Anyone Using Gradient Loudspeaker?

Speaking of Mr. Linkwitz...I had the great pleasure to visit with him at his home in Marin CA recently and listen to some of his recordings through his Orion dipoles.

Mr. Linkwitz describes this (Orion) as the culmination of his years of research and development in the audio industry.

The speaker is modest in proportion with four drivers per side and is driven by 8 channels of amplification...essentially each driver has it's own amp. He has developed a sophisticated external crossover to integrate amplification and drivers. His system uses, and he advocates (for his system), Radio Shack speaker cable. The assembled package with speakers, amplification, crossover and speaker cables costs a whopping $6400....even less if you are handy and can build the speakers and assemble the x-over yourself.

I was not prepared for the sound these speakers/this system generated. I have owned and own some very good gear and this modest set-up was simply amazing in what it could do at it's price and I'd say many multiples of it's price.

Oh, and did I mention that the front end Mr. Linkwitz was using was a $200 universal player and a $800 preamp (he apologized for it's extravagance and made sure to point out that one could get the same results for less $$)....and ZERO tweeks!

Let's just say I learned(and un-learned) a few things that day...I'm still trying to assimilate it all and pick up the pieces.

The speakers will probably not win any beauty contests (of course this is in the eye of the beholder) but anyone in the market for world class speakers at this price, double this price, triple this price should make a stop here.

I have no affiliation with Mr. Linkwitz (he's a real nice man though) and on some level wish I had never experienced his system but this is just too good to let pass.

I'm sure the Gradients are great as well...they follow many of the same priciples...I have never heard them but find Duke's comments to always be spot on to my own experiences.

There clearly is something to the dipole done right and driven properly.

Kurt

I have only a brief encounter with the Gradient Revolution at this years CES. The speakers were set up in a small room, not very far from the wall. Given the limitations of show conditions, I thought this was one of the best speakers at anything near its price range -- smooth, delicate sounding, airy and free of gross coloration. They were being played at modest sound levels, so I don't know if they would suit head-bangers.

I personally don't put much value in what components look like, but if looks matter, this is a quite pretty, compact and easy-to-integrate-into-the-decor speaker.

One other thing of note: The speaker was being demoed using the Rives PARC bass equalization system. I don't know how it would sound on its own.

I recently acquired Gradient Revolution speakers on the basis of the recommnedation by an audiophile frind who had heard them at an audio show. I am extremly happy with them though they need more power than my Naim Nap 250. These speakers clear, clean, fast with great resoulation - they throw a good sound stage even with Naim elctronics. I am not sure of all the technical reasons but they are easy to place in the room as they are contructed in two separate parts - and the baffle can rotated to accomdate the room effect to improve the low frequncy response. I would recommend that you have a look at the Gradient site which provies more information. My room size is about 15X 19.

It took me a few years, but I finally got a pair of Gradient Revolutions. I love them. As far as I can tell they have no significant failings and most importantly they work in my overly squarish room. The bass definition and tonality is the best I've ever heard in any system I've ever had in any room. The coaxial midrange/tweeter design interacts minimally with the room and provides excellent imaging and soundstaging. The only downside is their low sensitivity. I'm using a Rowland 112 which is rated at 275 watts into the speaker's 4 ohm load and that's more than enough for the typical listening levels I enjoy (80db to low 90db). What's missing is a sense of near unlimited dynamic range higher sensitivity designs can provide.

The Revolution is a really good sounding speaker designed to sound really good in real world rooms.

Another speaker you may want to consider is the Morrison, either the model 23 or the 17. I have listened to the Gradients and the Morrisons (although not in the same room) and they both do very well near the wall. The Morrisons are also about the best imaging speaker I have heard and they are a somewhat easier to drive than the Gradients. Here are a couple of links to info: http://www.morrisonaudio.com/morrison_loudspeakers.htm

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Speakers.html#ClB