Ocean Way Audio HRA Loudspeakers

[Ron Resnick]

Ocean Way Audio has announced a new horn-based loudspeaker, the HRA. This looks like a very large, heavy and ambitious offering, using a 1" compression driver.

Has anyone heard or evaluated this speaker?

Perhaps our horn loudspeaker or compression driver experts could weigh in on the quality of the compression driver being used here?

https://oceanwayaudio.com/hra/

https://oceanwayaudio.com/display/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/owa_hra_sheet_0119_LR.pdf








This seems like a modern version of the Rey Audio RS-7V MESA with stand:




This HRA also reminds me of the PBN M2!5s Jeffrey T Special Edition speaker:

 

[jeff1225]

They are using TAD bass drivers but I’m not sure what 1” compression driver they are using. I do love the choice of horn. Beautiful speakers really.

 

[christoph]

Those speakers remind me of the Usher D2

 

[bonzo75]

Those speaker remind me of the Usher D2

Wow never heard these. Florian had them too for a bit, right? How were these, and whose room is that

 

[bonzo75]

They are using TAD bass drivers but I’m not sure what 1” compression driver they are using. I do love the choice of horn. Beautiful speakers really.

Well they could use any compression driver that crosses between 550 and 700ish like the TAD would, but if they wanted beryllium to replicate the sound there wouldn't be much choice apart from Radian and TAD 4001. Or they might be using non-Be.

The radial horn is the most WAF horn among multicell, JMLC, etc. The GIP/Silbatone uses it on their 200k horn below. However those who have compared radials with JMLC, like Leif, prefer the JMLC for sonics. I heard the radial with the TAD 2404 but never compared.

TAD woofers are excellent on closed/ported boxes like the above, but I always find these boxes a compromise in sonics compared to SOTA

 

[Tango]

Well they could use any compression driver that crosses between 550 and 700ish like the TAD would, but if they wanted beryllium to replicate the sound there wouldn't be much choice apart from Radian and TAD 4001. Or they might be using non-Be.

The radial horn is the most WAF horn among multicell, JMLC, etc. The GIP/Silbatone uses it on their 200k horn below. However those who have compared radials with JMLC, like Leif, prefer the JMLC for sonics. I heard the radial with the TAD 2404 but never compared.

TAD woofers are excellent on closed/ported boxes like the above, but I always find these boxes a compromise in sonics compared to SOTA

View attachment 67223

This is a great looking speaker.

 

[bonzo75]

This is a great looking speaker.

It's the same as Altec 817, just radial horn and GIP drivers.

 

[jdza]

Maybe ddk can comment but I'd say they are far closer to the concept of the JBL K2 S9500 than to the Kinoshita RM7?

 

[christoph]

Wow never heard these. Florian had them too for a bit, right? How were these, and whose room is that

You are right, those were Florians and above is the room of Florians friend but (I think) he sold the Ushers in the meantime.

 

[bonzo75]

Maybe ddk can comment but I'd say they are far closer to the concept of the JBL K2 S9500 than to the Kinoshita RM7?

View attachment 67225

The drivers are TAD, not jbl?

If you mean cabinet construction?

 

[bonzo75]

You are right, those were Florians and above is the room of Florians friend but (I think) he sold the Ushers in the meantime.

He really likes them big and tall

 

[christoph]

He really likes them big and tall

Indeed
But he is tall himself

 

[Klonk]

Maybe ddk can comment but I'd say they are far closer to the concept of the JBL K2 S9500 than to the Kinoshita RM7?

View attachment 67225

thank you for bringing back memories, I used to have this speaker. When I bought it, I assumed it would work in smaller rooms, since this K2 was made for the Japanese market, where music rooms are of a smaller scale compared to the US. Unfortunately my room was too small. Anyway, great looking speaker, and it wasn't easy decision to sell it on.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The HRAs do look just like the Ushers.

I wonder which company achieved the best sound with this very similar design?

 

[Ron Resnick]

. . .

The radial horn is the most WAF horn among multicell, JMLC, etc. The GIP/Silbatone uses it on their 200k horn below. However those who have compared radials with JMLC, like Leif, prefer the JMLC for sonics.

. . .

View attachment 67223

Don't Living Voice and Viva use radial horns on their speakers?

 

[jeff1225]

It's the same as Altec 817, just radial horn and GIP drivers.

Ked,
Have you heard an original 817? How low does the bass go on this design?

 

[jeff1225]

Wow never heard these. Florian had them too for a bit, right? How were these, and whose room is that

I heard the Ushers at a show, under less that optimal conditions and remember absolutely loving the sound. I've been looking for a pair to pop up ever since. Later models incorporated a super tweeter.

 

[bonzo75]

Ked,
Have you heard an original 817? How low does the bass go on this design?

Graphs show the midbass horn loading starts at around 100 and keeps loading to 140, reflex ports go pretty low below 40 upto 20.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I heard the Ushers at a show, under less that optimal conditions and remember absolutely loving the sound. I've been looking for a pair to pop up ever since. Later models incorporated a super tweeter.

Was the D2 the biggest version of this they made?

You never found a pair for sale?

 

[Ron Resnick]

All I know is that every time I hear Jeffrey T's system I am more and more curious about this Ocean Way HRA / Usher D2 / PBN M2!5s type design.