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General
Description
The goal: accurate, absolutely uncolored
sound
Our aim with the O 300 D was to strive for nothing less than
perfection in developing the best compact active reference monitor
possible, with accurate, uncolored sound, superb transient
response, and ideally shaped waveguides.
The O 300 D is a monitor which draws upon all of our years of
experience in monitor design, which has been fine-tuned through
extensive computer simulations and countless listening tests. It is
indeed unique in its class, for it does in fact deliver superlative
sound absent of colorations, precise bass response, picture-perfect
dispersion patterns, and a stunningly real soundstage with
remarkable image focus and depth.
The advantages of the three-way
system
To authentically re-create the sound captured in a
recording-particularly a recording of the human voice-an active
three-way system was chosen. In comparison with two-way monitors,
the 300 D offers clear advantages that have been discussed in
detail earlier in this catalog. The sophisticated three-way design
employed in the O 300 D makes this loudspeaker system extremely
precise and revealing of detail, and it enables the mixing engineer
to make critical judgments with supreme confidence.
Exact localization and
extraordinary sense of space
By utilising a dense, new, extremely low-resonance material called
LRIM, we were able to mold the waveguides required for optimal
dispersion directly into the baffle. The elliptical shape of the
high-frequency horn makes the dispersion angle in the vertical
plane more narrow thus reducing the amount of early reflections off
the console surface which would otherwise interfere with the direct
sound from the speakers (comb-filter effects), thereby improving
spatial definition. At the same time, the effective horizontal
listening area is made wider, giving the recording engineer greater
freedom of movement in front of the console. The use of LRIM has
also made it possible to align the acoustic centers of the two
drivers exactly on one plane, parallel to the baffle, thereby
preventing time and phase coherency problems at the crossover
frequencies. This allows the individual drivers to work together
perfectly to produce a precisely detailed soundstage.
Superb sonic
qualities
For a loudspeaker system to achieve extremely flat frequency
response and create an authentic reproduction of the original
sound, its components need to be of very high quality, carefully
manufactured, and selected for their compatibility with one
another.
The 8¼” (210 mm) cone woofer is made of a special
lightweight polypropylene material that has excellent self-damping
properties. Its long-excursion voice coil enables this driver to
produce very low frequencies at high sound pressure levels with
practically no distortion. In contrast to common bass-reflex
systems, which tend to blur the low end, the acoustic suspension
system of the O 300 D delivers tight, articulate bass which is
strikingly clear, detailed, and natural, particularly in
transients.
The midrange is handled by a treated fabric dome with a
diaphragm/voice coil of 3" (76 mm) in diameter. Since its mass is
much lower than that of cone drivers, it has the advantage of being
able to achieve superior impulse response and extremely uniform
amplitude response. As a result, midrange reproduction is
impressively true-to-life, especially with the human voice.
The high-frequency driver is equipped with a titanium/fabric dome
that combines the transparency of a titanium dome with the low
distortion of a fabric dome. This driver has been finely matched to
its elliptical waveguide, ensuring exceptional directivity.
All three drivers are magnetically shielded, allowing you to place
the speakers directly next to video monitors or
computers.
Precise room-matching
The O 300 D includes very flexible room-matching circuitry to alter
the am plitude response of the monitor as needed, depending on
speaker placement, in multiple steps and in three critically
relevant frequency ranges. This flexibility can be instrumental in
turning less than ideal room acoustics into a favorable listening
environment.
High-performance amplification
Each of the three drivers in the O 300 D is powered by a
high-performance amplifier that is exactly matched to the
driver’s technical requirements and which embodies our long
years of audio experience. Precisely tuned electronic crossovers
help provide proverbial operational reliability and high amplifier
output with minimal distortion.
The monitor is equipped with effective protection circuitry
designed to allow impulse peaks through and to respond with
limiting only when a voice coil is in danger of thermal overload or
a power amplifier runs the risk of overheating. Activation of the
limiter is indicated by blinking of the illuminated
logo.
Future-proof digital input
The O 300 D is equipped with switchable inputs for analog signals
and digital signals in both AES/EBU and S/P-DIF formats. The D/A
converter incorporates the latest technology, has a wide dynamic
range, 24-bit resolution, and accommodates sampling rates from 32
to 96 kHz. The analog input of the O 300 D is tranformer-balanced
and floating, utilising a superior quality transformer that, even
at high volume levels and the lowest frequencies, helps achieve
extremely low distortion.
The input sensitivity of +6 dBu allows you to connect all standard
studio signal sources.
Unique: separate inputs for external
processing
A special connector included as standard equipment on the back of
the O 300 D gives you direct access to each of the three power
amplifiers. This unique feature enables you to use an external
digital controller Pro C 28 to modify the response to compensate
for amplitude and phase anomalies resulting from the
monitor’s placement in the room or the particular acoustic
conditions of the studio. While this type of acoustical
optimization will require the appropriate experience and equipment,
it is certainly more economical than a structural renovation of the
studio.
Solid
enclosure, award-winning design
The monitor stands out not only for its sound but also for its
attractive, modern design, and in fact received an international
design award in 1998. The sides of the cabinet are constructed of
low-resonance wood, and the front baffle is molded of dense LRIM.
The cabinet is available in either a charcoal-gray enamel finish or
any other RAL color. The attractive metal grille is the final
touch.
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