Tidal Speakers owners


Could you please write your impressions about the Tidal speakers you currently own ? I will probably buy the Tidal Piano Cera in the near future so I would appreciate your feedback...
geopolitis
Well, i have to listen at it first right ? If i like it, i'll buy it, and if i don't, it will be a great experience for me.

How many people decide to sell them compared to the one who keep them ?
Let's be objective.
ojdeteos....well put..!!...if you find the Sunrays' not to your complete liking i would make arrangements..if possible..to hear the Contriva Diacera-SE versions..my guess is that they will fill your space better then the Sunrays...but you just might really fall in love with the Sunrays...my room is 25' x 18' x 23' high and my CD-SE speakers are amazing in that space...
Tbg: I’m pleased that you like the Zilplex resonant devices so much.
My audio friend did a nice job here and your review on StereoTimes confirms this. Regards Robert
Sunray review from TheAudioBeat

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/tidal_sunray.htm
if iwant to buy this speakers, after reading the review, idon't. it is not a good review and mr. mickelson "dances" around with words and words, but not the point.
never heard of "audiobeat"???
Maceear, I must admit that when I received them, I was dubious to say the least. They are so small to have the effect they have. They are supposed to be in the Exemplar suite at THE Show in January.
I read theaudiobeat review, Focalfan, and came away with a completely different conclusion. Mr. Mickelson seemed to love the speaker, giving it a rave review. Perhaps, as English is clearly not your first language, something got lost in the translation?
"if iwant to buy this speakers, after reading the review, idon't. it is not a good review and mr. mickelson "dances" around with words and words, but not the point.
never heard of "audiobeat"???"

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Focalfan, "However, as audiophiles well know, perception and sonic reality are often unrelated, and the Sunrays definitely excel at the latter. I doubt that a potential buyer lost in the music that pours forth will hesitate because of what's beneath the gleaming surface of the Sunrays." "There were truly special qualities to the Sunray's treble and midrange, at least for those of us who value a natural, unhyped portrayal with lavish detail."

I think Bostonbean is right. Perhaps you are biased for some reason.
Hi Ojdeteos,
Yes, its a little obscure how the reviewer puts it ;) but my understanding is..

"Tidal is unusual in that it manufactures electronics as well as speakers. Perhaps for this reason, the Sunray can be configured a number of ways, including with its active external crossover and extra channels of amplification."
< Can be configured as you wish--basic, passive bi-amp (internal crossover), OR active bi-amp utilizing Tidal's LPX (external crossover) plus additional amp/s--but of which I believe is available separately at extra cost.

"The crossover isn't necessary for using the speakers, but it comes with them nonetheless."
< I think its the internal passive crossover that the reviewer made mention of here, and that it could be by-passed when driven in basic full range mode w/single stereo or mono amps.
Bvdiman
It is available here at extra cost, but it is included for US market, well i won't complain about it, just a little envious :D

Btw, i tried to call you many times, but can't seem to connect.
Ojdeteos,
Must be new policy that Sunray purchases now inclusive LPX unit? If so, I think they will throw in the LPX too for brand new Sunray purchases from 'anywhere'--to be fair--I believe Tidal guys are. It was a separate option when I inquired about them late last year. Maybe Jorn/Tidal can help clarify things a little here.
I have heard tidal sunray last week, i really liked the sound, very smooth, with high resolution without sounding harsh, the impact isn't as big others (ex. Wilson, SF ), soundstage also very neat.

Not good for first impression, but very comfortable for long listening time.

that's my first impression listening to tidal, i'm not good with words so excuse me if i can't describe it in detail.
Sunray with/without LPX:

After changing the distribution in the U.S. to our wholly owned subsidiary company, TIDAL Audio Imports USA, we decided this year to deliver the TIDAL Sunray in serial with the active crossover "LPX" for the U.S. market.
In other countries, where our products are handled by third party distributors, we gave the marketing and sales decisions into the hands of our importers there and it was an optional offer. For 2012 we want to include the LPX in all other countries as well.

As for the different cross-over modes of the Sunray: the Sunray can be driven classical all passive with two channels (incl. three different gain levels for the bass) or with four channels in classical bi-amping (also incl. three different gain levels for the bass).
The "LPX" makes the internal bass crossover obsolete and does controll frequency and gaining before being amplified and therefore needs two channels for the bass-section and two fullrange channels for the mid-part of Sunray.
This offers more flexibility to all kinds of taste and/or rooms and/or amplifier matches and has an influence to the sound compared to the all passive mode.

Jörn Janczak
TIDAL Audio GmbH
Germany
An update to my last post,
I pulled the trigger and bring sunray home, the hardest part is when unpacking, this thing weigh a ton.....wait...a quarter of ton i mean :D

The sound is like everybody said, i've never heard norah sings like that in my previous speaker.

Definitely not for everyone,but the one who can appreciate them.
Guess i'm now also a Tidalist.

Anyone here use computer audio ?
Congrats!! Waiting for the invite..

Post system in virtual listing when ready.

What a way to end the year.. Enjoy! ;)
Congratulations Ojdeteos! Welcome to the Tidal family.

What components are you using? Also, if you could, would love to see pictures of you setup.
ojdeteos....THAT'S GREAT....i am sure you will be very happy...now you know how the rest of us feel everytime we turn our systems on and play something...we're there..!!!
Congratulations, you made a great choice!

I only use Computer Audio by the way!

Happy Listening,

Mike
Thinking about a new amp for my Piano Ceras. Current amp is Einstein Light in the Dark but am considering others. Would welcome some thoughts. My room is relatively small but thinking I may see some benefit from higher powered amps.
Adstew I would suggest a Sovereign amplifier either the Power or the Glory if you can afford it! Great synergy, doesnt sound like tube or solid state! I have heard many Tidal systems with different Sovereign amps, as the distributor is the same in my country, and I can assure you you wont be dissapointed!

Happy Listening,

Mike
Hello Adstew, do you have any preferences for your new amp ?
solid state or stay with tube?
Adstew, The Piano's will happily take more power if offered.

I have a hunch your Einstein tubed pre-amp with the new Tidal Impulse amp would be a nice combo. Just a hunch with absolutely no evidence that this is true but it is an interesting thought.
I've just heard my sunray, i think it's more sttled than before, the sound is improving, more composed, more relaxed, more smooth...

i'm happy that i made the decision to buy sunray.

happy listening!
Ojdeteos, congrats on your sunray! They must be fantastic. I am looking for solid state. Thanks for the input.
@Adstew: thanks adstew!
for SS amp, argyro use sovereign amp, maxx1973 use vitus or bvdiman use FM acoustics and soulution, maybe they can explain it better.

@bostonbean: i'm the 2nd owner, so i don't know how many hours total, but at my place around 30 hours, the sound is still changing, maybe it isn't properly burned in before.

The sound is more refined than before...
Hello,

I recently bought a used pair of Piano Classic, it is the very pair reviewed by John Potis in 6moons. At the time, he liked them so much that he bought them. Sadly he passed away some time ago, and the familly decided to sell them recently. So here I am as a new owner of Tidal speaker.

I've listened several times the Piano Cera and Diacera and the Contriva too, thanks to Doug White who invited me at his home.

I like the way they present the music, nothing spectacular or demonstrative, but just natural and coherent. I was a Spendor owner and I think they share the same kind of qualities at a lower level.
I tested 802's, Sophia, Cremona but they were not a step up in terms of musicality compare to the Spendor A9.

I have a small sized room so far and the pianos could be more at ease with a little more space, but I really enjoy music already.
Happy listening
Bountchacny..glad you like them .doug is a great guy who always goes above and beyond for his customers.
Hello guys,

Is there already some news from the CES show in Las Vegas?

I have the FLOW loudspeaker cable from Argento for some weeks now and I'm very very content with it. It needs some heavy juice for 50 hours or more but then it settles and improves in smaller margins. It replace the Zu Ibis Cable and then the Serenity on my Tidal Contriva's AC (All Ceramic). It is a speechless match with the Tidals; Neutral and spooky real. Not pushing anything forward literally and figurally as some other contenders do.
Like to hear from you...
Robert
Recently i tried boulder 1060 power amp with my sunray, it gives more punch to sunray compared to my arc ref150, but i thought maybe bigger amp will make a good partner for sunray.

Anyone can suggest monoblock besides tidal's own electronic ?
I tried a BMC S1 solid state stereo power amp (200 wpc) and it was revelatory compared to an Einstein LITD tube hybrid on my Piano Ceras. The Einstein is a great piece but this simply confirmed my suspicion that Tidals love power and I won't consider tubes at all. My Tidals are now back at the factory where they will be morphed into Piano Diaceras!
linkster, maybe you should live them there ,and get realy good speakrs?just my opinion.
@focalfan : yes please :)

@linkster: it is revelatory isn't it ? the music more engaging, low end part become fuller, more energy, you won't dissapointed with your piano conversion to diacera. Boulder is 300wpc but apparently it isn't enough to bring out the sunray potential, bugger....
Ojdeteos, I think you can biamp the Sunrays. If so, you could use two pair of the BMC M1s. Certainly on my Contrivas, one pair shows no evidence of lacking power.
Bi-amp is possible, but with that i need more sc, ic and pc, not good.

No bmc dealer here, unfortunately
So i have to listen what's available.

To my understanding, even though a person have good speaker, they will change it eventually, nothing can be best forever.
I have had my Piano Diacera's for a little over 6 months and have well over a thousand hours on them. I can say unequivocally that I adore these speakers. They have essentially changed my taste in music. Because of the Piano Diacera's I am totally enamored with classical music. Solo's to symphonies, baroque to modern eras, I cannot get enough.
Focalfan and Ojdeteos, yes, I was tempted by the BMC speaker at CES. It is also cheaper. I really am, however, just testing the market. If the Tidals don't sell, I will be most happy to live with them.
Tbg, have you considered getting your Tidals updated with the black graphite drivers to reflect current production?
Linkster, not really. It would be expensive and I don't expect it would make much difference.
...." updated with the black graphite drivers to reflect current production?"--waste of money.
wow, what an update!not--
tidal= me too, me too speakers(like kharma, marten,isophone, rockport graphite drivers)...

but tidal graphite is "special", "custom- made",right?not.
tbg- you are welcome! it not only my opinion... maybe it is yours too, just don't want to say it in open forum?
just look how many""tidal refernce" "special this&that" for sale more then a year....
conclusion-better speakers for the money then tidal.for sure.
Focalfan, I still think very highly of the Tidals and their ceramic drivers. I know people's whose ears I respect who hear the sound of ceramic drivers. I don't. But I do on other ceramic driver speakers. I have thought about selling my Tidals, however but not because I don't like them any longer. Were I to do so, I would probably buy the new BMC Arcadia speaker, which does not use ceramic drivers.
I have heard the Marten Coltrane 2 speakers and liked them, so if it is a 'me too' speaker it sounded pretty good, but way too expensive. Never heard the Tidals but i have to second Focal fan in that the new high end Focal series (Scala) sound excellent to my ears and are not over priced.