Having just recently placed an order for my first pair of Omega speakers, I thought I'd share my thought process and decision, and see if there's anyone else out there with a similar experience.

I've been on the waitlist for a Decware UFO2 (considering upgrading to a 25th Anniversary, we'll see) since February of 2022, currently positioned in the low 800s on the list. Realistically, it'll be well over a year before I get my amp but I was anxious to upgrade my existing bookshelf 86 dB speakers with a pair of Omegas.

Having read through the various forums, I was aiming for a pair of either the flagship SAM HO monitors or the flagship SA HO towers, believing that 1.) I'd be better served by the twin driver 1.5 way design, and 2.) the higher efficiency of 97dB would be a better fit for a 2.3 watt amp.

While the above logic was not proven totally off-base, a conversation with Louis led me in a different direction. Based on my musical and listening preferences (jazz and rock, mostly near-field listening at moderate to moderately loud), Louis conveyed to me that a single driver alnico would be ideal, especially with the option of adding a sub in the future, if desired. Even after I made it clear I was willing to pay more for the HO, Louis steered me toward the single driver speaker, either the SAM or the XRS. I can't quote him directly but he mentioned that based on some very recent modifications and tuning, the single alnico was right up there with the twin alnicos, to the point where the extra money would not be necessary to achieve what I was looking for. This was a surprise, but a welcome one.

Additionally, he seemed confident that the 95dB of the single alnico would pair beautifully with the Zen.

Is anyone else pairing the single alnico with a Decware? I'd love to hear your impressions.

Also, I wonder if anyone can weigh in on the differences between the UFO2 (with upgrades) and the 25th anniversary model. The price difference is not small, but considering the difficulty of obtaining a Decware amp, I don't want to have any regrets.

I placed my order for the Jr. Alnico XRS towers and can't wait to finally hear them. Until I receive my Decware amp, the Omegas will be paired with a Rega Brio3.

I am listening now to my UFO 2.1 with copper mods and the Omega Jr 8 XRS and they are a wonderful combo. The 8’s are 98db and I can listen up to low 90’s if desired, however I typically range in the 70-80 db most of the time. I have no other Decware amp experience so can’t help there. Louis seems to have sound advice, don’t think you can go wrong. I went the 8’s. As opposed to Alnico because of the db difference.

I find there is a trade off.

The amount of energy in music is mind boggling. This is something that we generally overlook and don't pay much attention to.

One 8" driver per channel can only move so much air. Adding more surface area to energize the room adds a quality that isn't really discussed in reviews. Our body feels the sound waves. Just because the note is hit technically, it doesn't mean it has the full information transfer. Listening to a live cello there is a visceral impact. The body takes in the energy and information and relays it to the brain. It's much more that hitting the note.

A cello has a large vibrating surface area. The harmonics, especially the lower harmonics transfer information that the fundamental doesn't. The pressure from the large surface area from the instrument is where the magic is. It's gentle yet has incredible power behind it. Small surface area cannot replicate that.

A petite woman singing a fundamental of 250hz has a massive surface area of sound generation. The harmonics from that voice hit 30hz and below.

Play back with small surface area doesn't bring a lot of information to the listener.

As the number drivers increase and get larger the complexity of getting it correct is exponentially more difficult.

A single 8" driver has a lot going for it. Large enough to produce low frequency pressure while maintaining low distortion.

Even if I only listened to female a cappella I would want more driver surface area done correctly.

I use Louis’ original Super 6 XRS Alnico speakers rated at 96db by him. I use them both in my large room, 24x20x18 and my smaller room 12x13x8 in what are considered near field listening positions. I own and use the Zen 25, Rachael 341.5 and a Taboo mkIV on these speakers. I have used them w/ both Vinyl, digital and streaming services.
My personal favorite amplifier is the 341.5 (w/ some wild and expensive tube rolls) the 341.5 at 6wpc is perfect for my preferences and overall is as Holographic as the Zen25 but provides a slightly sweeter and warmer flavor that I prefer.
The Zen25 is the most holographic and “spacious” sounding amplifier i own but thus far my tube rolls with it tend to be  dryer and more analytical as far as sound signatures go. I am able to sweeten the signature on the Zen25 but it always costs me on bottom end bloom thus i don’t tend to use that option often.
The Taboo MKIV is more mid-centric while maintaining excellent space and depth in the soundstage. Wonderful micro-detail but more rounded on the bottom and top end than both the other amplifiers. When iam really focusing on vocal centric music that is an easy go to for its warmth and more traditional tube styled liquid-like sound signature.

I would love to add a second Zen25 and bridge them both to use as Mono-blocks pushing 6 wpc, that is an eventual desire and goal.

I do use subwoofers but they are not necessarily needed all the time. Most of my listening is done at low volume, between 40-60db. The Omega have a stupidly great dynamic range and at thise volume levels provide more information and performance than many speakers at many times their cost. The Omega are also fast attack spekers and when used in a properly set-up room have incredible imaging and timing, you really need to spend many thousands more to get better. Subwoofers add an excellent increase in depth and space when tuned a certain way and provide deep sub 30hz bass output. For more modern music though, my preference is bigger, 3 way+ speakers being pushed by hundreds of class A/B watts. I can push the Omega’s into higher SPL levels, but a low watt system just doesn’t have the big, bold impactful sound of a properly set up high wattage system using bigger speakers thus i limit the Omegas to whatvthey excel  at.

My Taboo is for sale simply because i have a more powerful mid-centric amplifier available for use that also works well on my low efficiency speakers thus making it superfluous. I hope this bit of information helps you out.

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Having had the S3HOXRS and now the Custom Vintage 8 HO (two 8" drivers) I would concur with the above statement.  I'm not saying that Louis is incorrect, he actually helped me to choose what I have, he knows his product best and I'm sure that as new things are developed things change.

What I am saying is that there is a lot of truth to the above comment.  I FELT exactly what is said in the quote with exactly the same instrument.  I was listening to Melonge, when the cello was played in the low registers, FIRST I FELT it and then I heard it.  That's right, first I felt the that low register sound of the body/strings and bow including the rosin.  It happened, I felt it then I realized what I heard.  Yes it all took place in a matter of seconds but there was a definite order in which I experienced the reproduction of a cello in my space.  I played it several times over because I wanted to make sure that I wasn't imagining it.  The complexity of this is hard to explain.

I do not think that would have happened without moving the amount of air that was moved as fast as it was moved.  

I would like to add this, without the rest of the components being up to "speed".  No speaker would have reproduced the experience IMO.  Source, amplifier AND speaker all have to synergize.