purchase decisions are not based on sonic preferences, but on limited information. Only if markets were efficient in hifi
 

Ron Resnick

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I learned today that the Graz Apogee Definitive was never a "production" item. Graz made only one pair of them -- as a test bed and for proof of concept.
 

spiritofmusic

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Ok, so Real World we're looking at the Duetta Signatures Advance 7's, released very soon, and the Divas Advance 7s, proposed for the next 12-18 months.
I get the impression that the Duetta Advance 7's may be the more SET friendly, and Bonzo says the AA Amphytrions. No way to a-b, but I'll have to somehow hear both, hopefully w/tubes and vinyl.
 

KeithR

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Seriously? How many of those have heard these planars? If you read Philip Kotler's 4Ps of marketing, Product is not the functional attributes of the product itself, but includes Price, Promotion, and Place (Distribution) and for sales one has to manage these 4Ps

Most of the box brands you mentioned are American. They are way superior to Promotion and Placement than these Greek or other EU brands. How many shows have you been to, whether EU or US, that you noticed Analysis? How many where you noticed these boxes? Imagine, they come to the EU with additional tax, and yet people buy them, because higher price is also a marketing strategy. In the UK Absolute Sounds and Kog Audio (distributor) brands are the best placed and serviced and known. Google the number of reviews, you will see the Promotion in place. These American box brands to me are Cokes and Pepsis. But we want to get through this and focus on the sonic attributes of products. I am amazed at how many long term audiophiles have not heard proper horns (you hadn't, for example, till the trios trip).

It is quite clear to me that many purchase decisions are not based on sonic preferences, but on limited information. Only if markets were efficient in hifi

Come on now, Maggies have been around for years in the States.

Planars and horns have low WAF which is the larger issue here. Wilsons meanwhile are very popular here in LA as the automotive finish can be chosen by the spouse :)
 

LL21

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I learned today that the Graz Apogee Definitive was never a "production" item. Graz made only one pair of them -- as a test bed and for proof of concept.

Is this the one that requires 6 channels of amplification?
 

bonzo75

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Come on now, Maggies have been around for years in the States.

Planars and horns have low WAF which is the larger issue here. Wilsons meanwhile are very popular here in LA as the automotive finish can be chosen by the spouse :)

So more non-sonic reasons
 

KeithR

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So more non-sonic reasons

well, I think planars and horns have very specific sounds that are 180 degrees from boxes, so not entirely. Very polarizing topologies. there isn't a right answer on which sounds better, just different strokes for different folks.

nevermind that- actually according to Harman, none sound as good as Revel ;)
 

Ron Resnick

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Is this the one that requires 6 channels of amplification?

I don't know. When I realised he is not making it I stopped asking questions about it.
 

spiritofmusic

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Guys, Lloyd is helping me very kindly. He's an Apogee fanboy, and could have gone down this path himself had the Wilsons not presented themselves.
He confirms the Graz Duettas may be SET-friendly on paper, but just like Giya G1s, JBL Everests, Rockport Altaris/Arrakis' etc, they need serious current, and even pwrful SETs like Nats may fall short.
I'm still open to planars, and need to hear what I'm missing, but I suspect these doubts on dynamic grip w.SETs amp/planar mismatch may nag me thruout the journey. Justin who runs Graz restored Duettas, has moved from Air Tight SETs to Accuphase SS, and I'm sure we all know why.
Similarly, Peter who runs AA Omegas w/Nat SETs, listens at 70dB levels. I'm going to need more volume than that, in a room 2-3x his size, and I'll be damned if I'm going to put up w/the kind of clipping I witnessed at the Windsor show, where Maggie 20.7s were pushing 300W/ch SS amps into the Red Zone playing music at moderate levels.
 

bonzo75

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The amphi will do fine on SETs. The older apogee won't. The advance 7 might. Omega need power but I am planning lamm or ypsilon hybrid
 

spiritofmusic

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You can't know that for sure. Have you heard the Amphytrions on them? Even though they're easier to drive than Omegas, they're still under 90dB/1W eff whch by any means can't be described as TRULY Set-friendly. I don't know for sure either, but the physics suggest maybe not. Now the Apogee Definitives at 101dB, yes.
Your idea to use Lamm or Ypsilon hybrid sounds promising.
 
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bonzo75

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You can't know that for sure. Have you heard the Amphytrions on them? Even though they're easier to drive than Omegas, they're still under 90dB/1W eff whch by any means can't be describes as TRULY Set-friendly. I don't know for sure either, but the physics suggest maybe not. Now the Apogee Definitives at 101dB, yes.
Your idea to use Lamm or Ypsilon hybrid sounds promising.

The Amphis used to be displayed in shows in Germany with KR Audio 60w. I have heard Omegas with 120w NATs and driven them loud. The Amphis are much easier to drive. As you can see from this post, at 4m seating range, the Amphis are over 6db louder than a box speaker with the same sensitivity

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showt...o-Omega-Review&p=356095&viewfull=1#post356095
 

Ron Resnick

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Marc, from what I heard from 60w NAT on Omega I am sure that 120w NAT on Amphitryon will be excellent.
 

spiritofmusic

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Mehhh, Given the potential for Loft Room Audio I would council a return to Plan A HORNZ that would see you retain your current amplification, then there is Plan A Steroid version !!!


Hmm, NICE (not)!
That could work, unfortunately I don't have the vertical walls in proposed loft, eaves will come down to floor .
One WE 15A replica down the middle, mono style, could work.
 

spiritofmusic

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Marc, from what I heard from 60w NAT on Omega I am sure that 120w NAT on Amphitryon will be excellent.

Really? Peter was concerned the amps were clipping at the volumes you played the Omegas/Nats at.
 

bonzo75

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Really? Peter was concerned the amps were clipping at the volumes you played the Omegas/Nats at.

The don't clip at 120, and Amphis easier than Omegas. Going in circles here. Read the forums. People have driven them with Kr Audio. Apogee Grands have been driven by triamping with NAT se2ses. PM Morricab about this. Hot room, air conditioner wanted. His friend replaced his top Krells with the NATs
 

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