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Anyone familiar with Hegeman/Morrison speakers

I have recently acquired a set of ('73-74) Hegeman Labs Model 1a Omni directional speakers. To my knowledge, these were some of, if not the first omni directional speakers to be developed.

A. Stewart Hegeman apparently is responsible for quite a few audio achievements. The Harmon Kardon Citation amp was designed by him, as well as The original Dynaco tuner, I believe.

Hegeman's original design utilized his own hand spun aluminum woofer cones/woofers. These first models contained a Philips AD 0160/T8 tweeter.

The idea is to perfectly recreate a room where a good, old fashioned stereo recording (only TWO microphones) had taken place. I must admit, even with my lowly receiver, and acoustically challenged room, on a quick dry run, they gave quite a remarkable soundstage. I have never heard a more accurate upright bass, nor have I been able to walk 360 degrees around the bassist as he plays near my china hutch. Johnny Cash never sounded better.

In '77 Hegeman, for a number of reasons, decided to hand his knowledge and speaker company down to Don Morrison. Some may know his E.L.A.D. preamp, or other products. The initial design of my model 1's have since evolved under the new name, Morrison Audio.

Morrison still hand makes every speaker/amp and is completely a one man operation.

Here are a couple of pictures of the speakers.

Wondering if anyone has ever experienced any Morrison Audio or Hegeman speakers. Would love to hear your opinion.
oldsoundz
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,756 posts
 
This would be a real test for internet content. The Hegeman speakers were reviewed in Rolling Stone in 1974 (if my memory is serving me correctly). The reviewer's observations were very similar to yours and he concluded by writing to skip the concert, buy the speakers and stay at home and listen. The price for the speakers was in the $200 range. I do not quite know why this article has stuck with me after all these years, but I do remember talking with my dad about these speakers (he fixed stereos and other appliances).

Regards, Rich
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
Mr Hegeman was one of the mavericks of speaker design. never got exposure or press like amar bose, richard shahinian, or others.
bpwalsh
1,198 posts
 
I visited Don Morrison ("Morrison," as he likes to be called) in Toronto last year after making some deliveries to customers. Yes, he is a one man operation, an interesting chap, very nice if eccentric. Considering the modest associated equipment, I found his speakers to sound pretty darn good. Only in a more familiar setting with equipment I know would I be able to tell the strengths and limitations.
hoggshead
80 posts
 
I believe the biggest model, the 23's are around $6K. I heard them once at a shop in North Carolina. The sound stage is wide and deep but the tone and accuracy left me nonplussed about the sound.
cleopatra52's avatar
cleopatra52
98 posts
 
A friend of mine has a pair of the Morrison 1.5 speakers. I think they are at least 10 years old and probably more. I can't remember all the details of his system but I know he is driving them with a Citation II amp and uses a Counterpoint SA9 phono preamp with a Teres turntable. I was really shocked when I heard this system. Definitely among the best imaging I have heard (seen), right up there with the Linkwitz Orion and my Quad 57s. Bass was excellent, as already noted, but I thought the midrange was a little dry. Still, I could live with these speakers. I have not heard a pair of the newer Morrisons but I do know the price has gone way up - to about $5K or more.
These speakers do deserve greater attention. See Arthur Salvatore's website for more info.
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