Calloway, be happy that you sold your other speakers. It took many months after I had the Tidals to sell my Acapella LaCompanellas.
I don't think I will be selling these speakers. Maybe those closing my estate will be. |
Went back for second audition. This time Contriva not as impressive. The stand out vacal in first audition a few weeks ago was gone. Still very enjoyable but not much more special than any other high end pair. Dealer said he had optimized speaker position. More suited to classical music. Based on this, Scala (6 months ago) was clearly ahead - more intimate sound with tremendous soundstage. Will go back again August when Piano arrives with my amps. |
Kw13,
could it be a change of placement or associated equipment that resulted in this change of opinions about the Contriva? |
Alectiong,
No he changed nothing except speaker placement and acoutic treatment placement. I was very impressed originally and now very surprised by the change. Third time lucky (too) perhaps... |
Kw13, I don't know about your relationship with this guy, but acoustic room treatment and to a lessor degree speaker placement is very critical. He may not like what you like. If he will allow you to remote room treatments and reposition the speakers you may find you like them even more. I am still experimenting with my Contriva diacera SEs after nearly two months with them. I assure you that they are very revealing of everything. |
Kw13, your description of the change reminds me of something we experienced with the Contrivas after the wall to wall carpet had been renewed in the listening room. In this case, it took two sets of Harmonix RF-999 MT tuning feet to cross the line back from "plain" good to the uniquely emotionally laden performance that had put us flat on our back before. Far from claiming Harmonix feet are the remedy for all, it is one example of "small cause, big effect", so I'm with Tbg in pondering the suspicion the dealer may have tweaked (even a little bit) too much. |
I am actually happy we found someone that heard the Tidals and didn't like them, even in one of the two auditions, cause it started getting spooky with no negative results about these speakers....lol
Kind Regards,
Mike
...still waiting for my Piano |
All,
The key awe inspiring feature in my first audition was the complete cut out of vocal from the fabric of music. It was as tho there was a separate center speaker a few feet forward from the main speakers blasting away merrily on its own. I loved that. Even tho it was forward and aggressive by other speakers' standards, both I and my wife found it natural and relaxing. My wife in particular does not normally like forward sound and describes 800D as shouting at her with the same music, yet obviously fell for Contriva which in some way achieved greater aggression but without the tension. So where did that center speaker go on second audition? Has anyone had this experience? |
tbg..how many people did it take to get your se's out of their flight cases and stand them up..?... |
Kw13,
did you listen to the same recordings in your second audition?
Contrivas have the unique ability to show all the details of a recording whether they are good or bad.... |
Calloway, I hired three movers, but remember that I had to take them to the second floor up a stairway. We took them up in the flight cases as my storage is also on that floor. The handles at each end of the flight cases helped doing this. We laid the first case on the floor and lifted it out placing it upright so I could carefully remove the wrapping. It was laid on one side with a rug under the lower side, so I could install the StillPoints component stands that I use instead of that provided by Tidal. On a dealers Tidals, the StillPoints component stands proved better than those provided by Tidal.
While I was doing this the men took the shipping case into the storage room and brought the other case up. They then helped me stand the first up and move into an approximate placement. Then, of course, this was all repeated on the other speaker.
The flight cases are an excellent solution for shipping. |
tgb...thanks alot..this helps a great deal..i'll let you know how it goes after they get here.. |
Karelfd, What are you sitting the Harmonix tuning feet on? Wood, concrete, carpet etc? |
Hi Husk01, concrete (2nd floor apartment) thereon very dense, short-haired carpet. The feet are on the carpet, not on the concrete directly. |
Karelfd, Did your Tidals come with any feet? The former US importer insisted on optional feet, which I am not using, because StillPoints Component Stands are better. I use them on wood floors. |
I was wondering if anyone of you had compared the Piano Diacera to the Piano Cera. How much better is the Diacera performance compared to the Cera? As you know, the Diacera costs more so I wonder if the improvement justifies the cost. Thanks very much. |
Tbg, my previous generation Contrivas came with plain spikes that I'm still using in combination with the Harmonix tuning feet to my full satisfaction, I'm happy to say. I do believe, meanwhile, Tidals come with their weight optimized proprietary steel isolator feet, as a regular customary accessory that is (the shiny cylindric feet you can see on some photographs on the website). So I wonder, are these the ones the US distributor actually sold optionally or yet something else? |
Karelfd, I suspect that the feet that came with mine are those you mention. The bottom of my speakers has many threaded holes for mounting these feet. Fortunately they can also be used to mount the StillPoint Component Stand. |
Want to share my impressions about Tidal speakers.
I decided to replace my speakers after I heard Tidal Sunray and Amea during the show in Moscow.
I was totally impressed with resolution, timbre accuracy and general naturalness of Amea and Sunray. Amea is too small for my room and I decided to audition Contriva.
Distributor in Russia has standard version and I heard them with Tidal electronics and Continuum Caliburn. Well, Caliburn is exceptional!
Never CD or any highres can come close to this sound. I was impressed with resolution of speakers, but...I feel a huge lack of lowest bass!
I need that bass, which you feel by your body when contrabass is playing or lowest notes of piano. So, I decided to audition Sunray!
And lucky me, that Russian distributor has Sunray for audition!!!
Hope next week to have them in my room!
Actually my current speakers are great. In general my system has absolutely unique level of resolution. But I feel that midbass and low bass resolution can be better and this can not be fixed by electronics or cables.
That's why I need new speakers. Hope Sunray will fulfill my expectations. |
Murataltuev, You know there is a T1 with a subwoofer tower?
I now own a Zu Method subwoofer that I have yet to try with my Contriva Dicera SEs. I am only going to run it up to 40 Hz. In my opinion it is the fastest subwoofer or at least has that reputation. In October when I get back to my main system, I will give it a try. I must admit that in my room, I have no low bass impact but maybe I don't know what I am missing. |
Is it true that the T1 subwoofer tower adds $180 large to the price of the Sunray? |
Rtn1, since the US importer, Aaudioimports and Tidal have parted ways, I can find only one listing of Tidal speaker pricing, http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.htm, it shows the T-1s to cost $322,000, the tenth most expensive speaker in their listing. I found one listing of the price of the Sunrays, as $178,600, so your statement may be correct. |
rtn1 &murat---
the T-1 sub towers are only availble as part of tidal's T-1 flagship set up which includes the sunrays, t-1 towers ,silver crossover and capacitors, and the lpx active cross over.
higherfi's numbers are outdated. the T-1 system's price is now a cool $260k. and btw,the current and up to- date tidal usa price list is avialble from tidal- audio.de for the asking. |
Tidal contriva Diacera:
There are better and less expensive value for money.
Do any of you just tell me the price of the factory Tidal to Distributor? and the final price Distributor/Dealer to Customer?.
This information is for people, The Profits are a Dizzying Wealth.
Enjoy all with the music. |
Rilou, in my experience there certainly are less expensive speakers than the Contriva Diacera SEs but only the Sunrays maybe better. I have had many speakers in 45 years as an audiophile and had concluded that you needed to choose your poison. Then I heard the Contrivas after but three days of breakin. Wow! Never had a speaker achieved the totality of sound like them.
I am enjoying my music. Thank you. |
|
Rilou,
I am in no way an expert on such things, but anytime a product goes through a set of hands there is going to be an increase in price.
Lets take the T-1 system as an example:
Retail price $260,000
Dealer price $156,000
Distributors price $93,600
The Tidal speakers have more three-dimensional clarity and focus then any other speaker I have owned or listen to.
The great thing is we all have choices and if your choice is not to own Tidal then I respect that. |
I neglected to say that I am guessing Tidal is a 40 point line.
|
Thank you for your answers, if I understand, the contriva Diacera SE are the best and cheap.
This binds you to me this is necessary, but I respect your commitments.
Thank you to tell me what others loudspeakers, listen to Compared to Tidal.
The profits are enormous on a sale of Tidal I am informed by a friend of audio dealer in Russia.
Thank you again.
|
082288--
it's my understanding ,that the previous import prices in the usa were skewed and not in par with the rest of the world's. the current usa price list(which is available from tidal-audio.de) is more in line with the rest of the tidal importing community, and lower than previously advertised.
imho, whether tidal is a 40 points line or a other margin numbers is secondary. everyone is entitled to make a living and cover their expenses,and generate a profit, witihn reason , of course.and the main point ,which you hit on the nail squarely, is tidal's performance! it is indeed a stunning acheivment in music reproduction, period.
rilou---
the beauty of our hobby, is that there are so many great options out there to pick from. tidal may not be your cup -of tea, and we "tidalists" will all respect it fully.
whatever you choose ,enjoy it! |
So, no one has bass problems with Tidal Contriva?
I don't know may it was because of room acoustic?
Pairing sub is not easy way, I think. |
Murataltuev, integrating a subwoofer has always frustrated me. I have tried probably ten different subwoofer over the years. The last was with my Beauhorn Virtuosos, that had no bass below 60 Hz. I tried massive 8 feet tall by 15 inch diameter isobaric subwoofers with 2000 watts of power. Boom, boom! Ultimately, I sold the speakers. This was followed by the futility of Avantegarde Trios.
The Tidal Contrivas have much better bass than my Acapella and go deeper. Do I think they do sub 20 Hz? No, this is what I might get out of adding the Zu Method.
Ozy, I agree. The US typically uses importers who add perhaps 30% as their profit. What Tidal has done, is to remove the importer. So Tidal staff now have to run their own rooms at shows and deal with reviewers and orders and shipping, as well as warehousing some product. |
Thank you again to you audiogoners. but yes some people complain about how low the Tidal, but I'd like to tell them that there is no bass.
Today I am very happy to have one of the best loudspeakers in the moment which does not speak, I am delighted.
Without any resentment at all good MUSIC.
|
Question dry comparison is contrivas TAD Reference One.
Which to choose? |
Ciro I heard the TAD Reference both last and this year in Munich! Although an amazing speaker to my ears the Contriva is in a different class. At any chance you got to listen for yourself an decide.
Kind Regards,
Mike
P.S. Waiting for my Piano Cera...:) |
...THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY...!!!..my contriva diacera-ses left germany today for an early next week delivery....can't wait |
Calloway, happy days are here. I am beginning to miss mine, but when the high temperature is 76ºs and the low 44ºs, it really is nice. An elk was in my backyard yesterday.
Anyway, enjoy. |
Ciro, I have been listening to the TADs for several years at CES, including last year when they had their new amps. They always have a big room and many visitors, but I have never liked them. I hear "wood" when I listen to them. I like the Pioneer stand alone and much cheaper speaker.
I never heard a speaker that rivaled what I heard last year at the RMAF and continue to hear in my home. Of course, everyone's tastes differ. |
Thank you all for your answers.
In Italy it is difficult to hear contrivas as the amp I Vitus Audio SS 101 (50 in Class A)
Is a good match for you?
PS my room is about 48 sqm. |
So many expectant "fathers" waiting for they're children!!!!
I too have a long wait but in the end i can finally jump off this moving train called UPGRADING!
Like Chris Rock says, "the money isn't in the cure it's in the research!"
Translation:
If you like to constantly compare and disect , that is just probabely part of what makes hi end for you and that's fine! For me it is hearing all that the music offers...
Congratulations to all waiting for they're Tidal products!! |
3 more weeks guys, 3 more weeks... |
...i can beat that...' today or monday.... |
hehe, finally Calloway! Please keep us posted!
Mike |
Just one of many great speakers!! |
...WOW !!!..i have had the contriva diacera-ses now for 4 days..doug white of 'thevoicethatis.com, came down to help me position them in the best location within my room and to say that the music is the best i have ever heard in my room would be a huge understatement.even with only ~ 8 hrs on them the sound is superb.i was a little worried about my entertainment center being between the speakers and my ability to pull them out far enough into the room to allow the bass and all other freqs to come alive but 'not to worry'..the tidals came through with flying colors...so far i have them pointed straight ahead and the sound is glorious but i am going to play with toe-in over the next few weeks to best assess their potential.if anyone else in this country is on the fence about buying a pair of tidals and is in the neighborhood....virginia...and would like to listen ..give me an email and you are more then welcome to come by and listen. i can't say enough about how much help doug was also in making this all happen...will update from time to time as to their maturing which will continue for about 4-6 months...i can't believe they can get better.... |
Calloway, great! You make me miss mine, which I will not get to hear until the end of Sept. What we do for love!
Oh! They will get better.
I assume that Doug chose to point them straight out? I have mine toed in to intersect just behind me.
Some packing, huh? |
...tbg..they are pointed straight ahead for the moment but i will be playing the toe-in-game over the next month or so to see what works best...my god they are great speakers.even if they didn't get any better i would be supremely happy but that they will is amazing... |
Awesome Calloway, please keep us posted on how the break-in goes!
Happy listening my friend
Mike |
Marc Mickelson of The Audio Beat has done a review of the Tidal Contriva Diacera SEs that is right on the money relative to what I hear. It does discuss the use of the port plugs and the jumper plugs that motivate me to more experimentation with them than I have done.
He uses interconnects and other cabling as well as amps that I have no experience with, but his characterization of what he hears from them, closely parallels what I hear.
It is good that the former importer got this review. It is excellent. |
Great review!
I trust Marc! |
