Anyone else order Caladans from Clayton Shaw?

I just received an update - speakers are shipping next Friday, May 17th

I had to cancel my order due to unforeseen circumstances. So whoever is in line for the cherry you just moved up a notch. I’m still probably 2 years out for a Decware having ordered in April 2023. I’m sticking with my Devore’s, Harbeth and Dynaudio for now. Still waiting on some reviews.

Last I spoke with Clayton, he said that he's no longer selling the white and black baffles because the paint job added too much time to an already lengthy process. I've had them for a couple weeks now so it's fully burned in and so far I have been pretty happy with my purchase. Love the directness of the open baffle sound which makes all instruments and vocals sound substantially more lifelike and the music more engaging compared to my old KEF Q950 speakers, which has a big soundstage but now sounds so diffused and muffled.

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

Thoughts on Steve's review? Steve seems to call the Caladan speakers bright with less impactful bass than both PAP speakers. The Caladans strengths seem to be build quality, wide sound stage, dynamics, and value for the price.

I echo Steve’s thoughts that it sounds lively and not laid back, and the bass is well defined but not weighty. I have recently added an Arendal subwoofer to provide some thickness to the sub-bass and have set the crossover at the minimum, but I’m still experimenting. As for the highs, on rare occasions I hear sounds floating to my left and my right which is a bit surprising when you’re not prepared for it. I’ve never experienced this before with my previous KEF speakers, but it could have a lot to do with my Denafrips Terminator II DAC.

UPS delivery scheduled for this Saturday.

@prismvineyards 

I am happy for you.  I am still waiting (6 months and counting) for any word on a potential shipping date for me. Order date 12 November 2023, Invoice #107, white oak baffles.  

I'm interested in ordering a pair but I have some concerns:

* Requiring 100% payment upfront for something that will not ship for many months is not a typical way of doing business. A more reasonable way would be to ask for a % deposit and then require the balance be paid once the speakers are ready to ship. I've pre-ordered other items where the seller/manufacturer does not charge your credit card until the item is ready to ship. If you charge something, pay your bill and then wait six months or more to file a dispute with your credit card company, you may be out of luck. It seems like he is using the payments upfront to finances his operation which is a risky proposition for the buyer. 

* Since many people have reported that communication with Shaw about their order has been nonexistent or extremely laborious, how is he going to handle returns during the 45 day trial period OR the five year warranty? 

Thoughts?

Legitimate questions and concerns. I'm banking on Clayton's history and reputation.  

I found out today that my order is at least another 60 days out. My order was placed in late February.  The holdup with production was the baffles but that has been sorted out and Clayton is currently working through the backlog. 

The negative stuff about Clayton is off base and not fair the man has been doing this a long time and is an open baffle guru in experience and design. I own his speakers and they are superb and sound like my old Quad ESL 63 which was rebuilt by Electrostatic Solutions. While no speaker is a Quad Clayons design is one I could live with and I call them ESL 63’s on steriods. He sold Spatial Audio after having serious health issues. His own company will produce excellent products built on his past successes. I would guess more models to come once he gets his new company going. He knows open baffle speaker designs like few others. He is a straight-up guy, and yes he may be slow to respond at times because there are so many hours in the day, he called me once from his home at night and that was on his own time and spoke with me for close to 1/2 hour answering questions I had with his Sapphire M3 speakers compared to what I was used to with my quads, he gave me the upsides as well as where the Quads would still shine, no push for sale just taking the time to provide me with the information to make up my mind which I did and purchased a pair from him. 2 years or so and I am still finding out how good they are as I’ve changed my room acoustics, etc. 😉

Heard both the Caladans and Pure Audio Duet 15 at AXPONA.  To me both speakers sounded enjoyable and appropriate for their price difference, the PAP being almost double the price of the Cals.  The Cals are good but not giant killers.  The Pure Audio Project Duet 15 sounds amazing.  

Pretty shallow for someone so "deep".  All humans breathe the same air.  There is only one race.....the human race.....well, besides the ETs and angels......Countries are man made illusions. Ownership is a joke.....we are all one and stewards of this great mother ship.  When we realize our oneness.....and our beauty....then we wish ALL people well, and want to serve everyone.  May we all PROSPER!!  I wish you ALL well.

+1 @ricevs 

Come on......in the current climate.....you mention that?  For what purpose did you state that fact?  Why would anyone care?  You, obviously do.  Notice your CAPS?  Everyone did.  

All attitudes (from the souls point of view) need to eventually be done with......I am talking ALL attitudes.....including my attitude about your attitude.....The only thing that we need stated over and over again......is....that we are All beautiful and worthy......and that we love and bless each other.  Everything else is just the blah, blah, blah of the tiny ego mind.  We are eternal bliss.....we are eternal beauty.  We are not wars and anger and separation and being right about anything.  Except love.....we are ALL RIGHT about love........So, be righteous for what counts....and what counts is everything and everyone for that is what is ALL-ways going on......there is nothing but spirit loving itself......We have free will here on this planet.....ie, you can choose to be right or to be loving.....your choice.  Be seriously right.....about love.....let love radiate from every cell of your body and every fiber of your being.....NEVER. never stop loving.  I love you....always have.....always will.  We are not our behavior.  We are all here to grow up.  We are all bozos on the buss (including me).....but eventually (we are very stubborn) we grow into the infinity and eternity that we are.  Happy dancing....happy singing....happy hugs, and praises and kisses.  We are all each others babies and pets.  Please hug each other as a baby and as a pet.....powerful and amazing stuff this Love drug is.....love potion #9 is in each breath.  You see, I will never, I mean never stop talking, feelng, praising others, teaching (including mirroring behavior....so we can grow), preaching, writing, dancing, singing, LOVE......NEVER.  I am determined.  What determines you?  Love is the only thing that is important in ANY and Every moment.  This is what everyone here on this planet has come here to learn.  Lately, my learning has grown by leaps and bounds.....and one way it has, is by sharing the truth...that I know and feel.  I have a book coming out late this year that just says these simple truths over and over again.....but each time with a slightly different angle so that it touches everyone......at least that is my hope and prayer.  For I want everyone to know just how magnificent they are and that they can make their souls dreams become reality.  We deserve to live in the miracle of NOW.  Choose love now....and now.....and now.....and now.....for it is in the NOW that we ARE.  Thank you for this blessing of reacting to my post so I can say the same thing again.  Bless you.  Yes, I am a love NUT......and the NUT keeps growing......sort of like the blob....he he.....it will eventually devour us all.....however....we are the one enjoying the devouring....for we are the love that is loving.  We are the kiss that is kissing.....we are the joy that is enjoying......forever.

deep_333

So, I’ll say it again, Pure Audio Project is an ISRAELI company.

That detail is obviously very important to you, because you've used ALLCAPS in each of your two posts about this. So: What's your point, @deep_333?

@deep_333 

At best, you are being disingenuous about your motives. Despicable.

Hello, I received my Caladans on Saturday and wow, break-in is absolutely critical for these speakers. The woofers only began to open up today. They are nonexistent out of the box. 

Once they open up, the speakers are fantastic in details with good bass extension. The one thing I'm surprisingly wanting more of is a little more weight in the mids. I'm going to test rolling to EL34s from my KT120s to see if the sound matches my taste more.

Overall, a phenomenal speaker in build quality, sound, and value.

+1 @ricevs 

@ricevs: So Ric, just how much acid have you taken? 😉

@ricevs 

Paragraphs are your (and our) friend...

Thank you....yes, I usually spend more time editing.......just did this in another post where I made one paragraph into 4......and it was much easier to read.

You don’t need a drug to know that every second is a miracle beyond words. You have 70 trillion cells in your body......and they all are dancing together to make you live.......meditate on that!

Later today, I will have a description on my website on how to bi-wire the Caladans and make your own low frequency xover. This would improve the speaker a lot and allow you to have all the mid or low frequency juiciness you prefer. Also, you can re-solder the stock wires back to the woofs and you are back to stock and no one will ever know you touched it (so resale value is protected).

+1 Ric

How long have the rest of you been waiting? My order was placed early January and the invoice number from Clayton is 225. I spoke with him in February and he said, "Give it a couple of months." It'll be a total of 5 months coming up early June, that I've been waiting for the Caladans to grace my doorway. I shot him a second email a couple of weeks ago (because when I spoke with him he said that was the best way to reach him). I've not heard back yet. Any encouraging words?

Well, I am in the same boat of waiting. My order was placed on Nov 22 and invoice #182 as I stated before. Clayton informed me on April 8 that it should materialized "by the end of the month". Yesterday I send him email, nothing yet. Patience is the key, I guess. And as others, lucky ones, stated it is worth the wait. I sincerely hope so.

from the OP - Invoice 173 and still waiting for that call/email.  Ordered on 11/16 and I know he’s working on November orders so I must be close.

Hi, this is a copy of an email I got today

mewsickbuff and knock1

I think we can all agree that Clayton is doing his best to get production ramped up, back in March they were at 7 to 10 a week....and it appears they are around 12 to 15 a week now. It sucks waiting I know, but for me the wait was well worth it.....they really are great speakers, and for the money are an absolute steal. I've also found that they reward better electronics, which was important for me as I added a new preamp and a couple of new amps

Easy for me to say (I know) as I've had mine for a while, but I hope you'll be as pleased as I have been when they arrive. The fact that Clayton addressed it in an open letter is a positive step

I am tempted to pick up a pair Caldans.  I dealt with Clayton previously when I purchased a pair of Spatial X5s.  He is a first rate guy.  My suspicion is that any communication lapses have zero to do with any shady intent.  Just gotta figure out what speakers to move into my graveyard or sell.

 The Caladans are so much more emotional and beautiful with the EL34 tubes. They have the fullness and weight I was looking for with these tubes.