Wide dispersion speakers...

[Texas42]

I generally prefer speakers with a wider, though less specific, soundstage than those speakers that are ultra-accurate (but you have to keep your head in a vise). Aside from dipoles and bipoles, which speakers have the biggest, most enveloping soundstage that you have heard? I know the Polk uses a ring radiator tweeter that purportedly has a very wide soundstage (I haven't had the opportunity to audition it yet). Just trying to develop a short list in search of my next possible main speakers. Appreciate any inputs...

[dkg999]

Polk SDA's

Magnepan - any of their models

[mhardy6647]

The Ohm speakers with Walsh drivers have a remarkably expansive, yet still defined, soundfield. They're still available, too, albeit not cheap.
http://www.ohmspeakers.com/

Shahinian Obelisks, ditto (excellent, still available and not cheap).
http://shahinianacoustics.com

Have you heard any of the Magneplanars?
http://www.magnepan.com/


FWIW, I have a pair of vintage Ohms with the cheap (small) Walsh drivers (and small dome tweeters). They're surprisingly good, and also (compared to the earlier, larger, and much more expensive Ohm full-range Walsh drivers) surprisingly efficient.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/P1020689.jpg

[Texas42]

I have a pair of SDAs (SDA-1Cs) but in order to best get the SDA effect, you pretty much have to be equidistant from both and the effect is mostly lost off-axis, so this speaker would not apply. Additionally, Magnepan is a dipole (figure 8 dispersion pattern) so not really looking this way either as I don't have a flat wall behind the speakers (why I excluded both dipoles and bipoles). I'm really trying to determine a short list of speakers that are direct firing, but have nice off axis response and don't 'beam' directly at you but the soundstage falls aparts once you move off axis by just a little.

[Texas42]

I had a pair of Ohm Walsh 2 and 4s before and I agree, they definitely do a lot of things right and have great response no matter where you sit. They are definitely on my list. I'd love to find an old pair of Walsh 5s but those who have them never let go of them...

[mhardy6647]

Sorry I (re)stated the obvious for you :-P

BTW, I don't even know which model Ohms I have (but I like them).

[venomclan]

I have not yet heard a speaker best the Gallo Reference 3.1 in soundstage width. Downright Spooky.
Venom

[SolidSqual]

I have not yet heard a speaker best the Gallo Reference 3.1 in soundstage width. Downright Spooky.
Venom

Thems are fightin' words! My Adagios will floor your Gallo Smallos!

[TroyD]

Discounting the SDA's......dipole may be what you are looking for.

My brother had a pair of Ohm Walsh 5's.....I just could never get crazy about them.

A couple others to consider are Dahlquist/Vandersteen (again, the whole open baffle thing)

BDT

[venomclan]

Thems are fightin' words! My Adagios will floor your Gallo Smallos!

Settle down Beavis, the Adagios are too pretty to get physical...

We don't need no box, no crossovers, or MDF. Gallo biotch!
:D

[hoosier21]

Bose 901 is your next speaker








I crack myself up.

[F1nut]

You crack me up too.

[Texas42]

Well, I was going to go with Bose, til these really nice guys in a white van drove up to me and sold me some reallllly nice speakers they had left over from a custom installation...