@roxy54 To be clear, these speakers are not a work in progress. This speaker (Blackthorn 1) and the Nightshade 1 are complete and will remain unchanged so long as the drivers remain available from Eton.
@jjss49 It is an interesting challenge to compare. I have to pick speakers that I am very familiar with and on your list, you managed to pick several that I have never heard.
The goal with this speaker was clarity and detail without brightness or the metallic edge you can get with some of the poorer beryllium implementations. The cabinet is dead and what sound goes back into the cabinet is damped far more effectively that you can with MDF and insultation. This means I did not increase the output of the tweeter so it tends not to be fatiguing and you don't get any smearing in the midrange.
This is a touch warmer than the Focal Sopra 1 but not warm. Where I feel you are more limited with amp pairing with the Sopra, you have a little more flex with these.
Tonally similar to the Wilson Benesch Vertexes (which I have here) and are probably the most natural comparison since both are made from Carbon Fiber. The Blachthorns sound bigger and more energetic. The Vertexes are good for a small room but sound a little small as you get into a bigger space. The Blackthorns work in medium room.
Compared to the Vivid Kayas they are a touch more forward. I am comparing them to the 25s or 45s as I haven't heard the S12s yet.
Magico A1s are a natural comparison and the soundstage is similar to Magico in a lot of ways. Tonally, it is maybe a bit more forward. I have been surprised at how relatively neutral the A line is vs the S line from Magico. These are more energetic and sound bigger. What you would expect if Magico had a monitor in the M line.
Wilson is a completely different animal with the soft dome tweeter. The TuneTots are tonally similar to my Nightshades which is maybe a little less pure in terms of tonal accuracy but in many ways are a more fun, engaging listen with certain types of music like female vocals.
Harbeth (just did a side-by-side with 40.2) is in tonally like what you would get with the Nightshade. If you love Harbeth, you may not love this speaker but I am optimistic you would love the Nightshade as there is something about paper and silk.
The Blackthorn is a very accurate, clear, detailed audiophile speaker. The Nightshade is slightly colored in a fun and engaging way that brings out the best in some types of music while also being detailed.
