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audiokid 21 February 2013

I just received a pair of Event Opal and yippy yahoo is all I have to say. I've had my eyes on these for over a year and they arrived today. I'm obviously on the sonic honeymoon so I'm not going to be able to give a solid review on them for a while but my first impression is... NICE

They look beautiful and sound very well matched for my CM (18 x 24). The sound is what I hoped for, a clearer upper mid which will complement my other pairs. I have a good mix of monitors now. I feel I've been mixing too bright before, now lets hope I can achieve better mixes.
I've read comments like they are weak in the mids but I have to say that the mids are are nothing short of the complete opposite. These sound really smooth and clear.

There is an array of adjustments and http://www.eventele… measurement software that comes along with these to tune the bass in more precisely so that's the next thing on my list to do. They look great and the build on them is just excellent.

First impression, I'm blessed. I'll be back here in a month with a more accurate opinion.

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Comments

kmetal Mon, 08/03/2015 - 00:22

Thought this was a nice clean roundup of potentials to look into. At least it's nice to compare and contrast the features. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul13/articles/spotlight-0713.htm although, I'm curious what lies just beyond with brand new designs. With Samlitube supporting 384k bill ya hertz, lol, it's only a matter of time. Longevity is key I think, and a super nice analog signal path that doesn't require a computer to run seems to be necessary part of longevity.

I still don't know why the arnt putting the converters right in the amps and mics and speakers yet (or at least more often). Maybe to sell more external components.? Maybe there's other reasons I'm missing.

ChrisH Sun, 09/06/2015 - 14:35

audiokid, post: 431324, member: 1 wrote: I sold mine for that and I've seen a few on GS Classifieds for that.

Keep looking. Or, post on GS that you WTB one. You'll get a bite!

You can buy ST for $1400.00
The last crop of controllers are going to drop in price So it may be a good time to find used.

I'm having a hell of a time finding a used SPL 2381.. :(
My current monitor switcher involves literally switching speaker cables back and forth.. haha
I posted a WTB for it on GS about a month ago, no hits.
Also I check GS, Ebay, and Reverb, every other day.

Just here to whine and complain, haha

audiokid Sun, 10/04/2015 - 12:58

ChrisH, post: 432730, member: 43833 wrote: & THEN....... Apogee Releases Symphony System Firmware update that finally allows you to switch between 3 different monitor outputs.
hahaha, is all I can do is laugh, just my luck.

Food for thought;
IMHO, when you start using more than one choice of speaker (sooner or later) you develop a particular way to monitor (polish sound) and tool set. At that point this could also lead you into a more advanced/ detailed way to mix and sum. Thus, discovering the obvious better choice of monitor control would or could include speaker A/B/C and sub through an independent controller from all your conversion.

My opinion is also subjective and partial to a 3 speaker + sub / hybrid system that requires the monitoring be more modular.
Assuming this, we may also choose to mix, sum and capture audio that allows more options that utilize multiple speakers then, I prefer two uncoupled DAW's @ two different SR.

This is definitely headed in the right direction though, but a teaser if you are inclined to be the personality always looking to improve your sound at the commercial level.
If so, the "all in one Conversion (A/B/C speaker outs)" could then be a waste of money because it closes you into a (due to support of purchase as well) one way system that can stop you from looking deeper into the monitoring system I choose to trust more.

My guess there is going to be a whole new crop of converters implementing 3 speakers outs plus a few more bells and whistles this decade (converters that do more than just convert).

Opals are on my C out of my system. I love them as a more refined all day mixing monitor. My ears never tire with them.

Rennie Sun, 12/04/2016 - 18:36

I've been looking around the internet, and these Opals seem like a pretty good speaker. I do like the technology that has gone into them, especially after hanging around hi-fi forums and reading about these neo magnet arrays, XBL motor system etc. The static voice coil is something new, I always wondered if you could make a speaker like that! Do you find any shortcomings with them? There seems to be no dealers on my little island, and even the "authourised" dealers in Aus don't seem to carry the Opals. Seems like I'll have to order from Event site itself, but I can't audition them, so I have to trust the internet people ":) So far no one seems to dislike them, but that's probably common when the things cost $3k a pair.

Currently using KRK Rokit 6.2 I got second hand and a multitude of hi fi speakers (since I also listen to and watch movies etc). The KRK really do have bass overhang and are a little "tubby", but aren't bad for the price I paid.

Rennie Mon, 12/05/2016 - 03:37

I just read up a little on some Amphion one 15/18, a lot of people also reckon these are great. One youtuber likes them better for mixing, but still has the Opals since they are also good. It's hard to judge sound character in that video however.

I'm still attracted to the Opal woofer, probably because there is more info about it and seems unique. If the distortion really is low as claimed, I may even be able to do without the car subs in large boxes, and save for something like a rhythmic or other sub that can match the transient and low distortion for

audiokid Mon, 12/05/2016 - 12:37

Rennie, post: 445496, member: 50188 wrote: I would have thought there be more availability considering Opals:) are in an Australian company....

I was speaking to RODE in Oz a few weeks ago and specifically discussed getting another set of Opals for the studio. They didn't say why but told me they aren't available right now. I will follow up on this and post my findings.

Rennie Mon, 12/05/2016 - 22:17

Yeah I've been reading a bit more and saw someone else saying they had discontinued for now, maybe re-launching with the Opals as a sole product. They might have been having production issues.

Either way it's a pity as there probably aren't any for sale used that I can find. There's one shop that supposedly has them since they are not "unavailable" on their site. But that will be ~$3500 and probably before shipping...

ChrisH Mon, 01/02/2017 - 14:26

Rennie, post: 445493, member: 50188 wrote: Do you find any shortcomings with them?

I personally found them too forgiving with frequency buildup but that's not a shortcoming with the speakers, it's a shortcoming with the match-up between my ears and the speakers.

In the past I have purchased speakers solely off of reviews, specs, word of mouth, forum rep, ect..
What I learned from doing that is you're probably more likely to get a good haircut from someone who is blindfolded than you are going to get a good match/fit speakers for you by going off of anything but how they sound/work for you in person.
Not that you couldn't possibly end up with a pair of monitors that are a good match-up for you but you could also play the "buy, try, sell" game for years, like I did.
Personally I think the better route is to go to somewhere like Vintage King, book a demo appointment, demo all the monitors in your price point for a couple days and be done.
This will save you a lot of headache, time, money, and may end up landing you on a pair of monitors that "jimbo88" on forums never even mentioned.

Brother Junk Tue, 01/03/2017 - 05:47

ChrisH, post: 446214, member: 43833 wrote: I personally found them too forgiving with frequency buildup

What do you mean by that....they had trouble with a lot of/fast transients?

ChrisH, post: 446214, member: 43833 wrote: What I learned from doing that is you're probably more likely to get a good haircut from someone who is blindfolded than you are going to get a good match/fit speakers for you by going off of anything but how they sound/work for you in person.

Yeah...unfortunately, a lot of people think they have good ears. I mentioned it in more depth in another thread but, very few people actually have really good ears. And much fewer have the listening experience to accurately tell you which thing sounds right. When you put those people in masses, due to the unspoken pressure to conform, as well as their own faults, you get reviews that apply, only to people with the same caliber of hearing, and the same "judgement" of sound...which is by "law", just average.

I'd like to make a distinction. There are people who could listen to a bunch of things, and tell you, very accurately, which one is the best. The problem is, to arrive at that point, they have spent decades buying drivers, making designs, building enclosures, tuning, critical listening. I know many people who I could call (if they had heard the monitors in my price point) and they could tell me which is best, and I would buy it, and they would be. But I've listened to those guys designs for many, many, years. I respect their ears. But those people are few and far between. Like I said, the opinion of the masses, is pretty meaningless.

ChrisH, post: 446214, member: 43833 wrote: Personally I think the better route is to go to somewhere like Vintage King, book a demo appointment, demo all the monitors in your price point for a couple days and be done.
This will save you a lot of headache, time, money, and may end up landing you on a pair of monitors that "jimbo88" on forums never even mentioned.

I agree. That's the best way to audition your monitors.

ChrisH Wed, 01/04/2017 - 07:59

Brother Junk, post: 446231, member: 49944 wrote: What do you mean by that....they had trouble with a lot of/fast transients?

For me they weren't showing where the mud in the mix was, basically too "forgiving".
I like monitors that are very very unforgiving (ns10's got me on that road) but that again is a personal preference as all engineers want a speaker that is going to show you the weakness' of a mix.
I believe the problem is we all hear significantly different, so things like how a speaker "shows" you low mid's is going to be preference.
I prefer a speaker that has punchy low mids on a kick (Like a good car stereo) when the low mids are actually right. Also a speaker that makes you work a little harder where a mix isn't going to sound clear and punchy (given that's what you're going for) unless it is really clear and punchy. What I mean by that the new age monitors after about $1500.00 per speaker price point are all amazingly engineered but some sound so damn clear and crisp that they're almost too good for general mixing but could be great for detail work.

Brother Junk Wed, 01/04/2017 - 09:16

ChrisH, post: 446285, member: 43833 wrote: For me they weren't showing where the mud in the mix was, basically too "forgiving".

Yeah, if that was your experience, that's a no-go.

ChrisH, post: 446285, member: 43833 wrote: I like monitors that are very very unforgiving (ns10's got me on that road) but that again is a personal preference as all engineers want a speaker that is going to show you the weakness' of a mix.

I like everything I listen to to be unforgiving lol. It's an expensive "preference."

ChrisH, post: 446285, member: 43833 wrote: I believe the problem is we all hear significantly different, so things like how a speaker "shows" you low mid's is going to be preference.

I think the amount of ear training we have plays a major role as well. If you look at hearing loss, as you get older for instance, from 20-20k, the ends just tend to drop off. People start to hear at 30hz, and lose it at 19khz (for instance). So even as they get older, they still get most of the spectrum. But most people's hearing isn't giving them a 6db dip centered on ....630hz, or something drastic. Do you know what I mean? Our hearing is different, but if the person has healthy hearing, mine and yours will differ. But it shouldn't be so drastic that people claim Rokits are unbiased. I think that stuff, just stems from lack of ear training. Imo, they aren't listening to the Rokits, and hearing the NS10's. They just don't have enough experience to know that the Rokits are not what people would call "flat." Perhaps it suits their mixing style, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about people who hear the Rokits and say, "that's unbiased and honest." I don't think that's their hearing, I think it's lack of experience. And I don't mean that as a judgement...getting all that listening time with a ton of drivers, in really good environments is extremely time consuming, expensive, and totally unecessary for most people. Most of us, either have to do it for our job, or we are just obsessed. I'm the latter lol.

ChrisH, post: 446285, member: 43833 wrote: What I mean by that the new age monitors after about $1500.00 per speaker price point are all amazingly engineered but some sound so damn clear and crisp that they're almost too good for general mixing but could be great for detail work.

I've not heard any in that price range, but I know what you mean. I've not heard the NS10's, but most people say they are similar to the HS8's in character. Imo, in their price range, those sound the most "even" to me. Anything with more midrange or treble, to my ears, is not right.

ChrisH Wed, 01/04/2017 - 12:18

Brother Junk, post: 446290, member: 49944 wrote: Our hearing is different, but if the person has healthy hearing, mine and yours will differ. But it shouldn't be so drastic that people claim Rokits are unbiased.

Yes, I agree.
That's probably more of how "matured" your hearing is, rather than how well your ears are working, right?
I think if you protect your hearing, keep a frequent consistency with mixing/and or mastering, working on getting better, ect...
After years of doing that, your tastes in hearing gets "matured" or "classier", at least it seems that way.

Totally anecdotal evidence, however a drastic example would be me in high school vs me now..
High School: I wanted bass bass bass, volume volume volume from playback systems.
Current: Not really into volume, wear earplugs at most concerts if needed (always bring em). Want a smooth top end, pronounced low mids, accurate sub representation, wide stereo field.

I think that you're most likely not going to be able to know what speaker is going to work best for you until years of mixing, until then its probably best to just stick with something decent.

Brother Junk, post: 446290, member: 49944 wrote: Imo, they aren't listening to the Rokits, and hearing the NS10's. They just don't have enough experience to know that the Rokits are not what people would call "flat." Perhaps it suits their mixing style, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about people who hear the Rokits and say, "that's unbiased and honest."

Rokits and NS10's are of course nothing alike besides they are both two-way speakers and are smaller than a refrigerator.
NS10's are not a flat speaker but they still translate well, even in 2017.
There's definitely more colored speakers than Rokits, I started out when I was 14 with M-Audio BM5'as and the tweeters on those are more colored than most hifi playback systems tweeters.

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