I have a pair of EOS HX driven by a Clayton 50w class A and Resolution Audio Cantata 2.0. The EOS HX are my favorite monitors to cycle through my system. Extremely detailed, providing great instrument separation and imaging.
Green Mountain Audio Chroma HX Review
I just had my Green Mountain Audio Chromas upgraded to Chroma HX. The difference is the crossover, with the capacitors being exceptionally high-grade. The low-pass filter is specially made to Roy Johnson's specifications. Unobtainium (not for sale) Litz wire is used with the latest unobtainium solder. The change is dramatic enough to consider the HX a different speaker, even though the schematic is essentially the same.
And the result is absolutely stunning. I was expecting a substantial improvement, but I was unprepared for the result. It's going to be difficult to put this into words, but I'm going to try. Let's face, we've heard it all before.
I have never heard a speaker that so effortlessly plays music. Every note has more music in it. I guess you could call that greater detail, but the HX transcends that description. Perhaps I should call it harmonic richness. The sound is unbelievably accurate, yet musical, throughout the frequency spectrum. The copious bass digs down deeper while being more well-defined. I would call it high-definition bass, to coin a term. The midrange is similarly tuneful, clear and also hi-def. It just flows naturally and cleanly. I would describe the treble as ethereal, sparkly and airy, never bright.
The HX is also the most coherent speaker I have ever heard. The woofer and the tweeter coexist happily. It is impossible to tell where the crossover frequencies are. You cannot hear the port either, just the bass. I find myself listening for hours, without fatigue, because the music captures my attention and holds it.
The sheer accuracy seems to lend itself to the soundstage, imaging with pinpoint precision. You know where every voice and instrument is at all times. This is an area of audio that I didn't much care about previously, but I cannot ignore now.
Any criticisms? Well one, maybe. If you like to crank the bass hard enough to drive your neighbors to yell death threats, you're going to need a powered sub.
I have heard many speakers in my time, among them Wilson Audio, Joseph Audio, Paradigm, Triangle, Meadowlark, Dali, Thiel, Usher and Vandersteen. None of them can deliver what the HX can. It's not even close. If you have a pair of the already excellent Chromas, HXing them is a must. I have found the speakers that I am going keep for life in the Chroma HX.
Related equipment:
Musical Fidelity A308cr with upgraded clocks
Audio Note Kits DAC 2.1
Pass Labs B1 buffered passive pre modified for shunt volume control
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amp
BPT BP-1 balanced power conditioner
Audio Magic Matrix Mini power conditioner
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amp
And the result is absolutely stunning. I was expecting a substantial improvement, but I was unprepared for the result. It's going to be difficult to put this into words, but I'm going to try. Let's face, we've heard it all before.
I have never heard a speaker that so effortlessly plays music. Every note has more music in it. I guess you could call that greater detail, but the HX transcends that description. Perhaps I should call it harmonic richness. The sound is unbelievably accurate, yet musical, throughout the frequency spectrum. The copious bass digs down deeper while being more well-defined. I would call it high-definition bass, to coin a term. The midrange is similarly tuneful, clear and also hi-def. It just flows naturally and cleanly. I would describe the treble as ethereal, sparkly and airy, never bright.
The HX is also the most coherent speaker I have ever heard. The woofer and the tweeter coexist happily. It is impossible to tell where the crossover frequencies are. You cannot hear the port either, just the bass. I find myself listening for hours, without fatigue, because the music captures my attention and holds it.
The sheer accuracy seems to lend itself to the soundstage, imaging with pinpoint precision. You know where every voice and instrument is at all times. This is an area of audio that I didn't much care about previously, but I cannot ignore now.
Any criticisms? Well one, maybe. If you like to crank the bass hard enough to drive your neighbors to yell death threats, you're going to need a powered sub.
I have heard many speakers in my time, among them Wilson Audio, Joseph Audio, Paradigm, Triangle, Meadowlark, Dali, Thiel, Usher and Vandersteen. None of them can deliver what the HX can. It's not even close. If you have a pair of the already excellent Chromas, HXing them is a must. I have found the speakers that I am going keep for life in the Chroma HX.
Related equipment:
Musical Fidelity A308cr with upgraded clocks
Audio Note Kits DAC 2.1
Pass Labs B1 buffered passive pre modified for shunt volume control
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amp
BPT BP-1 balanced power conditioner
Audio Magic Matrix Mini power conditioner
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amp
Showing 15 responses by mindlessminion
@golfers - I have similar experience. I have listened to Spendor, Sonus Faber, Dynaudio, Gallo and several other monitors. I have never been inclined to get rid of the EOS HX. I do have 2 listening rooms and in my other room I have Klipsch Cornwall modded - these are driven my a LFD integrated and Schitt DAC. Between these 2 systems I find most music genre's are covered. I do have a inclination to try and cycle through some Devore Fidelity Nines. I have not heard, but the reviews seem to be wonderful. Moreover, they rarely come up used. When I cannot find on the used market I carry the belief owners must really like. |
@kenjit Odd - 6moons has reviewed several GMA speakers and based on my reading seemed to enjoy. In fact the Callisto was honored with one of their awards. http://6moons.com/audioreviews/gma2/callisto.html http://6moons.com/audioreviews/gma/continuum3_4.html http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/gma3/calypso_2.html I currently own the EOS HX, fed by a Schiit DAC and LFD AMP. I find the system very good. Of course I never take measurements, but rely on my ears. My only comparison is what I hear at shows, in showrooms and visits to friends homes. In addition to the GMA, I currently own modded Cornwalls and Celestion Ditton 33 - I just sold some modded Chorus 2 speakers. However, if you do not like that is understandable as I do not often like some speakers many find very favorable. |
lots of good speakers out there. If you were unhappy with the Chroma I recommend moving on and not rehashing its design and what is or might be wrong - in my opinion not worth your time, Once you identify the sound you like you can more easily find a system and speaker for your tastes. I have 2 main systems - sometimes I like a more detailed, with excellent separation and other times I like a warm polite sound. I bought a pair of used Celestion 33s that I really like (Celestion I believe made the driver for the Spendor SP1). I also have the Cornwalls modded that I am listening to right now - Dire Straits in fact. You can find many great speakers for under 1K. |
true...audition before you buy is best, especially new. I listened before I bought my GMA. Absent of that - you are relying on posts, reviews and documentation. I have foregone "the listen before you buy" in cases where the used market is very solid - I think Klipsch heritage speakers, Harbeth, etc fit this category. In these cases you need to ensure you are receiving a quality product. If fore whatever reason the speaker doesn't live up to expectation you can sell without taking a major hit in the wallet. |
@kenjit it seems you bought the GMA many years ago and haven't moved on, nor bought anything else since. I have bought speakers I too regretted, but do not discommend the speakers, or company GMA is indeed a small company - if you want to stir up a bees nest on 1st order cross-over and time-coherence post your findings in a Vandersteen forum. |
If you were happy with the PMC speakers I recommend finding something with a like sound. I have only heard PMC at shows and thought they were very good. Perhaps the PMC twenty .24 or something in the twenty lineup is what you should strive for. I was not suggesting your amp wasn't good, but merely curious what it was. a solid state amp with 100 watts of power vs a 8 watt tube amp does matter. I do find it somewhat odd that you haven't found a new set. I couldn't live for 6 years without a decent set of speakers. |
@kenjit "99% of speaker companies don't care about time coherence. 99% Audiophiles don't either". You sure about this? I can think of dozens of manufactures who take time-coherence into their design. Do you dislike Vandersteen and Dali? https://www.dali-speakers.com/sound/sound-design/time-coherence/ What speakers do you like that do not take time coherence into consideration? |
@kenjit I have owned 2 sets of GMA and liked each, still owning GMA EOS HX. I have also owned Gallo 3.1, Celestion, Klipsch Forte 1, Klipsch Chorus 2 and currently own modded Klipsch Cornwalls. My friends have had Zu, Joseph audio and von schweiker (quite familiar with these) - plus heard many other at shows I like the detail of GMA and for monitors they are some of the best I have heard at their price point. Again - if you dislike them I really encourage you to find speakers that you do like, instead of continue to love the speakers you hate. I suggest possibly Harbeth if you found GMA harsh. |
@kenjit it is quite common for companies request specific drivers be custom made. You think most speaker companies make their drivers in house? I believe Zu uses Eminence drivers as do several other companies, but I am guessing they are not available for direct purchase. If you talk to Zu - they say on the Druid VI the driver is incredibly expensive to have made. As far as Seas - I always thought they made fine drivers. What drivers would you put in your speaker? |