Dipole, bipole and omnidirectional speakers

Most speakers radiate sound from the front. Apparently that seems to work the best. Or does it. Then why are there also speakers that radiate from the front and the back and even speakers that radiate in all directions equally?
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About Questions: • About questions

[@danlivni2097]

I found the best way to implement bipolar speakers. It was at the Stereophile show in 1996 in NYC in the HSU room. All of a sudden I hear these really airy sounding speakers with a great bass response. I look to see what speakers HSU was using. He was using these bookshelf speakers. He did something interesting, that I would have never thought of. He was using 4 bookshelf speakers. The 4 bookshelf speakers were basically back to back. 2 of them were facing the wall. The other 2 were facing forward. He was using a Yamaha 4 channel amp. He was using a HSU sub on the 4 bookshelf speakers. I think this is a genius idea. You had to hear the sound. It had that 360 degree sound with nice detail. The bass was really good. Now you cant do this with deep speakers. But with bookshelf speakers or tower speakers that are not to deep, you can do this.

[@dfalekulo9138]

Hmm bipolar are usually flat at the back. If you could get a similar tweeter and add it to the back wired parallel with the other tweeters, would this give a similar experience?

[@daviddrake6875]

@@dfalekulo9138Like the Von Schweikert speakers?

[@psycholocke4090]

thank you very much Hans for picking up my topic and giving so much information.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

My pleasure.

[@irsever]

Had a pair of Sonab's as a hand-me-down growing up. With the little casters and everything!

[@RWmHII]

Excellent essay. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

My pleasure

[@southernsoundpulse]

Brilliant Explanation, thanks

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You are welcome!

[@judebrown2672]

Fantastic review. Thanks.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@robertshockley755]

The full 901 system 35 years after connecting to many different sources in the barracks is still a personal favorite.

[@KickArs]

Awesome video.

[@Rendraco79]

Sir. you are inspirational. thank you!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏻

[@phongnguyen007]

Great video

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@nancy4don]

I can think of a couple of more examples of omnidirectional speakers. A company called Design Acoustics had the DA-12, a dodecahedral unit that used conventional drivers pointed in various directions. It was a mid-70s product here in the U.S. BIC had the SoundSpan lineup of horn-loaded upper drivers and an inverted woofer, also here in the U.S., called the Total Power Radiator - the models all began with TPR, and there was the 400, 600, and 800. Currently, Ohm makes the Walsh 2000 and 1000 speakers that are true omnidirectionals. I have heard the BIC and Ohm units; the BICs were really critical about placement, the Ohms less so.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing

[@Soundapple]

Very helpful and informative 👍

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad you liked it

[@3dScience8]

Great video.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@teiturardal85]

intresting video. I grew up on sonab oa5, they were the most popular speakers in sweden at the time (ive heard) this must have had an influence on audio preference in later generations who grew up on them.

[@victorsoldano7060]

Hi Hans, Thanks for you videos. I Just bought a pair of Mirage M3si. Any tip about toe in on dipolar speaker? Best regards!

[@Scottlp2]

Great speakers. Make sure you check out the driver insulation/foam..

[@priyangh]

Hi Hans, another great informative video. Thanks! Have you listen to KEF LS50 or the new LS50 wireless? Most people compare those with speakers that cost 10 times more. I’m interested to hear your opinion. Cheers Priyange

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

KEF doesn't seem to like reviewers they 'can't control'. I have been ignored by them since years now and get no response.

[@krisryback5792]

I just came across you channel. Very good clear explanation. What is your feeling of Linkwitz ? Seems he may have achieved live environment using active crossovers combined with dipole speakers.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I specialise in things digital and streaming. I have no experience with the Linkwitz products. Sorry.

[@turbobird2000]

Very nice & informative discussion, but you could include Ohm Acoustic in the line up.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have no hands on experience with Ohm speakers.

[@YankeeBobCat]

Especially the omni-directional Ohm-F from the 70's!! Incomplet5e without even a mention!@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel

[@YankeeBobCat]

Currently own Ohm Waslh 4XOs and a beautiful pair of Duevel Bella Luna Diamante@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel

[@jaymorin7131]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel How can you not know about Ohm Walsh speakers??

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I didn’t say I haven’t heard from them. I just don’t have hands on experience with them.

[@Giraffe1100uk]

Have you listened to open baffle speakers? Such as those designed by Siegfried Linkwitz.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have listened to open baffle speakers but not under my own conditions so I will refrain from commenting on them.

[@Nandao_Vs]

What I valuable information... Thank you sir! But I have a doubt. I looking for a surround speaker to my home theater... My idea isn't kow where the sound come from... What the better choice I could be? Monopole ou dipole?... Regards from 🇧🇷

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

That depends on who you ask (ie his acoustic situation). I use omnidirectional speakers.

[@dfalekulo9138]

Was thinking of the nanostat, what's been your experience having mirages as surrounds, am I missing out on much getting bipolar as I want integrate speakers with decor so I really don't want them localisable

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

They fit up the room nicely. Dirac makes them match to my stereo pair.

[@tomsarti8961]

Do you know of any other speaker brands,other than OCellia's,made in France,that have tuned enclosures,as opposed to having inert enclosures ?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Sorry, no.

[@tomb375]

I would love to hear some advice on Definitive Technologys BP-2000 Placement This speaker has a built in 15" sub in each speaker at 300 watts. They sound a little bright, sharp on highs. I have ordered Scanspeak soft dome tweeters 4 of them to replace the metal dome one's. They are powered by a Parasound Amplifier HCA-1500A. Your thoughts? Thank you for all your GREAT Video's.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Can’t help you, don’t know your speakers.

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Hi Hans, what is your opinion about hifi cables that cost 100s and 1000s of dollars?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It's the same difference as between a $10 Xmas tree and a $30 one.......

[@___Chris___]

How about DML speakers (=using exciters)? They inherently suffer from weak bass, therefore also implying that the mids and highs are too dominant, relatively speaking. As a consequence, I would assume that dampening the rear output (which is more effective for mids and highs) should improve the overall spectrum be removing early reflections of mids and highs from rear walls, whilst retaining rear output of most of the lower frequencies. I'm thinking of an enclosure with acoustic dampening foam panels. Any opinion on that?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have no hands on experience with these speakers so I can’t say

[@harrisedgar]

Fabulous...!!! Thank you Hans...!!!!

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Hi Hans, Thanks for the great video. Is there a good reliable book to learn more about physics related to audio reproduction and auditory system?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Yes: Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms (Audio Engineering Society Presents) by Floyd E. Toole

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Thank you.

[@backwoodsbillycreeks2174]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel psycho acoustics! New word! Cool.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

@@backwoodsbillycreeks2174 Actually it is an old word, it is even a science.

[@robertshockley755]

Perhaps after thinking about Hans's comments I realize that was with mainly hard rock and before I fully understood the use of a 10 band graphic EQ. Speaking of which as I am mostly old fashioned I have looked for a replacement and failed. Is there a parts souce ADC Sound Shaper II pots?

[@JaimeGallegos-dk1mh]

Gracias por sus comentarios muy interesantes, reciba un cordial saludo desde México, estoy por adquirir un set de bipolares definitive technology bp 30

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@andru2625]

When I read omnidirectional, I instantly thought of MBL. Hans, have you had any experience with this brand?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I only want to comment on products I have reviewed. MBL products are not amongst them. Currently I focus on products at a lower price. That is the only reason I have not reviewed them.

[@oleplanthafer7034]

My experience: Omnidirectional speakers wired for mono (!) can't be beat for certain programs, i.e. Albums made for home-listenin rather than to advertise the next live-tour. Beginning with Revolver & Pet Sounds, through Pink Floyd, J.M. Jarre, Alan Parsons, etc. through to todays Electronica et. al. Point being: It wipes out much of the production and gets you right in touch with the music and the arrangement itself. A point generally lost on audiophiles, who almost solely focus on production in order to determine quality. Shame. Take the "Pepperland Suite", produced and arranged by George Martin. Take directional speakers and enjoy the production. Takeomnidirectional speakers and enjoy the arrangement. And then do appreciate why he himself was most proud of the latter... ;-)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It's great you enjoy it so much but it's not my cup of tea a'm afraid.