OGY SOUND

Prototype 00 — where it started
Before finishes, before versions, before reviews —
there was this.

Prototype No. 00. Raw plywood. No veneer. No oil.
Just an idea.

Andy Sheppard visited us while touring in Poland.
He listened.
He smiled.
And he wrote a few words on the cabinet.

We never finished this pair.

They stayed exactly as they were that day.

This is one of my everyday listening spaces.
Not “audiophile grade”. Just life.

If you feel like it — show us yours.

All the best
Jacek

Over the last 35+ years of my audiophile life I have used several loudspeakers, of different brands and types - from dynamic (closed of bass reflex enclosure) to planar and omnidirectional - but never something as innovative as the Full OGYs: single full range driver, transmission line, open baffle and crossover-less… all in one single loudspeaker design!

The crossover-less and high sensitivity aspects of the design were the main aspects that caught my attention, especially because I was looking for some loudspeakers that could that advantage of low powered tube amplifiers, based on the EL84 tube.

When I had the chance of doing a demo of the Full OGYs I was using a pair of Magnepan LRS+ with a Copland CSA70 and that was a very satisfying system with an almost full range response in my 17m2 dedicated listening room. I got the best balance in a quasi-near listening position where the speakers totally vanished and the sense of soundstage and depth was very engaging. A great Hi-fi system indeed!
I also have other speakers in my collection, like the Totem Model 1, Duevel Planets, Quad Revela 1 and Roksan Darius Mk4, all very different and capable, but they share a common detail: with the exception of the Duevels, they all like current and powerful amplifiers.
For that task I have several ancillaries, the mentioned Copland, other from Naim, Nad, Kinki Studio, plus a Electrocompaniet AW-100DMB power amplifier with a Placette Audio RVC passive preamplifier.
In the beginning of my search for a tube based amplifier, I have tried some from Cayin and Synthesis, but ended up with a Line Magnetic LM-211ia - a EL34 tube integrated amplifier, that surprisingly work very well with some of my other demanding speakers!

After the audition at the dealer, 6 months ago, I bought the OGYs and set them on top of a pair of Target R4 stands (60cm high):

For a few weeks have struggled a bit with the OGYs, and I couldn’t not get a convincing placement in my room.
Despite trying several positions (speakers and chair) and using several amplifiers, I couldn’t make the speakers to energize the room in a consistent way.
Jacek help me with some tips and send me his great article on room positioning, and I tried even the most orthodox positions, but sound was too detached and tilted in the high frequencies. There was a lack of body and scale… at that point my conclusions pointed to the stands (not high enough) and the room treatment.
But I had two more things into consideration: the needed burn-in time and because they are so “different” in design I had to reassess all my methodology when it comes to speaker placement.

Not letting them go without a fight, last week I have grabbed the chance to try the Bass Units at home, hoping that a full range speaker could help to understand what was missing.
The Line Magnetic LM-211ia was the chosen amp to do all the tests (working in triode mode) and the speaker cable is the same Klotz that Closer Acoustics uses.

From the first moment - setting them in the same place of the Totem Model 1 and without any toe-in - I felt a clear change in the sound:
the upper registers where not dominant and there was a foundation, a real bass impact! Wow! The big smile in my face was the evidence that something was happening.
What happened before? Was it the lower stands? My inability to understand the sound signature of the OGY?… I don’t but I am happy that I have stick with them and also very fortunate for Jacek’s valuable help.

Currently I am still exploring positions in the room and toe-in, but I feel completely amazed by the Full OGYs and that I am tuning the final 10% of the system. It is funny to see that the place that they work best are very different from where my other speakers work!
The natural tone, bass response, detailed in the high frequencies, soundstage, depth, scale, timbre and decay are the best that I ever experienced in my system, so effortless and (again) natural…
In conclusion, this sounds like music and less Hi-Fi. Feels end-game to me