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Stay where I am or .......

Should I keep the Optimus 7 or go with the hpm 100

  • Pioneer

    Votes: 5 55.6%

  • Optimus

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • Total voters
    9
Kybronco

Kybronco

Active Member
Someone with fresh thoughts help me. I have a pair of RS Optimus 7 speakers which I enjoy for there vintage looks and heck they are just different from what other people have . They actually sound pretty good with Jazz or classical or music from the period they were made . But slap on some ac/dc or some 90s grunge and a not so good . So now I just acquired a Pioneer sx 980 and I was thinking maybe putting it together with a pair of hpm 100. Keeping it vintage and staying with the same brand and matching cabinets. But between these two choices of speakers should I maybe upgrade the Optimus 7 to make them better or just get the hpm 100s ????? Help it’s making me crazy
 
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HPM 100's bring a lot more money than they should due to being collector items. If you have the money and like the 100's the decision is yours. If you are budget minded than audition as many speakers as you can and get the best value.
 
What is the issue with the Optimus on hard rock? Perhaps it can be addressed. Full disclosure on my bias; I am a Rat Shack fan.
 
As some of you guys know I have (4) pair of the Optimus 7 speakers. Just love them.. I have AC/DC Back in Black remasterd cd and sounds very good. "Raw and Organic" through the Opt 7s. My favorite pair uses Audyn Cap-Plus Capacitors and do not sound dull at all.. Very open and fine detail. Have your caps been replaced? They will never be as forward sounding as the HPMs, Just a different design from each other. I'm using a McCormack DNA One D.E. power amp and Marantz SA 8005 cd player and sounds just wonderful. Also, I keep my speakers up about 10-12" above the floor for better imaging.
 
After looking into the 7's, they are more speaker than what I would have expected from the Optimus line - clearly a TOTL speaker. Big, heavy, has a 12" woofer. Gotta wonder what's causing your bass issues.

Do the 7's woofers have foam, rubber or fabric surrounds?

Have these speakers ever been recapped?

Does room placement make any difference?

100% sure they are hooked up in phase?

What are your tone control and loudness settings when you listen to rock?
 
Nothin wrong with em . Tox posed the right questions .

Are those 5’s next to it ? Like these ?
 

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Katalyst said:
Thanks. Those are beautiful . I wonder why the OP 's do not "rock"?
Click to expand...
Inside the speaker, the blue wire goes to the Neg connector and the black goes to the Pos connector to the woofer. Maybe the OPs are not connected correctly. Just a guess. Probably needs new capacitors..
 
What have you been running the Nova's with? Have you run them with the SX-980?
 
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I missed on a pair of Optimus 7s last weekend. I called the guy Saturday night and made arrangements to pick them up Sunday at about 1pm. I knew which was his neighborhood in the next town (about 40 minutes drive) and as arranged called when I got close.

Sure enough, they were gone with who he claimed he thought was me. I wish I could have at least heard them as they've always been on my list and this is the first time I've seen any fairly local.

I had HPM100s and long since moved them down the road. Of course, I can't compare the two since I've never heard the Optimus 7s.
 
Hi guys! i'm really enjoying the discussion. So I guess what i'm saying is when I listen to Dusty Springfield do The look of love or listen to the Girl from Ipanema it's a different more enjoyable experience than when I listen to ac/dc Thunderstruck or Motley Crue Kick start my heart. I'm currently pushing these with a Sansui G5500 . which I must say does a better job than the Pioneer sx 980 Anyway I sold the Sansui and whas wondering if I should go with the 100 s with the 980. when i was younger i had a kenwood 9600 with the hpm 150s but thats not gonna fit my budget now lol. Don't get me wrong I like my Optimus and if I can inprove them let me know your thoughts. Does raising them off the ground really make a difference ? i saw the crates under yours in the picture. I have these in a small room in the middle of the longest wall with seating on the apposing wall. speakers on the floor about 6 inches from the wall and slightly turned in to the middle.I'll send some pics this weekend. Gotta get ready for work.Thanks guys! Oh and my 980 is in the shop for the next 4 to 6 weeks getting cleaned and recapped and led conversion on the lights. sticking with an amber color.
 
Thoughts...

Your SX980 is not enough amplifier for a pair of HPM100. They should be matched with an amp 150wpc and up. Myself and many others have observed that they just don't perform when underpowered.

Your current speakers should perform well in the right room, with proper positioning, proper power and eq assuming they are in good, functional condition (good foam, caps etc.).

I would say that either something is wrong, your expectations are not realistic (no pun intended) or they are not properly deployed.
 
woofercooker said:
As some of you guys know I have (4) pair of the Optimus 7 speakers. Just love them.. I have AC/DC Back in Black remasterd cd and sounds very good. "Raw and Organic" through the Opt 7s. My favorite pair uses Audyn Cap-Plus Capacitors and do not sound dull at all.. Very open and fine detail. Have your caps been replaced? They will never be as forward sounding as the HPMs, Just a different design from each other. I'm using a McCormack DNA One D.E. power amp and Marantz SA 8005 cd player and sounds just wonderful. Also, I keep my speakers up about 10-12" above the floor for better imaging.
Click to expand...
You sound like the guy I need to talk to. So I’m keeping the Optimus 7 can you give me a parts list of what I would need to upgrade or restore? Also you mentioned yours are off the ground. Did that make a big difference?
 
toxcrusadr said:
After looking into the 7's, they are more speaker than what I would have expected from the Optimus line - clearly a TOTL speaker. Big, heavy, has a 12" woofer. Gotta wonder what's causing your bass issues.

Do the 7's woofers have foam, rubber or fabric surrounds?

Have these speakers ever been recapped?

Does room placement make any difference?

100% sure they are hooked up in phase?

What are your tone control and loudness settings when you listen to rock?
Click to expand...
I have not recapped them but I’ve decided to keep them and would be interested in a parts list and a supplier if you have one to recommend Thanks
 
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