Anyone know the Shahinian Diapason Ensemble????

After owning my Shahinian Hawk for two years, purchased from another Audiogon member, I looked into the upgrade myself. No small feat to undertake considering coast to coast shipping would be involved.

With Vasken’s email responsiveness and assurance, in mid October I decided to go for it. By November 6th, with packing handled by a local packing store, everything arrived safely in Long Island and the update to current model 2020 Hawks began.

Vasken himself led the inspection to recommend needed updates and kept things on track for a very quick two-week turnaround. By Dec 6th, one month later, the Hawks were back in my possession. Set up, however, would have to wait until the speakers could be transported to their final destination where they had resided and played with distinction.

Initial visual inspection revealed expert attention to detail, with the top modules receiving all new tweeters and flawless woodwork on the Hawk subs to install the new woofers and passive radiators (PR). From Vasken, I learned that the PR alone gets tuning weights, new chassis frame, and adjustments to the crossover. So, I can understand reluctance to offer single part upgrades.

Finally, this week, after returning these Hawks to their place of prominence, I find they sound every bit as good as I remembered. The inimitable way in which they fill an ordinary living room with music, even without the benefit of symmetrical layout, is fully intact. What is changed with just a few days of parts break-in is the way they sound so good even at low volume. Many speakers in my past have done great things with tone, dynamics, and detail, but very few could manage to disappear so completely, sound live and lively, and make timbre accuracy the equal of sonic detail. Besides how many products out there can be restored to current spec after 25 years of service and get such a successful rejuvenation?

I am lucky to be the current owner of these Hawks and wish to thank my friend Jordan for introducing me to his Obelisks and eventually driving me in his suv to meet the original seller for the long haul home. Two years ago, these Hawks sounded remarkable but drying fero-fluid and brittle surrounds eventually caught up with them and the upgrade commenced. I could not be more pleased for the transformation. Many thanks to Vasken and the entire team at Shahinian Acoustics!

Two months later, any progress with your Diapasons?

I have a pair of 2014-vintage Diapason 2. In addition to a larger "Double Eagle" bass cabinet, the passives on this series were changed to a standard looking poly cone design with rubber surround. I haven't pulled one yet to see if it's internally weighted in any manner. No need, I have no concerns about the bottom end.

I gather yours are a version of the original design, with the passive having a ribbed cone, foam surround and washer glued onto the dust cap. I'd be more wary of replacing those types with generic passives than I would on the newer ones like mine, if for no other reason than the ribbed visually look quite different to anything else out there.

My room is 25 feet long, 15 feet wide, and has a 22 foot high ceiling sloping down to 18 feet.

I am messing with the placement now but it is much easier with omni directional speakers.

I’m running them with a Bedini 150 MKII amplifier now but will set that to just the bass and run the top with my GM70 SET amp as soon as I get my active crossover back.

I have always enjoyed the "presentation" (sound stage, imaging) from omnidirectional speakers. I am familiar with the various permutations the Ohm line, and I was a dealer for Larsen speakers for several years. I am still enchanted by my Shahinians. I think they sound closer to live acoustic music than any other speakers I have owned or have significant experience with.

I recently purchased the Hawks because, as much as I enjoy the Obelisks I wanted more. OK, I'm greedy. I imagine that your  Diapasons will provide even more goodness. What size room are you placing them and how are you positioning them?

Another reason is that I really want to biamp these speakers, which isn't possible with the Ob 1s. My Hawks need to be restored, so they will be going to Long Island shortly. But my tests so far indicate that the top cap (midrange and tweeters) is less efficient than the woofer in the bass cabinets. So my initial idea of running a moderate (40Wpc) tube amp on the top and a SS amp for the bass cabinet may not work out as planned. We'll see after they come back from restoration.

Why not call/email Shahinian?
They are still in business. You can also question them on the cost issue while you are at it.
It seems a fair question, but there might be reasonable answer.
B

On option would be to contact Bill at Millersound and see if he can rebuilt your passive radiators.

What is confusing is if you can purchase the radiators new for $20, why not just purchase 4 new replacements and be done for $80?

Wow, I wish I could figure out how to edit my posts. Ignore all the mistakes.

Yep, I've designing and building speakers for 30 years so maybe that is a factor.  I've had some conversations with Vasken and he has been very helpful.   When I brought up the price of the passive radiators he said he dully understood and they are not in the business of selling parts.

All that said, I was just wondering what other owners thought about how to set these up and how much power they need.

Since I posted the first post I've come to greatly appreciate the clarity,  detail, room filling sound.  No what I am use to but I like it more and more each day.

I'm driving them with my Bedini 150/150 MKII amplifier with passive preamp.  I'm going light on the volume because all 4 PRs are gone.

@djnagle  What information are you seeking? You didn't really ask a question in your first post. It was more of an announcement.

I have owned Shahinian Obelisks and recently purchased a pair of Hawks. I have not owned the Diapasons. I find that Vasken Shahinian and his team are very fair and straightforward. I had Shahinian refurbish a pair of used Ob 1s that I purchased for a song but needed a lot of work. I couldn't have been happier with the results or the price. Well... I guess that they could have done the work for free, if they really wanted to impress me 😁

But seriously, if you think that any audio component should be judged priced based on the raw cost of the components (even assuming that you have correctly identified this $20 passive radiator) then I suggest that you should design and build your own speakers.

All that aside, how can we help you?

No other owners out there?  I'm concerned that Shahinian is selling $20 passive radiators for $300.  All 4 of mine are rotted out.

Yes, they are different. One is direct the other uses dispersion/reflection.
It all depends upon what you like.
B