Dayton RS Driver and Ology Audio Crossover review by Jason 7/29/05

This review will cover my recent installation of a custom component set comprised of Dayton Loudspeaker drivers and Ology Audio crossover networks.
 
This is my first and I plan to add to this when the final subwoofer enclosure is complete, but believe I have enough information to make a solid analysis and report.
 
Hardware list:
Two RS150S-8  6” Midwoofers www.partsexpress.com
Two RS28A-4    1 1/8” Tweeters www.partsexpress.com
Two Kicker Comp 10” Subwoofers
 
Two Ology Audio 24db High Pass Crosssovers
Two Ology Audio 24db Low Pass Crossovers
 
Alpine 9847 Head Unit
Phoenix Gold Xenon 100.4 Amplifier
 
Installation Prep-
The Dayton drivers are designed for a home theater setting and are equipped with bucking magnets and shielding cups. This contains the magnetic field created by the primary motor magnet to prevent interference with surrounding electronics such as a tv. Using a Dremel tool, I was able to cut away the cups and using a blade and a hammer I popped the bucking magnet off of the 6” drivers as they are not necessary for an automotive install. This reduced the required installation depth of the driver by 9/16” and kept me from having to use a spacer for the kickpanel installation.
 
With Shielding-
http://www.carstereo.com/images/installs/ACF3756%2Ejpg
 
Without-
http://www.carstereo.com/images/installs/ACF375D%2Ejpg
 
 
Working with Dylan Matlow of Ology Audio,  I was able to build a component set that is custom to my install making it much easier to get the exact speaker sizes I needed and have him design a crossover network that was specifically designed for those speakers.  Dylan knows his stuff, and I high encourage anyone looking for component sets to consult with him regarding their alternatives to overpriced retail options.
 
 
How does it sound?
Simply amazing! I was unsure as to what to expect working with individual drivers and custom crossovers, but am extremely happy with the results. The more I listen to this system, the more elements I notice in music. Even songs that I have heard a hundred times before, aspects that I never knew existed. This is not my first custom install in a car, but this is by far the best sound quality system I have owned. Sound quality aside, it is capable of being very loud while maintaining clarity. With the 24db crossovers, the right frequencies get to the right driver without rolling into ranges that can easily damage them at much lower volumes. If you go this route, you won’t be disappointed.
 
When I finish the sub install, I will get a frequency response test and post the results.
 
 
More pictures of my install can be found here-
http://www.carstereo.com/installs/photo_gallery_album.cfm?home=yes&photoid=14989&galleryid=1132


J
(See the original review by clicking here)


Dayton RS Driver and Ology Audio Crossover review by zblee 7/27/05

Got my install gallery up, check it out.
http://www.carstereo.com/installs/photo_gallery_album.cfm?home=yes&photoid=14848&galleryid=1128

Special thanks to OlogyAudio for being legit :) and hooking me up with a set of great sounding components. What i got from him was pair of dayton RS180S 7" woofers and pair of RS28A tweets, hooked together with some custom xovers built by and designed by OlogyAudio, just got them installed, not broke in yet, and they sound SOOOOOOOOOOO much better than my previous setup (hehe stock speakers )... so if you looking to upgrade, please send him an email or something cuz he did a good job. Just make sure you can fit his xovers where you want first, check gallery for size of them. Other than that, aoiemfaoeimfaeoifmAWSOME! couldnt ask for more ! :)

Thank you again for letting me be one of your customers Ology :)

peace...
(See the original review by clicking here)

OlogyAudio Xover with Dayton Rs180 (brief) Review

Just thought I would share a quick impression of my new speakers here.
I talked to OlogyAudio and he pointed me in the direction of the Dayton RS180 7" Midrange mated with the Dayton RS28A-4 tweeter, along with his custom designed crossovers.
Previously in my truck I had the eD6500 component set and was fairly happy with them other than they got 'harsh' at high volumes. I must say after installing the Dayton's with the Ology crossovers, it was like night and day. You have to remember I used all the stock locations of the drivers so the mid is at the bottom of the door while the tweeter is at the top.
Speaker Build: The Dayton's are some heavy duty speakers that's for sure. The only drawback is the size of the drivers, the tweet's needed a 3 1/4" cutout, so they are a tight squeeze in the factory location (had to get out the hole saw). Other than the installation pain, the speakers are worth the low cost, the speakers are around 80 bucks a side. These are some very well made speakers.
Crossover Build: I received Ology's crossover yesterday and was impressed with the solidity of the design. Very well built and all high quality components on board.
Listening Impressions: Wow. I was taken aback at the difference the Dayton's had over the eD's. The soundstage jumped up to where it's 'supposed' to be, and the music became much more 'spacious' and defined WITHOUT having the harshness usually associated with a rigid cone, and metal dome tweeter. The midbass is smoother than than the eD's while the high's are extremely detailed and precise. I ran these with the eD crossovers for about a week, and was content in the decision to change speakers out, but then I put the Ology crossovers on them, and the speakers really came alive. Much better staging and delivery. They are not truly broken in yet, so I am sure this will only get better.
Cost: (2) Dayton RS180: $65.40 (2) DAYTON RS28A-4 1-1/8" ALUMINUM DOME TWEETER: $93.30 OlogyAudio Crossovers: $150 Total: $308.70
Overall: I am very pleased with the setup I have in the truck now, my whole system blends much better now and the the music has become less harsh and more 'musical'. For the relative low cost involved I would recommend this setup to anyone. Especially when you figure for 300 dollars you will not get anything in my opinion that sounds as good in a component set.

(See the original review by clicking here)

Derek

Comparing OlogyAudio's Components to a Variety of Others

I have spent over a month now with OlogyAudio's component set so I think its time I do a real review of the product.
I think I should start my review by listing the competitors I have tried and am comparing the Ology's to so the reader can have a better idea of where I am coming from when writing this review.

In my previous cars I have had:
Infinity kappa - every shape size and color
Boston components
Boston pro
MB quart reference


I directly compared OlogyAudio's set to
Alpine Type R SPR-17LP Coax
Alpine Type R SPR-17LP Component
Alpine Type X SPX-177R Component
Memphis Audio 15-PRCS6 Component
JL Audio XR650-csi component
Diamond Audio Hex 600

I had purchased all of the above speakers (except hex), listened to them for ~ a month then returned them because they were not good enough. Each pair had good and bad points but I was never really happy with any of them.

I live in a small MN town and these are really the only choices in speakers I had, so I turned to the internet to find names and brands I have never heard of.

After hearing everyone stories of the instant orgasm that the Diamond Audio Hex produces I bought a pair. They were considerably better than the crop I had already gone thru, but also 3x the price. I sent them back after some deliberation because of what I though was weak low end. They were not bad, but not worth the $600 I paid, and I had already found many other people who agreed with me and they said the similarly priced DLS iridiums are considerably better.

While I was waiting for the dealer to refund my $$ I rad into Dylan of OlogyAudio pitched me his set of components for ~$300. I did some research and found that he really knew what he was talking about.

His set consists of Dayton reference series drivers and tweeters along with a custom xover built by dylan himself.

After shooting emails back and forth for a while he convinced me to try a pair of his product. I was tired of trying speakers but for $300 I really didn't have much to lose, and he had many other good reviews. The reviews on the dayton series woofers were amazing so I figured why not.

About a week after sending him the cash I received a very large package for two component set of speakers to live. I opened it up to find the largest and best built drivers I have ever seen. The Drivers I went with were 7", the baskets are thick and built like a tank, the weight of the unit was incredible (partly due to the shielding).

Then I opened the tweeter, this was the biggest shock. The speaker is unlike any I have ever seen, it requires a 3.5" cutout and is nearly 2" deep.

Finally I found the xovers in the box. They were pretty crude and ugly, but huge, the coils and capacitors were attached solid. The build quality is definetly top notch, just not very easy on the eyes.

The install The install took quite a bit longer than any of the "normal" component sets. For one I had to remove the shielding from the driver to fit the woofer into the door. This was a very very scary procedure. I had to pry the bucket of the bottom of the speaker, exposing the magnet and shielding magnet. Then I proceeded to chisel of the shielding magnet with a chisel and hammer, and then ultimately a hammer.

The tweeter also required me to get creative I had to enlarge the factory tweeter hole and come up with a mounting solution.

The xovers I wrapped in foam (temporarily) and placed them in the door until I was sure I was keeping these speakers.

Once everything was installed I turned the stereo and was blown away at the sound quality. The lowend that I searched for was there and them some. The Highend was not harsh at all very very musical. It is very hard to describe how a speaker sounds in type, so I can just say, I was finally happy.

After months of searching for a speaker that sounded "right" to me I had finally found it. I no longer have desire to read speaker reviews or look at products. I can finally enjoy my system.


Unfortunately I only have one pic of the install, it can be viewed here http://eric.dynip.com:2255/tweet.jpg

I have just recently ordered my 2nd set of Ology sets for the rear of my truck. I will be contacting dylan from now on for all my speaker needs. I cannot thank him enough

grunge