Experience with the Jordan Eikona

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#21
In my opinion the top end of the Eikona is the biggest improvement and is a delight to listen to. The other advantage of this driver is that it uses the Jordan cone, which is very fast and robust.

In terms of the cut-out, Ted said it was to accommodate the larger surround and the shape is better suited to array configuration. Ajustments to the 92 cutout involve a larger whole and flange and filling in the areas of the flange that are not utilised from the 92. The latter is the largest issue I found.

Kevin
 
#24
An update for those waiting to hear more about the Eikona: I called Jordan this afternoon and they have been overloaded with the number of enquiries for the new driver. I think they're working their way through as quickly as they can. Meanwhile the production runs are still quite short so the units are being sold on a first come, first served basis.

Not a bad position to be in with a recession on but frustrating for those waiting for drive units.

There is some new info on the website, just to keep folk updated.
 
#26
I visited Ted at his home in Wales last weekend so was able to talk at length about the Eikona, demo my new design as well as hear his JX6 wall mounted arrays. To confirm - yes it has a thick layer of anodising both sides.

I have now done extensive listening tests compared to JX92s and can confirm:

1. There is not the problematic gentle rise from 1K upwards so giving a more balanced midrange
2. Much less sibilence in 8K region
3. Cleaner sounding overall
4. Louder and deeper bass capability and there seems to be lower bass/treble interference - just discernable with 92 with a very heavy bass line

Kevin
 
#30
kouiky said:
My one issue with the previous version was the top end breakup and metallic sound in that region.
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Of my two pairs, one was from a DIYA group buy and the other purchased earlier. Someone suggested the latter was Vifa production. It sounds much better up top. For reference my upstairs listeners sport 24" Apogee ribbons and, aimed properly to cross in front of the listener and ~20 degrees off-axis, I have no complaints about Jordan.
 
#33
Kevin Warne said:
I was very eager to work with this new driver and have been corresponding with Mr Jordan over some time during its development. Finally I have a working model to replace the VS.

The driver does address the obvious shortcomings of the old 92. The most noticeable difference is a complete lack of HF sibilance, noticeable as a slight brittleness/harshness to the quality of the 92 top end. The bass also plays louder without any distortion as you would expect from doubling the max excursion.

They allow a 7Hz additional bass extension although I have not had to retune the VS cabinet from 30 Hz. There is a slight drop in efficency but they suit my design as I use 2 in parallel. The top end seems to mate alot better with the additional tweeter I deployed and there has been no change in my design in this respect. With the VS I over-conpensated a bit on the baffle-step to try and counteract some of the upper mid brightness but now I don't need to do this. The sound is overall more balanced and refined, cleaner and just about electrostatic in quality. Imaging seems to have improved a bit more. There is still the off-axis limitation and the new driver does not try and compensate for this as did the 92, probably because many designs out there use additional HF support.

Conclusion: This driver is a definite improvement over the 92. Quite a bit more expensive but very probably class-leading. I am quite satisfied with it and I have managed to extract 25Hz to 37Khz from the pair! More than enough bass to satisfy the closet rocker in me!

Kevin
Acoustic Insight
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I have auditioned the new Focalstage Floorstander incorporating the Eikona drivers and find it to be excellent, this was against the earlier Aurousal VSx which I also find to excellent contrary to IMO inaccurate reviews in HFN & What Hi-Fi ?. However whilst the new speaker is better than the previous model I did not find a big enough difference to make an upgrade. I am very happy with the VSx voices especially are excellent better than many well known far more expensive speakers.
 
#34
RAndyB said:
The necessary chopping and drilling are now complete; the Eikonas are in the sealed boxes that once housed JX92s.

I can agree with Kevin's initial impression of a smoother top end. These will be much more relaxing when played loud. Massed violins are less screechy; the trebles of the Tallis Scholars have been subdued; and organs sound more full bodied.

I'm in a non-resonant phase at present, so the Eikonas are crossed over at 100Hz to a pair of Monacor SPH-275Cs in an H_Frame.

These drivers are a definite step forward, and still reasonably priced.

Andy
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I do not experience any screechyness withe Aurousal VSx perhaps you need a better amp.
 
#37
Do these units work in infinite baffle? If so what's the optimum volume?

I have 21 litre columns, which I've been using in infinite baffle with Alpair 10s. A bit light on bass but the rest is nice. I wouldn't mind building a bigger cabinet.

I much preferred the Alpair 10s to the JX92s I had previously. I really didn't like them much - the Alpairs were smoother and more musical and the difference wasn't subtle. So I'd be curious about these new units if they really are a step up from the older ones. And the extra bass would be useful.
 
#38
andyjevans said:
Do these units work in infinite baffle? If so what's the optimum volume?

So I'd be curious about these new units if they really are a step up from the older ones. And the extra bass would be useful.
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Andy,
Eikona is a step up from JX92 - much smoother. I have no experience of the Alpair 10, so can't help with a comparison

Mine are in infinite baffles of about 12 litres. The optimum is 6 or 7 litres.

I run a DSP to smooth out the excess mid-range. After trying all sorts to get bass out of the JX92s, I decided on infinite baffles plus 10inch drivers crossed over at 100Hz, in separate cabinets. Double bass, tuba, organ pedals are much more realistic.

Andy
 
#39
Terminolgy guys -- infinite baffle means a box so big that the volume is irrelevant. You guys are talking about sealed boxes/acoustic suspension. For Alpair 10.2 (or do you have the original A10, newer ones are much better) something like 10 litres gets you down to 70 Hz F3.

dave
 

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#40
Hi Dave

Yes, sealed box. I have the original Alpair 10s. Would I gain any bass with the newer ones? Looks like 21 litres isn't shabby from your frequency charts. A bit down at 40hz though.

Has anybody used a passive radiator with a unit like the A10? And if so what type?

Alternatively, what would the A10 be like in a transmission line?
 
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