Tidal Speakers owners

Neutral means one single thing and ONLY: What is written in the source material. Period

I would say that is wrong Audiofeil. Neutral is not subjective. Neutral is no coloration, no distortion and no compression. The degree of neutrality can be measured by comparing the input with the output.

you haven't heard tidal speakers until you've heard them with chalice audio 'grail set mono block amps...keith..who has either the T1 's or the sunrays has heard most of the great amps with his tidals..including the tidal amps..and agrees with me on the 'grail' amps..email him at kt@innovations1.com...

Roysen, I heard the Sunrays sound way too tuby and warms with the Bridge Audio amps at CES 2010 and then sound outstanding at CES 2011 with the same amps?? I could not find out whether the amps had been changed in that year, but I think not.

My point is that they reveal the electronics quite well. The best I have ever heard the Contrivas was with the Ypsilon hybrid amps. Unfortunately, I doubt that these two products will ever display together, at least in the US.

My Contrivas have never sounded too warm with either H-Cat electronic or now BMC electronics. Both are solid state.

Quanmer, I have extensive experience with the Tidal Preos preamplifier that I have heard many times in a system I know and limited experience with Tidal power amplifiers that I only heard the last two years in Munich. The Tidal preamplfiers are absolutely world class. They are exactly from the same camp as their speakers, the pursuit of as limited character of their own as possible. I could say the same about their power amps.

Roysen the synergy between Tidal Speakers and Sovereign electronics are absolutely world class. I would say that the Sovereigns are just a small tad warmer than the Tidals! You cannot go wrong with either of them!

Happy listening,

Mike

Thanks for that Geopolitis,
I too believe that particular setup was matched too much on the warm side. Interesting to know about your friends plans. I think it would have been fun to exchange knowledge with him. Maybe you could pass on his contact info to be or my contact info to him.

The question on how to get three so different amps to sound as one still will remain my biggest challenge.

BTW, my plans include a purposebuilt studio in my garden with a listening space of 80 square meters and 4 meter hight. It will built and treated internally by an acoustics specialist company.

Maybe the listening position can be in the middle of the room with the Tidal T1 system on one side, a Rockport Arrakis system on the other side and finally a Magico system in the living room of the main house :)

Dear Roysen,

I have a friend that his plan is to build the absolutely best system in the planet and he has no particular issue about spending the money needed. His current choices are Orpheus Heritage DAC, Tidal Sunray speakers, Tidal Presencio preamplifier, Tidal LPX external crossover, 4 Sovereign Eternity power amplifiers and Argento Flow Master Reference cables.

His future plans are to install the Tidal Sunray T1 and 6 THE SOVEREIGN amplifiers to drive the speakers.

No further comments apart from the fact that his current setup has no sound at all, it is pure live music and easily the best setup I have heard in my life...

Tidal speakers are the most neutral speakers that you could possible experience. So in case you heard any coloration then you should investigate the other components of the system...

Another challenge for me is that I don't intend to buy a complete set of amplifiers to drive the T1. I already own a pair of Tube Research Labs Platinum GTR-800 and a pair of Krell MRA which I intend to use to drive the tweeter/midrange and bass of the T1-Sunray. It is almost impossible to get three or even to sets of either of these amplifiers. My current plan would be to get a pair of Sovereign Audio THE SOVEREIGN amplifiers to drive the T1-Bass towers. These are very different amplifiers with different gain, rise time, damping factor, frequency response etc. How do I get a seamless coherent sound from three so totally different amplifiers? Does the T1-LPX crossover functions to correct/handle this?

Argyro, how do you think about Tidal's electronics vs others?

I have heard Tidal Contrivia with Wadia S7i, Pass Labs X-250.5 and Transparent Reference MM2 cables. The sound was very musical. It was warm and soft. Warmer than most tube setups that I have listened to. Yet it was still detailed and dynamic. I did however think that the warmth did compromise transparency somewhat. I have however heard other Accuton based speakers too like several of the Morten speakers including the Coltrane. Their sonic signature have been exactly the opposite - very transparent and borderline bright and hard. I suppose the Wadia, Pass Labs and Transparent Audio products might have colored the Tidal Audio Contrivia system I heard.

The same weekend I also heard the Magico Q5 with Krell S350 CD-player, darTZeel NHB-18NS preamplifier, darTZeel NHB-458 mono amplifiers and Nordost Odin cables. This system was very transparent, detailed, dynamic with tonal balance more towards light and bright than absolute neutral. Still I think this system was much closer to neutral than the Tidal system.

A few months before this I heard a friends system with the Rockport Technologies Altair speakers, Sim Audio Moon CD-player and amplifier (don't remember the models) and Kimber Black Pearl speaker cables. It was obvious the amplifier had not enough power to show the speakers true potential. Bass and dynamics were lacking and the stereo image did not free itself from the speakers. However the tonal balance was the most neutral of the three speakers. Trancparency and resolution was also very good but not quite as good as the
Magico Q5.

Please also notice that these three systems were playing in in different rooms.

My question to you guys here is if this overly warm sound from the Tidal system I listened to is a "house character" of the Tidal speakers or if this was just a system matched to sound like that by its owner by using electronics and cables with this character?

I heard the Sunray for about an hour last year in Munich accompanied with Tidal electronics. I also heard it at a friend who lives close but together with the external crossover and 4 Sovereign Eternity amplifiers with orpheus heritage dac and full Argento Flow master reference cables. A sound to die for! LIVE!

Happy listening,

Mike

I went to audition Sunray today, I admit Jorn is right, the chance that my Contriva Diacera SE could sound better than Sunray is near zero. Unless you don't have proper space for Sunray. Please be noted that the Sunray I heard today is with upgraded crossover.

By nature, Sunray generates bigger, fuller sound than Contriva due to its physical size. Detail is amazingly, yet still very easy to listen, no pressure, no fatigue. more body, I think Sunray is definitely qualified as the "last" speakers I want to keep for lifetime. I can't image how T1 could be better than Sunray?

Hello Roysen,

I didn’t hear the Rockports, so I do not have any right to push you in one direction. But….....
If I had the means to do such a fantastic buy, I would go for the Tidal with the electronics and the active filters.
I do like the performance the Contriva does and the Sunray should go far over this. The Magico’s are different from the Tidals. I like the free presentation (in space) of the Tidals (Contriva), there explosive naturally dynamics and they are easy to listening to. No bombastic bass and/or forced mid/high, but a speedy bass reaching very deep but not asking all the attention to itself, a fantastic mid (voices) and a sparkling treble… The diamond tweeter in the Sunray and the Contriva diacera’s can even do better treble. The Sunray should do even much better in the right and proper setting. If you are Europe, visit Jörn (Tidal) in the neighbourhood of Köln or visit the coming show in Múnchen. This personally preference can differ from yours of course but at the end the most engaging performance should come from the musicians and not from (colouring of ) the speakers, they should do nothing more (or less) to the sound.

Regards
Robert

Roysen, I am afraid that not so many people here have heard T1, or Arrakis 2, if you can downgrade your question to Tidal vs Rockport in general, it's easier to get some reply.

I am currently considering either Rockport Arrakis 2 or Tidal Audio T1. I am aware that by posting herecI might not get an entirely objective answer, but nontheless why do you think I should choose the Tidal Audio T1.

BTW, I might end up with both unless Magico comes up with a monster version of their Q5.

Roysen

Hi Tidal listeners, and want to be’s. Go to the Tidal site and see the news: read about the Piano Cera, “Product of the year 2011” award , and the black ceramic drivers. Looks really good….
Regards
Robert

Hello readers,
When you have a two speaker system and the tweeter is about 1 meter high from the ground and the system is playing. The voice is about 1meter high, so you put 1 Zilplex behind the speakers in the middle on the wall about 1,65 meter high and the sound and the voice go up.
Play Eva Cassidy Live at blues alley and she is no more sitting on a chair but she is standing.
There is more dept in the sound and micro info on the voice and the instruments.
With one Zilplex in the room the sound is all more real, you want more.
Put the second Zilpex upward the first in the middle about 2,15 meters, and he is helping the first and the sound is going up to the ceiling.
Put one Zilplex left and one right in the corner behind the speakers at about 2,15 meter high and the sound is going wide and up to the corners in the room.
When you are listening to a speaker system, that system is creating a big ball around the speakers in the room and you are sitting and listening in the room outside the ball.
Put the Zilplex left and right beside the listening position on the wall at about 2,15 meter high and you are in the ball. Eva Cassidy is than life in your room.
Take 1 Zilplex behind the listening position at about 2,15 meter high and there is peace around your head and your hear comfort go up.
Put the three bas units( the tripartite holder is different ) on the wall behind the speakers 1 in the middle and the other two in the right and left corner at about 0,40 meter high from the floor.
No matter what speaker, the bas has more contours.
I am playing for 16 years at home with Wilson speakers, first the Wilson 5 then the 7 and for a year the Sasha now, and do you think the bas from the Sasha is good in my room without Zilplex.
At last take the special ceiling unit and place it on the ceiling about two meters for the speakers in the middle of the room and you have space above you and everything in the sound is more precise.
Second now your room is acoustic better, when you are talking with other people you can hear the other people much better because the reflex from the Zilplex is first and the mass reflex from the walls are gone. (You do not hear them).
With pleasure
Wiebe.

Hello happy listeners.
Sorry, jou have to wait a few days for my explanation because I have some audio shows to do.
Greetings
Wiebe.

Wiebe, can you tell me more how ZILPLEX works? I need to know how many of them should be installed on my wall?

Hello music lovers

Robert send me a mail; there are questions on audigon about Zilplex.
I am the designer and manufacturer.
regards
Wiebe.

Maceear, neither "Wiebe" nor "ZILPLEX" can be found in search mode. Can you provide any email or contact info for more understanding to this product?

Maceear, I guess it was three Rocky Mountain Audio Fests ago, that I heard a demonstration of the Synergistic Research ARTs. They merely played music and then took the five active units off the walls and replayed the music. The image, resolution, dynamics, and bass collapsed. Everyone asked immediately that they be put back in. I bought them on the spot.

I have been in several demonstrations but this was rivaled only by that for the Murata supertweeters I heard at CES years ago.

I have since added two addition sets of the ART Basiks and one additional ART Base Station. The Basiks are primarily for my NM summer home, but I bring them home.

Iron cups are the basic element in both the ART and ART Basik systems. These cups fit on wall mounts that are placed on the four walls at selected heights. There is a Bass Station in both that now sits in front of each of my Contrivas as well as another in front of my Zu Method subwoofer.

The Zilplex resonators would have to climb a tall mountain to outperform these resonators.

Hello All, Sorry for the late answer (work and time-difference)
Zilplex consist off:
Three leg’s (a reversed tripod) holding a silver cup (about 0.5 inch 12.5 mm). This all is fitted on a Plexiglas triangle (0.8 * 0.8 inch – 20*20 mm) which you can stick to the wall. There is also a possibility to stick this to the ceiling and or floor. The benefits are that they are small and immediately working. Only for the bass modules the thickness of the reversed tripod legs are different, the silver cups are all the same. I do use 11 of them: 7 behind the speakers, 2 left and right aside the listening position, 1 behind the listening position and 1 on the ceiling. The main effect is that the walls are disappearing. We think that the cups are triggered by the sound and resonating in a higher frequency and interfering again with the lower audible frequencies and this time delay creates a feeling of… what? Space perhaps? The brain is fooled I guess in a positive way, the room becomes bigger and easier with sound. Articulation with voices (real humans and television etc.) is much better and the room is more silence. I use this for two years now and was very skeptical in the beginning. But after many demonstrations I was convinced and did try it by myself. The sound situation (without the resonators) must be in good order…. the Zilplex can’t do wonders. The effort with zilplex and the Avalon’s was bigger then with the Contriva’s, that’s perhaps because I did use the same position. When the Contriva’s arrived, the cups where not placed and I just want to get used to the Contriva’s before I try different positions. There are many people (individuals and dealers, at home and at shows) who use them here in Europe, but the audiogon member Wiebe does not have a website and makes them all by hand.
Further: Contriva’s are a real easy load for the Atma Sphere: I did try them with only half of the tubes installed (MA1 to MA50 ( MA60 ).
Halving the output and doubling the impedance and there was no real difference, except for the smaller macro dynamics and bass stability and then only when playing loud…..
Regards
Robert

Macceear, since member Wiebe has not added to this, can you please tell us more about the Zilplex?

Hello Quanmer,
The Zilplex are resonators from a very small company. Audiogon member Wiebe can tell you more about this.
They are dealing with different artefacts in the listening room. I can't tell you why, but you can hear the difference.
Regards
Robert

Maceear, what is ZILPLEX? Can't find any in Google.

Hello Quanmer,
Nice that you feel the same thing about this. My system is digital only now (my brother is the analogue side of the family). My player is the Wadia 381i GNSC Statement replacing the dCS Elgar Plus and Purcell. My amplifier is the mentioned Atma Sphere MA1 (1989 with the most important updates). Cabling is from the young company Zu Audio (Ibis loudspeakercable, Varial xlr and Mother / Bok Powercables). My most important acoustic treatment is the ZILPLEX resonator. I do play mostly blues, jazz and guitar rock but always looking for something new. I did sell about all my guitars, my latest was the Taylor W15

Regards
Robert

Maceear, I also played guitar, years ago, but I know exactly how they sounds in live, I still keep 10 of my guitars in a room.

Wanna share some your favorite music/album ?

And could you describe your system for my reference?

Hello All,

With the slower sounding music I do not mean a slow sounding speaker (It is extremely fast like I did explain) but the lifelike relaxed presentation and the fact that the speakers are invisible soundwise, makes you more relaxed. It is perhaps a bit of a strange explanation but it feels like that in a positive way….

Robert

Maceear, surprisingly, it's the first time, I felt someone coincide 100% of my feeling, you describe Tidal so well, even your is not Diacera or SE, but I 100% second you and know you are very honest to what you heard.

Hello Maceear!

Excellent description of the Tidal sound. What you mention about music sounding slow is something I have noticed so many times with my Piano Cera. But at the end of the day it is just real sounding, satisfying and engaging.

Happy Listening,

Mike

Hello, I’m a Tidal Contriva owner and not an active (writing) Audiogonner, but I’m reading this forum for over a year now. English is not my mother language but can read and write Fortran and Pascal very well. I’m a music lover over 40 years and have experience with audio apparatus as well.
I did also play the bedroom guitar (acoustic and electric) and love this instrument and know how is must sound. Here are my findings about the remarkable Tidal Contriva (Not the SE or Diacera):

The speaker has very, very little or no sound made by itself and is one of the very few, which can make a very realistic view of the performers in depth, width and height and get the dynamics right.
This was always a compromise, or there was space and depth and little dynamics or there was great dynamics but no relation to space and depth.
Most speakers with great dynamics do emphasize the first attack and do a bad job with the signal after this first shot. Smash in your face and no real space and depth.
Phase shifts in the signal are responsible for the “Place in Space” and the brain does the calculations with this information and not so much with the relative loudness of the signal. When this is not correct, the brain is working overtime to correct and compensate this (mis) -information. Speakers which are more right in time and space (filters with respect to phase) are less “real life dynamic”, again the brain in uncomfortable with the smoother dynamics and interpreted this as less realistic.
For me this was resulting in buying the Avalon Opus (4-way) (after IMF, B&W, Thiel and more) and feed them with one of the fastest amplifier in the world: the Atma-Sphere MA1. For years this was very involving for me, but then I was beginning to miss the dynamics such as produced by Wilson Audio. Changing cables or amplifiers didn’t add any speed.
I do have two separate (both shielded and balanced) 230 VAC circuits with old fashioned circuit breakers (silver, copper and/or gold fuses) and a dedicated to audio only ground pin, 28 meters (92 feet) in the Dutch clay, and all this doesn’t make the Opus any faster. Yes there is more “gestalt” and the total picture is more life but not live. You can hear all the differences and they worked out very well and makes listening more pleasant. I have done almost anything to the acoustics which is possible in a normal medium sized family living room and end up with 2 large tube traps behind the curtains, carpets on the floor and walls, a air suspended audio rack and the use of Zilplex (a better and less costly alternative for the acoustic system resonators). And to make a long story a little shorter: I found all this “wanted audio aspects” in a speaker from the “unknown” TIDAL company.
I contacted Jörn for just over a year ago and this did result in buying the Contriva in 2011. Jörn and his right-hand Felix personally delivered and installed the Contriva’s in my living room. The Contriva’s are revealing, fast and spacious and oh so naturally sounding. No sound of there own, real dynamics (at low and high volumes). No ceramic sound, but it differs of course from the less stiffer paper cones. The result of using Accuton (Thiel & Partner) is Imo that you can hear more micro information while the cone is doing the macro dynamics and that (with a well engineered filter network) the phase relationship is not corrupted. This means that you can hear a cymbal in space like in the real world: explosive and with all that beautiful “tingle”, “tangle” and “shimmering” and staying on the same position. Not so perfect (engineered) speakers can’t do that and throws the sound (for a short while) in front of the speakers, moving back to the original position after the pulse (attack) is gone and giving the space related micro information again, not disturbed by the large scaled dynamics.
My brain is not working in overload anymore, at least a lot less then before the Tidal Contriva’s.
Sometimes it just appears if the music is going a little bit slower then before, I mean that a second is lasting a fraction longer then before. It’s more relaxing, involving and not tracking attention to itself or it should be the perfect piano lacquer and the beautiful lines of the mighty Contriva.

Regards
Robert (Maceear)

Quanmer, Let me first say that I am by no means an audiophile and I will admit that I am pretty ignorant about much in the field of audio reproduction. I am, though, a music lover. The most important thing when listening to the reproduction of music for me is how natural it sounds to my ears. I say "my ears" because what sounds natural to me may not sound natural to someone else.

That being said for several months now I have been looking to upgrade from my Gallo 3.5 speakers. I really enjoy the Gallo's but I did want a pair of speakers that were more expansive when playing symphonic music.

I live in a moderately sized condo so when researching different speakers the size of the footprint was the first criteria I used when choosing or eliminating speakers from which to choose. There are many excellent speakers out there but if they are too big I just could not use them.

Next, through reading reviews, owners impressions and in only a couple of listenings I looked for speakers with, again to my ears, the most natural sound. Natural to me is what music actually sounds like in real life. There are speakers that can give overly romanticized or beautiful sound, that "leaves a tear in my eye" sound. That is not for me. I have listened to the Boston Symphony Orchestra numerous times along with listening to several smaller concerts at Jordan Hall here in Boston. No matter how beautiful the music and how much it moved me it never gave me that "tear in my eye". This may not be clear to anyone but myself. Next there are speakers that separate every note and performer to the point that instead of hearing a whole you end up listening to each note and performer individually. I find this highly distracting and again, not natural. In my experience music in real life has notes and performers overlapping and melding together creating a whole. Along this same line imaging is neat but the overall soundstage is more important to me especially when listening to symphonic or "wall of sound" rock music. I want to hear a 3d or real life soundstage. What was really impressive with the Piano's was I could feel the ambiance of the venue where the recording was done on live material. My only other audition was of the Magico V2, a very fine speaker. It was very detailed but somewhat dry to my ears. This can be very seductive but for me not natural and not something I would want to listen to on an ongoing basis.

Next, price. I was comfortably willing to go up to $35K. Beyond that price limit would have made me uncomfortable. Simple as that.

Bottom line the Tidal Piano's more than met all the criteria I listed above. I am really looking forward to how they sound in my listening area. At that time I will give my impressions of them in greated detail.

Thanks for your response Jorn. I couldn't agree with you more. There are many choices out there for everyone to build a system that is just right for them. Each component I have in my system along with my choice to purchase Tidal speakers is based on, yes, some input from others opinions and perspectives, but ultimately what I personally like. Why some find it necessary to disparage others choices is something I do not understand.

I really enjoy reading others and sharing my own experiences with Tidal speakers and I sincerely hope this thread gets back to that. I would suggest that others who do not share the same enthusiasm for Tidal products should start a similar thread for their own products which they enjoy.

Hi,

my name is Jörn, designer behind TIDAL and I just want to add some general things to this thread if I may, maybe I am able to answer some questions I see here repeating:

In general, it is nice to read from enthusiastic owners comments who want to share their experiences. As in every other field of men’s toys one finds “fans” and those who are fans of other brands or products. Which is fine, since in the end of the day it will never stop to have fun with arguing about different products and philosophies. We just believe that it makes no sense trying to sell someone who prefers “blue” sounding audio equipment “red” sounding one or fight about what is better. Our products for e.g. are in fact not for everybody in terms of how they sound (and maybe even look), neither we do have the intention making people believe that we do offer the holy grail nor is it “cult”, “the next big thing” or any of that. We try to avoid that. All audio equipment does have more or less a specific texture, a signature or easy spoken – a colour. Everyone can find his very own favourite colour in this wonderful big jungle of products, TIDAL is just for those who like the TIDAL-colour so to say, whatever colour that would be.

If one is saying the Contriva Diacera does sound better then a Sunray, then one is absolutely right: if one heard it in the setup one liked more, in a better room, with better software and just the way one prefers how a system should sound like, then this is true. It is as true as some other say the small Amea did sounded better then a Contriva - under the same circumstances as listed before. We do know better Piano Cera setups then some Contriva Diacera setups. But if one likes to know the direct difference, then one needs to compare it under the same (!) circumstances. In that case the ranking of the performance of the speakers is going hand in hand with the size of our speakers. We know Sunray setups sounding that realistic that a Contriva Diacera is in the best case “mediocre” after it. The Sunray is more accurate in any way and just more realistic then a Contriva Diacera (both can cover about the same size of rooms form the acoustical point) – at the same position, same software, same chain. A Contriva Diacera does not have the slightest chance then. By fact, not be feel. But: how one likes that deeper insight into the chain/recording is again on a different sheet of paper – and this is the point.

If it comes to our black ceramic drivers, we just need to reserve the right to know more about it then someone else. We can assure there is a difference, things one can easily measure. Black or silver anodized aluminium makes no difference, it is both time anodized, I agree. But an additional coating does change things, things we do take care of in return into our filter design. But is the black coating the reason why they do sound different then maybe in other manufacturers designs? For sure not (alone). It is the complex interaction between the driver itself and the adapted x-over (and actually even many things more). It just plays its little part within a “clockwork” of all the things we thought thru when we do offer a speaker. So it makes no sense to argue about black or white ceramic drivers and looking for simple answers out of it, as well out of other single components, especially without a real deep view insight. Trying to bring things down to some parts and making conclusions out of it is as sensible as guessing how the wine is/will be based on the grapes.
A client just needs to trust that a manufacturer does his best for him anyway, just to offer a product which is in a positive way special enough to end up some day in a living room. If one does not trust the manufacturer or does not like the result one hears – then there are plenty of other options. Building own stuff or looking for something else are just two possibilities.

I think threads should be more about sharing personal experiences, not about hypotheses or absolute judgements, fanatic missions to teach others with what one likes the most. I remember a great thread here only written by guys sharing their experiences and then it was erased since some guys started again with the same old boring “no, THIS is the best and YOU(R equipment) stink(s)”-story… One last thing from a personal side: if there are objective technical questions about a product, just ask guys who do know the product the best, which could be the manufacturer or the dealer/importer of your trust.

Enjoy your equipment, whatever it is making you happy :-)!

Bostonbean, welcome to Tidalist family, can you describe more your experience of auditioning Tidal speakers versus other speakers? What are special to let you take the jump to Tidal camp?

OK maybe we stop at some point? Bashing speakers whe have not heard or do not like is not good thing to communicate friendly with other members. Have you any idea HOW much differs theese two manufacturers? and I even do not talking about sonic here. I am litle bit surpsised about Tidal owners sonic expressions together with some Tidal claims. there is a point from which positive joy transfers to patologic or to comercial intentions. I have never thought that there will be question about cone colour. a black accuton with same motor is same as white , but its black. a white anodized aluminium cone is the same as black anodized. accutn Al oxide or corundum its just too hard in constinensy to make any significant sonic changes if changed colour or even inject some impregnation(if it would be possible)

I wasnt at tidal website but if they claim black driver is better sonicaly than same white, they definately not respecting their owners neither potential owners.
I liked very much member post who said that contriva sounded better than sunray, and I have feeling that he realy know what he like , face it and does have some balls to say it.

Disclaimer - I have never ever heard any Tidal (yet), but I got some feedbacks from owners and ex-owners.

Because of the kindness of Linkster I had an opportunity to audition the Piano Cera's this past Saturday.

First let me say the Linkster has a fabulous system. He also introduced me to some great music of which I had been previously unaware. I had also brought along my Spectron Musician III MKII amp and Elrod power cord and speaker cables.

Linkster's Einstein amp sounded wonderful. Very detailed. The Spectron amp also sounded wonderful to which I believe Linkster would attest. Maybe a bit less detail but larger dynamic range which falls in line with what Tidal says about more power to the Cera's on its web site. So it was a little bit of a relief that a change in amp is not something I need to do right now. I may change my mind in the future but for now I am sticking with the Spectron.

Based on my listening experience with the Cera's I have put in an order for the Diacera's. The Cera's are an excellent value but I decided to spend the extra money on the Diacera's because these will be my last speakers. I really didn't want to get the Cera's and sit thinking what the Diacera's would be like. I am getting the Diacera's and now I am done looking for or thinking about other speakers.

I hope the Spectron amp works as well with the Diacera's as with the Cera's. I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

I ordered the standard black finish with the white ceramics. If there is a cabinet in stock it should take 60-90 days to take delivery.

geopolitics,"A person like you that believes that any Focal Utopia is a top speaker would never even consider a Tidal."
on this you are correct-- why go to the gutter with a"cult" speaker???

Focalfan,

I am glad you found the right speaker for you.

A person like you that believes that any Focal Utopia is a top speaker would never even consider a Tidal.

geopolitics,"quite possibly the best speaker in the world"-- prove it! if you can....but you can't!
"I suggest you take a look in the News section in the Tidal website. There are some news about black ceramic drivers there..."
there is no information there, except for a picture of black driver, big deal.you begin to sound like a tidal- robot....no offense, ha!

Tbg my comment was more close to a "Joke" than an actual comment, sorry if it was not clearly understood.

In any case the Sunray is....the Sunray!

Happy Listening,

Mike

Elviukai,

I suggest you take a look in the News section in the Tidal website. There are some news about black ceramic drivers there...

Quanmer,

you better ask Tidal for more technical info.... But I know for sure that the speaker designer considers the Black Ceramic drivers to be superior...

""Geopolitis, any idea how "black" ceramic driver different from white one?""

hm.. a diferent colour maybe.

Geopolitis, any idea how "black" ceramic driver different from white one?

Geopolitis, frankly all of that is irrelevant for me. I don't know what is near-field for you but I the Contrivas are ten feet apart and I listen to them about ten feet from both. My room is well treated so I have no temptation to be closer.

Bear in mind that I am saying only that the Contriva diacera SEs at the RMAF after three days of breakin and on Ypsilon electronics sounded better than any of the Sunrays I have heard until the last day at this years CES being run with Bridge Audio electronics. That is my opinion, which of course, is all that matters. I am very happy with my Contrivas, but would never make your statement, as I think in all cases, that many factors affect what people hear.

Tbg,

you need to focus on the fact that the Sunray is a two-and-half way design whereas the Contriva is a three-way design. That makes the Sunray more coherent and easier to place despite its size. It is possible to listen near-field with a Sunray but impossible to do that with a Contriva.

Sunray also has superior drivers ("black ceramic") plus superior cabin construction. There are certain reasons why it is so expensive compared to the Contriva Diacera. Tidal Sunray is a totally different beast and quite possibly the best speaker in the world...