New ICOS 6 for 2015

[Julot]

It's been a while in the making, but the new generation ICOS 6 are finally there.

They are no-crossover speakers, designed to be used with ICOS active amplifilters (or any active amplification with similar cut-off frequencies at 130Hz and 10 kHz, or traditional amplifiers with an external crossover) to reproduce medium and treble (a separate subwoofer handles the bass).

The shape is icosahedric and gave its name to the brand twenty years ago. It gives structural rigidity and minimizes stationnary waves. They are made with three layers of different density woods, hand-assembled with tongues and groove, damped inside, and outside thanks to the piano finish.


The ICOS 6 behave in a manner close to the ideal pulsating sphere. The upside of it:
- They're easy to place and give good results even when the acoustics are less than ideal
- They're very transparent and fast, don't sound like boxes
- The "soft spot" for listening is large and the difference between soft and less soft spot isn't great (it gives great results listening from the back for instance)

Since 1973, we had been using the JBL LE-8 as main drive, but it's been discontinued, which prompted the new model. The successor is the DE-8 by Davis Acoustics. From 10kHz up, a FT96H Fostex tweeter takes over. I'm still breaking the Davis in, and am sure its treble and bass are not as good as the JBL (but we don't use them), but so far it seems more transparent and neutral.

I'll be demonstrating in Northern Europe from my Copenhagen base in Jan-Feb, and then they should be back in the Paris showroom. Looking forward to having music lovers and audiophiles from all around.

Obviously I have no credibility when talking about my gear, but I'll say this: I like my job.

 

[bzr]

Not feeling it sorry. They look like something from a UFO series from the 70's that would be in the engineers premises!

 

[Julot]

Fair enough. Unfortunately, the pictures are all I can demo here on the forum. You are invited anytime to see if you feel it better once you hear it. (Here in the Paris, France district of Oz)

Our experience is that one third of people hate the look of it, one third actually love it.

The shape doesn't flow from an aesthetic choice. We have made different shapes for clients who insisted on it, but they can't sound the same, especially the crazy sharp stereo imaging.

Also, they look better in person. (I replaced some pics in the original post)

 

[Julot]

And what am I doing wrong with pictures and how can I post in portrait mode?

 

[slowgeezr]

And what am I doing wrong with pictures and how can I post in portrait mode?

Hi. I'd pull the pictures into a photo manipulation software and rotate them there and then save them. Then upload them. I use iPhoto, as that is what came with my computer, but there are many others.

 

[Julot]

Thanks. I did that with my PC, and I tried rotating pictures but they always come out in landscape mode. Maybe I should try from a Mac, or a different browser...

 

[Glareskin]

It's been a while in the making, but the new generation ICOS 6 are finally there. Obviously I have no credibility when talking about my gear, but I'll say this: I like my job.

Thank you Julot for bringing a different product to the discussion. I like the concept. It looks like it is some sort of stealth technology (a bit like Avalon by the way). If it has influence on radar why not on sound waves? It makes sense to me.

Don't worry about promoting your product. Your signature reveals your origin. Just don't mix in in discussions on similar speakers with slogans in favor of your own; that wouldn't be credible.

Are you going to demo the products in München? That would be a cool way for myself and other Sharkies (like Wisnon) to hear your Icos 6.

 

[Julot]

Thanks. We will be in Munich (and in Hamburg next month) but I'm not sure about getting a listening room in the show. I'm no fan of the conditions there (acoustics, power, and the general feel), not to mention the soaring prices. My preference is to find some cosy place in town for demos in more friendly conditions to invited guests. But maybe we'll take the leap this time. The Voxativ and, to a lesser extent the Raidhos made quite the impression on me in Munich last year. The Leedh demo was counter-productive, though (the time I went).

I will also be on the road for private demos and events, including in the NL in the comig months.

 

[Julot]

Here's a nice example of the old model, with custom finish and LE-8 driver. Rare event: this system is actually available in second-hand.

 

[Julot]

And an example of the little sister, with zebra wenge wood. This one used to be in Guy Savoy's lounge before he moved to Hotel de la Monnaie and dropped having a lounge altogether.