Hi! I have had the privilege of owning Calypso's in my system for ten years now. I can tell you frankly that I have paired them up with many high end pieces and cables ( A.R.C. tube and transistor amps,P.S. audio perfect wave dac and transport and even the highly touted Lamm monobocks) and they have never once come up wanting.
These speakers do what musical playback requires in that they are 3 dimensional sounding. Think space like Maggie's produce. Detail like electrostatics, and a floor hugging relationship with the bass. Both the minimalist first order crossover, and the marble organically shaped enclosures are I suspect, responsible here.
Yes I agree that they are totally eye candy ( to my eyes) and like you I too had reservations about the drivers ( I was also intrigued by the design of the Thiel tweeter). However Roy has an ear for music and has damped out any resonances while leaving the natural detail and ambiance surrounding say----guitar strings and piano (piano solos are memorable).
I have had many of Roy Johnson's speakers and they have all been very satisfying. I remember long ago the two way Europas and playing a Manley Stingray LOUD and sitting in the backyard and thinking " hey that sounds like the band playing in my house!"
Call Roy. He is very approachable. He can explain better than I.
These speakers do what musical playback requires in that they are 3 dimensional sounding. Think space like Maggie's produce. Detail like electrostatics, and a floor hugging relationship with the bass. Both the minimalist first order crossover, and the marble organically shaped enclosures are I suspect, responsible here.
Yes I agree that they are totally eye candy ( to my eyes) and like you I too had reservations about the drivers ( I was also intrigued by the design of the Thiel tweeter). However Roy has an ear for music and has damped out any resonances while leaving the natural detail and ambiance surrounding say----guitar strings and piano (piano solos are memorable).
I have had many of Roy Johnson's speakers and they have all been very satisfying. I remember long ago the two way Europas and playing a Manley Stingray LOUD and sitting in the backyard and thinking " hey that sounds like the band playing in my house!"
Call Roy. He is very approachable. He can explain better than I.