Mirage Speakers [Text View] - Page 3

TDI Driver

02-07-08, 06:37 PM

Hi dw

Sorry for the delay in getting to your post. While I have not had any experience with the OMD product, the concept is the same with any of the Mirage omnidirectional products I have sold through the years.

In case you are wondering, our market is pretty economically challenged and that is the sole reason for us not bringing in the OMD series. We had the OMD-15's on a rep sample for some time when the line came out, and we really wanted to bring in the line based on our impressions of them. It was a tough decision not to, but considering the only questions I answer about the OMD series are around here, I feel it was the right one. Our market sadly has a threshold price for speakers.

Now to your concerns. Based on my familiarity with the Mirage line, the system you have picked out will work very nicely for your application. Whether it be our large "open floor plan" showroom, or one of the many clients we have installed Mirage speakers for with similar layouts and needs, the omnidirectional approach that Mirage employs works great in open spaces with multiple listening positions.

Sorry I can't be more direct with info on OMD, but I hope that the advice I have been able to provide helps at least a little in your decision process.

Best,
TDI

dwdokc

02-07-08, 06:56 PM

Thanks TDI - I appreciate your input. It confirms I am on the right track - now I need to find a B&M dealer with some on display!!

dpc123

02-08-08, 07:54 AM

dwdokc, I'm using the OMD-15, OMD-C1, and OMD-5 in a 7.1 arrangement in a room with 19 foot ceilings. The OMD-5s are about 9 feet off the floor. Sound is incredible.

PULLIAMM

02-08-08, 08:24 AM

If you have an extra 150 I might buy it from you :)

I have a pair of 150s that I am no longer using now that I replaced them with the 350s. One is a little banged up (it got dropped) but still sounds great. If you want them, PM me an offer.

dwdokc

02-08-08, 05:59 PM

dwdokc, I'm using the OMD-15, OMD-C1, and OMD-5 in a 7.1 arrangement in a room with 19 foot ceilings. The OMD-5s are about 9 feet off the floor. Sound is incredible.

Thanks dpc123. It is always good to hear from satisfied users / customers when considering a purchase of this magnitude.

I found out Ultimate Electronics is a Mirage dealer and went by last night for a quick listen. Man, oh man do I like these OMD 15's. I only auditioned them with the DVD they had in the showroom BR player but I am very impressed.

I am going back with a handful of CD's and DVD's in the next few days.

I was very surprised the OMD-R's were so big! I have a large room, but those things are much larger than I imagined them to be - even after seeing the specs. I didn't listen to them since they were in an OMD-28 system - waaaay too much $$$.:( So I may go with the OMD-5's for surrounds.

Any Ultimate Electronics employees want to help a fellow AVS Forum member out????;)

::bjorn::

02-10-08, 09:42 AM

I am in the process of breaking in my new Mirage OMNI 350's...and have been trying really hard to keep the volume at moderate levels (haven't gone past 60% - 70%). Yesterday I was listening to a CD that had some distorted pops in the recording and immediately after that noticed a buzzing coming from my right tweeter... It only occurs when I turn it up, but it is very noticeable... The noise comes directly from the tweeter and doesn't sound like it's coming from the receiver. I haven't turned it up enough to notice any sort of clipping or distortion caused by overloading the receiver. Anyone else have this happen? I just got the speakers two days ago, the last thing I want to do is ship one back! Does anyone know if Mirage would just send me a new tweeter to swap out? Thanks!

TDI Driver

02-10-08, 11:36 AM

bjorn, sorry to hear about your trouble. Mirage is typically good at handling these issues, and considering your speakers are so new, they should send you a new tweeter. The direct e-mail address is MirageParts@klipschgroup.com

Hope this helps.

::bjorn::

02-10-08, 11:53 AM

Thank you!

uloseclown

02-10-08, 03:37 PM

Is the 550 a downgrade to the 260? WHICH SPEAKER IS BETTER?

52 lbs's or 34 lbs, titanium tweeter or aluminum tweeter?

Made in China or Made in Canada?

I AM LOOKING TO PURCHASE A PAIR OF EITHER ON MONDAY 2/11/08.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

RBgunner

02-11-08, 05:11 PM

bjorn, I just received a pair of Mirage 550s and had the same buzzing sound from one of the tweeters:confused:. I am sending my speaker back. I did not think about getting a new tweeter. Let me know how that goes. I also have a pair of 350s and I love them. Right now they sound better than the 550s. My goal is the have the 550 as main L and R and the 350s as surrounds.

::bjorn::

02-11-08, 05:28 PM

Wow, so I'm not the only one. It's kind of been coming and going on mine but there are certain piercing treble sounds that trigger it every time. A rep from Mirage emailed be this morning and he's trying to get me new tweeter. I'll post once I've made the swap...

::bjorn::

02-11-08, 05:33 PM

Right now they sound better than the 550s.

Do you think that is because they are more broken in? Just curious. How do the 350's sound better? I almost went with the 550's but I like the size of the 350's and figured I could always get a bigger sub for more bass :) I love the 350's but there are still certain things that don't sound quite as sharp as I'd like. I've been listening to music on my Sennheiser headphones for the past few years because I couldn't afford system so it's a bit of an adjustment.

60285

02-12-08, 04:20 AM

You're right, the Mirage Omni C150 is almost certainly the Athena LS C100 with a Mirage logo on it.

I'm still wondering why Mirage would put a direct radiating speaker into their budget line and not into the other lines. Sort of a mixed message of design philosophy.

And if they are going to use a direct radiating speaker as a center channel, I wish they wouldn't go for a toppled MTM.

I'll second the Omni-550's being better than the OmniSat v2-FS - dynamic range ability being the biggest difference. The OmniSat v2-FS, while having decent usable bottom end in smaller rooms, really can't compare to the 550's in terms of overall frequency response and output capabilities. This is especially important, in my opinion, when using the speakers for music listening or when setting up the system in a larger room. The OmniSat v2-FS is a really good speaker for what it is though - a form/function, slim-line floorstanding speaker that, thanks to the omniguide, presents a much larger stage than similar speakers. If size is a major concern, or if these speakers are for a smaller room, the v2-FS would be a nice choice. If the room is bigger, added dynamics are preferred, and space requirements aren't an issue than the 550's are a much better option.

As for the center channels for each of these, I also think the Omni-C150 is a better value than the OmniSat v2-CC. The Omni-C150 has better overall clarity and range ability than the smaller v2-CC. The upgrade in clarity mainly due to being a direct radiating design rather than omni reflecting the tweeter and mid. In a system using the Omni-550's and a v2-CC, the v2 really can't keep up with the output of the 550's during dynamic HT scenes. Again, don't get me wrong, the v2-CC is a very good performer, but it really is designed to mate with their smaller speaker designs - OmniSat v2 and v2-FS.

Hope this helps

I talked to the only place that I could find after scouring the net that has the C150's (A Mirage dealer out of Salt Lake City). He said that the C-150 was the mated CC to the Omni series, even though it was a direct radiating speaker, would be the better choice than the v2 CC version.

Now the Athena LSC100 looks as if it is virtually identical to the Omni C150, is this true or am I fooling myself? What is the difference??? Could the Athena be used as the CC for the 550's instead of the C150?

The main reason I'm asking is that the C150 is gone from all of the local stores and the only place I can get it is from that store in Salt Lake City but it is $250. The Athena LSC100 runs $99.95, so you can see why I'm asking.

I can float the $250 if that is the clear choice or the only option, but if both are good, I'd just as soon save the $150 and buy a 350 with the $$ saved.

Please advise.....

Thanks,

Audio Newbie

ditch-digger

02-12-08, 07:42 AM

from what i have read, the athena cc, and mirage cc are basically the same.

go for it, and let us know how it sounds with the 550's.

PULLIAMM

02-12-08, 10:24 AM

Do you think that is because they are more broken in? Just curious. How do the 350's sound better? I almost went with the 550's but I like the size of the 350's and figured I could always get a bigger sub for more bass :) I love the 350's but there are still certain things that don't sound quite as sharp as I'd like. I've been listening to music on my Sennheiser headphones for the past few years because I couldn't afford system so it's a bit of an adjustment.

I auditioned the 350s and 550s side by side at Ultimate. The only difference I heard was bass extension, and even that was not dramatic (the 350s have in-freakin'-credible bass!) I chose the 350s because, like you, I prefer the smaller size. So far, I have been really happy with them.

60285

02-12-08, 01:16 PM

from what i have read, the athena cc, and mirage cc are basically the same.

go for it, and let us know how it sounds with the 550's.

Ditch Digger....appreciate your opinion/input.....anyone else want to second this? If not could you tell me what the difference would be?

Since I'm at it....setup would be 550 mains, 350 rears, CC in question (LOOKING FOR THE INPUT) with an Onkyo 605 receiver...(no sub for now anyway).....PLEASE do not hesitate to either give it a "thumbs up" or advise on possible improvement....especially CC and/or receiver...

Learned a TON from you folks already......just a bit more guidance, OK?

Any and ALL advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks!!

gus6464

02-12-08, 01:50 PM

Ditch Digger....appreciate your opinion/input.....anyone else want to second this? If not could you tell me what the difference would be?

Since I'm at it....setup would be 550 mains, 350 rears, CC in question (LOOKING FOR THE INPUT) with an Onkyo 605 receiver...(no sub for now anyway).....PLEASE do not hesitate to either give it a "thumbs up" or advise on possible improvement....especially CC and/or receiver...

Learned a TON from you folks already......just a bit more guidance, OK?

Any and ALL advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks!!

Go for the Athena LS-100.

absolutdi

02-12-08, 02:08 PM

For the past week, I've been lurking around forums, review sites, and home theater stores looking at speakers. I thought I had settled on:
Nanosat package incl sub + Nano CC ($800-$1000)

I have auditioned them as well as the nanosat prestiges (hence the CC) and Omnisat 2 FS. The FS's sounded the best to me, and were the most full sounding, but at $1000 a pair fell fully out of my price range.

After reading this thread (and seeing the 350's going for $300 a pair), I am now thinking this might be a better package:
1xAthena CC, 4x Omni 350, old Onkyo 10", 225W sub (for now) ($700)

My receiver is a Onkyo 505 (75W). Viewing/listening area is only 10' deep by 12' wide, with an open left side wall. It's an apartment so I won't be turning this thing up that loud. I use my system for 30% Video Games, 50% movies and TV, and 20% music. I am upgrading from a Onkyo HTIB, just with an already-upgraded receiver.

Knowing the size of my room and whatnot, do you guys think I should just stick to my original plan and get the nanosats? I didn't really hear their "hole" in the frequency range, but the Omnisat FS did sound more full. I don't NEED small speakers, and place audio quality before size, but I did really like the look and omnidirectional sound of the nanosats. I also might consider 350's in the front and 150 rears, if anyone knows of where to find a good deal on the 150's.

Thanks!

intence

02-12-08, 03:53 PM

Get the Omni 350s if you have the room. I haven't heard them, but have owned the older Omni series. The only reason to choose the nanosats would be if small size is a priority. If you can deal with floorstanders, by all means go for them. I would also expect the 350s to have fuller and deeper bass than the Omnisat FS you heard.

The 350s and 550s are basically 1/2 off, hard to beat that deal :)

absolutdi

02-12-08, 03:58 PM

intence

02-13-08, 01:07 AM

Yeah, they are a terrific deal right now.

Vanns has the Nanosat+nanosub in white for $500 right now, but it isn't in stock. If it comes back and I haven't ordered anything else yet I'll probably still jump on it, and pretend I had never heard of the omni's ;)

I'm having a hard time finding reviews on the Athena center. I find plenty of reviews on the C1, but not so many on the LSC-100. Does anyone know if a C1 would match the speakers well? I may actually get my center first, as it is what is lacking most on my onkyo's... though I probably shouldn't wait around to have this deal on the omnis disappear either.

I regret not buying a Mirage Center last time they were being cleared out by Vanns. Once they're gone, they're probably gone until Mirage releases new models. With Athena, they're probably gone for good as all the inventory is being sold off as the brand is going away.

As long as the speakers aren't too big, you shouldn't have a problem getting rid of them on eBay for close to what you paid. I saw a set of Omni 150s go for well over the $150 that they were selling for a few months ago.

absolutdi

02-13-08, 03:58 PM

Well, I pulled the trigger on the 350's from Vanns, they should be here next week. However, in reading back over the thread I read something that PULLIAMM wrote about the 350's needing a 4-ohm stable receiver to do their best. I have an Onkyo TX-SR505, which is not "certified" for 4-ohm performance.

This worries me a little. I want the best sound I can out of the speakers, but the receiver is new and I don't intend on replacing it. I'm also fairly uneducated about all this stuff, so I don't know much about it.

I guess my question is: with my receiver staying the same, would I have done better to get speakers that don't depend on 4 Ohms? Or will I be better off with the 350's and the non-certified onkyo? Clearly the best option is to get a 4 ohm-stable reciever and the 350's, but that just isn't an option for me.

Thanks, quick replies are appreciated, I don't have a lot of time to cancel my order (nor do I want to!)

intence

02-13-08, 04:40 PM

I'm sure it should be fine. Just check the Onkyo periodically to make sure it's not overheating

::bjorn::

02-13-08, 04:41 PM

My Onkyo receiver only goes down to 6 ohms and the speakers sound amazing, let them break in a few days to open up and you will love them :)

intence

02-13-08, 04:42 PM

FYI, Vanns seems to no longer list the NanoSat's in white as becoming available in the near future, but they do seem to have gotten the 350s in Cherry.

absolutdi

02-13-08, 05:28 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone. My receiver is certified for 6 ohms so I'm thinking it should be ok.

I considered getting the cherry 350's. Super attractive, but everything else of mine is black.

When you guys talk about a break-in period (they say 100 hours or so), do you just keep the volume low? I live in an apartment where I can hear the neighbor's phone ringing, so turning up the volume loud isn't really an option. Can you break in at normal volumes, such as typical TV watching volume (loud enough to hear, but low enough that one could have a side conversation in the same room).

I'm still breaking in my plasma, which is getting sort of annoying. Ah well, the price we pay for quality!

BTW, I ended up with the 350's in front, Athena Center, and 150's in the rear rather than the 350's, assuming I win them on eBay. Wish me luck!

b4z

02-13-08, 06:35 PM

I personally see no reason to buy the 550s. If you are going to use a sub anyway the extra bass response doesn't really help. The 550s are just physically too big and don't offer any real performance benefit.
I am using the 350s without a sub and they'll produce the heck out of a bass guitar.
The 550s have a larger midrange so I think vocal midrange would be worse than the 350s smaller speaker.
I did wish these speakers had more extension in the treble but I am extrememly happy with them. They are a true audio bargain.
I am listening to Mark Knopfler's Shang ri la right now and am happy as a pig in slop.

ditch-digger

02-13-08, 07:05 PM

i love my 550's...

"if your gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.!"

can never have enough bass
they are big, and beautiful
i can assure you that the midrange is very good on the 550's...:D

i could have gotten the 350's...but i also could have gotten a v6, but settled for a v8:p

just messin, i will probably get 350's for the rear sound.

PULLIAMM

02-14-08, 10:03 AM

absolutdi

02-14-08, 03:56 PM

Not only did the Vanns deal on the White Nanosats disappear ($500), but the black nanosats are now marked at their normal price of $800, and they still aren't in stock.

intence

02-14-08, 06:15 PM

Not only did the Vanns deal on the White Nanosats disappear ($500), but the black nanosats are now marked at their normal price of $800, and they still aren't in stock.

Sigh, those white Nanosats would have been perfect for me :(. I suspect that maybe they did get a set of the White Nanosets in, sold it quickly, and the item lingered on their site? The Omni 260s were only there for a day or two before selling out.

ditch-digger

02-14-08, 08:12 PM

got the ok from the wife for some mirage omni 150's

now...WHERE CAN YOU FIND THESE..??

called crutchfield (they had some 2 weeks ago for $120.00 pair) they are out, and not sure if going to get any.

none at vanns, frys, amazon.

some on ebay, but :confused::confused:

any help.

intence

02-15-08, 12:50 AM

Oh no, you can't get the 150s, you'll just have to try and snag a pair of OMD-5s then ;)

Seriously though, I believe that the Omni line is discontinued (someone correct me if i'm wrong), and those were all closeout models. Except for Ebay or maybe a local dealer (who can check if API still has any in stock) chances are slim you'll get a pair. The last NIB pair I saw on eBay went for considerably more than the $150 the owner probably paid.

Keep checking audiogon and videogon, considerably better signal to noise ratio than eBay.

ditch-digger

02-15-08, 07:59 AM

the 550's are the best speakers i have ever had.
but getting the rear surrounds are going to be a challenge.
i contemplated a center for to long, and lost an opportunity to get the 150's.
now i just want a nice 4.1 system, and getting the other 2 are going to be a pain.
if i cant find any 150's in a week, i will get something else. i know the rears do not have to match as well as the front three, so i will look for something i can mount on my walls, and black..:o

absolutdi

02-15-08, 09:13 AM

I just won a pair of 160's last night on eBay: $195 + $25 shipping. So the scarcity is driving up the prices.

ditch-digger

02-15-08, 09:16 AM

I just won a pair of 160's last night on eBay: $195 + $25 shipping. So the scarcity is driving up the prices.

wow....:eek::eek::eek:

that was you, i was watching that one in my ebay. stopped bidding at 135.00

absolutdi

02-15-08, 10:14 AM

Yup, I certainly didn't get a deal by any means, but it was still cheaper than getting another pair of 350's (which wouldn't have really worked in my room anyway).

I just really wasn't willing to risk mismatching my setup. My other option was to get Omnisats for the rears, but those are still going for over $200 a pop, so double what I paid for the 160's.

All told, I do feel I ended up on a fairly good deal on the whole set... 5 speakers, including shipping, came out to be US$637. It would have been $100 cheaper a few weeks ago, but c'est la vie.

TDI Driver

02-15-08, 10:34 AM

Not only did the Vanns deal on the White Nanosats disappear ($500), but the black nanosats are now marked at their normal price of $800, and they still aren't in stock.

The white Nanosat system has been discontinued nearly as long as the Nanosat Prestige line has been in existence (close to 2 years if memory serves). Way back when the Nanosats first came out, they were available in a complete 5.1 package and came in black/platinum (still current), white, and platinum.

The reason that the white system showed up at Vanns, and also the reason that they have Omni-350's in cherry (a finish that was only available in European markets when the line was current) is because they have taken advantage of some of those close-outs I mentioned a little while back in this thread. As of January 1st this year, there were only 5 Nanosat systems in white even available, and I'm sure Vann's took them all.

Finally, the price adjustment on the black/platinum Nano system is because there was a promotion going on with the system to sell it at a reduced MSRP of $599 which has expired.

Hope this clears up any confusion and congrats on your Omni series purchases.

TDI Driver

02-15-08, 10:43 AM

Seriously though, I believe that the Omni line is discontinued (someone correct me if i'm wrong), and those were all closeout models. Except for Ebay or maybe a local dealer (who can check if API still has any in stock) chances are slim you'll get a pair. The last NIB pair I saw on eBay went for considerably more than the $150 the owner probably paid.

Keep checking audiogon and videogon, considerably better signal to noise ratio than eBay.

I won't correct you since you are absolutely right. The Omni series has been officially discontinued for some time now and is fast becoming long gone. Once Vann's and Crutch are out of models, the only means of purchasing would be through B&M dealers who may still be sitting on some models in inventory (like myself) and those others you have also mentioned.

As for what API still has in stock, as of January 1st this year, there were 433 individual Omni-550's in black in their warehouse. The only other Omni series items were very limited quantities of Omni-350's and 550's in cherry (a finish only available in Europe when the line was current). The cherry 350's as we all know are at Vann's right now. There were also 4 Omni-C150's in cherry at that time, and I'm sure those came and went so fast it wasn't even funny.

That's the official scoop guys! Let me know if you need anything else and I'll try to help.

intence

02-15-08, 11:20 AM

TDI Driver

02-15-08, 01:57 PM

Has anyone seen the Cherry finish on the Omni Series? It it vinyled, or veneered? I remember seeing the OM9s in Cherry and that was really nicely done, but then again, that was a much pricier speaker :)

TDI Driver, anything left from the original OM series? I'm a sucker for the older Mirage stuff :)

As far I as know, the cherry finish on the Omni series is a vinyl wrap like the black ash finish is.

From memory - I have the stock report at home now due to all the AVS questions ;) - the only OM series were some tight quantities on OM-R2 in white, OM-C2 and OM-C3. No towers unfortunately, but if there had, I would have a pair of OM-5's in my living room right now :)

PULLIAMM

02-18-08, 08:35 AM

DJWV

02-19-08, 01:51 AM

Hey folks, looking to upgrade my surrounds after getting my Onkyo 705... so the Omni series is dead? Meaning that finding Omnican 5's or 6's in white will be challenging in the near future?

TDI Driver

02-19-08, 08:55 AM

Hey folks, looking to upgrade my surrounds after getting my Onkyo 705... so the Omni series is dead? Meaning that finding Omnican 5's or 6's in white will be challenging in the near future?

The Omni series does not include the Omnican, but the Omnican line is going through a change/cosmetic update at the moment with a new model line-up shipping in May. Hope this clears things up.

gus6464

02-19-08, 05:49 PM

Several people have mentioned wanting a pair of Omni 150s. I have a pair that I am no longer using. One has a small dent in the tweeter, but the sound is not effected.
PM me if interested.
(Note: I love my 350s, but it will be interesting to see how much I still love them after receiving my Cambridge Audio S30s, which match my electronics exactly. If I strongly prefer the CAs, the 350s may also end up being for sale, and they are mint.)

Dude you change speakers more than people change socks. You just got the Mirage not too long ago and you are already getting new speakers. What made you go for the Cambridge? If anything I would see that as a horizontal and maybe downgrade considering the Omni 350 are full range when compared to the small S30.

ditch-digger

02-19-08, 05:52 PM

Dude you change speakers more than people change socks. You just got the Mirage not too long ago and you are already getting new speakers. What made you go for the Cambridge? If anything I would see that as a horizontal and maybe downgrade considering the Omni 350 are full range when compared to the small S30.

easy on mr pulliam.

he just sold me some mirage 150's.........awesome..!!!!!!!!!!!!

gus6464

02-19-08, 05:57 PM

easy on mr pulliam.

he just sold me some mirage 150's.........awesome..!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol I am just wondering about his purchase. Didn't mean to come out as an attack or anything, this is just pure curiosity. :D

Jacksmyname

02-19-08, 06:35 PM

The Omni series does not include the Omnican, but the Omnican line is going through a change/cosmetic update at the moment with a new model line-up shipping in May. Hope this clears things up.

TDI, can you tell us what changes are being done to the Omnicans?
I'm VERY pleased with my 6's, but if, for example, they're getting a very noticable increase in frequency response, might be worth upgrading.

BTW, if the new 6's are indeed worth getting as compared to the current models, you've got the sale if you can ship to S.C. :)

b4z

02-19-08, 07:47 PM

PULLIAM,

If you like Cambridge Audio try the audioadvisor.com sale on the 540R receiver. Only $499 and built like a tank .Sounds better than my old Sony ES.

What made you buy the Cambridge Audios? There is not much info on them. Did you listen to them, or just buy them mail order because of the low price point?

absolutdi

02-19-08, 11:12 PM

I am still waiting on all my mirages, but I did get the Athena LS-C100. It's larger than I expected, but it looks good.

My concern is with how it sounds. It's far clearer, less muddy than my Onkyo. But today I noticed when moving around in my TiVo menus there is a gritty sound when the TiVo makes sound effects. I haven't really heard it when watching content yet, but it's totally apparent when making theses sound effects. It appears to come from the tweeter only. Changes in volume don't alleviate the problem, and I have tried swapping out the cables. It doesn't happen on my old CC. I guess I would describe the sound like an additional vibration, like someone had placed a little piece of plastic up against the tweeter. It appeared to diminish after running through audessy calibration, though it's not gone and I don't know what setting diminished it.

So what do you guys think? Defective center?

absurd_username

02-20-08, 05:09 AM

Hello all. I was all set to go and buy some Definitive Techs when I inherited a set of Mirage speakers from my brother. His friend who upgraded a few years ago gave them to my brother, but has been storing them in a closet for the last couple of years. I wanted to cry when I found this out and he offered them to me.

I now have OM6 mains, OMC2 center and OM12s. The OM12s are going to be used as a stereo pair in another room as they will be too big for surrounds in my 13'x13' HT room.

One OM6 is being repaired right now. One of the Sub woofers was blown and making a buzzing noise. Will cost roughly $200 for the new woofer.

I'm currently using a Denon AVR1801. It's rated for 70wpc @8 ohms and 105wpc@6 ohms. http://ca.denon.com/avr1801_productsheet.pdf
My old speakers are Paradigm Titan for mains, Atom for surrounds, a small Paradigm Center and Paradigm 12" Sub. My previous home only fit bookshelf speakers.

I also have a Toshiba A35 HDDVD and Sony 46V3000 TV in my setup.

To me the Mirage OM6 and OMC2 are definitely a step up from the Paradigms, but I think that the current Receiver isn't doing the speakers justice.

Would something like the Onkyo 705 or 805 be a good Receiver to mate up with these fine speakers? Or I'm thinking I could go all out and spring for a Denon 3808 because that was the budget I had in mind for a full set of Def Techs. Or some kind of Separate Amps?

The speakers I believe are ideally run at 6ohms, but the brochure says 8ohms compatable...which component decides the impedance? Speakers or Receiver?

I don't mind my Paradigm Atoms as surrounds right now but would I benefit much from adding something like the Mirage Nanosat Satelites?

Thanks.

George.

TDI Driver

02-20-08, 09:57 AM

TDI, can you tell us what changes are being done to the Omnicans?
I'm VERY pleased with my 6's, but if, for example, they're getting a very noticable increase in frequency response, might be worth upgrading.

BTW, if the new 6's are indeed worth getting as compared to the current models, you've got the sale if you can ship to S.C. :)

Jack,

From what my rep was indicating, it sounds like there are three models planned (2-way 4"/5"/6"), and there will be cosmetic changes so the grille doesn't stick down off the ceiling as much. When I find out more information than this (specs, pricing, etc), I'll be sure to post, and I'll PM you when they are shipping.

Best,
TDI

intence

02-20-08, 11:07 AM

George,

The problem is with the speakers, those are horrible speakers. Go out and get the definitive's instead, and get rid of those awful OM-6s. While you're at it, i'll PM you my shipping address, and will dispose of them properly for you :)

If you can wait about a week, i'll give you a much better answer regarding the receiver. I'm going to be trying an Onkyo SR-805 with OM-9s (which are similar to the OM-6s) and will let you know if I think there's any significant difference. The Denon is supposed quite a good receiver, and the two critical parts of the equation in the receiver would be the DACs for converting digital data to analog (assuming your source is digital, which these days it probably is) and the amp section on the Denon.

What will you be using the system for? As you go to more expensive receivers, there is a point of diminishing returns. The higher models tend to support have virtual sound fields (in some cases) and sometimes support additional decoding formats. I'm not sure what you'd gain by going to the 3803, from a sonic point of view. I'm not familiar with the Denon lineup, but i'd check the DACs on the 3803 vs. 2808 vs. 2308 and see if they're the same. In fact, go out and try to listen to them and see if you can tell a difference. I do know that the Onkyo SR-805 weighs over 50lbs, and uses top-of-the-line Burr-Brown DACs (according to Onkyo). For the price it seems like a bargain (PM for more details but you should be able to get one for a bit under $700 including shipping and possibly taxes depending on where you live).

You could get a cheaper receiver, and a Blu-Ray player, just something else to consider. I should also probably point out that your speakers are still made in Canada, which is nice, since it seems that Mirage like most other companies has moved production off-shore.

Hello all. I was all set to go and buy some Definitive Techs when I inherited a set of Mirage speakers from my brother. His friend who upgraded a few years ago gave them to my brother, but has been storing them in a closet for the last couple of years. I wanted to cry when I found this out and he offered them to me.

I now have OM6 mains, OMC2 center and OM12s. The OM12s are going to be used as a stereo pair in another room as they will be too big for surrounds in my 13'x13' HT room.

One OM6 is being repaired right now. One of the Sub woofers was blown and making a buzzing noise. Will cost roughly $200 for the new woofer.

I'm currently using a Denon AVR1801. It's rated for 70wpc @8 ohms and 105wpc@6 ohms. http://ca.denon.com/avr1801_productsheet.pdf
My old speakers are Paradigm Titan for mains, Atom for surrounds, a small Paradigm Center and Paradigm 12" Sub. My previous home only fit bookshelf speakers.

I also have a Toshiba A35 HDDVD and Sony 46V3000 TV in my setup.

To me the Mirage OM6 and OMC2 are definitely a step up from the Paradigms, but I think that the current Receiver isn't doing the speakers justice.

Would something like the Onkyo 705 or 805 be a good Receiver to mate up with these fine speakers? Or I'm thinking I could go all out and spring for a Denon 3808 because that was the budget I had in mind for a full set of Def Techs. Or some kind of Separate Amps?

The speakers I believe are ideally run at 6ohms, but the brochure says 8ohms compatable...which component decides the impedance? Speakers or Receiver?

I don't mind my Paradigm Atoms as surrounds right now but would I benefit much from adding something like the Mirage Nanosat Satelites?

Thanks.

George.

Davidt1

02-20-08, 01:15 PM

I am looking for a pair of OMD5 in rosewood. The only place that sells them online seems to be Vanns. As much as I want them, I don't really want to pay $375 for one. That's over $700 for a pair. Is there any other place that sells them for less? Does anyone here have two for sale? Thanks.

PULLIAMM

02-20-08, 01:34 PM

Davidt1

02-20-08, 01:50 PM

Vanns has the lowest Mirage prices I have seen anywhere. I think you will be hard put to find them cheaper.

BB has the Omnisats for the same price Vanns is selling them for. It seems that all retailers sell Mirage speakers for the same price. I suppose I could go with the Omnisats, but I love the look of the OMD5 in rosewood. Is the OMD5 a lot better than the Omnisat? Thanks.

superco.mike

02-20-08, 02:37 PM

intence

02-20-08, 02:54 PM

The OMD5 is made in a fantasticly well constructed and dense MDF.

I would pass on the omnisats and go with the OMD series for sure.

BTW 375 is the full retail price. Vanns usually has good deals on closeouts or discontinued mirage speakers.

Agreed, everyone is pretty much MSRP, especially online. Best Buy could probably order them and you could try one of those 10% off coupons. Eventually it will go to closeout, and Vanns will have a deal on them, but you need patience ;)

superco.mike

02-20-08, 03:06 PM

For anyone thats interested i have 5 pair of the omni 150 / 6 pieces of the omni350 / 4 pieces of the omni550 / and 3 demo center channels.

I can match any of the Vanns close out prices as long as buyer pays for ground shipping and insurance.

Motivated to move these as i want to get the Nanosat Prestige on display, however the buyer is not willing to order me them until i get rid of these. ( Which i convinced him we needed lol )

Jacksmyname

02-20-08, 04:43 PM

Jack,

From what my rep was indicating, it sounds like there are three models planned (2-way 4"/5"/6"), and there will be cosmetic changes so the grille doesn't stick down off the ceiling as much. When I find out more information than this (specs, pricing, etc), I'll be sure to post, and I'll PM you when they are shipping.

Best,
TDI

Thanks much, TDI. :)

TDI Driver

02-20-08, 07:08 PM

Thanks much, TDI. :)

Anytime :)

absurd_username

02-21-08, 08:50 PM

So far by my reading it looks like the 805 is the top contender. Nice mix of features, performance and value. Although I am still partial to Denon just because. I eagerly await your results. I'll more than likely be getting my Receiver through Amazon, shipped to the US/Canada border and I drive from Vancouver to pick it up. The 805 has been quoted to me at a 'special' $1500 at a couple of local B&Ms.

The system will be used mainly for movies with occasional 2 channel stereo. Very slowly rebuilding my vinyl collection as well (think 80s pop :p).

As for Blu Ray, I'm awaiting for the Panny BD50 to come out. I'll weigh it against a PS3. I really don't want the PS3 for aesthetic reasons, but I loves my HD movies.

Any answer on what speakers are impeding at? 8ohms or 6ohms? There aren't any type of impedance options on my receiver, but it does list a spec for 6ohms. Likewise the speakers are rated for 6ohms, but are also listed as 8ohm compatable. Which component is taking the lead on this?

George,

The problem is with the speakers, those are horrible speakers. Go out and get the definitive's instead, and get rid of those awful OM-6s. While you're at it, i'll PM you my shipping address, and will dispose of them properly for you :)

If you can wait about a week, i'll give you a much better answer regarding the receiver. I'm going to be trying an Onkyo SR-805 with OM-9s (which are similar to the OM-6s) and will let you know if I think there's any significant difference. The Denon is supposed quite a good receiver, and the two critical parts of the equation in the receiver would be the DACs for converting digital data to analog (assuming your source is digital, which these days it probably is) and the amp section on the Denon.

What will you be using the system for? As you go to more expensive receivers, there is a point of diminishing returns. The higher models tend to support have virtual sound fields (in some cases) and sometimes support additional decoding formats. I'm not sure what you'd gain by going to the 3803, from a sonic point of view. I'm not familiar with the Denon lineup, but i'd check the DACs on the 3803 vs. 2808 vs. 2308 and see if they're the same. In fact, go out and try to listen to them and see if you can tell a difference. I do know that the Onkyo SR-805 weighs over 50lbs, and uses top-of-the-line Burr-Brown DACs (according to Onkyo). For the price it seems like a bargain (PM for more details but you should be able to get one for a bit under $700 including shipping and possibly taxes depending on where you live).

You could get a cheaper receiver, and a Blu-Ray player, just something else to consider. I should also probably point out that your speakers are still made in Canada, which is nice, since it seems that Mirage like most other companies has moved production off-shore.

ditch-digger

02-22-08, 06:43 PM

thank you mr p..

the 150's have arrived, and are freekin huge...:eek:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/150s001.jpg

tooskinny

02-22-08, 07:33 PM

I have th 150's up front with the 150 center and ed sub. Sounds great in my smaller front room. The sound stage fills the room even with cathedral ceilings:)

ditch-digger

02-22-08, 07:43 PM

I have th 150's up front with the 150 center and ed sub. Sounds great in my smaller front room. The sound stage fills the room even with cathedral ceilings:)

how do you have them mounted/set.

ditch-digger

02-22-08, 08:37 PM

anyone know the female thread size on the rear of the 150..??

ditch-digger

02-22-08, 08:45 PM

3/8” 16 thread

never mind found it...

tooskinny

02-23-08, 09:50 AM

how do you have them mounted/set.

Since I'm using them for fronts I just have them on speaker stands.

ditch-digger

02-23-08, 03:11 PM

Since I'm using them for fronts I just have them on speaker stands.

well i tried them on the wall. no luck with old mounts.

going to try threaded rod, and copper mount (plumbers familiar) and see if that works..

these may be to big for wall mount.:confused:

tooskinny

02-23-08, 03:33 PM

well i tried them on the wall. no luck with old mounts.

going to try threaded rod, and copper mount (plumbers familiar) and see if that works..

these may be to big for wall mount.:confused:

You could get a couple of small shelves (black) and put each on the shelve. Ones with small angle arms would hold the weight I would think.

ditch-digger

02-24-08, 09:28 AM

MDJ51

02-24-08, 12:07 PM

Can the Omnistat sat v2 be used as a center surround? I have no room anywhere else and since I have this one and its mountable on the back wall 6 inches behind TV?? and even with my towers?

ditch-digger

02-24-08, 03:07 PM

well after looking around, and trying to figure a way to mount the 150's i went to the hardware store, and decided to make my own..

3/8 16 thread 1.5 " rod
2 3/8 threaded rod mounts
drywall anchors

$6.00 and i have mounts...:D:D:D

but holy crap was it a pain getting the speaker wires in..:mad:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/002-4.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/006.jpg

fuzzatch

02-24-08, 09:22 PM

Nice work! That looks better than I would have expected being mounted upside down. I notice that the Mirage logo is even oriented the correct way. Is this because the grill was put on upside down or is the logo rotatable (ala the Enery Take series)? I always wondered how they would look mounted that way since Mirage recommends this when mounting the speakers over 6'.

3/8 16 thread 1.5 " rod
2 3/8 threaded rod mounts
drywall anchors

$6.00 and i have mounts...

Thanks for this info. If I do need to mount my Omni 50s on the wall I will know how to do it.

ditch-digger

02-24-08, 09:44 PM

Nice work! That looks better than I would have expected being mounted upside down. I notice that the Mirage logo is even oriented the correct way. Is this because the grill was put on upside down or is the logo rotatable (ala the Enery Take series)? I always wondered how they would look mounted that way since Mirage recommends this when mounting the speakers over 6'.

Thanks for this info. If I do need to mount my Omni 50s on the wall I will know how to do it.

i just turned the grill upside down.
i have to admit they look better upside down.

hatchet

02-24-08, 11:26 PM

Alex solomon

02-25-08, 05:07 PM

Need your help! My listening position is very close to the rear wall. You can say it's actually against the rear wall. Should I buy a speaker mount and try to angle the OM-R2s down to my listening position for a better sound or should I leave them as they are now, flush mounted to the rear wall 4.5 above ear level when seated. My side surrounds are also flash mounted to the side, slightly in front of the LP. Thanks.

gus6464

02-25-08, 05:13 PM

I have my 150 angled towards the listening position.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c9/gus6464/IMG_2910.jpg

Alex solomon

02-25-08, 06:02 PM

gus6464,

where did you get the mounts?

gus6464

02-25-08, 06:18 PM

gus6464,

where did you get the mounts?

They are the mirage omnimounts and I got them from TDI Driver. I went to magnolia in my area and said it would take forever to get so I also called mirage and they wouldn't sell them to me as I had to go through a dealer. So TDI Driver contacted his rep and was allowed to sell them to me even though he is in another state.

Thanks again TDI. :D

Alex solomon

02-25-08, 06:43 PM

Anybody uses speaker mounts that are rated for 20 lbs? Link?

ditch-digger

02-25-08, 07:00 PM

Anybody uses speaker mounts that are rated for 20 lbs? Link?

my anchors are rated for 50lbs pulling out, and 25 lbs pulling down. they are beasts.

home depot for $4.97 for 4

ditch-digger

02-25-08, 07:03 PM

probably not supposed to do this.....

i need one more mirage omni 150, only one......anyone with an extra..:D:D:D:D:D:D:o

hatchet

02-26-08, 12:14 AM

superco.mike

02-26-08, 02:03 AM

I suggest you go with the OMD5s over the omnisat v2's Those paired with a decent sub will sound phenominal. Ive had many many many clients extremely surprised and impressed when demoing a 2 channel set up of the OMD5's paired up with a velodyne SPL1200.

Just make sure that you choose subs wisely. I would reccomend you go with something other than the omni S8 or S10. Paired up with a nice sub the OMD5's are hard to beat.

Another cool thing i thought i should mention. The mirage omni polar satelites work well when placed right up against a wall. The omnipolar driver couples with the wall to give you a bit more bass extension. To those who have the satelites on speaker stands try listening to the speakers in their normal positions on the stands and have someone bring the speaker and set it directly against the wall, as if mounted.
Sorry if everyone knew that already and im just stating the obvious, lol.

superco.mike

02-26-08, 02:09 AM

PULLIAMM

02-26-08, 08:20 AM

thank you mr p..

the 150's have arrived, and are freekin huge...:eek:

You're welcome. Funny, I always thought of them as being rather on the small side by bookshelf standards.

PULLIAMM

02-26-08, 08:44 AM

ditch-digger

02-26-08, 01:13 PM

PULLIAMM

02-26-08, 01:46 PM

just in case i never find a single omni 150. is their another comparable speaker i cant mount on my wall above my tv...?? from mirage.
not very familair with mirage other than the omni's
again this would be a center for my 550 fronts, and 150 rears..

This uses exactly the same drivers as the Omni series:http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATLSC100

Davidt1

02-26-08, 01:48 PM

I love my Omni 350s. They are great speakers.
What I hadn't counted on, however, is that the Cambridge Audio S30 minimonitors are utterly blowing my mind. So much so, in fact, that I may well end up selling the 350s after a bit more A/B testing to be certain.
The only issue is that packing/shipping may be prohibitive, forcing me to find a local buyer (I don't have the original boxes because my apartment doesn't have that much storage space.)

I have been looking for a pair of OMD-5 to use as surround speakers. The Cambridge Audio S30 sounds interesting and it's cheaper than the OMD-5. Can someone do an a/b?

PULLIAMM

02-26-08, 01:57 PM

I have been looking for a pair of OMD-5 to use as surround speakers. The Cambridge Audio S30 sounds interesting and it's cheaper than the OMD-5. Can someone do an a/b?

IMO using the S30s (or the OMD-5s, for that matter) as surrounds would be a waste, kind of like using filet mignon for tacos.

ditch-digger

02-26-08, 02:08 PM

This uses exactly the same drivers as the Omni series:http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATLSC100

was looking at that, but was leaning towards the look of the 150's. single speaker i can mount on my wall. with the same design as the 550/150.

PULLIAMM

02-26-08, 02:12 PM

was looking at that, but was leaning towards the look of the 150's. single speaker i can mount on my wall. with the same design as the 550/150.

In that case, another 150 may be your only option.

Davidt1

02-26-08, 02:22 PM

IMO using the S30s (or the OMD-5s, for that matter) as surrounds would be a waste, kind of like using filet mignon for tacos.

That would be some tacos, don't you think? I think the OMD-5 was designed to used as surround speakers http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/1007mirage/

OK, let's say I will them as mains. Which is better, the S30 or the OMD-5?

PULLIAMM

02-26-08, 02:32 PM

That would be some tacos, don't you think? I think the OMD-5 was designed to used as surround speakers http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/1007mirage/

OK, let's say I will them as mains. Which is better, the S30 or the OMD-5?

The S30 is much better than the Omni 150. The OMD-5 is way more expensive than either, so I have no idea.
(Personally, I will be surprised if and when I hear any speaker that sounds better than the S30 overall, though some might exceed it in specific areas.)

ditch-digger

02-26-08, 03:45 PM

In that case, another 150 may be your only option.

well i guess what i am asking is it was hard to get 2 150's never mind just one.

its hard/impossible to audition mirage speakers where i live.

now it looks like i can get nanosat, or omnisat or some other sats:confused: in single versions. so i guess what i am asking is would any of these work as a center, or no because of the different model. and would something like the nanosat be overwhelmed by the 550 mains..??

thanks again.

TDI Driver

02-26-08, 07:07 PM

well i guess what i am asking is it was hard to get 2 150's never mind just one.

its hard/impossible to audition mirage speakers where i live.

now it looks like i can get nanosat, or omnisat or some other sats:confused: in single versions. so i guess what i am asking is would any of these work as a center, or no because of the different model. and would something like the nanosat be overwhelmed by the 550 mains..??

thanks again.

The Nano and Omni sats would be IMO horribly overwhelmed by the 550's. If it absolutely has to be a wall mounted center channel, the only thing I can think of that would be as close of a match as possible from Mirage without being a step in the wrong direction would be the Omnisat v2-CC (however it retails for as much as your 550's). Yes, the CC has different component drivers, but it is voiced to be a Mirage speaker sharing some of the lines common sonic traits. Obviously the Athena center would be very close as well and considerably less money, but you would have to use some creativity to get it on the wall. From the cool brackets you put together for your 150's, I would say that you may be creative enough to accomplish this feat ;)

superco.mike

02-26-08, 07:48 PM

Ditch Digger,

Why dont you pick up the matching Omni center channel The model is OmniC150.
It retails at around 199.99

hatchet

02-26-08, 10:03 PM

Why not go with the OMD5 as the fronts, The OMDC1 or C2 as the center channel and Nanosat prestige as your surrounds.

The black gloss finish will match perfectly and you could get better electronics to drive the theater or a better sub.

Thanks for the feedback mike!

I'm actually warming up to the idea of intermingling the Mirages as you've mentioned. One question I had is whether or not the OMDC1 is necessary as the center? The OMDC2 is too much a kick in the pants (wallet) for my blood right now, maybe somewhere down the line. I realize the specs (and corresponding price) of the OMDC1 put it above the OMD5. I also know the center channel often times carries the lion's share of a movie's soundtrack and should therefore be considered wisely. I'm not looking to skimp on my HT set up but I could get almost two OMD5's for the price of one OMDC1 ( and a full compliment of them for the price of one OMDC2). So, would you frown upon LCR OMD5's paired with Nanosat Prestiges for the surrounds (only shooting for 5.1 here)?

You also hit on sub selection which was to be a seperate post of mine but I'll toss that in here. I was actually reading a lot of positives here and elsewhere about the many pluses of Mirage subs. I also can't ignore the rave reviews of the SVS and Hsu brand subs. I also make note of the respect the Velodyne's command. Is there a brand/model sub that you would recommend over all others for pairing with not only Mirages but my short list of choices mentioned? BTW...I'm not looking to break the bank with the sub, say a target price of $500, give or take a few $'s!

Finally, my placement will be up against the wall, wall mounted at that. I'm leaning towards the Mirages and the Omnipolar design due in large part to my room's layout. The living room is a large open space. In essence, there is no sweetspot for viewing. It's on the first floor straight up and open to the ceiling and loft on the second. As a possible advantage, the position of the L&R both have a little ceiling overhang which might help to direct the sound down. I'm thinking I might also benefit by toeing them in towards the effective center of my viewing area. I'll try to post a picture of my room later to give you a better idea.

Sorry to drone on and on! I was really lloking for some feedback and am just glad you responded. Thanks again!

AirCeej

02-26-08, 10:58 PM

Torn between two lovers...

I'm contemplating a Mirage 5.1 setup in my living room to match up with my newly acquired Pioneer PDP-5080HD. I have a new in the box Onkyo 605 AVR.

I think I've talked myself out of the Nanosat Prestige speakers. I don't think the frequency response of 110Hz-20kHz is going to do it for me.

So, now I'm torn between the Omnisat v2 sats or the OMD-5's. Yes, sats all around as I'm trying to go for aesthetics (hence my original notion of the Prestige models) while still getting some punch. As far as the OMD-5's, I'd like to pair the L&R with the OMD-C2 and a pair of OMD-R's but the wallet let out a small whimper!

So, the price difference in the v2's and the OMD-5's is roughly $600. The OMD-5's have a little bigger response range (by about 10Hz). Since either of these will be wall-mounted, the OMD-5's are bigger and heavier.

Would the extra $600 net a significant improvement over the v2's? Are the OMD-5's better suited as L&R paired with the other OMD offerings (noted above) as opposed to my proposed all sat setup?

I forgot to mention the Prestige setup would save me about $400 over the v2 setup but I don't think a v2 (LCR) and Prestige (surrounds) arrangement would work if/when I decided to upgrade my front stage.

I'm pretty set on the Mirage line for my living room. I've done a demo of them the best I could given the B&M setups. I'm coming from Klipsch's in my den. I think the omnipolar design will work for my as my living room is very open, a high ceiling that opens to the second floor and no walls to the L&R. It's basically an open living room in between the foyer and dining room on the first floor of my house.

I know, I know, not optimal for HT but until the kids grow up and free up a room in the house, I have to work with what I got.

Let me know 'bout the Mirages :D!

Hey Hatchet,

I’m unfamiliar with the Onkyo but I know a thing or two about the OMD 5’s, Omnisat V2’s and Mirage Omni’s in general; so I can offer some insight in that direction.

Quite some time ago I started a thread called “Pocket Martin Logan’s” (long since archived), highlighting pluses and minuses of the Mirage Omni Series. Due to the associated experience, I bought a pair of Omni 50’s for my then girlfriend, provided certain recommendations and kept an eye on the market for a manufacturer with an omni better suited to my needs (greater fidelity, somewhat smaller than the 50’s, better looking and reasonably cost effective).

When the OMD’s were introduced, my interest piqued and I therefore scheduled auditioning time in three different rooms/systems (one of which in comparison to the Gallo Reference 3.1’s; to see of course how far the 5’s strayed from a known benchmark) roughly 7 months ago. As it was casual listening with one musical selection, I didn’t keep notes on the rooms and equipment (all were separates from Sim Audio, Bryston and Marantz, and I have no idea what the cables and interconnects were). Nonetheless in the spirit of curiosity, the 5’s were loosely auditioned in rooms that were roughly 1,000, 2,000 and 7,000 CF on stands:

• At least 1.5 feet from any surface in the smaller rooms.

• Against a wall with/without absorption material directly behind the speakers in the smaller rooms.

• Toward the middle of the largest room.

• In comparison to the V2 towers, OMD 15’s and Gallo Reference 3.1’s – in different settings.

Given that and with roughly 20 hours on the 5’s, I came away with the following:

• They are far better than the previous Omni Series in matters of fidelity and dispersion characteristics, and better than the current Omnisat V2 Towers in fidelity.

• The grills impart a slight cupped hands upper-midrange coloration.

• Supported conventional wisdom: the closer they are to a wall (within a certain distance), the more their soundstage collapses; however, sound absorption material and/or angling the 5’s can ameliorate that somewhat. Though there is an increased upper bass response in proximity to a room boundary, it can (given the room, etc.) be more annoying or useful – requiring a good amount of experimentation with system components, room placement and/or materials.

• In comparison to the 3.1’s: the 5’s are slightly more ‘boxy sounding’ by roughly 7% (a barely educated guess between me and the sales person) and can’t flesh-out quite as much information in the upper midrange/lower treble. For instance, the 3.1’s and the 15’s for that matter are better at capturing the overall camber of cymbals; interestingly when I paired the 5’s with a sub, this problem mostly went away. From the lower midrange upward, they sounded much closer to the 3.1’s than I would’ve suspected other than the above noted…

• The piece of music I used wasn’t a dynamics showcase so I can’t say how they faired in that regard.

• They easily do things commonly associated with far more expensive transducers, namely: immersing occupants in a reproduced event with a great amount of fidelity, thereby helping to better suspend disbelief. Combine that with the bonuses of: being wall mountable, relatively small, subjectively good looking, very wide dispersion characteristics along with a pretty decent bandwidth – makes them a viable candidate for multipurpose and dedicated rooms (within a given volume) with gear good enough to make ‘em shine.

Because of the above preliminary results, I’m confident enough to use 3 pair in a 6.1 setup.

Now to your question: “Would the extra $600 net a significant improvement over the v2's?” In matters of fidelity and utility, yes. But again, that hinges on the room, where they are placed within it and what you’re going to be connecting them to. If whatever you’ll have upstream from the 5’s (speaker wire, the Onkyo, interconnects, media player, etc.) sounds like typical budget gear – that’s what you’ll get out of the system… However the 5’s are more than good enough to be a mainstay in the system - allowing you to upgrade to better components.

Regards,
=AirCeej=

intence

02-27-08, 01:06 AM

The Nano and Omni sats would be IMO horribly overwhelmed by the 550's. If it absolutely has to be a wall mounted center channel, the only thing I can think of that would be as close of a match as possible from Mirage without being a step in the wrong direction would be the Omnisat v2-CC (however it retails for as much as your 550's). Yes, the CC has different component drivers, but it is voiced to be a Mirage speaker sharing some of the lines common sonic traits. Obviously the Athena center would be very close as well and considerably less money, but you would have to use some creativity to get it on the wall. From the cool brackets you put together for your 150's, I would say that you may be creative enough to accomplish this feat ;)

I'm in the same boat regarding wall-mounting a Mirage Center. Why not just buy a cheap wall-mountable shelf (Home Depot or Ikea, Ikea has cool ones that hide the brackets) and put it on the shelf?

superco.mike

02-27-08, 02:06 AM

Hatchet,
if you have ever gotten a chance to see the OMD5's and the nanosat prestige next to each other, they look identical. They are also made out of the same solid MDF i believe and were seemingly made to match with each other in every way visually. I personally think that the idea of using the prestige as the rears would suit your needs perfectly. The OMD5 retail at 375 and the prestige at 175 i believe.

If it were me i would make sure to get the OMDC1 over the OMD5. I believe something like 85% of most of a 5.1 soundtrack comes from the front 3 channels and fairly large proportion of that comes from the Center channel. I think that the OMD center channel would take your movie watching experience to the next level. I think it uses 2 of the same sized drivers as the OMD5 with one passive radiating tweeter in the middle.

Eventually if you wanted to you could get the OMD15 towers if you wanted to expand seemlessly.

Ive spent time listening to some of the mirage subwoofers and cant complain. Ive also heard nothing but great things about SVS. Ive heard mixed reviews on HSU. As far as im concerned the subwoofer is very very important to my home theater. I would opt to go without a subwoofer at first and save up until i felt comfortable spending a bit more. Thats not to say that any thing in the $500 range would sound poor or inadequate. I think the mirage 10" would be good for your room/application, i just like heavy hitting bowel moving bass. I have a 10" transmission line custom sub driven by a crown amp and behringer cross over for my bedroom, paired up with the OMD5's coincidentally.

But I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the OMD5s paired up with the velodyne SPL1200 / SPL1000 / SPL800 / and even the velodyne MINIVEE, which is nothing special really.
I will try listening to the OMD5's tommorow comparing the velodyne SPL1000 and the OMNIS10 tommorow and will get back to you on what i think.

TDI Driver

02-27-08, 09:11 AM

I'm in the same boat regarding wall-mounting a Mirage Center. Why not just buy a cheap wall-mountable shelf (Home Depot or Ikea, Ikea has cool ones that hide the brackets) and put it on the shelf?

Exactly! :) Plus it will help reduce the distance between the speaker and the rear top of the TV. I love those Ikea shelves; we have a couple in our showroom.

ditch-digger

02-27-08, 01:24 PM

as always tdi came thru. thanks so much.

i guess i just wanted a similar speaker to the ones i have. i enjoy the omnipolar sound (if thats what you call it) i really don't want to go with a directional center speaker. the 550's and 150's produce a different sound to me. i realize the athena and the c150 are "made" for the omni's but it is a different speaker.

as far as mounting it above the tv on a shelf, i have done that in the past. with a 61" tv, on a stand it seems way to high. almost 4' above listening position, not to mention about 6" further back than the screen.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/011.jpg

well not sure what to do.
i can either buy another pair of 150's...(good luck with that, hard to find)
try the athena, and return if not impressed.
or continue the phantom speaker.:confused:

thanks again.

loxllxol

02-27-08, 02:04 PM

Are there speaker stands made specifically for the OMD-5? Seems like the only thing I can find are for the omnisat/nanos. I'm trying to stay away fr universal stands that dont secure the speaker to the stand itself.

hatchet

02-27-08, 09:24 PM

Combine that with the bonuses of: being wall mountable, relatively small, subjectively good looking, very wide dispersion characteristics along with a pretty decent bandwidth – makes them a viable candidate for multipurpose and dedicated rooms (within a given volume) with gear good enough to make ‘em shine.

Because of the above preliminary results, I’m confident enough to use 3 pair in a 6.1 setup.

However the 5’s are more than good enough to be a mainstay in the system - allowing you to upgrade to better components.

AirCeej, thanks! Sounds like a ringing endorsement for the OMD's!!

I will try listening to the OMD5's tommorow comparing the velodyne SPL1000 and the OMNIS10 tommorow and will get back to you on what i think.

Mike, I look forward to that!

I'm really getting anxious about these speakers. It doesn't help that the wife has upped the pressure to finish out the HT with speakers so she can bathe in full surround sound while watching her beloved American Idol :eek:!

At any rate, I see this as a work in progress and with any good plan, they all must start with a good foundation. I'm sold on the OMD's, I just need to allocate funds. I'll continue to debate my sub choice.

I am seeing a clear future with the OMD's that will allow me to build around it for years to come.

Thanks again for the feedback!

hatchet

02-27-08, 09:41 PM

I do need to toss this out to you guys while I have the floor...

I'll try to get pics up but when my house was pre-wired during construction, the low-voltage installer put blank wallplates where my 5.1 speaker drops are...presenting challenging issues for me re: wall mounting.

Basically, I've got to figure something out that will work with the blank wall plates and the corresponding "hole" in the wall.

What is your take on the macromounts? Is there something that will work in conjunction with them to overcome my "hole" obstacle?

If it's not one thing, it's another :mad:!

PULLIAMM

02-28-08, 11:09 AM

i guess i just wanted a similar speaker to the ones i have. i enjoy the omnipolar sound (if thats what you call it) i really don't want to go with a directional center speaker. the 550's and 150's produce a different sound to me. i realize the athena and the c150 are "made" for the omni's but it is a different speaker.

I have to agree. My HT uses four Def Tech bipolar towers. None of their centers are bipolar, and none sounded "right" to me. I ended up preferring phantom, and don't miss having a real center at all.

PULLIAMM

02-28-08, 12:43 PM

I love my Omni 350s. They are great speakers.
What I hadn't counted on, however, is that the Cambridge Audio S30 minimonitors are utterly blowing my mind. So much so, in fact, that I may well end up selling the 350s after a bit more A/B testing to be certain.
The only issue is that packing/shipping may be prohibitive, forcing me to find a local buyer (I don't have the original boxes because my apartment doesn't have that much storage space.)

After more A/Bing, I concluded that I love the 350s to much not to keep them. The S30s are likely to remain my primary speakers, but I will definitely be inclined to break out the 350s and spend some time with them now and again. (If nothing else, they are purdy.:D)

superco.mike

02-29-08, 12:13 AM

Hatchet,

I did some listening to the OMNIS10 sub. Tried a couple of different music styles. First some electronic music. AYA's strange flower (Naked Music studios) / followed by some John Legend - ordinary people / and finished it up with Jill scotts - a long walk (jazzanova remix).

The S10 is not very musical. I had to adjust the subwoofer channel level a -4 db ,in comparison to the velodyne, in order to get the sub to stop from overwhelming and smearing the midrange of the sats.

I messed a bit with the crossover as well trying 80 to a 100 to 120 to 150. Be prepared to do some tweaking to get this sub and sat combo to work.

VOLKeith

03-04-08, 05:55 AM

ditch-digger

03-04-08, 07:42 AM

If anyone has heard both how would you compare the Omni 550 to the original omnisat? I am currently running 6 ominisats in a 6.1 setup with the sub crossover set at 80Hz. I am considering going 7.1 and replacing the mains with the 550s. Will the Omni 550s be an upgrade for music considering the sub and 80Hz crossover? Also for home theatre was thinking of using the two 550s as the phantom center and doing away with the omnisat I am now using for a center. Would the 550s provide more clarity for speech? So in the end I would have two 550s up front for mains and 4 omnisats as the rear surrounds...good or bad idea overall?

i for one am running 550's as main with phantom center. i could not find a center to match the 550's. mirage and athen have a center that is supposed to match, but its not the same speaker imo. the vocals are clear, and pristine. and i do not miss the center one bit. i also find that unlike other towers with phantom center you do not have be perfectly centered in you seating.
enjoy the 550's they are beasts, and perform extremely well as home theater, and music.

PULLIAMM

03-04-08, 08:00 AM

ditch-digger

03-04-08, 08:10 AM

To my ears, the only differences between the 150s, 350s, and 550s are in the bass. From the midrange up, they sound identical.

would agree...slight but not much in the midrange. way more in the bass. thats what gives you that huge home theater sound even with a sub.
when i got the 150 i placed one on the left, and kept my 550 to the right. and did a comparison.
what a match, finally have that perfect matching sound that engulfs you.

buzzy_

03-04-08, 12:13 PM

I am currently running 6 ominisats in a 6.1 setup with the sub crossover set at 80Hz. IMO the Omnisats don't reach don't to 80hz. At least 100 and maybe 120.

buzzy_

03-04-08, 12:19 PM

i for one am running 550's as main with phantom center. i could not find a center to match the 550's. mirage and athen have a center that is supposed to match, but its not the same speaker imo. But have you heard them? Because many people think the directional centers Mirage has made in the past work just fine with omnidirectional L/R, and can be a lot easier to place than an omnidirectional center.

The Omni CC or OM-C2 might work too, setting aside mounting / placement questions.

VOLKeith

03-04-08, 12:42 PM

To my ears, the only differences between the 150s, 350s, and 550s are in the bass. From the midrange up, they sound identical.

Just to be clear I have the original omnisats that were replace by the V2s not the 150s.

ditch-digger

03-04-08, 02:28 PM

But have you heard them? Because many people think the directional centers Mirage has made in the past work just fine with omnidirectional L/R, and can be a lot easier to place than an omnidirectional center.

The Omni CC or OM-C2 might work too, setting aside mounting / placement questions.

no i have not, very difficult to audition where i live. nothing around me for a long ways.

i figure i will try this set up for a bit. i tend to mix and match until i get it just right. have been running 550's in phantom center, figure i would see what this was like.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/004-1.jpg

gus6464

03-04-08, 02:33 PM

no i have not, very difficult to audition where i live. nothing around me for a long ways.

i figure i will try this set up for a bit.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/004-1.jpg

Ditch your center is too high to be placed like that. See if you can mount it a little higher but upside down.

ditch-digger

03-04-08, 03:27 PM

Ditch your center is too high to be placed like that. See if you can mount it a little higher but upside down.

i got it under 6' its 5'7"...i thought as long as its under 6 it was ok to not invert...??:confused:

60285

03-04-08, 04:22 PM

Just letting everyone know that the 350's are just about non existent anymore. The only place I know of that has them is Vann's and they only have 1 black and 7 cherry as of last night. I tried ordering 2 (black) but to no avail.
So anyone looking for the 350's, looks like we missed the boat. If anyone knows where to get some, PLEASE let me know. I did get the 550's as the mains though.
What would make good rears other than the 350's I was going to get? I am still shocked.....had been keeping in touch with Vann's occasionally, but they flew off their shelves in the last 4-5 days......DAY-UM!!!!!

Paul faust

03-04-08, 04:45 PM

I have the Mirage OM-6's that I bought years ago. They have the built-in powered subs and still sound great and I would like to keep them. Now, I want to build a HT set-up around these. I looked at the OMD-C1 ($750) and the OMD-R's ($2000/pair). I'm having a difficult time justifying spending $2700 just for the center and rears. This doesn't even include a sub. I know Mirage has others (Omni), but there seems to be a significant drop in price and I suspect performance in their other models. I understand timbre matching is important, but am not sure if this is critical. Does anyone have any suggestions on a brand that would complement the OM-6's or must I consider either staying with Mirage or switching brands for all speakers? I could live with spending about $1500-2000 for the center / rears.

buzzy_

03-04-08, 08:12 PM

You could use a pair of OMD5 as surrounds.

m8trix

03-04-08, 08:40 PM

Alex solomon

03-05-08, 08:13 AM

Anybody has any experience using acoustic panels with Mirage OM speakers? Do the panels affect the sound negatively since the Mirages use walls to reflect sound?

rorr1203

03-05-08, 03:31 PM

I’m really intrigued by the a Omnisat v2 setup and I’m considering a set. I’m hoping to get a chance to listen to a them this weekend. From everything I’ve read they seem to be a good match for my HT setup. –--Sm to med size rm - 13Wx17LX8.5H. The TV (Sony KDS60A3000 RPTV will be viewed across the width of the room (13 ft). For the wife acceptance factor and budgetary considerations I will be using our current TV stand and that leads me to my dilemma/question -

The TV stand has center drawer were we now keep the center speaker. Hopefuuly you'll tell me I’m wrong, but I’m guessing it would not be a good idea to put the v2 CC in that drawer because the speakers fire upwards. Would it be possible to “tilt” the speaker forward? If I can’t put the CC in the drawer the other option is on a shelf on top of the TV(my wife prefers it in the drawer), but is there an issue with the speaker be that high (about 60”)?

Thanks

Bob

m8trix

03-05-08, 08:50 PM

i just got a pair of OMNI 350s and would like to know what some of you think would be best for the price

OMNISAT V2 CC for about $400

or

NANO-CC for $200

is the omnisat worth the xtra $200

VOLKeith

03-05-08, 10:08 PM

i just got a pair of OMNI 350s and would like to know what some of you think would be best for the price

OMNISAT V2 CC for about $400

or

NANO-CC for $200

is the omnisat worth the xtra $200

I have not heard either so take this with a grain of salt. The Omnisat would seem to be much, much better than the Nano based on specs. I don't know if either would be matched to the 350s though. Also $400 is alot to spend on one speaker considering the mains. I am in the same boat looking for a center and am thinking about using my existing Omnisat or getting an Athena LSC-100. I would like to try the V2CC but $400 geez....and if it did not sound good with the 550s that would suck.

maxstachow

03-05-08, 10:16 PM

buzzy_

03-06-08, 06:34 AM

Re m8trix and VOLKeith search for a center - is there no one still here who actually bought the Mirage C150 that's sold to go with these speakers, or the similar Athena model?

In any case you should read the discussion in the last few pages about those speakers.

I wouldn't use a Nano anything as a center except in a very small room and only with other Nano sats.

ditch-digger

03-06-08, 07:48 AM

alright here we go..

as you may have read in the past posts i bought a pair of 550's (they still have some at crutchfield for cheap)
then thanks to mr pulliman from avs, i acquired a pair of 150's for the rear.

well over the past week or so i have gone thru different set ups.
tried the 150 as the center above the tv, and below.
placed it high and inverted it to see if there was a difference.
placed the 150's in the rear inverted up high, then low (same height as the 550's)
when i had a 150 as center i kept re-playing a scene over and over again and switching the 150 off, and on (phantom center)

from all this work and many wall patches :D i have came to this realization.

1. i will no longer look for a matching center. thought about the 150, or the athena 100. the 550's do such a fantastic job (like no other speaker i have heard before) at creating the phantom center. that there is no need for one. in fact when comparing the 150 center, and phantom. i actually thought the phantom sounded better. it followed the actors on the tv and was very clear. wonderful.

2. the 150's match the 550's perfect. i thought the sound was more even, theater like when they were at the same level height wise as the 550's. i now have them mounted up right, at exactly the same height.

3. after all this i can finally be done with the speaker search and continue on with the receiver end.

4. keep the 550's at at least 12" from the back wall. let the omni technology do its job. they spread 6' wide from each other.

5. the 150's are fine on the wall but i have them 12" from the side wall. they are ported in the front also which eliminates a port plug.

6. i keep the grills on the fronts, both take the top grills off. let the omnis breath..

7. these are the best speakers for home theater i have had, or bought for the money...

$330. for the 550's crutchfield scrath & dent (they had neither)
$125 for used 150's perfect.

$480 total 12 g speaker wire for fronts, and home made wall mounts for 150's

buzzy_

03-06-08, 11:09 AM

intence

03-06-08, 11:23 AM

hey guys whats up? i just bought the omnisat v2 series w/ fs,cc,sats and the s10 sub. i've herd good things about mirage and i cant wait to get them in. does anyone else have this setup that could tell me their opionion about them. i tried to get a hold of the omni 350's, c150, and 150 for rears but i couldnt find them so i went w/ the v2's. how do you guys think they compare?

The OmniSat v2 is a different grade of speaker, they're designed to be smaller and more compact than the Omni Series. Having said all of that, the tweeter appears to be better in the OmniSat Series (PTH type).

I recently tried out a pair of OmniSat v2's, and was very impressed with the sound.

You'll get fuller sound/bass with the larger Omni series speakers, but that's true for any larger speaker vs. smaller speaker.

rorr1203

03-06-08, 12:20 PM

Hello all, in order to stay within budget I’m trying to cobble together a complete OMNI system by finding different components from different sellers. I found a set of the v2 FS off of Craigslist and I’ve run across some Omnisat Micros for a good price. Question is will the Micros be a good rear speaker match with the v2 FS?

ditch-digger

03-06-08, 12:20 PM

"the sound was more even, theater like when they were at the same level height wise as the 550's. i now have them mounted up right, at exactly the same height." Bingo.

Maybe you can testify to some of the newbies posting in the main forum that they might as well put their speakers in the right place sooner rather than later.

i agree, but with me its always try for myself. for years i always had the rears either very very high, or on the back wall. with the 150's at the same height as the 550's its a whole different world....:D, as far as whole in the wall, the wife could car less, its my small space and she rarely comes up.

maxstachow

03-06-08, 02:07 PM

thanks for the feedback intense i was wondering how the base would sound w/ the v2 fs. The omni s10 sub should compensate for the low end right?

PULLIAMM

03-07-08, 08:00 AM

1. i will no longer look for a matching center. thought about the 150, or the athena 100. the 550's do such a fantastic job (like no other speaker i have heard before) at creating the phantom center. that there is no need for one. in fact when comparing the 150 center, and phantom. i actually thought the phantom sounded better. it followed the actors on the tv and was very clear.

This has been my experience with my Def Techs as well (bipolar being similar to omnipolar.) I haven't used a center in years. I haven't tried my 350s as HT mains yet, but I probably should.

60285

03-07-08, 11:15 AM

I received my Athena LS-C100 a couple of days ago, and got my receiver (Onkyo 705) and my Omni 550's this morning. Two small hitches:
1) The delivery guy told me he delivered a package for me (my cables and banana plugs) yesterday, but delivered it to the wrong address!!! Moron!!!
2) One of my 550's was black and the other was cherry. Now I have to send it back and wait until I get the matching speaker.

The point of this baby rant is that I am one of those who actually purchased the Athena to try with the 550's. I was going to try it both ways and let you know which IMVHO was better. I will still do this, but instead of letting you all know sooner, it will have to be later.

I'm hoping that once everything is in place that it will be worth the (extended) wait!!!

ditch-digger

03-07-08, 02:48 PM

VOLKeith

03-07-08, 06:57 PM

RBgunner

03-07-08, 07:03 PM

Just sent my Omni 350s and 550s back. For the price their sound was OK. Not near the clarity, depth, or imaging of my old 1989 Polk 11Ts. The really bad thing was that I had a tweeter go bad right out of the box on one of the 550s and now the mid-range on one of the 350s has gone bad. These speakers were hooked up to a system I have had set up for several years with a good NAD amp and NAD CD player. I play mostly classical music so it had nothing to do with over powering them. Just bad components I guess. Had to give them a try based on all the positives stated on this thread and the fact that the price was very good. But, sent them back and purchased Paradigm Monitor 9s instead. Wow, very good sound. Beat my Polks. But of course, quite a bit more expensive. Just wanted to post my experience with the Omnis for what it is worth.

TDI Driver

03-07-08, 07:40 PM

Wow RB that is pretty shocking to hear your bad experience. I've sold quite a few Omni Series speakers and the Mirage line for many years and have never had any issues. Guess your 550's and 350's came from a rare bad batch. Ultimately, I'm glad that you found a speaker in the Paradigms that fit your needs. Happy listening!

JackB

03-07-08, 08:25 PM

I'm considering the OMD-15 speaker. Has anyone installed these and can you tell me whether or not I will need a subwoofer to go with them? I watch about 3/4 movies and listen about 1/4 cds.

Jack

ditch-digger

03-07-08, 09:54 PM

just another pic of the 550's

love these things..

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/fluffyrunnells/011-1.jpg

loxllxol

03-08-08, 01:20 AM

I'm considering the OMD-15 speaker. Has anyone installed these and can you tell me whether or not I will need a subwoofer to go with them? I watch about 3/4 movies and listen about 1/4 cds.

Jack

That's a highly subjective question. Common-sense would suggest that for HT, a sub is a necessity. How big is your room?

RBgunner

03-08-08, 04:30 PM

TDI, yes, I know. I was really looking forward to hearing the 550s and 350s and the omnidirectional aspect, but unfortunately, I must have gotten a bad couple of sets as you say. Just did not have the heart to try two more sets, so I went with the Paradigms. I am sure overall the Omnis are great speakers for their price range, it would seem they are any way given all the good talk about them on the forums. I would love to hear them in someone else's set up to see what they can really sound like. Never got that chance in my room.

JackB

03-08-08, 08:56 PM

My room is 15.5 wide by 29.5 long. The rear speakers are at about 17 feet. The 12 feet behind the rear speakers is the dining area. It's a townhome.

Jack

PULLIAMM

03-10-08, 10:11 AM

I have decided to sell my 350s because I love my Cambridge minimonitors that much! They are in 100% mint condition, but I don't have the original packing materials (not enough storage space), and this will add to the shipping cost.
PM if interested. (Local pickup in OKC would be awesome!)

VOLKeith

03-10-08, 11:01 AM

Well got my 550s and one of them is cherry and one is black. Crap what the heck is wrong with Vanns? This sucks big time. I set them both up anyway to try them out. They sound good to me straight out of the box. For music I do not need a sub with these that is for sure. Turned the bass on my receiver down 3db.

Break in? What is moderate levels... <90db?

Will try a few movies with and with my omnisat center to see how they do as a phantom. One thing for sure is these things are much more efficient than the ominsat...these things are loud.

PULLIAMM

03-10-08, 11:05 AM

Well got my 550s and one of them is cherry and one is black.

Their stock is almost gone. Maybe they don't have two of the same color?

VOLKeith

03-10-08, 11:54 AM

Their stock is almost gone. Maybe they don't have two of the same color?

Well maybe they thought I would not notice:D

60285

03-11-08, 12:31 AM

Partial quote from VOLKeith: Well got my 550s and one of them is cherry and one is black. Crap what the heck is wrong with Vanns? This sucks big time.

This is what happened with me when I received my 550's last Friday. I (after the customary 20 minute wait) found out that the brain surgeon that was taking the online orders thought the options were CHarcoal or CHerry, therefore was putting in all orders with a CH on the end, signifying CHERRY speakers......these are supposed to be black ash anyway, NOT charcoal, and still got a mis-pick anyway...so at least they got one right, even though they messed that one up, too...it wasn't what was on my packing list.....
In any event, I have another black one being sent to me.....customer service was going to make me wait until they got mine back, but one of the good folks in the shipping department called me back shortly afterwards and said they were sending me out the right speaker that day, which they did. At least they fixed their boo-boo right away. Vanns is usually very good, so I guess I'll give 'em a pass on this one....
As of Friday, they only had 35 BLACK ASH left...minus mine....so 34 and counting......

VOLKeith

03-11-08, 06:02 PM

VOLKeith

03-11-08, 06:16 PM

I tired the phantom center with the 550s and the Omnisat center. The 550s sounded good as a center and were very clear, but the sound seemed much better seperated with the real center. The Omnisat is not as clear though and a lot of this is probably because it is placed above my screen against the wall. Also the disadvantage to the phantom center is you have to have the volume up enough to hear the dialogue and this can make the sound too loud overall if watching a movie while other are sleeping. With a dedicated center you can turn the center up a little to hear the dialogue and leave the rest of the sound effects at a lower level. I think I am going to try the Athena C100 or maybe an omni 150 as the center. The Athena is rear ported and I wonder how it will sound with port plugs. The best option is probably the C100 on a stand a bit from the wall in front of the screen but wanted to avoid a center on a stand if possible. The Omni 150 is front ported so I thought it may work well on the wall and match good with the 550s.

ditch-digger

03-16-08, 03:38 PM

anyone looking

the impossible to find mirage omni 150c is available at crutchfield in the scratch and dent.

i got both 550's from crutchfield, very good to deal with, and neither scratch or dent on my 550's. just the box was beat up.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7u6wqNf04db/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=653omc150&search=mirage+c150

tooskinny

03-16-08, 05:40 PM

Anyone running the 150c using the port plug? If so how does it sound.

PULLIAMM

03-18-08, 11:45 AM

I love my Cambridge speakers, but I also still love my Omni 350s (These speakers are very different from each other, and each has its unique charms.) The plan at this point is to keep both and occasionally swap them.
Do you guys prefer your Mirages with or without the grille covers on?

PULLIAMM

03-18-08, 11:47 AM

Anyone running the 150c using the port plug? If so how does it sound.

The port plug is only meant to be used when the speaker is very close to the wall behind it.

VOLKeith

03-19-08, 09:51 PM

Do you guys prefer your Mirages with or without the grille covers on?

My 3 year old likes to use the grill covers as helmets.:D

I tried the 550s without the covers and think they sound better but it probably is just in my head. I will need to leave them on for protection though. When he was 2 he stuffed my sub port full of his PJs and put golf balls in the port hole as well.

ditch-digger

03-19-08, 10:05 PM

fuzzatch

03-19-08, 11:26 PM

I keep the covers on mine. With the original Omni series, it's all or nothing with the way they were designed (front cover attaches to the top). Also, that shiny disk inside of the Omniguide would probably be very tempting for my 2 year old daughter, something about having to push anything that looks like a button. Better to be safe then sorry!

PULLIAMM

03-20-08, 08:36 AM

i keep the tops off, and the fronts on. i like the look.

I hadn't even though about that as an option. I was thinking either both on or both off.
I haven't arrived at a definite preference yet, but am leaning towards leaving them off. (No kids or pets to worry about.) The silvery look of the cones goes well with my silver components, ant to me they look more compact without the covers.
I am also starting to feel that, while the Cambridges are awesome in a relative sense (relative to size and price), the Mirages are better overall and will probably be my listening preference most of the time. They also reduce my interest in experimenting with other brands because the Omni imaging spoils me for conventional, monopole designs.

HarleyRider

03-21-08, 03:15 PM

I currently have a 7 channel Mirage setup - OM-9 fronts, OM-C2 center, and 4 OM-R2's for side and back surrounds. I'm thinking of replacing the OM-9's with the OMD-15's. Ideally, I'd like to keep my OM-C2 center and OM-R2 surrounds. Would the OMD-15's be a good match with the OM's I already have? And is it worth it to upgrade from the OM-9's to the OMD-15's? Should I consider the OMNI 550's? (Asthetically, they won't match the high gloss black of the rest of my OM's, but I guess that isn't the end of the world if the sound is there.)

buzzy_

03-21-08, 05:00 PM

HarleyRider

03-21-08, 05:24 PM

Opinions will vary but ..

Match - it would be for many if not most people, though what one person considers a match another person might not. The OMC2 is a beast, in the best sense of the word, so if you have a place for it it's worth trying. Probably depends on how much you use it and personal preference.

Worth it - hard to say - are you unhappy with something or do you just want to try something new? The Omniguide approach is an improvement IMO from the old front and back array. But the OM line was/is something special.

550s - great deal for the money, but not really an upgrade from what you have.

Buzzy - thanks for the reply. I'd definitely like to keep the OM-C2. It's one of the best centers I've heard. No complaints there. As for replacing the 9's, I'm not unhappy with them, just looking for something with a little more low-end and a little bit fuller sound and thought maybe the OMD-15's would give me that. Then maybe I could re-purpose the OM-9's for side surround. And my thought was that I wouldn't have to replace my Mirage center and surrounds if I upgraded to a newer Mirage speaker for the fronts, assuming they were a close enough timbre match. A lesser reason is that I really need to bring the OM-9's quite a way into the room because of the back array. I was assuming (maybe incorrectly?) that I could push the OMD-15's a little closer to the front wall since they have the Omniguide instead of the rear firing drivers. Unfortunately there are no dealers near me that carry the OMD line, so I'd probably be buying online from Vann's or Crutchfield. Would appreciate any other thoughts about the sound of the OMD-15's. And price being equal, who's better to buy from - Vann's or Crutchfield?

ditch-digger

03-21-08, 08:05 PM

Buzzy - thanks for the reply. I'd definitely like to keep the OM-C2. It's one of the best centers I've heard. No complaints there. As for replacing the 9's, I'm not unhappy with them, just looking for something with a little more low-end and a little bit fuller sound and thought maybe the OMD-15's would give me that. Then maybe I could re-purpose the OM-9's for side surround. And my thought was that I wouldn't have to replace my Mirage center and surrounds if I upgraded to a newer Mirage speaker for the fronts, assuming they were a close enough timbre match. A lesser reason is that I really need to bring the OM-9's quite a way into the room because of the back array. I was assuming (maybe incorrectly?) that I could push the OMD-15's a little closer to the front wall since they have the Omniguide instead of the rear firing drivers. Unfortunately there are no dealers near me that carry the OMD line, so I'd probably be buying online from Vann's or Crutchfield. Would appreciate any other thoughts about the sound of the OMD-15's. And price being equal, who's better to buy from - Vann's or Crutchfield?

great luck, and service with crutchfield.

Alex solomon

03-21-08, 08:32 PM

buzzy_

03-22-08, 07:46 AM

fwiw a couple threads on the OMD 28 with, IIRC, discussion of placement

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=721369

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=836867

PULLIAMM

03-24-08, 08:27 AM

I am also starting to feel that, while the Cambridges are awesome in a relative sense (relative to size and price), the Mirages are better overall and will probably be my listening preference most of the time.

Turns out I was wrong. More comparison convinces me that the greater bass extension and larger soundstage of the Omnis are worth giving up for the other qualities that the S30s have to offer.
My Omni 350s are still for sale, with local (Oklahoma City) pickup preferred.

martinphillip03

03-31-08, 07:46 PM

bmp

Sax

04-01-08, 04:58 PM

I can pickup the Mirage V2FS fronts and the V2CC center for $1010 shipped, is this a good price on these speakers.

60285

04-07-08, 08:34 PM

Well...it's been enough of a testing sample size to throw out my 2 cents worth. The 550's got their 100 hr break in and today I decided it was time to "stretch their legs" a little, so I played from classic rock to jazz to acoustic to chamber music through these.

I have the 550's as the front L/R with an Athena center speaker hooked up to an Onkyo 705. I'll start with the Athena....it is a monster for the money. It (in my space) is a very wide range center but you NEED to back it off a little with the 550's or it is somewhat dominant. This may be because it is direct radiating, but whatever the case I found that I needed to back it off about 4 db for it to be a good mesh with my 550's, BUT for $100, I think it is a GREAT value. There is no detectable distortion at any volume, my only (small) issue was to find the right amount to back it off.

I have the 550's as my front L/R with no subwoofer (yet), so I have my 550's set to full range. These hit the lows very cleanly no matter what the type of music or sound effects that run through these. I am very happy with how these handle the lower ranges, though I haven't quite zeroed in the upper midrange/highs. Believe me, it's NOT bad at all; in fact it's pretty darn good, but I'm trying to hone in on just a little more "live" or "clean" sound (but it's close). I'm not sure whether it's because of how my house is configured, or if I need to trick my 705 a little more. They are in the living room, but I have an open kitchen AND dining room to one side, with an open hall in back.

I stretched out the volume ALL the way and these speakers handled it wonderfully. Once again, NO distortion whatsoever from what I could tell and man, they were LOUD but CLEAR. This tells me that the speakers are made pretty solidly. I almost forgot, these puppies do end up presenting a nice wide soundstage, too.

I am no audiophile, per se, but I know the things I'm listening for, and these cover just about everything wonderfully. I can understand some speakers maybe having a more "natural" sound, but these ARE close and I'm sure those "natural" sounding speakers would have an outrageous (totally "unnatural") price tag.

IMHO, for $500 worth of speakers I think I got an incredible value. My receiver cost more than the 3 speakers. These 550's for me are a pretty nice treat: I was expecting much less in overall quality for what I paid (nevermind the receiver). This 3 channel setup pretty much kicks a$$.

My goal is going to be a full 7 channel setup with subwoofer, and with what I have up in the fronts....I know I'm going to have some SERIOUS audio.

tim3320070

04-07-08, 10:18 PM

ditch-digger

04-11-08, 06:39 PM

crutchfield has the omni 150c back in stock...

ditch-digger

04-13-08, 06:48 PM

ok i am a hypocrite

i have stated a few times that i don't need a center with my omni 550's

i did some testing w/phantom, and center. and really found no difference. or benefit from a center.

well i ordered the omni 150 center....:o

i still stand by what i said, but it would look real cool under the projector screen..:D

PULLIAMM

04-14-08, 09:59 AM

I have been occasionally swapping between my Cambridge S30s and my Mirage 350s, as both are excellent and I enjoy each pair on its own merits. Recently, however, one of the 350s has developed a buzz in the tweeter (noticeable only with some listening material.) I never drive speakers hard, so it can't be blown. What else could cause it? Can it be fixed?

xcopy.exe

04-16-08, 02:45 AM

Hey all. I currently have a 7.1 system consisting of 7 spherex omni-polar speakers connected to a Sony DA4300ES receiver. I use it 70% movies, 20% games, and 10% music.

I've been on the fence about getting the Omni 350 and I waited too long and they're pretty well sold out.

But Vanns dropped their price today on the Omni 550 and I couldn't resist so I ordered a pair.

I'm planning on using the 550 as the front left and rear and as a phantom centre. What I'm not so sure about is if the Spherex satellites will work well with the 550. Or since the 550 are sooo cheap now, would having additional 550 as surrounds be overkill?

Thoughts? Anyone use the 550 or 350 in conjuction with the Spherex speakers?

Thanks.

buzzy_

04-16-08, 10:15 AM

Thoughts? Huge upgrade. Think about getting a center and a sub. Don't think at all about changing the surrounds until after that. 550s are insane to consider as surrounds if you're able to use the Spherex speakers in your room now.

intence

04-16-08, 04:44 PM

If anyone didn't catch the gist of Xcopy's post above. Vanns has lowered the price of the 550s (including shipping?!?!). This is a crazy deal. At this price it would make sense to get a bunch. Excellent deal. If you were on the fence about trying these, it seems hard to resist at these prices :)

buzzy_

04-17-08, 07:02 AM

intence, posting a deal at a site like slickdeals pretty much guarantees it will get picked up at all the deal sites and sell out immediately. so it guarantees that almost no one here will have a chance to buy them.

post by you? (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=798160)

copied by other sites around the web? (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mirage+omni+550+vanns)

Alex solomon

04-17-08, 07:33 AM

550 sold out!!

PULLIAMM

04-17-08, 09:16 AM

This bears repeating before it gets buried: my 350s are fairly new, but one of them has already developed a tweeter issue. This in spite of the fact that I never play them loud or drive my amp anywhere remotely approaching clipping. I could have a lemon, but it is still something to consider.

TDI Driver

04-17-08, 08:51 PM

PULLIAMM, another forum member "bjorn" had a similar issue with his 350s. Even though he ordered a replacement tweeter from Mirage (MirageParts@klipschgroup.com) he came to find that the buzz he was hearing was actually generated by resonance from one of the ports on that particular speaker. Not saying that this is what is happening in your case, but it may be something to check out. His report is somewhere buried in this thread I think.

As a store that also does speaker repair, I can say that the RoHS compliance laws, which have altered the chemical make-up of epoxy used in speaker repair/production (among other things), has created certain definite issues with how things stay together. In short, the cure time on the new epoxy is inconsistent and varies from item to item even though they are the same item. It would not be surprising to me if the adhesive on the ports are coming loose causing the issue that bjorn had.

Who knows? Maybe your 350 is simply a lemon. Anyway, I wish you the best in getting to the bottom of it and resolving your issue.

Best,
TDI

PULLIAMM

04-18-08, 08:27 AM

It would not be surprising to me if the adhesive on the ports are coming loose causing the issue that bjorn had.

Hmm. While moving the speakers, I did notice that one of the port tubes felt a little loose. It wouldn't have occured to me that that would cause buzzing, but now that you mention it I see how it could. Pulling it loose and re-gluing it would be an uption, but the only access would be by removing the front bass/midrange driver, which sounds like a major pain in the butt!:(

TDI Driver

04-18-08, 09:08 AM

. . . but the only access would be by removing the front bass/midrange driver, which sounds like a major pain in the butt!:(

Not as big of a pain as replacing one of their tweeters though! Believe me it is no picnic.

Glad I could help out, and if you decide to take upon the project, let us know the outcome.

Best,
TDI

BTW, based on your reports of the Cambridge S30's we have decided to bring them in for display. Thanks for the tip!

GioGambino

04-18-08, 10:44 AM

Ok, I didn't realize there is a dedicated thread to Mirage speakers. Here is what I posted in a general thread last night. Let me know what you guys think.

Ok guys, I have been on the lookout for a replacement system. I currently have 4 Athena B1.2's, 1 Athena C1.2 and an Athena P4000 subwoofer. Due to the new condo I purchased, I haven't even had the rear B1.2's set up.

Tonight I was in Best Buy and they had some speakers as "Open Box" items. I noticed that they had the Mirage Nanosat Prestige 5 system there and they were out of the box but brand new. Not a scratch on them and they didn't even look as if they were used.

The retail on the set was $899 and they had them marked down to $599. It seemed like a good deal but I couldn't jump in unless I bargained. I offered them $500 and the clerk accepted. So I got the system for $500 and these puppies seem brand new. I just set them up and they sound good although I can't turn up the volume too much at the moment.

I listened to them in the store and looked at mostly good reviews. Are these a good set of speakers, and did I get them at a good price? Thanks!

Venomous

04-19-08, 02:24 AM

GioGambino

04-19-08, 04:26 AM

Hell yea you got a good price. I went to BB Magnolia today on thr search for the Prestige's... They had none in stock. The magnolia guy told me best buy is going to start carrying less and less because they arent moving product whatsoever. Im going to try another local BB and see what i come up with. Im on the search for those for my condo as well. I think the V2 floors are going to be too much. I even contemplated a omni bar as well if i cant find a good deal on these. Ill just add some nanostats to the rear and do some kind of sub.

Good luck in your search! Yeah man I couldn't believe that the guy accepted $500. They are literally in flawless condition. I saved $400 off retail.

If you do find some at a local Best Buy, definitely try to bargain with them. Even at a $300 discount, there was still $100 wiggle room in the price. Heck there might have even been more but I only asked for $100 extra off. Good luck!

PULLIAMM

04-21-08, 10:39 AM

Glad I could help out, and if you decide to take upon the project, let us know the outcome.

It worked. The buzzing is gone.
I still prefer the Cambridges, though (and I also prefer them to my $1000/pr Def Tech BP10Bs for music.)

TDI Driver

04-21-08, 12:21 PM

It worked. The buzzing is gone.
I still prefer the Cambridges, though (and I also prefer them to my $1000/pr Def Tech BP10Bs for music.)

Congrats. Hopefully anyone else who runs into this issue will find this solution before it gets too far buried.

Sounds like you have quite a speaker collection going - happy listening!

PULLIAMM

04-22-08, 08:52 AM

Sounds like you have quite a speaker collection going - happy listening!

Actually only four pairs, three of which are in full-time use. If I kept all the speakers I bought instead of selling them or giving them away, then I would have a huge collection (far more than I could hope to store!):p

PULLIAMM

04-24-08, 08:10 AM

I tried something that seemed silly but actually worked. Since one loose port caused audible buzzing, I thought "what if the others are slightly loose, and this is causing subtle distortion?" I then pulled out the remaining 3 ports and reattached them with Krazy glue. Maybe I am hallucinating, but I could swear it is an improvement. In fact, it tipped the balance so that I now (at least temporarily) prefer them to the Cambridges.

HTMAN21

04-24-08, 09:48 PM

It worked. The buzzing is gone.
I still prefer the Cambridges, though (and I also prefer them to my $1000/pr Def Tech BP10Bs for music.)

You probably had a defect in your Klipsch speakers, otherwise you would never trade them for the Def Techs.

PULLIAMM

04-25-08, 08:38 AM

You probably had a defect in your Klipsch speakers, otherwise you would never trade them for the Def Techs.

I agree that they were "defective" from my point of view, but not from that of a Klipsch fan.:) Def Techs are great speakers, but I like them better for movies than music.
My preference for the Mirages didn't last, and the CAs are back in my system (the Mirage sound is big, powerful and involving. Unfortunately, it continues to be plagued by subtle distortions, probably mostly from cabinet resonance. The CAs have no such issues, in fact their distortion level is so low that it is more like one would associate with an electronic component than speakers.)

HTMAN21

04-25-08, 02:58 PM

I agree that they were "defective" from my point of view, but not from that of a Klipsch fan. Def Techs are great speakers, but I like them better for movies than music.

I agree on this one. We all have our preferences. I was very hesitant to buy Klipsch. I had only heard them demoed on Denon, which in (my opinion) makes most all speakers bright. Most Denon owners will not agree. I have seperates and there is absolutely no brightness with my RF7 set up. I once used a Lexicon processor and the 7's almost gave me ear bleed.
We all have a tendency to recommend what we own regardless of price or SQ. The key is to state that what we hear from components is our opinion and that others may respectfully disagree. I have owned Def Tech products and like you I think their forte is movies. I also prefer yours to the powered ones.

My preference for the Mirages didn't last, and the CAs are back in my system (the Mirage sound is big, powerful and involving. Unfortunately, it continues to be plagued by subtle distortions, probably mostly from cabinet resonance. The CAs have no such issues, in fact their distortion level is so low that it is more like one would associate with an electronic component than speakers.

I prefer the older series of Mirage ( about 20 years ago). The newer towers have bloated bass in my opinion.

mustvid

04-28-08, 09:23 PM

I'm thinking of buying the orginal omnisats (not V2) for surround speakers. I can get a pair for $224. Are these good surround speakers? I have Acculines across the front with a 12 in sub.

Steve Burke

04-29-08, 01:11 AM

I haven't upgraded my speakers in about 10 years, so I figure it's time. My current speakers are the Mirage M-490s. On a scale of 1 to 10, where would the Mirage M-490s generally fit? I am also hoping someone can name a speaker today that would be roughly equivalent to it.

I haven't researched speakers in those 10 years, so I am looking forward to this.

Eric Carroll

04-29-08, 03:37 AM

If anyone is interested, I have a 7 channel set of OM series available - OM-7, OM-C2, and 4 OM-R2s. See the AVS Classified Ad (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=4553).

b4z

04-29-08, 11:41 AM

I have found that the 350s don't sound so great at loud levels.
The tweeter gets a little harsh.

1080pixel

05-01-08, 05:03 PM

LushMojo

05-01-08, 05:18 PM

TDI Driver

05-01-08, 07:24 PM

A reputable electronics dealer has the silver Uni-theater for $300 and the black one for $600. I am thinking getting a silver one and spray paint it black (or dark gray like its cousin).

Has anyone tried that? Problems? Void warranty? Looks tacky/cheap?

Obviously you can't return it once painted.

Never tried it or known anyone who has. Probably won't void the warranty since it is not a modification of any of the parts that matter in such instances. Just make sure that you don't paint any of the drivers in the process. Also, painting the grille could prove to be tricky which could result in the undesired tacky/cheap appearance you most likely are trying to avoid. Best of luck in your endeavor.

TDI Driver

05-01-08, 07:31 PM

Was thinking of picking up some Mirage Omnisat V2FS fronts to replace my Polk Surroundbar (which I don't really like). However, I'm wondering what might be a good center channel with the V2FS fronts? I don't like the look of the V2CC AT ALL. I know it's best to get something matched, but that thing is pure ugly to me (your mileage may vary). Anyone have the V2FS fronts successfully matched with another center? I really like something sleek like the Polk VM20.

I'm using a Denon AVR3080CI and Infinity sub, by the way.

Aside from the V2-CC, the only other Mirage products that use the same composite drivers are the Nanocenter, Nanosat, Nanosat Prestige, and Omnisat V2. Any of those would be a theoretical match, but the V2-CC is the best overall option with the V2-FS. Mirage, unfortunately, has never really had a sleek center channel option. BTW, I have a demo V2-CC I'd let go for an attractive price. Wish I could be of more help. Perhaps someone who has successfully mixed-and-matched will enter with some suggestions.

RWALKER44

05-07-08, 04:00 PM

pbc

05-07-08, 04:09 PM

I'm on the fence between the Uni-theater ($500) or two Nanosat with a cc ($500)...I have heard the Nanosat but not the Uni-theater..Should they both sound the same? Can I get good seperation with the Uni in a small room?

I will pair it up with a sub. Do you suggest the Omni S8 or the Omni S10? I was also looking at the Velodyne subs, but thought it would better better to stay within the brand

I am planning on getting rear speakers later

While I've read good things about the Unitheater, it will never give you the same separation and spacial feeling as seperate speakers.

As for the sub, bigger is always better if you can fit it (goes lower, more headroom etc). Keeping the "brand" consistent should be the last thing on your priority list for subs, it really doesn't matter as you're not looking to "timbre" match or voice match the sub to your speakers.

Regards.

1080pixel

05-07-08, 04:38 PM

Here are two reviews on Uni-Theater:
http://www.soundstageav.com/audiovideotrends/20050901.htm
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?article_id=2031&page_number=1

The Uni_theater speaker is not for everyone. It's main niche is simplification, elegance, minimalism.

1080pixel

05-07-08, 04:40 PM

By the way, the SILVER Uni-Theater is on clearance at Vanns for half the price of the black color.

RWALKER44

05-09-08, 04:48 PM

Thanks for the heads up, I just purchased at Vanns. Although it would be nice to get the seperation. $300 for the Uni-Theater is hard to pass up. Its twice the speakers for half the price. The Uni is also much cleaner looking.

I also just purchased a HSU Sub to go with it. My wife wants the Mirage Omnican for the L,R & rear, but I have not made up my mind.

Venomous

05-09-08, 04:59 PM

i picked mine up last week. I was thinking of grabbing one more. I really want a pair of V2s though and i keep getting screwed on some Ebay auctions. I almost had a pair of V2 floorstanders for $425 shipped.

1080pixel

05-10-08, 01:03 AM

My silver Uni coming Monday 5/12. Got my matte black spray can ready! Hope to post some before and after pix.

Venomous

05-10-08, 01:07 AM

Are you going to disassemble the unit or just tape it up?

GioGambino

05-10-08, 10:48 AM

I'm on the fence between the Uni-theater ($500) or two Nanosat with a cc ($500)...I have heard the Nanosat but not the Uni-theater..Should they both sound the same? Can I get good seperation with the Uni in a small room?

I will pair it up with a sub. Do you suggest the Omni S8 or the Omni S10? I was also looking at the Velodyne subs, but thought it would better better to stay within the brand

I am planning on getting rear speakers later

Go with the Nanosats. I haggled with a Best Buy associate for an open box item. I ended up getting the Prestige 5 set, which consists of 4 Mirage Nanosat Prestige and 1 Nanosat CC. I got that for $500.

Try a Best Buy to see if they have that set as an open box item. The ones I got were essentially brand new, I kid you not. I honestly don't think they were ever used. I could live without the box.

1080pixel

05-10-08, 01:00 PM

Are you going to disassemble the unit or just tape it up?

Definitely remove the grill and spray paint both outside and inside. I might need to spray at an angle and not straight on so "sides" of the perforations get coverage too.

I am thinking of cutting cardboard template for the speakers to cover up them up during spraying. I am not sure about those tiny tweeters yet.

As for the case, I won't install the glass base until the case is painted.

I think it's best to keep the spray paint at least about a foot or foot/half away from the painting surface.

THIS IS NOT INSTRUCTION FOR YOU TO DO IT. IT'S SIMPLY HOW i PLAN TO DO IT.

RWALKER44

05-10-08, 03:46 PM

Look into powdercoating. Not too expensive for an item that small and it will give a nice gloss finish (any color). You will need to remove the speakers though.

You can also go to an auto painter and get a price, may be worth the extra cash. I think the DIY spray paint is a bad idea

tomwil

05-16-08, 10:19 AM

Stopped in BB/Magnolia and decided to get the Mirage Omni S8 Subwoofer. When they brought out the box, I noticed that on the box it said it was made in China. :eek:

I looked at their floor demonstration model, and it was made in Canada. They would not sell me the floor model, so I left empty-handed.

How reliable is Mirage "made in China" electronics? My KLH subwoofer that was made in China died in only a couple of years. I don't want the same thing happening with the Mirage.

The Mirage seems to have a circuit board and transformer, as shown.

http://ebaypics.connect-comp.com/01-01-08/s8b.JPG

PULLIAMM

05-16-08, 02:20 PM

My Mirage Omni 350s are for sale. PM me if interested.

1080pixel

05-19-08, 01:44 PM

Paid 300 for the silver instead of 600 for the black, then painted black myself.
Here are the before and after pix. The 'metallic' in the paint shows up as tiny 'sparkles' because of the camera's flash but I barely see them.
Not as good as the orig black but I think it's worth $300 saved.

TDI Driver

05-19-08, 03:10 PM

How reliable is Mirage "made in China" electronics?

I've sold Mirage before and after the manufacturing shift from Canada to China and I've had the same amount of failures with both countries of origin - 2 each (all but one within warranty and the warranty ones were replaced free of charge).

TDI Driver

05-19-08, 03:10 PM

ultimaterowdy

05-25-08, 03:10 AM

I've got OMD-5 as satellite "mains" & some omnican6's coming as surround. I'm going to splurge on the OMD-C1 to round out the system (oh along w/ a Hsu sub I've had for 10 yrs).

but the question is... can the omd-c1 center sit above the TV? THis would put it at 6' off the ground, and so 2-3' above the ear when seated. Also wondering if you're supposed to turn it upside-down if you do mount it high like that.

Let me know if you have some thoughts or experiences for me. much appreciated!!

05-25-08, 04:37 AM

I bought my in-laws 5 omnisats with a small HSU sub. Not a very accurate sound stage, but sound very open. perfect for my in-laws, who wanted them to be as invisible as possible, and a much better option than the bose system i talked them out of.

skf42002

06-01-08, 04:37 AM

First let me disclose that I am pretty much a newbie when it comes to home theaters. I'm looking to purchase a complete home theater and have already decided on the TV (Samsung LN52A650) and the receiver (Denon AVR-2308CI) but am somewhat undecided on the speakers. The manager at Electronics Expo recommended the Mirage Nano Sats 5.1, but I'm a little concerned that the sub won't be strong enough for my room which is approximately 23' x 18'. Also, I read some reviews where some people had problems with the cc where they had trouble clearly hearing dialog, but I think this may be more of a placement issue rather than an issue with the cc. I'm now considering going with the Nano Sat Prestige system and buying the Mirage M10 sub, however that package will cost $1,400 or so vs the $600 for the Nano Sats 5.1 package. Is it worth the difference in the money? I'm also considering getting the KEF KHT3005 speakers since a salesperson at 6th Ave Electronics recommended these and CNET has them rated as their Editors Choice. The KEF's are on sale at Circuit City for $900 after their 10% online coupon. I appreciate anyone giving me some input. BTW, I anticipate using the speakers as follows: 50% watching TV, 20% gaming, 20% movies & 10% listening to music. Thanks in advance.