Griffin "27" Omega 3 Loudspeakers - Opinions?

[izools]

Hi!

Yesterday I picked up some speakers:-

Griffin 27's AKA Omega 3.

They appear to be mid-1970's units, and sport the following features:

KEF B200 Bass Unit, 25Hz ~ 2.3KHz
KEF T52 Mid/trebble unit, 1.6KHz ~ 7KHz
Coles/S.T.C 4001K hand-picked super tweeters, 6.5KHz ~ 25KHz

The speakers are in MINT condition - as in they look never used, came fully boxed, with original datasheet.

The datasheet claims a frequency response of 30Hz ~ 25KHz within 2.5dB (WOW!?!?!)

They have an infinite baffle design, and Aperiodic crossover network (What is special about this?) and real wood construction.

I paid £100.

According to the datasheet the Aperiodic crossover network somehow damps potentional resonance at 75Hz and 2.5KHz.

Looking at the datasheet, construction, condition, and the highly acclaimed nature of the drivers in use in these speakers, I would have expected mind-blowing results.

I do feel dissapointed. They come accross as phenominal in the high-end and mid range but bass seems to not exist atall. I think this may have something to do with my amp?

I am using a Mk I Rotel RA-931

Source components include a Rotel RP-830 Turntable with Ortofon OM10 cartridge, a NAD 5425 CD Player, and a NAD 4225 tuner.

Interconnects are the usual high quality fare with nice audio cables terminated at each end with 24K Gold banana plugs.

Atacama stands from the same period as the speakers.

Opinions on this setup? Should it be good?

I am especially interested in opinions on the speakers, as they are unmentioned on the interweb!

[Moondog55]

Cabinet looks to be the same size as the IMF "Compact"

I had a pair of those and while the mid-range was very good I was always disappointed in the bass.

Price is right, the drivers would cost what you paid, what in particular don't you like with these??

Regards
Ted

[izools]

Thanks for the reply.

Well to be honest I was initially dissapointed by the lack of extended bass, and expected more presence, but having sat down to Pat Metheny's "Watercolours" album I can see what these speakers are all about.

They do reproduce my source material rather faithfully and portray the bass in an astonishingly clear manner, I think possibly because I am used to "in your face" bass AKA Mission I need to sit down and listen to some music for a while to fully appreciate where these speakers are coming from.

Their agility and accuracy with Jazz, Classical, and Vocal music is astonishing, I might try some Enya in a bit, namely Boadacia, to see how they fare in the bass department now that the amp has warmed up a bit

Do you think the rest of my equiptment does them justice? I can't help thinking that the amp may be to blame for these speakers "Bright" colouration?

[Moondog55]

Your source equipment is probably much better than anything these speakers would have had been used with when new.

You may want to listen for a while and then think abut subs, these are not in your face with the bass, the B200 just doesn't have that last bottom octave, also power handling isn't great

[izools]

I just found how to explain the bass - after listening to a wide variety of music - the bass is clear and present, but where it should be - at the back of the room

I find these units so un-fatiguing I really don't miss the punchy undertones one bit

[infinia]

Originally posted by izools
Hi!

They have an infinite baffle design, and Aperiodic crossover network (What is special about this?) and real wood construction.


According to the datasheet the Aperiodic crossover network somehow damps potentional resonance at 75Hz and 2.5KHz.

Aperiodic vent possibly?

Marketing babble ...essentially a resistive air leak, or a stuffed oft tuned hole/vent.
Very useful when used with higher Q woofers with small magnets (weak motors).

[izools]

Ah I see it refers to the vent at the top-right (See the foam?) - it's a resistive port as you say

Thank you. I'm learning more every day

[infinia]

Hi,
Looks like a copy of the 60's American east coast sound. (ARs, ADS, boston Ac) I really like mid domes and big woofers with sealed infinite baffle bass.

[deaks50]

Hi
I was an apprentice at Griffin Electronics and most likely built your speakers in the mid 70`s.
Aperiodic refers to certain resonance frequencys of the driver being filtered out by the crossover.
(take a look inside - there very complex).
Paul Griffin was a genius - but was also an unstable man.

[planet10]

Is that a B200 SP1014?

And the question was raised, is that an aperiodic port next to the Coles?

And can you take a close up pic of the coles? What are the red bits?

dave

PS: i love the depth of this forum...thanx for dropping in the thread deaks.