Osborne speakers v SGR

[Rush 2112]

Hi There 

What do you think of Osborne speakers v SGR active speakers 

[PicoWattson]

Welcome to the SNA forum. Both brands are exemplary Australian manufactured performers. If you would care to be a bit more specific about which model you seek advice on and what you intend to feed them with perhaps someone may be able to offer some opinions.

[Guest]

@PicoWattson asks the right questions there @Rush 2112. There's not much similarity in this comparison other than what has already been said about both being Australia and of excellent quality. They are however two very different types of speakers. Both can be auditioned in their premises here in Melbourne (and incidentally, both are known for their amazing hospitality!).

 

Give us some more information and we might be able to guide you on one over the other for your application. Ultimately though, if you haven't heard either yet that should be your first exercise.

[Guest]

to the forum.

 

SGR is at your doorstep and Stuart will be more than happy to host you at their factory.   The SGR will sound different to the Osborne.  Having owned them, I  prefer the active SGR speakers.

[Yamaha_man]

13 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said:

to the forum.

 

SGR is at your doorstep and Stuart will be more than happy to host you at their factory.   The SGR will sound different to the Osborne.  Having owned them, I  prefer the active SGR speakers.

+1 for SGR.

[Guest]

SGR is great, no doubt (I am a fan), but let's not encourage one over another based on favourites unless you've heard both extensively, and we've had the opportunity to establish the OPs requirements before making a recommendation.

[alistairm]

I am a (big) fan of both.

 

There is no bad decision between Osborn and SGR. Both sound fantastic. 

 

However, the ownership experience will be different. 

 

The aethetics are important. The Osborns are very much traditional speakers with gorgeous wooden veneers. SGRs are more modern (with some amazing finishes as well). Purely a matter of personal preference which flicks your switches. 

 

Aethetics aside, the decision between actives v passives is a big one. You can enter the Osborn market relatively cheaply, and enjoy upgrading your (most likely valve) amps along the way. With SGR, you'll almost certainly spend more up front but "straight line" to a very high end and refined system. 

 

I have personally experienced absolutely first rate engagement with both manufacturers. When you are able, you should definitely visit both and gauge for yourself the products, how they will fit your room, how much you want to spend up front, who you want to work with and so forth. Have fun! 

[Kaynin]

Yeah you're comparing so much, one's active the other passive.  I'm a fan of both.  Cost will be important, but you'll have to add an amp to the Osborn's so don't forget that.

 

Both have fantastic reputations for very good reason.

[MrBurns84]

Agreed with all being said above.  They're both great sounding speakers but ultimately aimed at different use cases, being passive (Osborne)/active speakers (SGR).  Although SGR do make a range of passives as well.  

I had the Osborne eclipse in the mid 2000s and loved everything about them, until 2011 when i had to keep my box count low due to space restrictions, i looked into the active offerings.  Back then from memory, only 2 active speakers were avail locally, Adam and SGR.  So a quick visit to the SGR pretty much had me sold that day.  Still have the eclipse's but they're on a 'permanent loan' at my in-laws.  Still get to hear them from time to time and they still have that sound that made me buy them years ago.

 

Best bet is to org an onsite demo at both once lockdown rules have been eased.  

Edited August 4, 2021 by MrBurns84

[Grimmie]

Hi @Rush 2112 welcome to Stereonet, and if you were to end up with either of these prime examples of Australian made speakers you would undoubtedly would be a happy and satisfied customer. As stated they're a bit different style and make-up wise, but the word quality is the most important there. I went through the whole auditioning process around fourteen years ago as a newbie on this site and though there have been changes to the line-ups in their ranges the standards have remained top-notch.

 

I wrote up a huge thread back in 2007 called Grimmie in Wonderland which you may wish to read if you have an hour or so to spare, but failing that I can simply say I ended up with the MT3A active speakers then upgraded to the MT3.2 as they became available. As you may guess, after all this time I have not changed brands and have no desire to do so having previously owned Dynaudio, Wharfedale, NAD and a few more plus auditioned many including the Osborne range. (As in the thread mentioned)

 

SGR were so great at audition time that whenever I travel to Victoria (my daughter lives there) I make a point of visiting the Ralstons and have listen to their systems (ooohhh! the Brinkman equipment) and really loved the CX4 model, again active so no need for expensive amplification.

 

One downside, - these are likely to be end-game speakers, you probably won't have the need to buy amps or speakers ever again which would be a tragedy for most SNA readers.

[Rush 2112]

I have listened to SGR  at a hifi show and was very impressed . I have also listened to the Osborne Monuments and some of the other big Osbornes.    I currently own the Beolab 9s . I realize they are not a pinch on SGR or Osbornes but they  deliver a nice sound stage and good bass.    I hope to sell the Beolabs soon so I can put some funds into something good.   

SGR is my preferred choice but the price is very high unless I can find the CX4f for under 8k. in Victoria.

The Osbornes are value for money but will need to invest in a good amp I guess .

 

I am also a bit concerned with amount of electronics in active speakers like SGR  and the cost for repairing if something goes wrong.  

  

[MrBurns84]

2 minutes ago, Rush 2112 said:

SGR is my preferred choice but the price is very high unless I can find the CX4f for under 8k. in Victoria.

I am also a bit concerned with amount of electronics in active speakers like SGR  and the cost for repairing if something goes wrong.  

  

There's an MK1 version selling at $8.2k atm with the cherry burl veneer in the classifieds.   You can update it to MK2 specs down the track.  

 

I have had the Mk1 version for nearly 8 years and it never missed a beat.  Now in its Mk2 iteration, touch wood -  has been working flawlessly.   There are circuit protection built in to the amps that prevent them from overheating at least (yes i have tested this and the amp module survived! .    IME a quick email to Stuart(SGR) and he will address any issues within a short time frame.   

[anandpkumar]

2 minutes ago, MrBurns84 said:

There's an MK1 version selling at $8.2k atm with the cherry burl veneer in the classifieds.   You can update it to MK2 specs down the track.  

 

 

Seems to have already been spoken for - not by me  unfortunately

 

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, Rush 2112 said:

I am also a bit concerned with amount of electronics in active speakers like SGR  and the cost for repairing if something goes wrong.  

 

 

Fair point to make. I think SGR has a proven track record for reliability but more importantly, customer service though. It certainly wouldn't be a concern for me when deciding between the two options. 

[Yamaha_man]

2 hours ago, Rush 2112 said:

 

I am also a bit concerned with amount of electronics in active speakers like SGR  and the cost for repairing if something goes wrong.  

  

Stuart’s  after sales service and backing  of his product is absolutely second to non.  I’ve experienced this first hand.

Nothing to be concerned about, they’re bulletproof.

Edited August 4, 2021 by Yamaha_man

[Jakeyb77_Redux]

23 minutes ago, Yamaha_man said:

Stuart’s  after sales service and backing  of his product is absolutely second to non.  I’ve experienced this first hand.

Nothing to be concerned about, they’re bulletproof.

Better read @joz’s posts
Granted the volume was on the higher end that night. But not that high 

Edited August 4, 2021 by Jack Goff

[Yamaha_man]

9 minutes ago, Jack Goff said:

Better read @joz’s posts
Granted the volume was on the higher end that night. But not that high 

Operator error.

[Kaynin]

 

40 minutes ago, Jack Goff said:

Better read @joz’s posts
Granted the volume was on the higher end that night. But not that high 

No, it was high that night, I was there.  In fact I alerted him of the odd rattle which I thought was the window.  No distortion though, so it was running within capabilities.

 

I will say the repair bill was astonishing.  Lucky it went on insurance…

[Jakeyb77_Redux]

12 hours ago, Kaynin said:

 

No, it was high that night, I was there.  In fact I alerted him of the odd rattle which I thought was the window.  No distortion though, so it was running within capabilities.

 

I will say the repair bill was astonishing.  Lucky it went on insurance…

One man’s high Volume is another’s medium. 
In any case not exactly bulletproof.

But I’ve had Osborn’s fail also. 
I’d have either in my home in a heartbeat though. 
To the OP they are different beasts and you will get great service from either. 
Also they are both very accommodating with auditions so you can spend time with either before buying! Win! 

Edited August 4, 2021 by Jack Goff

[Cookies]

I've auditioned both the CX4F and Monuments extensively. Both are technically excellent, neither are perfect and have their own pros and cons. Both were within my budget but I felt the monuments edged out the CX4F by a hair so personal opinion will play a big part here. I ended up with a Duke but that is going OT here. I can PM you my impressions of the SGR vs Osborn if you like, let me know.

[joz]

13 hours ago, Kaynin said:

 

No, it was high that night, I was there.  In fact I alerted him of the odd rattle which I thought was the window.  No distortion though, so it was running within capabilities.

 

 

Yep, a combination of excess volume for one sub driver that had its foam surround fail probably due to its and my age. So instead of swapping  out just one driver the decision was to do the lot and not have to pull down the massive towers at any date again soon.

SGR completed the repair with their usual attention to detail and customer service. Though have the mishap did occur just as the world went into Covid lockdowns didn’t help the speed of repair. Many parts for the sub drivers were stuck in other parts of the world.

Even after the longer than expected delay in getting my speakers back up and running I’d struggle to find anything that I’d want to own more.

 

[Rush 2112]

40 minutes ago, Cookies said:

I've auditioned both the CX4F and Monuments extensively. Both are technically excellent, neither are perfect and have their own pros and cons. Both were within my budget but I felt the monuments edged out the CX4F by a hair so personal opinion will play a big part here. I ended up with a Duke but that is going OT here. I can PM you my impressions of the SGR vs Osborn if you like, let me know.

Thanks 

I thought the Monuments sounded huge. I cant remember what the SGRs sounded like except they were very punchy and detailed 

[Jamie m]

Love to see the look on your wife's face when you bring the Monuments home....

 

 

 

 

[Rush 2112]

I am going to swap her for the Monuments 

[Guest]

That's how you do it!