Turtlerock Forum

Anybody using them that would care to feedback on their performance etc...?


cheers

Hi mate,

Mid range detail is excellent, lo end deadly accurate, transient response clean, crossover point transparent, no chuffing. Brutally honest without being fatiguing. And they even sound good on the couch, at the back of the room, behind the racks and chickenwire.

Translation has been perfect for me and they have that quality where they really show off the differences between (different) recordings in glaring detail. Everyone who comes through here likes them although a few have wished they have a bit more power. This is in an almost 50m2 control room.

We went from custom Richard Priddle mid-fields to Opals and they retained all the qualities we liked about Richards monitors but had a wee bit more in all departments. We tried a lot of monitors before choosing the Opals and were prepared to shell out whatever it took. They aren't cool though.

FWIW and YMMV etc. Hope that helps.

Brent Punshon

Hi Brent,
Thats interesting - I had a pair of Richard's (RIP) monitors going for around 4 years (one driver version) - I tracked and mixed hundreds of albums on them - most of the time not even using a second reference speaker.

Strangely, they seemed so in the middle of a studio monitor and a hi fi speaker - and I still miss them - they really worked for me - I knew them like the back of my hand.
The phantom center image was amazing - point to point wired crossovers I'm sure had something to do with it.

For others out there who don't know, they stopped making the drivers that were made in EU - so some of us have these monitors sitting around with blown one driver.
No other replacement speaker have worked or been as good.
I was recording an album at Maegaphon a few weeks ago and they had a pair that had recently lost one driver and in the corner they sit.
Bummer
HEY RICHARD - WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU!

I would agree with Brent's assessment.. Though, I have to say that I have little experience with other monitors in this range. When I went looking I listened to a LOT of monitors, some more expensive, some less, and every time came back to the opals, so I bought them as my first good monitors.. they're great.

Hey Ben - other monitors to look into if your monitor shopping - PSI A17M - getting seriously good wraps
Focal 6be as well .
I'm on the hunt soon for another pair of monitors, Ive been eyeing off the Opals too.
I want to wait until I can get the Opals beside the PSI A17M and the Focals in a good comparison situation.

I've heard the Opals before and they are seriously good, no argument there

I would also suggest listening to a pair of Quested V2108s if you can.... I have the older version, VS2108s, and they re fantastic speakers - in the new versions they have improved the frequency response (down to 40Hz rather than 55Hz) and better mid range clarity

Having said that, I don't think you would go wrong with the Opals at all!

Cheers

Manny Satija

Another thumbs up for the Opals from me.
I wanted something I could mix on, but also wanted a good listening speaker. The Opals fit the bill.
Auditioned quite a few speakers including Focal twins which lacked a bit of grunt for my liking, and Quested S7R which sounded boxy.
The Studio EQ calibration system which they sent out free to users, turned out to be not much use. It gives you are a different reading every time. I just kept coming back to leaving the settings flat.

I like Grunt

The Quested's I've heard I did not like at all.
Monitors are such a personal thing.
Keen to hear the Opals.
Ugly lookin things they are - could do with a graffiti job

Ok cool... All goood comments and not really one bad one except that they look a bit fugly. Which I agree with.

I'll check out the PSI A17M's that you suggested Chris.

cheers everyone.

The Tasmanian wrote:Ugly lookin things they are - could do with a graffiti job

Actually I don't think there are ugly at all. Granted they don't have the lovely wooden finish of the Focals, but they are beautifully designed - in fact they won an Australian International Design award.
Even apart from their great sound, I have come to appreciate their sleek features.
No complaints at all.

5 weeks wait on the Opals due to some tweeter components that come from tsunami effected Japan. Argghh

Anyone want to sell up? Long shot but.....

Hey Ben - did you get your Opals?
If so whats your vibe on them?

Headgap have a pair and though I haven't spent much time there I did do an overdub session that required a stereo stem that I brought in from home. Were a beautifully detailed speaker with lovely defined low end that made me wish I could fit a pair in my room. I know its not quite the same as working on them day in, day out but they did make me sit up and listen...

The Tasmanian wrote:Hey Ben - did you get your Opals?
If so whats your vibe on them?

Hey Chris. Yes I've had them for a while now and really happy with them. The first thing I did when I got them was to playback some freshly done mixes... I could hear all of my mistakes (issues) straight away. Especially in the bottom end and mid range.
My mixes now translate really well to my other listening sources.

As myles said - a well defined low end. Good mid range and smooth top end and plenty of grunt.

Some good features e.g. if they are blasted after mistakenly having your monitor level way too high, the Opals pad the signal for a few seconds to give you time to turn down. This is only at way above sensible operating levels.
I didn't like the studio eq mic and software that came with it - after playing around with it for an hour I set everything to normal and stuffed it in a draw.
They are winners for me. V happy.

Ben

That's good to hear - I'm still waiting to sell a few bits and bobs and take the plunge on a pair

Brent wrote:Hi mate,

Mid range detail is excellent, lo end deadly accurate, transient response clean, crossover point transparent, no chuffing. Brutally honest without being fatiguing. And they even sound good on the couch, at the back of the room, behind the racks and chickenwire.

Translation has been perfect for me and they have that quality where they really show off the differences between (different) recordings in glaring detail. Everyone who comes through here likes them although a few have wished they have a bit more power. This is in an almost 50m2 control room.

Brents' assessment is very good. But plenty of power for me.
I think you'll really enjoy them Chris.