Comparison Living Voice IBX-R2 to OBX-R2?

I'm still watching this thread and hoping someone has a response. I own the IBX-R2 and would also like to know what can be expected with the outboard crossover.

Have you tried speaking with Living Voice UK directly?

It’s still a good question. Member Noams said that he considered the upgrade from IBX to OBX a substantial improvement. Additionally, I would like to know how important it is to have an all Audio Note system to realize the benefits of moving from the R2 to the RW series. Considering that what I have heard about these speakers has almost exclusively been high praise, why isn’t there more talk about them on this forum? And they’re tube friendly to boot!

Will somebody please give me the story on Living Voice. There must be one. For a speaker to be so well reviewed, and either nobody here owns one or they’re not talking, doesn’t make sense to me. What’s up. You guys all know something that I don’t?

Well I used to own them many years ago and paired them with some Border patrol amps. I found the speaker required a LOT more power than their specs would indicate to come alive. The other concern was using the outboard crossover. It took 2 sets of bi-wire cable and using Kondo SPz the cable cost was more than the speaker! Lastly, they did not fill my large listening room with sound, might have worked better in a smaller room.

I heard the OBX-R2 twice recently, at the Capital AudioFest and at RMAF, each time with Border Patrol electronics. I had high hopes for the speakers given the praise in various reviews. Each time however I was disappointed finding the overall sound lacking in subtle detail. In both rooms, the speakers were positioned so that the center axis of each speaker crossed in front of the listener. I don't know how this positioning may have affected the sound. I am sure they would sound different if set up differently and run with other electronics, but the two times I heard them I was not impressed.

Sksos1, Salectric, Thank you. I would have a hard time coming to terms with a speaker that required that kind of cabled expenditure for it to find itself.

As for the Border Patrol amps, were they using the small 7W/Ch. SETs?

I didn't notice what type of Border Patrol amps were being used. Sorry.

The manufacturer recommends a stout 15-20 watts generally. As for detail, they have it, they just don't make you notice it. IMO they are enormously musical speakers (the whole line), excelling at microdynamic/tonal shadings.

For very large rooms? Probably not.

And as for the OP's question, never heard the OBX, but actually I think the general consensus is that the jump there is not too big. When is the last jump in a line the biggest? Furthermore, the benefits of an outboard xover, being related solely to mechanical isolation, are going to be directly related to listening volume.

Going to the IBX is the big jump.

Perhaps the U.S. importer will chime in here.