How does the new ORION compare to the PHOENIX?
A35 – The ORION evolved from the PHOENIX out of a desire for a smaller size speaker, one that is acceptable in many domestic situations. The PHOENIX has peak output volume capability that is just not needed in many homes, especially in living rooms of less than 400 ft2. Also, I had been searching for drivers that might match or exceed the performance of those used in the PHOENIX in terms of linear and non-linear distortion. More recently I had convinced myself that a LR4 crossover in the 100 Hz region has inaudible group delay distortion, which allows me to use a single 8″ driver without sacrifice in output capability. Some ideas about softening the cabinet appearance worked out nicely acoustically. Combine all this and and more and you have the ORION. As it turned out, I believe that this speaker is the most sonically refined of all my designs. So much so that I do not need the physically much larger Beethoven-Elite for my personal listening enjoyment. Yet, I have not given up the sat
