RMAF Loudspeakers?

Were the Classic Audio speakers at the show the ones using the field coil driver technology?

That is something truly unique and different that I would love to hear.

10-06-09: Mapman
Were the Classic Audio speakers at the show the ones using the field coil driver technology?

Yes.

If I had a barn for a listening room, and $100k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd have purchased them on the spot. I don't think they are $100k, but close...

One of the reasons the GR speakers were amazing is that the room was treated to the hilt, like a recording studio. That showcased the speakers in a far different light than had they been dropped into an untreated room. The demo was as much a thumbs up for room treatment (albeit taken to the extreme, not very practical for a household) as it was for the speakers. They did sound very good. Not bad for being built the week prior to the show.

Anyone who downplays the importance of room tuning should have had their eyes opened by the GR room. :)

Tvad,

YEs, I think the field coil concept is one that truly can open up some new horizons in sound reproduction, if done right.

Maybe this technology will get a foothold again somehow and prices will drop. I would not think it necessarily such a complex or expensive technology to develop these days if given some benefits of economy of scale.

I have my own vision of the ultimate speaker being something along the lines of an OHM Walsh omni with field coil driver technology applied to the Walsh driver for greater efficiency, etc.

With an omni design, you might not need a barn to prevent damage to your hearing since less sound reaches your ears directly.

Maybe someday....

I'd love to hear some good "Porcupine Tree" in a big room on a pair of speaks like the Classic Audios with the field coil technology. That would truly be awesome.

A wide bandwidth mid-range horn, if properly designed, like Acoustic Horn or BD Design, will take you a long way toward what you heard from Classic Audio Reproductions. I use a compression driver with permanent magnet but a field coil could be substituted at very significant increase in money. Add a bass cabinet with active crossover and a tweeter with passive crossover, and you will be in the ball park for a fraction of what the real thing costs. I did it for under $10K including crossover, time delay, equalizer, real time analyzer, calibrated microphone and bass amplifier. The result can be visually pleasing and extremely versatile. My room is 22 x 15, hardly a barn, and it works very well. The only real issue is listening distance. 12 feet back works pretty well but 15 feet is better. If you have that much space and money this is a very realistic option. Let me know if you would like help in doing this. I don't have tools or talent and I made it work so I doubt if many of you would be unable to do so.