2.1 Channel setup discussion with photos!

Works just the same. I have the SoundPath transmitter on a splitter after the iFi Zen Blue V2. I keep the volume knob at about 1/3 (10 O’Clock, or at the numeral 22) on the Sansui AU-919. The SoundPath receiver feeds the sub. I tend to diddle the volume just a bit depending on the recording, but it’s generally at about -27db, which makes sense given that I control actual volume from the iPad which is feeding the Zen Blue, and SoundPath is getting full output from the Zen Blue. They said an alternative would be to take it from the pre-amp out, but I didn’t want to grope around back of the rather heavy Sansui.

I’ve got the crossover filter set to 42hz, and slope of 24 db per octave. EgglestonWorks says that the speaker is down 3db at 32 hz, but given room size and the fact of a 5.5-6 inch mid/sub, albeit in a bass-reflex cabinet of reasonable size, 42 seems to be working. Still experimenting, but that’s the answer Marvin gave to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. :phone:

I do not crank the volume, but occasionally get to a moderate level - like if it’s a Saturday and I’m straightening up the office, or a Sunday (doing the same). So far, I’m quite pleased. It’s just a subtle touch, as the speakers are quite good by themselves.


:phone: From Douglas Adams’ the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. 42 also happens to be the sum of the first three odd powers of two—that is, 21 + 23 + 25 = 42. There are three cubes which added together equal 42. (-80538738812075974)3 + 804357581458175153 + 126021232973356313 in case you were wondering.

Pipe dream to own an EWorks speaker one day…one day.

What model to you have again? Can you share some photos of how you have things arranged?

That’s how they look with the black magnetic grilles off. Finish is excellent. The model is their entry level, Nico Evo. The stands are made with them - not attached, but there is an indent that fits the stand top. Stands are quite heavy, possibly filled with sand.

The cabinet is an AV cabinet that was standard equipment with Edward Jones. Matches my furniture. My office space has a window to the entry of the office where the admin sits. It’s a suite, about 1100 square feet. Usually shared by me and the admin, but I need to hire an admin now.
My desk is along the wall opposite the speakers, so they are to my side. My seat is just to the right of the pair, and they are far enough away that I get good imaging. A person sitting on the other side of my desk is in the sweet spot.

However, with a good smaller 2-way there is a wide area that’s almost as good as the sweet spot.

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IMG_1561 (002)

And here with grilles

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That’s so pretty! What a huge life achievement. Congratulations!

Thank you, but not such a huge life achievement, although I am pleased with the result. Below is the inside of that cabinet:
image

And another shot of the speaker - shiny metallic plum, but with a finish like a good piano black:
image

Yes, I have a box kite in my office next to the speaker.

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Here’s my personal pickup from last week. Won’t be able to use it till next because I need send my Aegir back to Schiit.

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I got the little SVS sub in black. It’s hidden under my desk. Your setup looks nice and clean. I’m a messy. But not so much at work.

I’m not showing the messy part. Haha! Cables Cable Cables.

It’s getting there, but cable management will take a minute.

I’m looking at different options for racks, other furniture, and so on to make it look really unique and clean (Andrew Robinson type of clean).

The benefit of having your own space (and having a lot of patience) is knowing that you’ll be able to build it up over time once you’ve lived in it.

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A quick follow-up to my previous post on Omega speakers, and moving to the 2.1 thread, as @hnordberg suggested.

When I bought my LTA MZ3 last year, I was so enamored with the sound using headphones and as a preamp to my Emotiva powered monitors, I wanted to try the MZ3 as a nearfield/desktop speaker amp with better speakers. The only concern I had was the MZ3’s power (1 watt into 4 ohms). I’m not a 2 channel expert, and that just didn’t seem very much to me, even though friends (and LTA) kept telling me that it was probably fine for desktop use if I used sensitive speakers.

So back in September of 2022, I starting exploring manufacturers of sensitive monitors within my budget and landed on Omega, which were recommended for their sound quality, but also had many veneer options, including custom. Zu would have been on my shortlist but they’d discontinued their old monitors and hadn’t rolled out the new models yet, at the time I was researching.

I emailed Louis, the owner of Omega, to explain my requirements, and he recommended the Super 3 High Output Monitor, because they were more sensitive than the smaller Super 3i Monitors and would also have better bass. Louis also confirmed that he used an MZ3 himself, so 1 watt was fine for desktop usage.

I put my order in at the beginning of October. Having bought hand-made items from boutique audio companies before, I was prepared for a wait, but I didn’t realize it would take 7 months! Unfortunately Louis had some supply chain issues, and it took longer than expected, but he was always open and honest about the situation whenever I contacted him.

I should add that the speakers used a custom veneer. I’d sent some pictures of finishes I liked on Omega’s instagram, plus a photo of some Omega speakers that I’d seen on another forum. Louis said that he had just enough veneer to make my speakers, and since he was unlikely to use it for anything else, he didn’t charge me for the custom upgrade.

Funnily enough, I then saw an ad on USAM from the guy who originally owned the speakers in that custom veneer, and he was selling his Omega sub in that finish, so I bought the matching sub.

I like them a lot, even though they’re not broken in yet, and are not properly set up on my desk.

I hadn’t taken into account that they are quite a bit bigger than my old Emotiva monitors, so I will need to move some things around on my desk to give them appropriate space, but in the meantime, they’re jammed into the same tight space where the Emotivas sat.

Louis recommended 120 hours of break-in, and I’m probably at 30, but I love the way they sound right now. There are no fatiguing frequency dips or peaks, and the stage is much bigger and more holographic than my old speakers.

As you’d expect, the Omega sub pairs well with the speakers. I used the Emotiva sub for a few days, because it was already in place, so it was easier to leave it there for a few days. When I switched from the Emotiva to the Omega sub, it was more jarring than I expected. The Emotiva’s bass is a bit thicker and “rock & roll” whereas the Omega’s is a bit more delicate and doesn’t stand out as much, but it is also tighter. Once I got used to it, I really appreciated the Omega’s tighter bass.

Finally, I did use the MZ3 with the Omegas for a few days and it was awesome. I only had to turn the volume up to around 40-50 (out of 100) so there was still plenty of headroom. I then switched to my LTA Ultralinear+ that I recently bought at Axpona and that also sounded awesome, although in a different way. The MZ3 and UL+ have different presentations (the MZ3 has richer mids, the UL+ has a more neutral, detailed presentation), where one is not necessarily than the other, and in the same way that I could hear the differences through headphones, the Omegas were also a window into the sound of the two amps.

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Great summary, thank you! I will add Omega to the (short) list of speakers I am considering. The list right now is Devore (O/Baby) and Zu (Soul 6 or Dirty Weekend maybe). My room (my office) is small (though voluminous). I’m using my NHT rears from my old 5.1 system for now.

Are you going to use stands or looking for floor standing speakers as opposed to desktop? If that’s the case, then people have recommended the Omega Super Alnico or the Super Alnico High Output Monitor, both of which were too big for my desk.

I heard both Devore (can’t remember the model) and Zu (DWX) at Axpona recently and was very impressed with both.

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You might consider adding the Klipsch AK6 as they are quite efficient. In the link, you can see a picture of them. If your desk isn’t quite large enough, it’s quite acceptable to put your desk in-between to get that precise near-field sound.

I’ve heard an early version of these with a small tube amp years ago, and they were impressive.

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Either would work. I currently have the NHT’s on stands.

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They are too big for my room, but I have been / am considering the Klipsch Heresy IV. But I’m afraid that even those might be a bit big.

I think you need perspective. The speakers are sized just right. Your room is too small…
You may need a sub with the Heresy. I’ve heard those at the dealer.

My wife thinks that our room is too small for the AK-6’s also. And our cat was too active and clawed for the Magnepan 3.7i.

Compromises, compromises.

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Ha! I like how you are thinking!

I auditioned these and they are great but far from small or desktop friendly. Perhaps the O/micro?

I also owned Omega floorstanders and while they weren’t what I was looking for, I can see why many people love them and LTA really works well with them. Subwoofers were a must in my case and the Omega subs worked well with them and to my surprise didn’t match well with other speakers I had (nor did other subs with Omega speakers for the matter).

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Can I ask, What is your room measurements, H, x, W, x L

(9’ - 16’ slope) x 10’ x 14’

The speakers would go on either side of the audio rack along the long wall:

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