Sometimes history writes itself; you just need to listen. The Flying Dutchman is a loudspeaker project born out of fascination with sound and precision, dating back to October 2023. It began with our OGY monitors, which have already captured the hearts of audiophiles worldwide.
Full-Range Speakers That Stole the Show
The Dutch love for full-range speakers started with Musical Affairs, known for cabinets featuring French drivers like PHY and EMS. Their open-backed designs, resembling musical instruments, presented challenges but delivered remarkable sound. When our OGY speakers, featuring the EMS LB5 driver, reached the Dutch market, they were an instant hit, perfectly matching the preference for low-power tube amps and efficient speakers.
Shortly after, we were asked to create monitors using a larger LB7 driver. While the design existed, it had been shelved due to its size. However, this request revived the idea, inspiring us to craft a system that combined precision and elegance.
From Vision to Reality
The result was stunning. Using EMS LB7 EX drivers with electromagnets, paired with custom walnut fronts and stands, the monitors impressed with their natural sound. This success led to a bigger challenge: creating speakers with two electromagnetic drivers—the LB7 EX full-range and the EMS B15 EX bass driver—powered by a dedicated supply.
Balancing Full-Range and Horn Speakers
While different, full-range and horn speakers complement each other in audiophile setups. Horns provide efficiency and minimal distortion, while full-range drivers deliver a wide frequency range. Combining these technologies offers cohesive, high-efficiency sound, ideal for tube amplifiers.
Clean, Precise Bass
Bass quality often challenges speaker systems. Instead of typical enclosures, we used resonant-diffusion technology. This design, with dual opposing channels and no damping materials, ensures fast, clean, and accurate bass, perfectly blending with full-range and horn drivers.
Crafting Perfection
From prototype to final design, the process involved testing and refining. We developed a semi-open back for the full-range driver, with rods to disperse sound waves, ensuring seamless integration of mid-low and bass frequencies. The final product achieved both technical excellence and aesthetic harmony.
Design That Fits Your Space
Large speakers like The Flying Dutchman become part of your interior. Following specific guidelines, we chose American walnut and polished Corian Black Quartz, ensuring the design fit beautifully into the client’s living space.
A New Dimension with Electromagnetic Drivers
Electromagnetic drivers allow adjustable parameters via power supply. This flexibility lets you fine-tune the speaker’s efficiency to match room acoustics. A custom power supply was key to powering both drivers independently, enhancing performance.
A Custom Amplifier
A system this advanced required a bespoke amplifier. Designed by DHTRob, the preamp features rare Philips AD1 tubes, and the power amp uses Telefunken RS282 tubes with custom transformers. Its 8W output ensures unmatched sound quality.
A Collector’s Audio Dream
The client’s system also included two CD players: a modernized Philips CD 101 and a split setup with a PEL Audio DAC. With cabling from LessLoss and power stability by Furutech, the setup was as refined as the speakers.
Best Reward
After installation, the client shared their excitement:
"We just woke up after listening to violin concertos until 2 AM. We are very, very happy with these elegant and already hypnotically sounding big twins…"
The project’s success and the client’s joy made every effort worthwhile. To top it off, their espresso sparked a new passion for coffee, making this experience truly unforgettable.
If You want to know more detail about the project, check my article on Closer Acoustics or watch the video.
