OMA on the Imperia loudspeaker

In the OMA showroom in Dumbo Brooklyn, Jonathan explains what was behind the design of the company's flagship loudspeaker.

[@dconsmack]

If I had the cash for something in this price range, I would absolutely audition these. I want to believe they sound as good as they look. Incredible.

[@cdimi13]

Ballpark price?

[@orronoco524]

The speakers are amazing. The room treatement is extraordinary, I can feel the dark background even with my phone.

[@paulpavlou9294]

Happy New Year from Sydney Australia. I’ll be putting in my lotto entry tomorrow and hopefully an order the following week. Don’t tell my wife. Just amazingly beautiful to my aesthetic and if they disappear as you say they do, then they sound as good as they look. Love your work as always Paul.

[@tdinut]

OMG, I’d love to hear these. Loving my Fleetwood Deville.

[@deepintheslums]

2 months later and you'd still recommend them?

[@tdinut]

@@deepintheslums My Fleetwood Deville? Absolutely 100%

[@silbatonegip833]

Thanks for the great show, Jonathan. Not only your show here but also your show are awesome and amazing! OMA (= Oh My Amazing Awesome Audio).

[@dmfdarkness]

There are more than a few field coil drivers in high end audio. Not sure why he would say there isn't.

[@JerseyPB]

Next time I’m in the area I would love to call by the showroom. Thanks for sharing another great video. Happy new year!

[@dynaudiofocus]

Absolutely loving all your uploads, I'm facinated with horns

[@sloboat55]

Excellent. Can't imagine the sound they make.

[@RAREFORMDESIGNS]

Well you'll have to.

[@vacuumtube1954]

Good morning and Happy New Year Jonathan ! This is my dream system my friend. If my "boat comes in" this is what I will own. A masterpiece ! Period ! I so enjoy watching these videos and thank you for being there for us all. Please keep them coming and best to you.

[@inherent777]

Maaaan, Thx for playing the Imperia. Nice presentation! Someday I'll definitely knock on your door! 🥂 🎉🍾 Happy new year

[@caseykittel]

13:05 the no distortion thing is as he describes it is so great to experience. Although my first experience was different. I went to say something to the guy next to me and I was totally not speaking loud enough. The sound was so clear, with zero harshness to indicate to my brain that it was “loud” that I was just fooled into thinking I could talk over it.

[@s.t.e.r.e.o.]

Very nice and intriguing video. Merry New Year.

[@velchuck]

Absolutely amazing, and very beautiful!

[@joshuafalken3312]

Maxonic from Japan makes field compression drivers and speakers since the 70's with a break in the 90's and early 2000's I believe.

[@ianmedium]

Wonderful Jonathan, happy new year to you by the way. I would love if you could do a long length in-depth video on that incredible looking new turntable you have made and also, can you tell us what digital front end you use and do you also use high resolution audio downloads? I am partial to HDTT archival recordings transferred from tape or record, love the sound of those. All the best from Austria and thank you for these wonderful videos, I learn so much from them!

[@freeradical431]

Love your work, stunning!

[@ThomasOwl]

♥️That dessert at the end though...

[@inherent777]

Happy new year, Johnathan! 🥂 😘

[@Taborq]

worse replaces better, maybe it's a simplification but you can see a return to the roots, a good speaker is a heavy speaker. Nice shirt

[@boseandfriends9284]

Beautiful

[@samuelsalins8309]

This is amazing 🎵

[@FOH3663]

They're quite the statement piece, I dig it. You're right, good example, a track like Billie Jean begs for higher and higher playback levels... as long as room decay is in check and the rig isn't compressing/distorting. edit; aren't there are other mfrs utilizing field coil CDs, ie., Classic Audio's Truextent Be diaphram, etc.? Perhaps they're no longer up and running.

[@mikeknowles5848]

Voxativ also make field coil transducers.

[@leifhansen4510]

There are more;-)

[@AdamsOlympia]

Is that a low excursion woofer like the $4,000 Fostex FW800HS 31.5 inch driver? I've heard the detail out that is quite breathtaking.

[@joe6096]

I've made my decision already - when I hit the lottery THIS^ system will be MINE!! I will have a large listening room just for this system and I can close off the world and get lost in this. At minimum I need to make a trip to his showroom and listen to Dark Side of the Moon and Led Zeppelin 1 on this.

[@ThatGuy-he8yx]

This is a work of art and I would love to get super stoned and sit in a recliner and smoke another one have a nice dinner and finish with a nice cigar but I don't think I can really ever afford this

[@fredbissnette3104]

Fantastic system

[@labalo5]

This is pretty darn cool

[@markeaton2003]

These seem very directional? that could be a very good thing. Those are some great drivers alright. Try this, your system speakers far apart and angled for around 45 degrees, to cause audio convergence for a smaller listening area. This area will produce a sound stage to each ear, like no other. Our ears face on an angle for our build in stereo to work right. The angle and listening distance is important for different amplitudes. Great job. This is long lasting Artwork, and great functionig physics combined. When you hear great sound you can feel it.

[@weatheranddarkness]

Speaker placement can't be as formulaic as that in absolute terms. There are two main problems, one is that each speaker system will radiate energy into each space slightly differently. The second is that it's nearly impossible for the drivers to have perfect phase coherence across the entire audio spectrum.

[@Vu.c]

Back in golden age people used to go to church or cathedral (I called it) and able to hear the person who played Oran symphony orchestra . And sound of the music was sent out through the pipes chamber fulfil the hall of resonance echoes. In Europe, man who engineered his music house big band full of equipments and built super subwoofer in the basement in his house. The whole system Look huge! It was stunning

[@leonardvasquez4905]

Someone pass me the Grey Poupon…

[@SpiritusBythos]

Walls of Jericho

[@dogbiterabies2547]

i like "yet"

[@rickg8015]

Looks like a 1” exit Faital Pro mounted on Bill Woods’ cast aluminum conical horn in black..

[@dynaudiofocus]

I also thought it looked like a faital pro ,hf10ak maybe

[@Markdjd15]

I think we need to see those bass modules break some buildings. PLEEEEASE!

[@fourthlayer]

and how do these compare to the original frequency response of the original studio intended ?

[@weatheranddarkness]

What does that question mean?

[@keltondeoliveira]

Imagine this with Etheraudio's Abssolute Intuition.

[@999emergncy]

No more tha n 12 o’clock n the amp,,,,, I’m impressed 🙄

[@lightningwaves5436]

How do you make a system like that work for the average consumer?!

[@oliv9768]

I am at a loss regarding the amount of Americans that seam agitated by a person who exhibits [ steadfast ] confidence : in relation to his prowess - they having been born and raised in the most boastful country on the planet. Outsiders would think that Americans are likely to appreciate a, spare no expense, approach - in the conviction and pursuit for sonic nirvana. I testify that your company’s products and experiences move me. And the more you, pridefully, brag about them ; the more I like it.

[@fredbissnette3104]

I wonder if these guys have heard of Danley sound

[@weatheranddarkness]

I think JOnathan and Tom have gotten into flamewars online actually.

[@Justwantahover]

You mean, when you crank it the sound doesn't get louder it just gets BIGGER!

[@dukhubesra3492]

This product witch country sir name please music lovers from India

[@abdullutfi7748]

"YET"!

[@mitchellstrobbe7779]

Ignoring the aesthetic benefit of the real wood, doesn't mdf have more isotropic acoustic characteristics?

[@weatheranddarkness]

Yes it's more isotropic, but like any question of materials it's a case of 'how' at least as much as it is a question of 'which'.

[@epi2045]

Does the really heavy and thick grill on the bass modules effect the sound?

[@incredifunk]

& to say 21" drivers are only for professional use is just ridiculous. Lots of folks have 21s in their home setups & even in vehicles. Hell, they're making 50"-60"& even 80" drivers now

[@helgar791]

Damn me likey!

[@popcorn913.]

No demo

[@bellasantiago4698]

Hi Jonathan I wanted to know the measurements of the base cabinets.

[@Audfile]

How can you be a high end speaker manufacturer of field coils and not be aware of Voxativ? They make their own too.

[@weatheranddarkness]

I think the point was that Voxativ doesn't do compression drivers. There are a couple companies that do Western Electric reproductions (WE555 or WE594 based). Not exactly sure how that fits here.

[@thereasoniswhatever5068]

I absolutely love this, however I am kinda sad about the audio quality of the video. You make some of the best speakers in the world, yet your promotional material is fatiguing to listen to :D

[@oswaldsmillaudio]

We're working on it...!

[@donquixoteupinhere]

👌

[@thereasoniswhatever5068]

@@oswaldsmillaudio If you need some help I have the knowledge on the subject and a some free time now sitting the summer. I work as a DoP, a livestream technician, and a audio-visual consultant. So if you would like some advice then we can get in touch and I would happily be of service.

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

They belong to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY ⚡️🌞💎

[@anthonyjackson7097]

As far as imaging and or disappearing, "a direct radiator can't do it". NOT TRUE!!!

[@mannycazz8018]

How much are these monsters????

[@Necrohermit]

$280,000

[@solhaug1234]

Buy this if you hate world Peace 🤣

[@Error2username]

Crack in a building🤣 man this i have too see. When 18x 18"subwoofers dont do schitt to a building? How do you make walls over there? Cardboard?

[@patriciaginocchio145]

vas a escuchar musica o demoler el edificio? ja ja

[@Loudinkooks]

Highest end audio equipment in the world with the worst mic quality 😂

[@lapeercharlie8691]

20 years along, the "First Editions" of his systems will be selling at Christie's, or Sotheby's in the millions of dollars.

[@incredifunk]

You're not the only one using field coils. arrogant much?

[@dougdavis8986]

A speaker system for wealthy single guys that will never have a wife!

[@willowwale2000]

Unlike you....

[@Tacet137]

Why have a wife when you can get the best hookers

[@coreyoliver3653]

@@willowwale2000 ( Silence … ) BWAH HA HA HAAA-I know, right ? 👍🏽 Hatin’-ass mofos. This world is chock full of ‘em.

[@AncientEgyptArchitecture]

Don't say 'we' when talking about the woodworking, instead give credit to the talented woodworkers you commission the work from.