Anyone else order Caladans from Clayton Shaw?

Soix, it's indoor golf simulator leagues.....here in Chicago the golf season is shorter than most places.

Okay here you go, first listening notes from 3 days of listening to the Clayton Shaw Caladans. I am not very good at describing what I hear, so don't fry me on that.

1. I warmed the speakers up just for a couple of hours by connecting to my system in my office, and let maybe 4 CDs play through them without any listening. Moved them to my current listening space, and connected to my equipment. It was all left on for 24 hours previously to be warmed up sufficiently. I did two listening passes through each CD, over 3 days
2. I must also say that my current listening room is in no way optimal, I’d say it’s below average. My wife decided she wanted to swap the living room with the family room, and my gear now resides in the living room which has minimal treatment (curtains and wool area rug; open concept to two other rooms. I can definitely tell the negative difference in rooms, both with my existing Thiel CS2.3 and Buchardt Audio S400 MKII speakers. I am constructing a listening room, but that is a bunch of months out
3. Having never owned open baffle speakers before, I did not know what to expect. I will certainly say that they are much more workable compared to my traditional speakers, in their current room
4. Each time I sat down with the intention to listen for a few hours, the next thing I knew it was many hours later, and I had done no work for the afternoon. It eventually piled up, and had to spend a couple of days catching up. These are really fun speakers
5. Gear used: Audiolab 6000 CDT transport > Morrow Audio DIG4 digital coax cable > Denafrips Pontus II DAC > Morrow Audio MA4 XLR cables > Denafrips Hades preamp > Morrow Audio MA4 XLR cables > Denafrips Thallo amplifier (120 watts 8 ohm/220 watts 4 ohm) > Anti-Cables Level 3.1 speaker cables > Clayton Shaw Caladan speakers
6. Music used (all CD, whole album listened to): Poi Dog Pondering “Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like a Sea” & “Pomegranate” – Eagles “One of These Nights” – Nirvana “MTV Unplugged” – Chris Isaak “Heart Shaped World” – Gorillaz “Demon Days” – The Talking Heads “Stop Making Sense Remastered” – Chris Stapleton “Traveler” – 10,000 Maniacs “MTV Unplugged” – Johnny Cash American IV - Supertramp “Crime of the Century” – Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms” – Memoirs of a Geisha “Soundtrack” – The Civil Wars “Barton Hollow” – Atlanta Rhythm Section “Champagne Jam” – Amy Winehouse “Back to Black”
7. Several of the albums I chose for their difficulty. Some can be bright, some can be congested (Poi Dog sometimes up to 16 musicians and vocalists on stage), some to get a variety of genres, and some because I just love the album.
8. Take my listening notes with a grain of salt, if your musical tastes vary from mine. I do not listen to classical, chamber music, opera, jazz, fusion jazz, electronical (mostly), Norah Jones (or the like), or too much country
9. Speakers about 2 feet into the room, seating position 8 feet from speakers, and speakers about 8’ between the tweeters. Speakers toed in so they were each aimed just outside of my ears, maybe 12”…..I did not try playing with positioning beyond that
10. Initial thoughts –

1. These are the best speakers I have ever owned.
2.  Bass is a little laid back, but slowly improved throughout the next few days, was never muddy…..quick, punchy, detailed, not overly deep. I’m not sure if that is just the OB design, or improper placement, or needing to break in the woofers
3. Voices are incredible, male and female. Clear, articulate, great tone and full of body, I was able to understand words in songs that I know the words to but couldn’t clearly make out otherwise. I could pick out different vocalists when they were singing at the same time. Vocals were natural and without any harshness, showed all the nuances and grit and vibrato and breath and failings (Chris Stapleton, Natalie Merchant, David Byrne, Johnny Cash), almost like a live performance, dynamic changes from soft to crescendos were effortless. Vocals kept between speakers and could place where vocalists were on the stage even with multiple vocalists, great emotion. Chris Issak’s voice was brilliant, hypnotic
4. Complicated songs and music where there were a lot of musicians and vocalists (Talking Heads, Poi Dog Pondering, Gorillaz), were rendered more like a live setting where you can place and distinguish each, articulate and detailed without being jumbled or confused
5. Some songs that can be bright and brittle with intertwined detail (Poi Dog Pondering, Supertramp, Gorillaz) were delivered much more clearly and individually and smoothly, with no sense of being overwhelmed, I could separate an electric violin from a cello from saxophone from a mandolin from bells from recorder from synth from horns while they were all being played simultaneously, multiple percussion instruments from each other, and multiple vocalists. They all had their own space and somewhat their own location
6. Imaging and soundstage and presentation – For now the soundstage is limited to the outer edges of the speakers, a little beyond……soundstage height is very good, depth is there more than my current Buchardt Audio S400 MKIIs, but at this point the soundstage is not “magical” like I’ve heard on some systems. The sound does not seem to come from the speakers, it is more presented from a stage of sound. I certainly need to play around positioning more, but for now this is where I am
7. So far so good. I am ecstatic with the speakers, I suspect there is a lot of testing with speaker placement and just getting used to open baffle. I also suspect that my current electronics, while good, are not going to really allow the Caladans to reach their full potential. My new Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp will be here in a couple of months, and CODA S5.5 amp in a couple of weeks

Wester17,

Like most audio components, the Caladans do take some time. I probably have 100 hours right now, and the bass is still continuing to go deeper. However it has been fast and accurate for some time now. The tweeter sounded really good when I first started listening, but I slowly realized it too needed some more time. Right now they have pretty well settled in.

Currently have them driven by a new CODA S5.5, and that is a match made in heaven.....also really good with the Buchardt Audio S400 MKII, but the synergy with the Caladans is something else.

My order also was confirmed as from "Spatial Audio", and I've yet to receive any confirmation from Clayton Shaw the company. My assumption is that the video caused an overwhelming response, and an influx of orders. Not concerned at this point, but would be nice to have an update at least

abd1,

My virtual system is listed in my profile, except I do rotate cables in and out. I have an Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp and a CODA S5.5 amp on order.....preamp arrives in about 9 weeks and the CODA will be here next week hopefully. I'll move on from the Denafrips amp and preamp at that time.

Speakers I've owned: Thiel CS 1.2s, CS 2.3s, CS 3.6s, and CS 3.7s, vintage Infinity REF Kappa 7s, and Kappa 9s, Buchardt Audio S400 MKIIs, Tannoy Autograph Mini, Proac Response D2s, 1980s Sansui that I can't remember the model.....that's probably it. Never owned an open baffle or electrostatic before.

I finally got an email last week confirming they indeed have my order, I placed my order on 11/1/23....and production is based on that date. No shipping date was implied, just my order placement. I am glad to at least get a response, and looking forward to the speakers.....I do wish it had not taken 2 months, 4 emails, and 4 voicemails to get a response, but here we are. I'll post once I receive the Caladans.

Well, well, well great news, the Clayton Shaw Caladan speakers showed up this evening, serial number 00023. Double wall boxed, cleverly and well packed; delivered by UPS. Two sets of 2 stand leges, two sets of four Gaia III feet, needed screws to mount the brackets and feet. Speakers (without stands and feet) are surprisingly manageable weight wise. I'm not one for an "unpacking" video, but in the morning tomorrow I'll unwrap the speakers and get them assembled.....and put some pics up

First impressions and assembly:

Assembly took about 30 minutes per speaker, and all parts were included including a wrench and torx head screwdriver. Once assembled, the speaker baffle tilts back maybe 6 to 8 degrees....but that is of course adjustable as well with the Gaia III feet. All components appear to be those hinted at on other forums or on their website, namely:

IsoAcoustics Gaia III feet, WBT Nextgen 0703 binding posts, Jupiter twisted pair lacquered cotton wiring, US Coils air coils, Jupiter copper foil and Dayton Audio capacitors, and Dayton Audio wire wound resistors.

The maple baffle slabs that I ordered my speakers in, are 1.5" thick, very attractive and blemish free. I will post images if I can get imgpile to upload correctly.

I am leaving early tomorrow morning for vacation, so unfortunately I won't be able to get any listening impressions until I get back next Tuesday.

Sorry boys, my apologies.....I had indoor golf league tonight and I've got a 6:30AM flight. But I'll try to post pics

https://imgpile.com/i/xoTwIW
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https://imgpile.com/i/xoTRA1
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Back in my drinking days, had several friends with boats, spent a lot of lost time in the “play pen”

coralking, I’ll try to be honest and not “fan boy” over the Caladans

abd1,

The exposed components can be polarizing, I actually kind of like being able to see the quality of the components.....and by definition the entire back is exposed.

I don't think it came through on the pics I posted), the components are placed in routed slots and holes in the back of the baffle.....so they are recessed into the baffle a bit. 

Soix,

I have been home for the last 3 of days, let them burn in for 8 hours, and started listening on Saturday. I'm about half way through my initial thoughts, and will post hopefully by tomorrow. Cliff's notes version, they are freaking awesome.....still needing for the woofers to wake up, but that's expected for 12" drivers with less than 20 hours on them.

Well I will make sure to have my Depends on then. I truly am very excited, the Caladans bass continues to open a bit more each day.....and I think the Aric Audio and CODA pieces will truly be a magical grouping

Owain,

Did he mention anything specific? I found several things when I searched YouTube for 10HZ audio

Owain,

I did not play the 10Hz files, as my streaming set up was disconnected when I changed my equipment to a different listening room....I tried to find the CD, and it was not available anywhere. I ended up ordering the "Isotek High Resolution Full System Enhancer", and have used it as directed. I have about 65 hours or so on them.

The bass has definitely opened up as expected, drives deeper, gets even punchier, is still quick and accurate......but I have no idea if they deliver the 32Hz as advertised. Frankly I don't care, the bass is just fun and enjoyable and accurate. Deep enough for everyone? I don't know, but more than enough for me.

What I wasn't prepared for was the treble to relax so much more. As much as I thought they were exceptional for the first week or so, they have opened up even more with zero edginess, and just delivering information that sounds "correct" and effortless at all times....impressive.

Here is where I am going to have an issue following up on the progress of the Caladans going forward. Last week I took possession of my CODA S5.5 amplifier, and it is now installed driving the Caladans for the last 30 hours or so. I will occasionally go back to my Buchardt Audio S400 MKIIs for brief periods,  but not for long.

The CODA S5.5 and Caladans are RIDICULOUSLY GREAT together....sorry for the caps, but I am running out of descriptives. How many different ways can I describe magic, effortless, beautiful, amazing, emotional, accurate, soundstage, emotion, depth, joy, happiness.....these have brought me to tears several times this past week. I don't know how they work with jazz, classical, chamber music, opera, choral, etc.....but with the music I listen to, I am amazed every morning I turn them on.

And that is still with my old Denafrips Hades preamp (which definitely is better than I gave it credit for), I cannot imagine what will happen when I receive the Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp in a couple of months, but damn I cannot wait.

the_nick,

Let's go Hokies!

Feel free to reach out any time, love to talk audio

I'm not sure how the invoice numbers work, I'm not positive there is a correlation. I ordered on 11/1/2023 with Invoice #179, and received SN 00023.

It was hard for me to be patient, but in the end I have an amazing pair of speakers for what I consider a steal of a price. The speakers are gorgeous, use very high quality components, are well built, and sound better than anything I have every owned....and I've had some expensive speakers over the years (at least for me)

Any new company will have some growing pains, and I think the positive response to the Caladans from the New Record Day video caught everyone off guard.....and pressed them into production earlier than planned. For me it was well worth the frustration.

nickdig1,

I get it, and I went through the same exact thing....having placed my order on 11/1/23. In the end my patience has been rewarded, as the Caladans are an amazing speaker for a ridiculously fair price. I would go through all of the difficulties again, just to get the Caladans.....worth my patience

terrapin77,

I wouldn't be too worried by a lack of updates, that seems to be normal as they are focusing on production. I spoke with them at Axpona and they said they were getting about 7 to 10 units completed per week....still not where they wanted to be, but better than they were. I received SN 00023 around 2/10, so you can do the math

If anyone is interested, someone just posted a really detailed review of the Caladans on another thread on Agon titled "My Caladan Impressons".....Yes I misspelled impressions, but it is on the other thread