Review
You must decide (April 14, 2012)
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Reviewed By: Sean L. - Auburn, KY
Ok.. here goes... Like many of you.. I anguished over the purchase of these speakers for a long time before finally pulling the trigger. I read all the reviews and went into the purchase educated of the pros and cons. And really... I dont have much more to offer you. This review is related to an entire 5.17.1 OMD Package OMD-28, OMD-C2, OMD-R
If youre buying the speakers based on looks and home decor, a big factor for me... then buy these speakers. The finish of these are beautiful... deep rich luster. Honestly... the best looking speaker on the market.
If Pure Direct sound, 5.17.1 BluRay Concerts are important to you... then buy these speakers. They deliver beautiful concert experience with a full, robust sound [from deep bass to a heavenly treble]
However, if your are purchasing these for movies... then purchase something else... like KEF or Klipsch. I am sadly dissappointed with loss of certain range of sound effects and voice clarity. Tranformers is not the same... you will find yourself saying what did he say?
Yes... I am keeping these speakers, primarily because they are beautiful and sound wonderful on most music
Things to keep in mind...
1 Regardless of what others have said... these are power hogs. You will notice a significant drop in volume when powering these. My old Marantz 7500 @ 105 per channel was not able to deliver what they needed in 7.1 configuration. Be prepared to purchase a new reciever of at least 140 wpc or seperate power amps. You might consider to bi-amping these speakers if have additional outputs to use.
2 I have a somewhat oddball room configuration and was really concerned about having the needed distance from wall . Well... Ive got them at sitting 2ft away from the wall and the sound is great. Remember... the backside of these speakers are beautiful... so even if you have to view them from the rear... its all good. The omni directional sound works well in odd configurations.
3 Speaking of Omni Directional... open and airy is a good description. Soundstage? What Soundstage? The sound has no boundaries. Again... its beautiful when listening to Music.. SACD and BluRay DTS recorded music, however.. when watching movies... you lose something because you want to hear specific locations of sound effects. You will no longer be able to place the sound. Fly overs, explosions, other effects cannot be placed as intended.
4 If it matters to you...these speakers are engineered and designed in Canada, but made in China. Hence the deep discounts now being offered. Little things like the rear gold plated speaker terminals feel very light and cheap. The base plenum is plastic.
5 Shipping. Other reviews mentioned that the speakers came double boxed [not mine]. The OMD-28s were shipped FedEX Freight and by the time they arrived at my house... the boxes looked like raggamuffins. I called Vanns before I let the truck driver leave. I was told to pull the speakers out of the box to view them and inspect damage. One speaker had large dent in the grill, but other than that they were fine. Vanns is ordering me a new grill [4-6 weeks]. Make sure you ask Vanns to double box all of the speakers...
I hope this review helps. You must decide what is important to you. Looks, Music, Movies. These speakers only deliver 2 out of 3. But the first two... are done amazing well.
Vanns was top notch. They were helpful through the entire agonizing buying process. There was no pressure, and each of the profossioinals that I spoke with were very knowledgable and individually opinionated.
Review
Music heaven (April 07, 2012)
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(5/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Nahoma F. - Chicago, Illinois
Ive had the Mirage omd 28s about a month they replace my Cerwin Vega 380ses where I moved to my bedroom surround system. I use these new ones on a Onkyo tx nr 906 reciever with a Onkyo cs5vl cd a Onkyo Integra cp1055 quarz direct drive turntable,a Onkyo ta-rw255 cassette tape,Poineer rt 1020l reel to reel and Poineer pdr 555 rw cd recorder. These speakers are really beauitful like fine furniture or art sounding as good they look my cds the.breath with the realness of a live performace old jazz form the 40s, 50s and 60s sound unbelieveibe even Metallica and ACDC sounds great my cassette tapes I recorded more than 30 years ago are great playing on a playerecorder thats not so good my 35 year old reel to reel sounds like new. You dont have the sweet spot you have with direct firing speakers so they may not be fore everyone. You get pass that youll be open to hold new world. they do need a lot power depending on your space you mite want to up grade get the most out these beaities.
Review
You cant beat the sound for twice the price (January 04, 2012)
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(5/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Kevin D. - Morgantown, WV
This is the first time I have bought a pair of speakers without hearing them so I was apprehensive to say the least. However I read several online reviews from audiophile fourms and magazines. all claimed that these were an outstanding value at their full retail price of ~$7500.00. The only negative comments I found was that they are very position sensitive within the room. So for $1299 per speaker price, I felt like this was a risk worth taking. I was not wrong. these speakers are magnificent! First the appearance is simply stunning, the rosewood finish is outstanding though there are some very small imperfections in the finish below the surface. I feel like I have added a piece of art to my home.
More importantly, the sound quality is absolutely unbelievable! I have them in a room that is about 20x20 with pine toung and goove walls, glass and carpeted floor. The speakers are set abot 4 feet from the back and side walls and aout 12 feet apart. I have them bi-amped using a Marantz SR5006 not the ideal amp in many respects but acceptable. I have run them almost continuously to break them in a 100 hour procedure and as they loosen up they become cleaner in their sound delivery. As I read in one review, the bass response is sublime deep clean bass that has to be heard and felt to be believed! The mid and tweet are equally clean and clear as the base. The omni directional design of the mid and high frequency speakers exploits the sound reflective nature of the room, setting up a soundstage that is absolutley holographic with sound extending well beyond the positon of the speakers in both width and depth. The percieved sound source can be very precise you get the sense for example that the ting a chime is literally in the room at a very specific point source position, while a deep bass drum sounds like it is past the back wall of the room.
Overall, I cant say that I have heard a better sounding speaker in the under 10k!
Review
Great sounds, beautiful product (January 03, 2012)
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(4/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Arnaud - Fairfax, Virginia
The OMD-28 are big and heavy but the wood work is stunning and they look great.
The sounds was good out of the box but it keeps getting better as they break in.
It makes me want to buy the OMD satellites and center speakers.
Review
Beautiful sound and craftsmanship (October 23, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Christian G. - Danbury, CT
Wow, what a beautiful set of speakers! I replaced my Mirage 1090i speakers that were damaged by movers with these speakers after speaking with Vanns technical staff and reading the reviews. Although I had never heard the speakers in action, I knew the quality of Mirage speakers and believed in the reviews. My only real concern was whether these speakers would sound as good as the bi-polar 1090i speakers. Simply put, they are even better, much much better. Im just finishing the 100 hr break in period and love how the sound has matured and become more refined. These speakers are undoubtedly the best value out there and the craftsmanship is second to none. its just a shame that they are being discontinued. My recommendation is.....buy them while you can!
One final note, I purchased these along with Mirages Omni S10 subwoofer. Although Im still tweaking this sub, it sounds far superior to the Mirage BMP-100 subwoofer that it replaced.
Review
OMD-28 is a tremendous speaker (August 18, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Trent W. - West Monroe, LA
I bought a pair of OMD-28 speakers plus an OMD-C2 center plus 4 OMD-C5 satellites as part of a 9.1 surround system, and the sound of these speakers is incredible. I use them primarily for surround TV, movies, and the bass reproduction is so solid that I do not use a separate subwoofer. I used Audyssey multi-eq to set independent speaker levels and phasing based upon placement. Ive read a number of articles where the listener talks about speaker placement being so important. That is true, but I have a very open space where these speakers are used, and had great success in placing either close toed in or setting rather far apart, when using Audyssey to set phasing of sound time differential the signal passes based upon distance. The OMD-28s are absolutely awesome at reproduction of sounds from woodwinds and any drums havent tried much in the horns.
The build quality is very high quality, thick lacquer coat on a quality rosewood veneer, and the height is perfect for seated listening on coucheschairs, where you would normally want to be, relaxing and listening to a great sound system.
There are no obvious flaws to either the sound or appearance with these speakers, and they are a great deal. Ive had Klipschorns in past years as my only set that was comparable, but these speakers are very smooth, no harshness, and leave a great impression of what a full-range speaker should do, to please the senses.
Review
Depth of soundstage! (June 27, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Michael B. - Bradenton, FL
These are truly beautiful looking and beautiful sounding speakers. I wanted a speaker that would create a wide, deep soundstage and these are it! They have surpassed my expectations and represent a tremendous value they once sold for $8000 when they first came out.
The finish is incredibly nice and the detail in the music is outstanding. Omnipolar speakers create a wide, deep soundstage compared with direct radiating speakers. This was the main reason I went with this technology. If you listen to music, watch movies by yourself and can position your chair - dead center between the speakers - then great - get some direct radiating speakers. But if you have friends.....then you want something that will produce not a bad seat in the house. These are it.
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (June 26, 2011)
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(4/5.0) |
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(4/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Mary - Buffalo, NY
These are absolutely beautiful speakers. They have a very large, full and rich sound with powerful base. Mirage recommends playing them for 100 h before critical listening, and they certainly need this burn-in time. I have them in a fairly large room and I think they need this space. To get the most out of these speakers you need a good amp and music source. While I was waiting for some Emotiva amplifiers to arrive, I was powering these speakers with a cheaper Yamaha receiver. They sounded OK but the sound improved dramatically with the Emotiva amps.
I found that the users reviews below are pretty accurate. But note that some people do not like the more diffuse omnipolar sound. However, I like that everyone on the sofa is in a good listening spot. The omd-28s do not provide the same quality of sound as a pair of $15k speakers, but for less than 3k these are a bargain and a keeper!
Review
OMD-28's (May 11, 2011)
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(5/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Joseph R. - Walden, NY
These speakers are primarily used for HT, although I use it for a blend of music and HT. For HT - they are pretty much perfect. For music - they are decent, but not amazing. The mid-range lacks a bit of finesse and clarity compared to other similarly priced speakers that are front firing. The bass is sublime and almost overwhelming paired with Emotiva XPA-1 mono-blocks. They image well when setup properly in a room, but sound-stage depth will knock your socks off. Playing it loudly helps the tweeter to bring a great sound to any sized room. Since its not front firing it fills the room with sweet spots for everyone and can be played at higher db levels and be very very very smooth sounding. Overall I like these speakers for music, but down the road I will create a separate 2.0 setup for just stereo.
Review
Go on, make your day. (April 18, 2011)
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(2/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Peter G. - New York, NY
Let this be the one.
Thats what youre thinking isnt it? Let this review be the one that gives me an inarguable reason to pull the trigger and buy these gorillas.
I need a reason, because the one I have so far is pretty weak - that they sound great.
So youve got size, price, and placement all counting against you. Is the sound worth it? Yeah, it is. It really is. And thats the only reason you need. People will remark theyre big, youll be annoyed you almost knocked into them, and having to move them goes over like a french kiss at a family reunion.
But next time someone subjects you to watching some naff movie with a plot featuring more holes than a sweater at a mothball convention....youll at least say quietly to yourself oooh. Its still a chance to try out the speakers.
Thats right. No one gets it but you. So have a great conversation with yourself for once and everyone else be damned.
You love sound. And even if youre the only one in the whole room who wets his pants listening to the opening of saving private ryan you still have found a great experience.
And youre going to the only one who randomly shouts YEAH! when you re-discover these speakers over and over again.
Life is short. Enjoy it. If youre seriously contemplating these, just stop wasting time and do it. You know you will eventually anyway.
Review
OMD-28 (March 31, 2011)
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(5/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: David R. - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
We have been very pleased with the performance of the OMD 28, after the break in period they seemed to be getting better and better with each time they have been listened to . Although they were originally purchased for 2 channel stereo they have exceled with the theatre experience
Review
Stellar Value (March 25, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Hans W. - Wilmington, DE
For all the audiophiles out there who might be skeptical of these things dont be. I had a Krell Integrated Amp, Benchmark DAC and a pair of Dynaudio Contour floorstanders. I wanted to add a little warmth to my system and decided to take a punt on these. I was very leery of losing resolution. While these have not yet fully broken in, I can say unequivocally that these are worth every penny.
Tonally, they are slightly dark-sounding. I think theyre very reflective of the material you feed them, i.e., theyre pretty neutral. A terrible recording wont sound amazing all of a sudden. Bass response is tremendous, the midrange and treble are the full equal of the Dynaudios, and better on some material, and the soundstaging...
If you place these things properly, they render a soundstage bigger, deeper, and more realistically than any direct-radiator. These sold for $7500pr only a few years ago. Highly recommended.
Review
Consumer (March 21, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Ralph M. - Cleveland, OH
A stunning piece in construction and appearance. I very much enjoyed the Mirages but, I believe at 87 db they require a more powerful amp than my Mac. I would have loved to audition them with some 500 or 1 kilowatt amps. Id rate them a 4 out of 5.
Review
Amazing!! (March 01, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Mike J. - Sherman, TX
The OMD28s are the most capable speakers I have ever owned. They are very musical and are very much at home with home theater. My favorite thing is when the wife says it was well worth the price. Now we know how good they really are!!
Mike,
Sherman, Texas
Review
Wonderful! (January 26, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Ryan F. - Wichita, KS
Unbelievable on how much better my system now sounds!! one of the best purchases I have made in the last 2 years!
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (January 25, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Minh D. - Raleigh, NC
About Vanns.com.. Excellent customer services and friendly. Everyone I talked on the phone seems professional and have technical knowledge about products that they carrying. Long story short... after few purchases and absolutely more .. Vanns.com has from me a great reputation and I believe they are one of the best internet store that I could trust for any big purchase & with “worry free!”
I purchased a pair of OMD-28 to replace my 10 years old B&W-650M which also produce very good sounds but glad I did the upgrade to the OMD-28 which I found out to be a “Wow!.. the OMD-28 are producing very natural sounds, clear vocals, and great instruments separation. It has deep bass, melodious notes of a flute or guitar. It is true that this need to have at least 100hrsa week for breaking in before you could hear the crystal power from these speakers. About sound tuning, these particular OMD-s are really room and placement sensitive especially for quiet environments, it required someone with some musical techniques, calm and patience for tuning process to get the best sounds in your listening room. These speakers are also great for home decor with luxurious and elegance glossy finish looking. Sounds will be great for any occasions from party to silent night you will get clear sounds from either hi-vol or very low-vol.
p.s Find some New-Age music CD like Merlin Magic - healing harmony or Karunesh – Sounds of light
Close your eyes and listen. you will feel these speakers and you disappear from your room. Very relaxing, healing and will be worthy any penny that spent for these.
“Life is nothing will be, neither money nor live. Feed your soul something great so it shall has more energies to support lifemoneylive longer…”
Review
OMD-28 compared to Bose 901 and Mirage OM-6 (January 21, 2011)
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(5/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: Robert X. - Fremont, CA
I have had these speakers for about two months. I love their sound, and now I listen to music a lot lot more than before. I have had a pair of Bose 901 speakers for about 10 years. I like their natural and open sound. The advantage of the Bose is that they do not punch-you-in-the-face like many direct radiating speakers. The drawback is the same - drums sound like a low frequency note generated electronically rather than drum sticks hitting drum surface, which completely destroys the sensation of the music. I went to audition many high-end speakers like Totem, KEF, B&W in the passing years, but I was not impressed. Coincidentally, I bought a pair of Mirage OM-6 and a Mirage BPS-400 subwoofer from a Craigslist ad for cheap last November. Wow was I impressed! Compared to the Bose 901, the Mirages high is clear and crisp, and overall the sound is more natural and clear. The low of the Mirage sub 110 lbs heavy, dual 12-inch drivers simply blows away my old 12-inch Infinity sub. What a shame Mirage stopped making these 100-pounders. Being super happy with the OM-6, I was wondering what would be better. On the internet I found these OMD-28s. A couple of reviews praised the new flagship model over the old, so I decided to invest in a pair. I must say the investment is well worth it. Now my Bose 901s sit in the closet, my OM-6s are in the living room for home theater, and my OMD-28s are in the family room for listening to music. I drive the OMD-28s with an old Denon receiver with 5x100w. It cannot be bridged or bi-amped, but it plays loud more than enough in my 12x20 family room. Most of the time I listen to the music when I prepare dinner in the kitchen, so the omni-direction feature of the OMD is essential. Same as the other reviewers pointed out, I find that the OMD-28 is better than the OM-6 in every respect especially in high and low ends, although both speakers are very sweet sounding. The OMD-28 is very capable in producing base. Using a sound pressure meter I determined that they are flat down to 25 Hz. I put a quotation mark there because, due to my room acoustics, I had to reduce the base by 5 db from 50 Hz down, and I had to cope with room resonance by reducing 16 db at 40 Hz using a parametric filter. That means I had to reduce power by 100 times at 40 Hz. I guess I really need to invest in a Audyssey-equipped late model receiver to get the best sound out of these speakers. What are the shortcomings of the OMD-28? I would say the 70-lb weight and the piano black glossy finish. The black glossy finish looks good, but you want to make sure it is not scratched. I recommend keeping the original box just in case you will move. What am I going to do with my Bose 901s that are in the closet? I bet their problem is due to the design that 8 out of 9 speakers in the 901s cabinet face backward, and the sound depends on the quality of the back wall, which could be poor in my house. When I buy an Audyssey equipped receiver, I will try the 901s again with 8 speakers facing forward to see if the sound improves.
Review
omd 15 vs omd 28 (January 06, 2011)
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Reviewed By: Michael W. - alpharetta, GA
A question I kept having when I got the omd 15 was how close was I to the omd 28? Now having both models I can answer that question. There are three main differences. The omd 28 has better tonality retrieval, better instrument separation, and better bass. Also one non-sound related difference, the omd 15 looks like the normal speaker you see in most homes, while the omd 28 looks like the omd 15 pumped on steroids for use as a store display.
The omd 15 is still fantastic compared to the omd 28, especially in high frequency detail and soundstage presentation, and if the small size and lower price suit you, then get the omd 15 instead of the omd 28, but you will need a subwoofer for a full-frequency listening experience. Without a subwoofer you will be missing some important parts of non-classical music.
If you want better tonality retrieval, authoritative bass and mids, even if it costs 2.5x the omd 15, then get the omd 28. I will warn people and hope people take it seriously, the omd 28 are naturally more unforgiving than the omd 15, but still, they are QUITE forgivingnatural, especially for speakers at this price range. If you are 5050 undecided between omd 15 and omd 28, I would push you towards omd 28 if you can afford it, but omd 15 is also a great deal and doesnt require as much power and a large room. To make full use of the omd 28 speakers, to appreciate the precise expression of tone and timbre, requires upstream gear with tonality YOU LIKE.
Detail, especially high frequencies, is not mirage speakers strongest suite, naturalness of tone and soundstage is. So you dont have to worry excessively about trying to get more detail, these are not analytical speakers, but natural speakers, so choose upstream gear to maximize its tonal expression potential, not detail potential.
Review
OMD-28 speakers (December 27, 2010)
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Reviewed By: Dan G. - Dallas, TX
I was somewhat taken aback when I saw the huge boxes the OMD-28 speakers came in, but once I got them in thed house I could see that they were actually double boxed, and made the long trip to Texas without suffering any ill effects. Being a real audio enthusiast, I have owned many types of speakers in the past 35 years, including line array, open baffle dipole, and many variations on sealed, vented and horn loaded speakers.
After setting them up powered by a 200 watt perch solid state amp they sounded very good straight out of the box. In the manual, Mirage recommends a 100 hour break in before deciding on a permanent location for the speakers, but if they do improve sound-wise, it will just be gilding the lily for me. These speakers have very powerful, deep and clean low bass and bass, and very natural sounding mids and highs, all working together in a coherent fashion. Most importantly for me, because of their very wide dispersion, I can listen to music with friends and everyone gets an almost identical quality of sound. Some audiophile speakers provide great sound at one sweet spot only, while other positions suffer. No so here. These speakers sound very good even waaay off axis. Rather than the super-defined imaging of some speakers, these give a more realistic, immersive type of sound, not the hyper real audiophile type sound. For me, these are the perfect mix of real high performance and natural live soundstage. Im very pleased and would recommend the OMD-28 to anyone who wants great quality sound over a wide seatinglistening area.
Review
review for speakers (December 20, 2010)
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Reviewed By: karim s. - lawrenceville, GA
excellent product no concerns
Review
Worth the money. (December 10, 2010)
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Hao Chi Jiang - Oakland Gardens, NY
These speakers a a bit big for my living room but the sound quality is great. Some may think the price may be a bit high but the moment I tested these out, I knew that Id gotten the right ones. I recommend these speakers for people who really want to have good surround sound. I wont get all into the technical stuff but trust me these are worth the money!
Oh, and the packaging they came in was superb. Dont worry about any damage because inside the big boxes, there were a lot of protection. These speakers arrived pretty quickly so that was great.
Review
OMD-28 Rosewood Loudspeaker, Dec. 9, 2010 (December 09, 2010)
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(3/5.0) |
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Reviewed By: James V. White - Dorchester, MA
I have used a pair of Mirage OMD-28 Rosewood loudspeakers for three weeks. During the first week I broke-in the speakers by playing them 24 hoursday for 4 days at low-moderate levels. I have explored different ways of organizing my listening room, by movingremoving furniture and relocating the speakers. I currently have the speakers 6 ft apart, and I listen to them from a distance of 3 ft to 8 ft depending on whether I am at my desk or sitting on a sofa. I found it important to place speakers 4 ft away from the walls to produce the best apparent sound stage. By the way, my room is 14.5 ft by 15 ft with an 8.5-ft ceiling height.
The speakers sound great from anywhere in the room because of their omnidirectional radiation and provide a wonderful sound stage for my two preferred listening positions. Because they sounded too “husky” or “chesty” on male voices, I use the graphic octave-band equalizer in iTunes to attenuate sounds in the 50-Hz to 500-Hz range. Specifically, I set the equalizer as follows
0 dB at 32 Hz
-3 dB at 64 Hz
-4.5 dB at 125 Hz
-3 dB at 250 Hz
-1.5 dB at 500 Hz
and flat from 1 kHz through 15 kHz
With this equalization I hear a beautifully balanced sound in my room. I have been amazed at the satisfying sounds of long-familiar music, especially at high sound levels. The OMD-28 speakers have an effortless sound at high sound levels that sets them apart from my previous speakers, which included Mirage Omnistats with a subwoofer. The effortless sound may, in part, be the result of the under-hung voice coils in the midrange speakers. Opera and vocal music is especially incredible. I have verified with a signal generator that the loudspeaker response extends down to 20 Hz in my room. Also, for technical readers, the inbox upper resonance frequency is 50 Hz and the enclosure’s port is tuned to 25 Hz. If I were to compare the spectral balance with previous speakers in my experience, I would say the equalized OMD-28 have a neutral full-range sound spectrum like the highly esteemed AR-3a speaker, except that the sound stage of the OMD-28 is far superior.
Moving these speakers around is challenging because of their weight and rounded shape. I have each speaker on a small, but thick, wool throw rug, I can just slide the rugs to move the speakers. Initially, I made the grave error of putting one of the speakers on a cheap rug from Target. The pointed feet of the speaker penetrated the rug, and when I moved the rug-with-speaker, the pointed feet scratched the floor badly.
Review
Wonderful Sound (October 22, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Zheng T. - Suwanee, GA
The look, the price, and my past experience with Mirage OM series speakers, made it very enticing. Still, I waited until I received the OMD C-2 from Vann's. The quality of OMD C-2, and the service of Vann's the speaker was double packaged with heavy padding in between, simply blew away all my worries and doubts. So, I put an order again.
Its just the same good experience again. Comparing to my old OM-9, the OMD-28 is in another league in both the high-end and low-end. I first tested with a Carpenter CD. The bass was much better as expected its 2 8 woofer vs. 2 6.5 mid-range. The high end was surprisingly much better also. When my wife returned home that day, she immediately noticed the sound difference. Without knowing that I have replaced the old OM-9 with the new OMD-28, she asked me "What did you do to the speakers?" It sounds much better now. While the old OM-9 has good synergy with OMD C-2, the mix of OMD-28 and OMD-C2 is just better. I played a Dovrak Symphony #9 DVD by Karajan and Berling Phil. Its amazing. The high is higher and the low is lower than before.
The only thing I would complain is the weight. Its very heavy and hard to handle due to the shape. You do need to put on the glove included in the package to move it.
Review
Why did I hesitate? (September 28, 2010)
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Todd S. - Omaha, NE
I have been drooling over these speakers for well over a year, but I never pulled the trigger on buying them because of two issues that were brought up in reviews. The first is that they need tons of power to really shine, and the second was that placement is really important. Well, I have a Marantz SR7001 receiver, that is 110 watts per channel, and my speaker placement isn’t great. One is basically in a corner next to a window, and the other is about 5 feet from a wall…and both can only be about a foot off the rear wall. Neither is ideal…but I finally decided to take a chance and buy them. Boy am I glad I did.
Power So everyone talks about the massive power requirements, and that a simple receiver just won’t do it. Well if you look at the power specs, they need 50 to 300 watts. My receiver at 110 Watts 8ohm is 140 watts at 6 ohm, which the Mirage speakers are. My receiver also allows me to use the rear surrounds as a separate, discrete channel to bi-amplify the speakers. This doesn’t double the watts, as I would have assumed, but definitely makes it easier to push them. BTW, 125 watts is the half-way mark in the power requirements, and the receiver is at 140…more than enough. In reality, I simply turn the volume up 5 over where I had the OMD-15s at for LOUD music.
Don’t be afraid to get these if you don’t have 200 watts per channel. They sound amazing on my receiver, and I plan on buying a 2 channel amp from Emotiva XPA-2, that will give it 400 watts per channel, for under a grand…if I feel the need for more power. Obviously, having the power and available headroom would be nice.
Placement So obviously my setup isn’t optimal, and I was afraid of the boominess coming from such massive bass-capable speakers. But frankly, even though it isn’t ‘optimal’…they still sound amazing. So much more immersive and detailed than the OMD-15s, it is really shocking. Again, don’t be afraid of getting them because you can’t pull them out 3 feet from the rear wall, etc. Just work with what you have. I am going to send the low signal 100hz and below to my subs anyways, so that should elevate any bass issues that might arrive.
Sound I started my Mirage speaker journey with the V2 FS. They were good speakers, and I enjoyed the omni sound…but they were thin sounding. Not enough meat to the music. I upgraded to the MOD-15s…which was a tremendous improvement. If you don’t get the 28s…get the 15s. The improvement in every aspect of the sound was incredible. More immersive, smoother, more detailed, better soundstage, etc. I was worried that there wouldn’t be a big improvement over sound quality moving to the 28s. Boy was I wrong.
Music I listen to music 90 of the time, and these speakers really shine with music. Because of the omni design, you don’t get the laser focused imaging like with my Gallo speakers. Frankly, it doesn’t bother me, as they sound so smooth and relaxed I couldn’t care less about the imaging. The sound stage is the biggest I’ve ever heard, and the quality of the sound is phenomenal. You can hear the bass player’s fingers slide over the strings with such clarity and detail…its better than being there. They are incredibly smooth and just disappear when listening to music. I listen to a large variety of music, and everything has sounded just fantastic. I couldn’t want for more. Small jazz ensembles sound like you are in the club…and Tool’s ‘Pushit’ off their Saliva album literally gave me goose bumps. There is a reason they are the flagship from Mirage.
Movies I use these with the OMD-C1 center channel, OMD-5 for surrounds, and dual Prestige S10 subs. They blend together perfectly, and you are absolutely IN the movie you are watching. Just incredible. I literally cant think of a system for HT that could best this one.
In short, these speakers are truly amazing, and I highly recommend you buy these speakers while this amazing price is available.
Review
Mirage OMD-28 Black (September 11, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(4/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Alf H. - Kalamazoo, MI
The speakers arrived in good condition although a bit later than expected because of the Labor Day holiday,
I have enjoyed listening to these speakers a lot. They are well built, look great , sound great and are a great value.
I am still fine tuning the positioning as this design is sensitive to placement. Im very happy with this purchase.
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (July 28, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Bob H. - Santa Fe, NM
How can you not buy these speakers at these prices? Reviewers raved about these at full price . I have the smaller OMD-15 and these are everything I thought they would be and more.
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (May 11, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(4/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Rusty S. - Yukon, OK
I have owned these for a year now and can provide a long-term review based on my experience. First off, I bought these along with the OMD-C2 and OMD-15s on a hope they would be the end all for music and theater. Given the closeout pricing it was not a huge risk but a risk none-the-less. After this period of time and with varied music and movies I can give a very positive review. These speakers provide a sounstage that has not been equalled in my theater. I was skeptical that with the off-axis midrange and tweeter configuration these would sound dark and without the high frequency extension of direct radiating speakers. There was also concern that there would be little pinpoint imaging localization of voices and instruments. Those fears have been sufficiently addressed with very smooth and clear midrange with detailed highs. The imaging is spot on with voices and instruments easily located within the sounstage. These speaker allow for a real 3 dimensional view of the soundstage with their design. The depth seems to extend beyond the rear wall with height well above the speakers. They literally disappear! I have seen advertisements by speaker manufacturers over the years and my experience with high-end speakers that claim this capability but none have come close to delivering!
I must note that these speakers are pretty inefficient and require sturdy amplification at least 200 wattschannel. Set-up can be a bit tricky and placement is very important to get the best out of them. I drive them with 1000 watt monoblock amps and they absolutely sing. The bass extension is amazing with no hint of boom. When listening to music there is no need for a subwoofer as these are full range.
I can give the 28s an enthusiastic thumbs up! When matched with the OMD-C2 and OMD-15s for surrounds you get a 360 degree soundstage for movies that is enveloping with no notice of sonic changes as the sound pans left to right or back to front. I am not one who subscribes to the 7.1 surround sound theories. A 5.1 set-up with the OMD series from Mirage provides a room filling experience with no need for the additional speakers.
Review
owner (May 04, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: R. Eric Wilson - Cleveland, TN
These are some serious speakers with a lot of class, the soundstage is very open but still defined and youll hear things you probably never heard before in your music but be sure to break them in as they ask, and youll notice they get better as they reach their break-in point, the deal Vanns has going on these is almost too good to be true, they are well wortth every cent, and visually stunning.
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (May 02, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(4/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: B L. - Bellevue, WA
I received the Mirage OMD-28 5.1 surround speaker set on Friday. Originally I was quite disappointed as the sound from the OMD-28 was muddled with no image or definition. By using the Audessy calibration improved the sound a bit but no where near another surround set up I have in my family room, which is based on the Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand, Haydn Grand, and Maestro Grand. The Vienna Acoustics set is extremely good in imaging and definition.
This evening I moved the OMD-28 so that the speakers are not next to the two audio cabinets I have in the living room. After the moved, the sound improved DRAMATICALLY. Now it is excellent in imaging and definition, equal to or perhaps even better than the Vienna Acoustics set up.
As a matter of fact, the Mirage OMD-28 set up gives you the illusion that you ARE in a iive concert in front of the performer.
In order to achieve the best sound, placement of the speaker is very important for the Mirage OMD-28.
Review
MIrage OMD-28 - An immersive sound experience (March 31, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Gautam N. - Charlotte, NC
Mirage OMD-28 - Truly a Full Bodied Sound Experience
Review When i was first introduced to Mirage, it started with a nanosat prestige 5 system. I loved the clarity, tightness and most of all the truly immersive quality of the omnipolar system - yet i wanted more. So i upgraded to a pair of OMD-15s, an OMDC1 and 2 OS3 Sats to round out the surround system. This was a phenomenal improvement over the initial set up, and i loved it. However, after reading all the outstanding chatter around the OMD-28s, i decided to take the plunge. I swapped out my 15s for a pair of 28s.
I didnt think the magnitude of the jump that i witnessed in going from the nanosats to the 15s could be replicated again. However, the 28s blew me away. The sound was MORE immersive and MORE of everything relative to the 15s. As mentioned in other reviews, the 15s are by no means a second rate speaker, but the 28s are simply a cut above and a big one at that.
If you are looking for a great speakers for either stereo music or home theater application, the omnipolar design perfected in the 28s should be a serious contender as you research and experiment for your own set-up.
I will say this, the 28s need a lot of power, your standard receiver amplifier combo rated at 110w per channel wont do this speaker justice, and in the long run can actually damage the speaker. I have 200W of continuous power feeding my fronts and center from a 3 channel dedicated amp. If you are considering the 28s, go ahead and invest in a solild amplifer as well, it will be well worth it..
The ratings that i have assigned werent chosen arbitrarily - this speaker is really that good.
Review
Dream speaker for realistic price (March 18, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: Kuan lun Chu - alhambra, CA
I am still breaking in my speakers, so I havent really tested the speaker to its max potential.
Let me start off by saying the finish on these speakers are just breathtaking, it looks like a piece of art in my living room. Just listening to them at breakin level, they sound really clear and smooth. They are not bright, instead they are neutral, with just a smidgen of warmth. The vocals really shine. The bass is really strong and tight. All in all, I am very pleased with my purchase. Also the service at vanns is awesome.
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (February 11, 2010)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(4/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: ronald d. - charlotte, NC
I have had these for several months. I replaced PSB Stratus speakers. I love the big sound of the Mirage. Glad to hear that vocals have a wonderful presence and do not get slighted as in other Mirage speakers I have listened too OM-9. These only really come alive with a good amount of volume at least 85db Before I got these I mainly listened to 5 channel music but the soundfield is so large I listen alot mote to 2 channel music. My room is not the best for these though one side does not have a wall close enough and I can hear the difference between the left and right soundfield. In a better room I think these would be even more fantastic
Review
Mirage OMD-28 (January 06, 2009)
| Ease of Use |
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(5/5.0) |
| Value |
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(5/5.0) |
| Performance |
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(5/5.0) |
| Overall Rating |
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(5/5.0) |
Reviewed By: David K. - Magnolia, TX
Ive had a chance to sit and adjust my speakers in my room and to give them a good listen. I said I would try to give a comparison between the OMD15 and the OMD28. I feel they are both fine speakers. Both have a nice tight clean upper end. The music is crystal clear with an intensity I have not previously had the privilege to hear here in my living room. The bass on the 28 is considerably more powerful. I found the 15 to have ample bass but it was greatly improved when listening with a nice subwoofer. The 28 had no need for a subwoofer. The bass is strong and smooth. The sounds filled my room and the bass kick was powerful.
While listening to more of a vocal song like Randy Travis the voices will astonish you. I sat and listened and thought I might have a problem. I was hearing a very low sort of clicking sound. I moved around to try to decipher what I was hearing. As I got closer I was able to make it out. It was the intake of breath and the clicking that sometimes is heard when a human is talking. I cannot say that sound is beautiful in any way, but I heard it using the 28s.
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing - One of the finest guitar riffs ever done. Well, I can tell you it is an incredible experience on the OMD28. Very hard to describe , The sound of the guitar strumming was just so damn enjoyable. I sat with a huge smile on my face.
Mozart - If you love classical music then get a set of the 28s. I cannot name the different instruments, but the the sound is heavenly. I felt like the orchestra was sitting in my living room. The different instruments sounded as if they were coming from different parts of the room. Truly something that needs to be heard to believe.
TV - I did listen to some TV using 3.1 HT. The main thing my ear noticed was that the system blended so nicely. While I waited for the 28s to arrive I was using my Mirage M5-Sis. The center OMD-C2 was not a good match for these speakers. With the 28s the sound became one. I could barely decipher between the three front speakers. It created a nice sound stage for tv. I used Roger Waters The Wall Live in Berlin. It was kickass.
In summary I am very impressed with the OMD28. Is it worth twice as much as the omd-15? So far I would say yes. The 28 produces a much broader and finer sound than the 15. Is it subtle? No, I think it is quite obvious. That is not a put down on the fine sound of the 15, just that the 28 creates a far more expansive sound. It creates a listening area that is truly astounding. This even before I get a chance to really drive them once the 100 hours of breaking in is completed. I know once I get there Ill be one truly happy guy.
What I listened to
Randy Travis - Gospel
Dire Straits - A mix of their best.
Mozart - Mozart Festival Orchestra
Pink Floyd - The Wall
I am no professional. I am just a guy that appreciates listening to good loud clear music. I think Ive found it with the Mirage OMD-28
