I too initially ordered via PayPal on NOV 1st. It seems there are some shady practices going on with them. Allegedly several lawsuits settled out of court as to not bring public attention to PP's poor service to vendors. Per Clayton's recommendation, I disputed the order and received my money from PP after 100 days. I'm ready to purchase via Square, but can't seem to figure out how. Do I need to request an Square invoice from Clayton?
Anyone else order Caladans from Clayton Shaw?
After watching videos and reading positive reviews I ordered a pair of Caladans. It’s been 2 weeks and I have never received an email confirmation of sale. The charge on my cc was from Spatial Audio. I have called and left VMs twice and also emailed Clayton’s info address. Crickets !
Has anyone else experienced this? I assume he’s extremely busy but I’m getting a little anxious.
@vthokie83 Thank you for that great followup, I was really curious what your ear was picking up, your sorta mirroring what Clayton was laying down on the road-map to full break-in. I don't have that type of Amp congrats to your accomplishments there perhaps one day. WAF is still an occurrence here. I bought those cd from discog the sheffield audio labs test and burn in cd. You have me curious with the option you used, I might have to look at that, I loved seeing your emotions, sounds like there taking your breath away. I was also looking at those Buchhardt mkii but went with the CSS Criton 1TDX, with superior xo. Those floored me into going to GR to upgrade the RF7-III, that was so much work.
Man, so little time on this rock to get exposed to this hobby. |
I ordered a pair in cherry the week before Christmas. Confirmed the charge to Spatial Audio on my CC but never received a confirmation email or any other response from CSAL. I’ve sent two on line inquiries through their website but no response. Customer service is lacking but the product appears to be outstanding at least from the new recipients of the Calladan. |
I want to read the response as constructive, but it's just not how it comes across. For awareness, I received an email from Mark at CSAL and responded to it as soon as I read it. So, as you mention I am following up with the company. As far as posting here for "help", that was not my intent. My intent was to see if others encountered a similar experience. This is informative not just for me, but others that may be in a similar situation. Hopefully if you ordered your transactions and experience have been smooth. |
@evank Very interesting, and thanks for passing that information along (which was the intended purpose of me posting here). I followed up on the email I received from Mark at CSAL after I received it yesterday but have yet to hear back. And not sure of the PayPal specifics, but don't want to speculate. At this point I am just looking forward to receiving the speakers. |
@the_nick Clayton called my friend and told him the same thing. He mentioned he had to call at least 75 customers. Maybe PP did this because the money was sitting in Clayton's PP account for a long time? |
Don't see anything fishy in Clayton's request. He's telling you to get a refund and then re-send the money while he holds your place in line. He's not asking you to pay him twice. If you in fact sent the money to the right account phone number or e-mail and he hasn't received it then it's a problem on PayPal's end. If you questions ask him about it directly as nobody on this forum can help you. |
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. |
@vthokie83 mine are enroute, did you play the 10hz file at all, how are they sounding now? and how many hours do you have on them? |
@the_nick That sounds really fishy. What would you be disputing? Non-delivery? That would be bad for them. You'd have to provide PayPal with assorted proof and an email asking you to dispute it would not look good for them. |
@owain if it is not too personal, what was your invoice number? I envy you with your delivery date! I have ordered mine on Nov 22 and my invoice is 182. |
Seems like my order hit a snag. Looks like it is related to a PayPal issue. Clayton and team are asking me to dispute the transaction because they can't access the money I already paid. They then want me to reorder and will hold my place in line. Sounds a little fishy to me. Anyone else experience something like this? |
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Hey Vthokie83,
He said just to loop the 10hz track and let that play for about 100 hours. I also brought up over heating concerns which he advised that he was not at all concerned being that the speaker is so efficient. He was more about breaking in the spider by the voice coil that the part that needs to move as the woofer are so rigid right now being so new. He also said you didn’t have to play at loud volumes but look for some excursion happening with the woofer. I also tried that 10Hz on my CSS Criton 1TDX and those woofers were moving. He also brought up The user Tyson from AudioCircle saying that Tyson experienced break in on the at around the 500 hr mark on his Saphires using this method.
What I'll do is let them play that 10hz from 7 -4 then I'll play my track and listen for improvements throughout the week I have that cd from bass mekanik that does all those sweeps and ill just put on the track to repeat.
When I did my RF7-III upgrade, I could not tell I my situation because of what that speaker went thru going from a two way to a 2.5. A completely different animal, but I was shocked from that bass I heard from Ron's video,
Or try calling Clayton, 801-631-2994
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Vthokie83,
I have these on order as well, Nov 2nd, I'm patiently waiting at the door. I managed to get ahold of Clayton today (he's always busy), I asked about the break in method he circled back on playing an audio file on YouTube 10hz, he said that's the target and to let it play through the day, just enough to see woofer movement. He said this would FastTrack the initial break-in 100 hrs, with full break in happening around 300 to 500 hrs.
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@vthokie83 Keep those new Caladans playing music and experiment with positioning. When the new preamp and amp arrive I have a feeling you are going to soil your pants! |
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.
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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 met Clayton at Pacific Audio Fest. He was in Spatial Audio Labs' room where they were showing off their Q6 speaker. This seems very much like a similar product although significantly less costly. I know Spatial Audio Lab has put the Q6 on pause because this product would essentially make the Q6 obsolete before it ever came to market. In any case, I thought the Q6 was a really great speaker so if this is anywhere close, it is a gonga. |
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. |
@vthokie83 Any initial thoughts/impressions on 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. |
For those of you who heard these speakers or other Clayton speakers in person, I’m curious about the tonality and texture these speakers project. Besides having a large soundstage and deep bass, which side of neutral are they? Do they have the midrange texture one might associate with a good 2way speaker? |
Ah, didn’t know such things existed but lived in Chicago for six wonderful years so I totally get it. My friend owned a boat he moored in Diversey harbor and complained about the short boating season — spent many days/evenings drinking beer looking out at the beautiful Chicago skyline and often never left the dock. Hope you’re heading someplace sunny and warm! |
Those baffles look nice. The exposed crossover components look a bit DIY, but the quality is there, and one reason the speaker is $3k and not more. I have a pair of walnut on order. Clayton sent me a photo of an unfinished walnut baffle. I'll see if its still in my email, but nothing much to see. Looking forward to your feedback on these in a few weeks. You should leave them running while you're gone. |
Sooooo, if ur gonna leave us hanging for a week you can leave the system playing while you’re away so they’re pretty much broken in when you get back, right? C’mon man, this ain’t all about you ya know. Ehem. Seriously though, have a great vacation and very much look forward to your thoughts when you get back. Looking forward to some pix too if you can. |
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. |
@vthokie83 that’s great news. Hopefully my set will arrive in a few weeks. Interested to hear first impressions and your system makeup. I have 3 different amps, 3 preamps and 1 integrated to experiment with so can’t wait for the fun to begin. Cheers! |
@vthokie83 Congrats! Very much look forward to any pics and listening impressions once they have some hours on them. |
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 |