News
The new Omega 6" Alnico Hemp Driversare here!
November 14, 2008
Omega becomes first loudspeaker company to utilize 6-inch Alnico Hemp drivers in single-driver loudspeakers.
This highly-musical driver comes as standard equipment on Omega Super 6 Alnico Monitors & Super 6 Alnico XRS speakers.
Like all Omega drivers, 6-inch Alnicos are an Omega proprietary design. And one example of how Louis Chochos, Omega's Founder, fulfills his goal to design and build the best constructed, best sounding and best-value speakers possible.
New Super 6 Alnico speakers feature attractive pricing, making Alnico driver’s unsurpassed sonic performance attainable for more music lovers
November 14, 2008
Available now at $1,450 a pair, the new Super 6 Alnico Monitor replaces ferrite-driver SuperHemps as Omega’s preferred mid-price, single-driver loudspeaker.
The Super 6 Alnico XRS (eXtended Room Speaker) is also availableat $2,350 a pair.
Earlier this year, when Omega began offering Alnico drivers as optional equipment for SuperHemps & MaxHemps, Louis Chochos, Omega’s founder, knew he had created something very special. Unfortunately, Alnico drivers can be costly to produce compared to their conventional ferrite counterparts, pushing price points for 8-inch Alnicos beyond the reach of many potential customers.
Introduction of the 6-inch Alnico driver opens new doors for Omega: “Historically I’ve relied on 8-inch ferrite SuperHemps as Omega’s lead product in their price range,” says Louis. Now, Super 6 Alnico Monitors can readily be substituted for 8-inch ferrite SuperHemps. Arguably delivering improved sonic performance, coupled with a 25% cost savings.*
When Louis talks about early-release customers using Super 6 Alnico speakers, he can’t help but be excited... “Customers call me saying: ‘You didn’t charge me enough.’ And ‘This speaker far exceeds my expectations!’ ”
Louis adds, “...these are the best sounding speakers per dollar I’ve ever built!”
* Note: Among other benefits, Alnico drivers produce enhanced bass output compared to their ferrite-magnet counterparts, so even the low-end response outperforms what you’d expect from a driver this size.
The best just got better: Super 8 Alnico XRS replaces MaxHemp as Omega ’s flagship single-driver loudspeaker
November 14, 2008
Available now priced at $3,500 a pair, Omega’s Super 8 Alnico XRS replace the MaxHemp as Omega’s flagship model.
The Super 8 XRS is a completely new speaker for Omega.
Like all Omega XRS-style speakers, the Super 8 Alnico XRS interacts with the room to extend the bass output. Built-in brass cones tilt the front of the speaker slightly for optimal soundstaging. And like other XRS models, this speaker is ‘room friendly,’ working well in a variety of room placements –– even close to corners and back walls.
This model shares design characteristics found in Omega’s smaller XRS speakers, including:
- Extended bass response
- Short cabinet heights, which virtually eliminates cabinet flex and resonance problems, translating into pure, uncluttered mids and highs
- Wide front baffles & built-in tilt, openingand broadening the soundstage
While commonalities exist, the Super 8 Alnico XRS excels compared to its smaller siblings in that it does everything they do, but better. Specifically, the Super 8 Alnico delivers:
- Greater dynamics (i.e. ‘whomp’ youcan feel in your gut!)
- Better defined and more open bass response
- Improved bass texture
- Higher power handling capacity
- Greater surface area on the drivers, allowing them to reproduce more complex musical passages, while maintaining clarity and focus
According to Louis Chochos, Omega’s Founder, “relative to comparably equipped MaxHemps, the Super 8 Alnico XRS delivers improved sound quality for slightly less money.”
Louis goes on to say, “…Omega’s ultimate, no-compromise system is a pair of Super 8 Alnico XRSs matched with two DeepHemps… simply breathtaking!”
For someone who wants and can afford the best Omega has to offer, this is the speaker to get.
SuperHemp gets a new name -- Recognizing Alnico’s unsurpassed ability to reproduce lifelike sound, Alnico drivers now included as standard equipment
November 14, 2008
Available now priced at $2,500 a pair, Omega’s SuperHemp has been renamed the
‘Super 8 Alnico Monitor’.
Before today’s announcement, Alnico drivers were a chargeable upgrade for SuperHemps. Now all Series 8 speakers include 8-inch Alnico drivers as standard equipment.
Pricing is reduced too: Super 8 Alnico Monitors price out $250 per pair LESS than comparably equipped SuperHemps.
Same speaker. New name. Lower price.
“Alnico drivers produce a tone, subtle musical textures and enhanced bass response conventional ferrite drivers just can’t match,” says Louis Chochos, Omega Founder. “They sound too good to not make them the standard for all Omega upper-end products,” adds Louis.
With recent product introductions, Omega now offers four different Alnico-based models to choose from. So customers are the ultimate winners.
Compact Hemps and 5” Bipoles still play important roles in Omega’s revamped product lineup
November 14, 2008
With all the recent changes, Omega announces two traditional speakers –– ideal for special applications –– remain in lineup:
Compact Hemp: Great macro & micro-dynamics, coupled with high (96db) sensitivity, make this speaker idea for low-powered amps.
“Compact Hemps, using Omega’s latest 8-inch Hemp ferrite driver, are an ideal match for flea amps, low-watt SET amps, and other low-powered amps,” says Louis Chochos, Omega Founder.
Standalone or coupled with a fast sub, like one of Omega’s DeepHemps, Compact Hemps deliver an intimate and seductive listening experience.
Bipoles: Breathtaking imaging in the proper listening environment.
According to Louis, “while the speaker remains unchanged (formerly called Super 3 Bipole), it is now named the Super 5 Bipole, reflecting its use of Omega’s most recent 5-inch HempCone driver.”
“If your listening room can support ample space behind the speakers, give me a call and I’ll help you determine if Super 5 Bipoles might be you’re best fit,” adds Louis.
Compact Hemp and Super 5 Bipole pricing remains unchanged between now and December 31, 2008. After that, Omega plans to raise pricing for both models to reflect current production costs.
Omega standardizes on brass screws: At this level of performance, even small tweaks can make an audible difference
November 14, 2008
Today, Omega announces going forward all speaker drivers to be secured by brass screws.
99+% of speaker manufactures use steel screws to secure their drivers. Compared to brass, steel screws are less expensive to procure and require considerably less time to install.
“Resolution on Omega’s single-driver speakers is among the best available. At this level of performance, even little tweaks can make a difference,” says Louis Chochos, Omega Founder.
Brass screws are a pain for manufactures, because they double the labor required to install compared to steel screws...
“Brass screws cost slightly more than steel, but the real cost is labor: Prior to installing a brass screw I ‘pre-drill’ every hole with a steel screw, then follow-up with the brass screw as a second step. Obviously I wouldn’t go through this effort if it didn’t make a difference in sonic performance, but it does,” adds Louis.
Steel screws ring, negatively impacting sound quality. Brass on the other hand is a soft metal and less prone to ringing...
Louis adds, “This tweak came to my attention from a customer... With single-drivers that have nothing in the signal path between your amp and the driver, you can really hear subtle differences. The use of brass improves overtones. And the shading of the sound makes for more graceful transitions and better balance. It's subtle, but definitely there.”
As a long-time believer in minimalist audio, taking the extra step to use brass screws is a small example of Omega’s commitment to design and build the best constructed, best sounding and best-value speakers possible.
Introducing the new Omega Super 5 Monitor!
Introducing the new DeepHemp Cube!
We've added pages with information about our Cabinets & Drivers and updated our Available Finishes.
The new Omega 8" Alnico Hemp Drivers are here!
Get Deep!
The DeepHemp Omega subwoofer is here.
Check out Stereophile coverage on Omega at the 2008 FSI Expo in Montreal!
Check out 6moons coverage of the Omega at the FSI Expo in Montreal!
Check out the Stereophile coverage of Omega at the 2007 FSI Expo in Montreal!
The Omega/Red Wine Audio room grabs a Maximum Mojo Award for "Best Small System" from StereoMojo at the FSI Expo in Montreal!
