Linkwitz Orion for HT...?

[Maab]

Hello,

By reading this forum, I noticed that there are several owners of Linkwitz Orion loudspeakers. I was wondering whether they could share their impressions about these speakers in a dual set up - music+movies/television without center channel.
I have heard them at Axpona NY but they where playing very conservatively, (moderate volume and no vocals when I sat there for a 20 minutes).

I think they have a great potential for music, but how are they for TV and movie watching?

Thank you

 

[GranteedEV]

Bear in mind that these speakers use the excellent Seas millenium tweeter, a seas 8" Excel midbass down to 120hz, and dual 10 (12?) inch woofers handling below 120hz. They should be very capable of good ~100db peaks or so at the listening position without offensive distortion. One thing that makes better drivers "better" isn't necessarily that they sound better, but that they can handle more power and keep composure.

Where they might lack is deep bass output levels as gradient systems roll off at 18db/octave acoustically and thus need more excursion to have the same output. You still need real subs if you want HT rumble. Dipole bass, while very tight, does not pressurize rooms.

Don't expect the dynamics / output levels of pro audio woofers and compression drivers, though.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My 9 YO daughter and I watched Tron Legacy (BD ISO file) 2 nights ago.

My current setup is the Orions in 2.1 (dual Rythmik D15SE subwoofers).

A lot of times, I totally forget that I'm not using a 5.1 setup!

The sound was so amazing.

The image and soundstage of the Orions is so fantastic; I get perfect crystal clear dialogue and awesome action sound effects for movies.

But for movies, you WILL NEED a subwoofer, as GranteedEV stated.

No question about it!

The woofers on the Orions will bottom out/distort in movies with a lot of 20Hz or lower signal, especially at 90dB+ movie level.

Heck, I recall watching the TV show "Breaking Bad", which has amazing LFE sound, and the Orions alone could NOT handle the LFE.

So you will need an accurate, tight subwoofer with excellent detail and articulation.

The Rythmik sealed subwoofers is just one example. They have a Q of 0.5 (high damping).

Heck, the D15SE sound so great, I use them ALL THE TIME for both movies and music!

If you don't use a great subwoofer for movies like Inception & Tron Legacy, you better set your processor as YES SUBWOOFER, Crossover @ 40Hz, Small speaker, & Stereo mode. This will trick the AVR into thinking that you DO have a subwoofer so that it can keep those loud 20-30Hz signals AWAY from the Orions!

With the crossover set to 40Hz, some of the 20Hz-30Hz signals will still reach the Orions, but not as much to mess with the woofers.

 

[Maab]

Thanks for the replies.

I read a lot of posts here and I could not miss ADTGuy posts in regard to buying a new set of kef or Revel speakers and I was wondering why, since it seems you're happy with your orions.

Some people don't like the Orion because it make vocals sound too large in the stage. What's your opinion about that?

Regarding the subwoofers, I do have already a pair of JL subs and it should covered for the time being, I think.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks for the replies.

I read a lot of posts here and I could not miss ADTGuy posts in regard to buying a new set of kef or Revel speakers and I was wondering why, since it seems you're happy with your orions.

Some people don't like the Orion because it make vocals sound too large in the stage. What's your opinion about that?

Regarding the subwoofers, I do have already a pair of JL subs and it should covered for the time being, I think.

I've heard only great things about JL subs, so you should be set there.

Vocals sound too large?

I don't see that happening at all... I mean unless you set the Orions like 15 feet apart or something.

Perhaps improper placement (too close to walls, too far apart, etc.) of the Orions may cause adverse effects on imaging. But I have my Orions about 7' apart, 3' from the front and side walls. The vocal/dialogue sounds like it's centered, and extremely clear and realistic/life-like as if the person is in the same room talking to me.

In other words, most of the time I don't even notice that I'm only using 2.1!

I don't even notice the speakers!

I feel completely drawn INTO the movie. I don't notice the speakers and amps or pre-pro. I am completely emerged into the movie.

I think the Orion, Salon, & 201 sound more ALIKE then they are different. That's why I hypothesize that great, accurate speakers sound alike.

So why do I also want the Salon2 and KEF 201/2 if they sound alike?

I guess I like collecting speakers.

Or maybe I'm just experiencing a mid-life crisis @ 40.

My brother is 39, and he just bought a Corvette.

 

[Maab]

I've heard only great things about JL subs, so you should be set there.

Vocals sound too large?

I don't see that happening at all... I mean unless you set the Orions like 15 feet apart or something.

Perhaps improper placement (too close to walls, too far apart, etc.) of the Orions may cause adverse effects on imaging. But I have my Orions about 7' apart, 3' from the front and side walls. The vocal/dialogue sounds like it's centered, and extremely clear and realistic/life-like as if the person is in the same room talking to me.

In other words, most of the time I don't even notice that I'm only using 2.1!

I don't even notice the speakers!

I feel completely drawn INTO the movie. I don't notice the speakers and amps or pre-pro. I am completely emerged into the movie.

I think the Orion, Salon, & 201 sound more ALIKE then they are different. That's why I hypothesize that great, accurate speakers sound alike.

So why do I also want the Salon2 and KEF 201/2 if they sound alike?

I guess I like collecting speakers.

Or maybe I'm just experiencing a mid-life crisis @ 40.

My brother is 39, and he just bought a Corvette.

...that's what I was hoping to hear!

Thanks a lot for your input.
I still have to figure how to position them in my living room 28'x24, but L shaped, it's not going to be fun.

 

[GranteedEV]

I think orions are as positioning friendly speakers as it gets as long as the backwave's got room to breathe / some slight delay.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think orions are as positioning friendly speakers as it gets as long as the backwave's got room to breathe / some slight delay.

For some strange reasons, great speakers tend to be like that.

They are very forgiving when it comes to room acoustics and placement.

They don't need room treatments, and they don't need 500WPC 8ohm $10K amps to sound good.

When I auditioned the KEF 201/2, they were powered with like 60 or 80WPC amp.

When I auditioned the Salon2, they were placed about 6" from the front wall and 12" from the side walls; the guy said his room looks better that way.

Yet, they sounded great.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...that's what I was hoping to hear!

Thanks a lot for your input.
I still have to figure how to position them in my living room 28'x24, but L shaped, it's not going to be fun.

I think bigger places are easier to work with than smaller ones.

 

[GranteedEV]

well, im sure a really bad sounding room needs some level of fixing. but most 'room' treatments just end up being stealth 'speaker treatments'.

 

[Maab]

I think orions are as positioning friendly speakers as it gets as long as the backwave's got room to breathe / some slight delay.

Hmm... Talking about backwave, there it is my other concern.
The tweeter would be about 4' from back wall (made of glass) and that's maybe fine. But the woofer part of the speaker will be positioned very close to some low-profile furniture which it will be functioning as a stand for a couple of plants. This is my major concern and believe it or not I cannot move them to other places.
I would think that a plant behind the speaker would help diffusing, but the 16" tall chest will be very close to the woofer. What do you think?
I also know that most speakers will suffer in my room but I would hate to overly limit the orions capabilities, it would be a waste.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You have to draw a picture for us.

 

[Maab]

You have to draw a picture for us.

Absolutely. Im on the road now. Will do when I get back. Thanks