The Ocean Way HR-3 monitor systems are equally perfect for audiophiles and studio professionals. It's basically a "small" version of the HR-2.

The HR-3 is available for demonstration at all times in our music theater in Holland!

Reference professional / audiophile speakers

They were initially designed as high resolution reference studio monitors to sonically judge and decide intricate musical balances for final mixes, but that also makes them exceptional audiophile speakers. What separates them from other high end speakers, apart from their studio use, is the virtually unlimited dynamic range while maintaining absolutely matched uniform frequency response between channels. They maintain absolute symmetry in regards to stereo imaging. Their uniform dispersion coupled with very smooth off-axis response allow for a very wide listening window helping to eliminate the "sweet spot" effect.

"Professional" loudspeakers can have a somewhat negative connotation in the audiophile community, as being loud, harsh and lacking soundstage depth and musicality. Most horns have a typical sound signature, caused by narrow dispersion. Most horns are also crossed over near their natural cutoff, creating response and phase non-linearities.

Perfect reproduction

The Ocean Way HR-3 uses unique horns with very wide dispersion and even directivity, they simply don't sound like a horn. Their frequency response on axis vs. 40 degrees off axis is virtually identical. Excellent physical and acoustical time alignment between drivers creates an absolutely seamless transition. If you stand 1m from the speaker you will hear one complete and utterly natural sound (when you get that close to most other speaker systems, you will often hear their units working separately). When listening to a well recorded voice, it virtually sounds as if the singer is standing in front of you.

The Ocean Way HR-3 goes beyond professional or high-end standards, you will not get any closer to the original recording, the realism, the live presence, the dynamics and the pure musical experience are unmatched.

Complete systems

The HR-3 are extremely precise speakers, their components are carefully selected and matched, but for the level of performance they require, finer calibration is needed. This is accomplished with a custom made equalizer with a hand wound toroid for each frequency. The EQ has a very simple signal path with super fast amplifiers, allowing to calibrate the speakers within 1db of each other. They spend whatever time it takes to align each of their speakers to meet their strict tolerances and to compare and listen to each set until totally satisfied. This can easily be compared to building a fine musical instrument.

The active equalization requires the speakers to be tri-amplified. This is a no compromise solution. There is no way to achieve this level of reproduction with conventional amplification with passive crossovers. Good amplification is important, but this doesn't need to be extremely expensive. And of course the setup of these speakers and the acoustics of the room are important.

If you're interested in such system you will not simply buy these loudspeakers, you will buy the "Ocean Way sound". We will commit ourselves to setup these speakers perfectly, this involves calibrating, measuring and a lot of listening, and possibly taking some acoustic measures with a well known local specialist.

Differences between HR-2 and HR-3

The HR-2 consist of 2 cabinets per side with a 18 inch (46cm) woofer for the bass, they are big, total height is 183cm.

The HR-3 consist of a single, more compact cabinet per side with two 12 inch (30cm) woofers for the bass.

The Ocean Way HR-3 delivers almost the same level of performance as the HR-2 in a much smaller configuration. Still they're not exactly small speakers, but at least a lot more friendly looking in your room, and they play perfect in small rooms too.