Tidal Speakers owners

I've heard that the Piano series will have G2 versions as well, possibly by the end of this year. New enclosures (tiralit composite material first used in the Agoria), binding posts and stands/bases are in order. I believe the crossovers and drivers are the same. Insofar as the sound goes, I heard from someone who is not a Tidal dealer and he reported that the sound was denser and more dynamic (Contriva G2). Can't imagine that the Contriva extenders would be necessary.

Contriva G2. Any listeners on the Munich show? ..

Calloway, when you get it, do the experiment of one being longer, which will mean that one will not be in contact. I should say that with the Ultra Five, unless they are screwed into something, such as a speaker, the Ultra foot, or the StillPoints Grid or their Component stand, there is no easy way to raise and lower them. A slim shim of metal will work. It will give you a quick test of three versus four.

Norm...thanks..that makes sense. i will buy another one for the Lumin Player..

Calloway, I think the Ultra Fives having five of the "technology" units versus one in the Ultra SSs, is the key. The Five have five time the vibration absorption. The LPI record weight is really the Five without a base. It is not better science, it is more of the same science.

I should add that four Ultra Fives under speakers or components than three. I am told that five sounds even better. If you try four, you need to make certain that all need to be in contact. This is since three points define a plain, so one is likely to be too low.

I have used them on carpeted and wooden floors with no apparent differences. I think the weight and the weight of the component, plus the conversion of vertical to horizontal motion that is turned into heat works on either.

Maceear...actually i have carpet.the Ultra SS versions worked well on the carpet but the Ultra 5s work even better. my guess is that it is the result of better science and a larger footprint on the carpet...hope this helps

Hello Calloway,

Do you have a wooden floor?

Hello Calloway,

Do you have a wooden floor?

i had the good fortune of being able to audition 8 Stillpoint Ultra 5s with my Contriva Diacera-se speakers for the last week..WOW..what an improvement. i would not have bet that what i thought was superb sound could be improved so dramatically. everything got so much clearer and every transient became so much quicker and tighter. acoustic guitar was amazing....the depth an soundstage also improved substantially...YES..they are expensive but the improvement is just to die for. i also tried 3 of them under my Lumin Network PLayer and that,also,greatly improved the sonics. for now...i have 3 under the Lumin with 8 more coming in the near future for the speakers..i have to have them now...thanks to doug white of 'the voice that is' for the audition....

Jotave, yes I have watched both numerous times.. though (in the dark) always thought that it was same set-up playing different tunes. Both excellent! Thanks for info.

Now where's yours? Must be just as superb.. do post and share when you have the time.

Bvdiman, the youtube video from Georgemg shows the Tidal playing with the smaller Model 88 from Audiopax. The big Maggiore you see in the picture were still in burn in process. The video in this other link shows the Piano Diacera with the superb MAggiore, the actual George's setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PvxLPeD2oQ

Rohitmalh: Thanks for your comment on the Class D amp.
And I wish you many many listening hours with the Tidals (like I do).

Congratulations Rohitmalh, I would love to see pictures. Sounds like you have but together a beautiful system.

catching up with this thread after a couple of months. Bought the Sunray T1 eventually and loved it. Thanks to Avantgarden for coming over and help me set the same up . I must say he has great listening ears and experience so if he offers a view, pl give it due consideration... have ordered tidal impulse x (with internal crossovers) and some other gear...
Maceear : nothing wrong with the devialet at all. For the amount you spend on it (peanuts when you consider what it comprises of) it is great. I bought the devialet before i decided to buy new speakers as it exposed the inadequacy of my speakers. Then i did a major search and listened to many many speakers and decided that i liked the sound of Tidal the most. With tidal T1-sunrays, i suspect that tidal amps work best so am currently using those on loan having ordered a new pair as mentioned earlier.
Hope this helps

Personally, I'd rather keep things nice and simple..

Want/need more bass, simply get bigger models up. When you hit ceiling with flagship pair, and found them insufficient still, I'd be looking at other viable options. Four tower solution just not for me.

about Piano Diacera + X-tender v.s Contriva Diacera
i think it's taste problem

Piano Diacera is 2 1/2 way, Contriva Diacera is 3 way
this make sound direction different.

without the X-tender..
Contriva Diacera sounds better than Piano Diacera...

but when Piano Diacera team up with X-tender..
the bass goes deeper than Contriva Diacera
and midrange is so wide...

personal i love it more than Contriva Diacera

A highly musical Piano Diacera set-up, imo. Hope Georgemg don't mind us sharing it here.

Prove that it doesn't have to be Tidal everything to make it work.. Well perhaps if a dealer I'd too say otherwise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbRj_t-Juqo

I think of the Piano Diaceras as mini Sunrays and with the X-Tenders as mini T-1's. If I were to get the X-Tenders, which I am not, I would prefer flat black portals versus the shiny stainless steel. I like the all black monolithic look.

"even better than the TIDAL Contriva Diacera"...I think that is up to the ears of the individual listener.

Hi Rohitmalh,

What is/was wrong with the Devialet D Premier you mentioned earlier? I do read a lot

about this device and many owners do lose their enthusiasm after a while. Can you

describe (in short) what went wrong (tone character emotion)?
Would be nice to know because I was thinking about the NAD M2 driving my Contriva’s,

connected to a mediaplayer......

Thanks
Robert

hi Linkster

I got my X-tender to team up with Piano Diacera last month
you can check the pictures here....
http://www.audionet.com.tw/a/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=3367

it's really crazy to add a small bass tower that cut in the 30~40Hz to have the deepest and clean bass

this way let the piano diacera sounds like a big system!!
(of cousre it's great, because Piano Diacera is the core of Sunray & Agoria...and now add the mini bass tower ,so the performance is just amazing.....evan better than TIDAL Contriva Diacera)..

I bought my Eidolon Diamonds 11 years ago and I feel it is somewhat unfair to Avalon to compare that design to the Piano Cera/Diacera. That being said, I think the Piano Diacera has been around for maybe four years and Jorn really can't improve on this 2 1/2 way gem. I am thrilled to own it and it is indeed my last speaker purchase.

Avalon and Tidal speakers I have heard were night and day different. Hard to compare really. Avalon sound was very unique. Tidal more "neutral" and uber-detailed, more like other similar designs, but very well done to the nth degree.

Hi Linkster,

It´s remarkable that you as a previous owner of an Eidolon Diamond feel that even the Piano Cera (without diamond tweeter) is so much better. That´s indeed impressive.

Thank´s for your time!

Does any Tidal owner also personally know the sonics of the Avalon Indra which at least sounds different from the Eidolon as I was told (I only know the Indra)? Any comments?

I owned the Eidolon Diamond and later went to the Piano Cera. The Tidal is way more transparent and musical. Bass definition might be a tad better on the Avalon but everything else is so much better on the Tidal it doesn't matter. I had heard that the Eidolon Diamond was a better speaker than the Indra.

Hi all Tidalists,

Very interesting posts.

May I ask whether anyone of you has experience with the Avalon Indra (which I know and like) and can comment on sonic differences between the Indra and the Tidal models Piano or Contriva?

I would very much appreciate your comments.

Thanks guys
Avantgarden - am wondering whether to use the LPX external crossover and tidal impacts versus impulse with the built in LPX crossovers ... Not so much any major cost thought process but was wondering long term if the classic LPx external crossover is a reference product and would be interesting if one added the rest of the T1 system (towers - ie subwoofers ). I get the feeling one can do more with an LPX external crossover but am not sure if the sound is definitely better .
Thoughts ?

I own my Con Dias for about a year now. Drove them with Naim 300 series with great results.

Currently ordered new Prisma and Impulse LPX, to keep the option of going fully active with Agoria in the future.

I own my Con Dias for about a year now. Drove them with Naim 300 series with great results.

Currently ordered new Prisma and Impulse LPX, to keep the option of going fully active with Agoria in the future.

hi Rohitmalh

I try it with FM1811+266 , sounds good, but not great enough
and then TIDAL presencio+ 2 impulse for active
then all is done:p

having Sunray without Tidal amps,
in the beggining you can having fun during the searching period for the amps, but it's a long term trip, and finally you will be tired

IMHO just try TIDAL amps or just give it up...

i agree with avantgarden post, if you choose sunray your power amp choice will be more limited than smaller models, but it is worth it.

Rohitmalh....

also
Agoria is picky for good amps too,
but it's more eazy to deal with than Sunray

if you using TIDAL amps(espeically Active)
no matter Sunray or Agoria it will be eazy and great....

if you are not using TIDAL amps, maybe Agoria will be more eazy.....

Thanks very much. Have you owned a Sunray and do you still own it ? Which amps have you tried with it ( and how many?) any suggestions on solid state and tube with Sunray where you have had v good experiences ? Thanks

Rohitmalh....

below is my experience....
1.Agoria and Sunray is far more better than CDSE
2.Agoria is more eazy to push than Sunray(4.5db Higher)
3.Used Sunray is far more chearper than Agoria
4.Sunray is picky for good amps!!

Q - Is the tidal sunray or the tidal agoria (too early to comment as its still new i guess) more difficult to get extreme performance compared to the Tidal CDSE ? Which amps would you use for either ? Am planning a once in XX years upgrade to my system. Have some old mac gear MC2720 and C37 power and pre respectively, transport Wadia wt-2000, Wadia Digital 2000 DAC, B and W 804s (being the most recent addition 7-8 years ago !). Read about the Devialet D Premier and thought would do my wife a favor to reduce the amp clutter + more relevantly integrate my AV stuff using the devialet and stream music etc. 3 months later i realized my speakers are not good enough so did the rounds from Wilson to Verity. Verity Sarastro made me realize that i wanted to go back to analog amps though the Devialet (which i must now sell at 3 months of age :)) did everything i expected it to do at the time i bought it.
Am debating between tidal contriva diacera SEs (used) , agorias and the sunrays (used), sunrays Mk2 (to come soon) and wanted to assess if people believed/knew /experienced a Sunray's or an Agoria's performance in an open living room format versus that of a Contriva and more importantly if the sunrays would need much more expensive amps to get "value/extreme sound" from ?
Another question - anyone has any view on Lansche 7/8 versus Tidal ? I heard some good things about it but havent heard it yet..

I see Duelund Cast in those crossovers, yikes!

Here's an awesome site I've been reading with nice photos.

Found on another site.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zql66gtxl3rcjcz/NzCshGOhOw#/

Tbg, I don't believe Tidal has any US representation other than Doug White of The Voice That Is since the Aaudio distribution relationship ended. Tidal seems to be very busy with the European shows and Asian markets.

Linkster, I didn't see Tidal at CES. Were they there?

Kw13, the wait will be well worth it. You can thank me later!! BTW, check with Tidal concerning factory break-in. Mine arrived with around 250 hours on them.

Thanks Linkster that is great endorsement and reassurance. Unfortunately nothing I could share. Still awaiting for my PiaDia. Timeline has overshot earlier indications by some margin. Santa did not deliver this time. But trust not too long to go.

The Piano Diacera is magical, an uncolored transparent window into the original recording venue. With familiar recordings, background details that I never heard previously are easily revealed. When it comes to Tidal speakers, it's really all about the subtlety and nuance inherent in the recording, and bringing these elements out but without losing any musicality.

Bostonbean,
Thanks, look forward to having them home.

Linkster,
How are your Piano D coming along?

Adstew,
Space a premium too here. My pair will be in living room. Hiding all electronics inside enclosed shelves for WAF (among other considerations). Limited to 40cm depth (plus 10cm for cabling). Width no problem. Height limited to 30cm. Tidal amps should be good (at least 2 boxes). Naim amps good too (4 boxes but each smaller than Tidal). Have not considered integrated. At this level I don't know if any conventional integrated would do justice. Would be interested if you find something compact.

Dear Mountain High,

I really wish you would stop all the superlatives! As for Tidal they are a superlative that I very much respect!

What makes Hi-Fi fun is the ever changing options and the pursuit of ones favorite sounds.

Please don't open the copy or knock-off door; most especially when it comes to Italian manufacture. The Italians hold a second seat to the Chinese for copy infringements they even knock off their own clothing companies with Chinese manufacture!! Mountain High your beloved instrument 8 speakers have been knocked-off by a well known Italian loudspeaker maker right down to the gloss white cabinet I wonder if in part due to all your inane touting on public forums do you know which brand? I think you do.

We value your business but will ask that you not do any more PR work for us.
Regards,
D

I buy and sell lots of gear I have to or my wife will kill me I love hifi and I love to compare just like wine lover love to compare I am sorry if i don't think tidal speakers are very interesting but I don't and the sound is un interesting too at least Sonus make something worth to copy!

The whole layout including the twin rear ports is very much like Sonus Faber I owned the early ones 2008.

From a respondent in one of Mountain High's thread "Berlin R to challenge Magico/Raidho?" >>>>>

11-07-12: Krell_man

Luvs2listen,

Actually, Mountain-High probably doesn't want to know anything. He's been touting dc10audio speakers since RMAF, plus, he's selling them.

Even dc10audio asked him to stop in another one of his threads. Obviously he's not even listening to the company.

There's nothing wrong with recommending a product that you like and use, but Mountain-High is to the point of hurting dc10audio's creditability because he's trying to push them down our throats. The fact that he's also selling the speakers is even worse.

Chuck
Krell_man (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

<<<<< +1
Krell_man pretty much sums it up. Good luck and Goodbye now Mr.High!

I don't believe that Sonus faber would think that the Contriva is a copy of their design. Which version of the Contriva did you own (the earlier ones did not use Accuton bass drivers)?.

mountain-high.....we are all glad you like your' Instrument 8PS ' speaker. to each his/her own..

Hi link,

this is an open discussion I like other here have owned many systems I owned the contriva which is basically a copy of Sonus Faber the sound was uninteresting and had poor efficient. They are pretty but the dc10 speaker is in another league not to mention it 95db spl

What kind of nonsense post is this?? What big Tidals did you supposedly own?