Legacy Helix Reference Speakers

Thank you for your reply....(at least according to specs) the Helix is 16Hz-25Khz +/-2db while the Focus 20/20 is 16Hz-30Khz +/-2db. The Whispers are the ones (at least on paper) where the bass goes to 25Hz. In principal, this would seem to indicate that the bottom-end of the Helix and Focus 20/20 are close to if not identical being driven by the right amplication that is capable of pits-of-hell bass in the first place. There is however a discrepancy between the 16Hz bottom-spec on the website and the 22Hz number in the Helix manual PDF as posted on the website.

I was also taken aback by the apparent need for 6 channels of amplification however given the efficiency of the speakers and their optimal impedance of 4ohms, I found myself wondering if 4 high-quality amps (Edge NL 12.1
for example, does wonders for my Focus 20/20's) could be used with shotgun biwire of amps 1 and 2 for Treble and
Midrange and single conduit full-range use of amps 3 and 4 for Mid-bass...I will ask this of Legacy if they respond to my question as whether these speakers are still offered.

Thanks again for your comments!

I have heard the Helix, owned the Focus 20/20s and now own the Whispers. From my experience, the bottom end of the 20/20s is unchallenged by any speaker I have heard except for the Helix. For example, in my room the 20/20s began to roll off at around 16 Hz with no help from a sub [exactly as the spec indicates]. When I listened to the Helix, I remember on one demo track feeling my hair vibrate before I could hear anything…now that’s pressurizing the room! I have never experience that from any other home speaker.

I know what Chadnliz means about the Whispers though...I think he is referring mostly to the lack of deep bass. This is a bit odd when you consider it is up the model ladder from the 20/20s. Nevertheless, I like my Whispers more than my Focus 20/20s because of the improved imaging and sense of space. Things just got more real and believable with the Whispers. I have integrated some subs to get that bottom end back that I was used to with the 20/20s though. Doing it this way is much smoother and cleaner than turning up the Whisper Processor knob [IMO of course]. Now I have the 20/20s bottom end, and all the naturalness of the Whispers.

The Helix certainly seems more complicated and expensive to set up. I heard them in Macungie and they were fantastic...from my memory anyway. Besides the example above, I remember a huge, super wide soundstage that totally surrounded me [even behind me somehow]. Vocals just floated beautifully in the air. But this was in ’03. Not that anything has changed since then, but it is a long time ago to remember this sort of thing.

The Helix requires all the amps because it has an outboard crossover/processor. There are not the “standard” internal crossovers for the tweeters/mids/woofers found in traditional speakers. I believe they also use an aluminum sub driver [like from the LF Xtreme Subwoofer] that has its own internal amplifier. At least this is my understanding, I could be wrong.

So wich between the Whisper and Helix do you think is better suited to a room that is 13X28 Whisper or the Helix there would be extra cost being either amps or subs, but the Helix at its pretty high efficiency might suggest that moderate power amps of 100-200 might get good boogy going as the low end is internally powered by what I assume is a Plate amp. So you need 3 of your own 2 channel amps correct?

As I understand it yes, you need 3 two channel or six monos.

As far as room size, I have no idea. I don't know if they are better suited for large rooms, or if it doesn't matter. I only listened to them...I wasn't really shopping for them.

BTW, have you seen these things? They are physically HUGE! This would imply a larger room.

One last thing, efficiency doesn't tell the whole story. I think I mentioned this to you before, but I may be mistaken. The Focus 20/20s are efficient too, but if you give them a ton of current from a big amp, you'll certainly appreciate it. When I had my 20/20s I went from 1200 w/ch to a higher current 350 w/ch amp and the improvement was gigantic. OK, maybe it wasn't just because of the increased amperage...maybe it was simply a better amp. Still though...

Thank you both for your help and advice....Happy New Year!