Perfect Sense
Member
Hello Sir,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us and it's great to know that you are carrying so many popular brands under one roof. I believe it provides people with a rare opportunity to experience and seriously audition their favourite brands and compare against each other.
In your opinion what would be your best pick for jazz and classical listening? Never heard of Stenheim until now but looks very interesting as well.
Crystal cable arabesque is also on my short list for auditions unfortunately there's no way I can compare them with either Raidho's and Magico in one setting. Can I have your general opinion how crystal cable stacks up with the mentioned brands.
Alvin
Well, on this elevated level it usually comes down to personal preference, as there are few bad apples.
I listen to a lot of acoustical music incl. sing and songwriters in general myself, which means that the handling of unamplified instruments and voices are crucial. Based on these premises, I do hold Nola in general very high. I'm breaking in a pair of Metro Grand Reference Gold at the moment, which I believe are one of the most musical speakers I've ever experienced in a known environment. The timbre/tone colour is as natural as it gets, where the open baffle for the midrange and ribbon tweeter opens up a soundfield that's more or less free from colouration and boxiness.
Stenheim Alumine is somewhat lightweight in overall character in comparison, and perhaps more revealing (but never analytical or over the top). The build quality is amazingly precise.
Raidho are rather unique in being quite sweet (as in never sharp or edgy) and at the same time extremely transparent speakers that throws a huge soundstage. Very easy to enjoy. They are a challenge to mate and setup well though, which you need to take into consideration (make sure the dealer has done their homework).
I'm waiting for the Kaiser Chiara monitor to arrive, as well as the Crystal Cable Minissimo. I would like to come back to those when I've got to know them better.
I would like to mention Diapason from Italy as well. These are not "up there" among the usual suspects, but the emotional connection you get with the Adamantes and Asterra monitors are world-class in its own right imo.