Shootout: Raidho C3.1 vs Vivid Giya 2

Free advertising under the guise of 'helping' potential customers when a phone conversation would be more appropriate seems to be more prevalent when speakers are involved.

I don't mind dealers or manufacturers posting, in fact I welcome it, but that should always be disclosed up front, esp. if you are weighing w an opinion about a product you sell vs. one you don't.

Why? Who cares! One should practice CAVEAT EMPTOR to ALL posts. Who knows who is behind the monitor and on the keyboard.

I listened to both again yesterday, although in different systems. With the caveat that I recognize that my perception of differences may have more to do with associated electronics and cabling than the speakers themselves my impressions are:

-- These are both great speakers and its a tough fight between the two.

-- The Vivid's struck me again as slightly punchier, especially in the low bass, and more transparent. However this came at the cost of the Vivid's sounding a bit edgier at times.

-- The Raidhos are also very transparent, but a bit smoother than the Vivids, without being warm. I am surprised by how much bass those tiny drivers produce, but it seemed to me just a hair less composed and tight than the Vivids.

-- The Vivids seem easier to position. The Raidhos seem to need to be close to walls and have lots of toe-in.

-- The Raidhos are much easier on the eye than the Vivids. Some may well like the look of the Vivids, but I dare say most will prefer the Raidhos by far.

Now...which to buy...tough...

I heard both of these speakers at the New York Audio Show last month.

Andy Singer of Sound by Singer was exhibiting a Raidho floorstander, I believe the C3.1, powered by top of the line VAC preamp and amp. I thought the treble sounded somewhat harsh/edgy and the mid-range had a veiled, "plasticky" quality. I did not like the sound of the room either day I was there. And I usually love how VAC sounds, so the problem was either the room or the speakers. (I actually thought the Raidho monitors driven by Merrill Veritas monoblocks in another room sounded better than the floorstanders.)

Philip O'Hanlon was exhibiting Vivid Giyas (I think the G2, but might have been the G3). I thought they sounded good, better than the Raidho floorstanders. However, they were too large for the room, so the bass was a bit overwhelming. But if you like deep, visceral bass, you should like these speakers.

Honestly, I was not completely wowed by either speaker. I preferred the Coincident Pure Reference Extreme, among a few others. But if I were choosing between Raidho and Vivid, I would get the Vivids.