Apogee Acoustics Synergy 1.5

[E-Stat]

But just like regular planars, they need huge surface area to make any bass and dynamic headroom. A E-Stat in the size of the Apogee Duetta, Scintilla or new Synergy wont have the resolution, bass and dynamics.

Output with a similarly smaller array, no. Resolution yes. There is a reason that ALL high end microphones are condenser (electrostatic).

Once you go higher, the gap closes.

Indeed. It's all about radiating area. The U-1s have significantly more than the Synergy, not to mention the Majestics which are simply huge.

rw

[Florian]

Output with a similarly smaller array, no. Resolution yes. There is a reason that ALL high end microphones are condenser (electrostatic).

Not to mention the RoyaLabs Ribbon microphones ;-) Either way, i have yet to hear a E-Stat take on a Apogee ribbon in inner resolution I love E-Stats too, but i woudnt dare put one above the other.

Indeed. It's all about radiating area. The U-1s have significantly more than the Synergy, not to mention the Majestics which are simply huge.

rw

Yes, but you should compare the U1 to the Definitive or Fullrange.

[E-Stat]

Not to mention the RoyaLabs Ribbon microphones ;-)

Never heard of them. A google search finds nothing. The ones I see most often used, Neumann and Shoeps, are exclusively condenser.

Either way, i have yet to hear a E-Stat take on a Apogee ribbon in inner resolution

Well, the obvious question is have you heard one of the big Sound Labs?

Their other virtue is full range operation. JoeE and I have been spoiled by decades of absolute coherency. A piano is reproduced by a single driver, not two or three different ones.

rw

[Florian]

I considered Soundlabs, Dali, Acoustats and of course the Apogee Fullrange. The coherency problem you speak off does not exist with Apogees. Your Soundlab is not one single panel either, but its many combined with a none-curved panel. The coherency comes from the same drivers. Apogee drivers are all the same material, same weight, same magnetic field. The problem that Magnepans have with integration are none-existant with Apogees.

I decided against fullrange E-Stats because for one i am a Apogee freak. They dont have the acoustical power of an Apogee and have less innner resolution. The bending front and bundled reflection is troublesome and not to my liking if i have the choice. Price wise this was not a problem since the U1's are in the range of possibility.

Joe knows of Soundlab also, and there is a reason why he moves this way :-)

[E-Stat]

The coherency problem you speak off does not exist with Apogees.

In relative terms, sure it does. There are dissimilar panels using dissimilar raditating patterns each reproducing but a part of the frequency range. You cannot get around that with any multi-way speaker.

Your Soundlab is not one single panel either, but its many combined with a none-curved panel.

Evidently, you are not aware of the Sound Lab design. While Acoustats, Janszens, and other electrostats use multiple panels, the SL design is a single large diaphragm. There is a multi-faceted framework that divides the single diaphragm into multiple flat surfaces arrayed in an arc with different sized openings. It remains, however, a single driver.

Joe knows of Soundlab also, and there is a reason why he moves this way :-)

If memory serves, he like you has never heard one though.

rw

[Florian]

The Apogee design is a multiway, true and not one driver. But you want hear the different panels, its not possible in a normal listening enviroment that does the speaker justice. I heard the Soundlab M1 and A1 but not the U1. The problem is for me in the dynamic power and bass responce as well as the resolution. It simply did not beat the Apogee. Then again, my current system is more then a reference. If i had to decide between Diva, Fullrange and U1 it would be a tougher choice.

However, let Joe decide what he wants and can buy. He loves Apogees and Acoustats but the smaller E-Stats dont have the bass and the big ones wont touch the bass region of the Synergy or the big ones and a dynamic subbass system is very difficutlt to integrate unless you go to length like some do.

--Flo

[E-Stat]

However, let Joe decide what he wants and can buy. He loves Apogees and Acoustats but the smaller E-Stats dont have the bass and the big ones wont touch the bass region of the Synergy or the big ones and a dynamic subbass system is very difficutlt to integrate unless you go to length like some do.

Now we agree. As for me, I find response down to 24 hz in the U-1s to be sufficient. Coupling direct radiator dynamic subs with bipolar planars makes the coherency issue even more problematic.

SL's answer for bass freaks is adding a pair of UB-1s. They are electrostatic subs using the same steel frame, but with thicker diaphragms and greater stator spacing for more excursion. They have the same 82" height, but are a touch wider. They are the units in the center of the pic.

rw