Treble of Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand?

Campton, unless you listen to them yourself, you will never know if the Hydns are for you. It is worth pointing out that what for some people is an 'airy top' is for someone else a hissy earbleeder, which Vienna speakers are typically not.

02-16-08: Campton said:
"Thanks...
yes, but with the VA's have an open and airy top?
The 3 reviews ive reading claim this is their shortcoming.
They say the top is too soft and laid back...no real detail."

Interesting. I thought I'd read all the VA reviews and I never saw that. Fortunately I was able to make a choice with my ears and that was not the case at all.

How anyone could criticize the mids and highs of any VA speaker in the two-channel line is beyond me. I consider it one of their strengths.

I play trumpet in several serious groups, ranging from funk/rock/soul, to Copland & Stravinsky, to church and Hefti. I also attend lots of live musical events. I love sopranos and vocalists in general. If the Haydns highs were soft I would have heard it right away. I'm very sensitive to this area of the frequency response curve.

Still, you may not like it. As Guido says, different strokes for different folks.

I write reviews of guitar equipment for Just Jazz Guitar and I found that their tend to be different "camps" of sound. Guitar amps are purposely colored so I try to describe how might sound by reference to famous guitarists that all the readers will know. With the VA I'll just tell you that Wes Montgomery will sound like Wes and Jim Hall will sound like Jim. Clifford Brown will sound like Brownie and Arturo Sandavol will sound like Arturo.

Dave

Dave,

Go to stereo mojo website and you can read the terrible
review given to the Haydns. They say.."the top is soft
and the bottom is loud..not a good mix."
They say they dont even recommend audtioning them at home.

Hi Campton, I will consider granting Stereo Mojo a minimum of credibility as soon as their reviewers learn to write with correct English grammar. . . and learn to spell Haydn (rather than 'Hadyn'). Please see Neil gader's review of the Haydn Grands on TAS 176 instead:
http://avguide.com/products/product-4054/
Here's Neil's teaser:

"Frankly, you’d have to have a screw loose not to enjoy this speaker. Small, unimposing, but an aesthetic delight to behold and a sonic pleasure to experience, the Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand is a giant killer of the old school."

Here is a suggestion. If indeed you can find them in some Magnolia/Best Buy department, pick one pair up. Use it for 3 weeks. . . . play them 24/7 to break them in properly. If after 3 weeks and about 400 hrs of operation you find them to be flawed, return them and get your money back. . . per standard Best Buy policy.

I'm agreement with Dave.

My beloved Haydns (HT) are paired with Musical Fidelity A308 power amp (250 watts dual mono.) It's a good match for the Haydns. Lots of clean current and dynamics. I get good midbass and I have no complaints about the treble.

Last night I listened to "Indigo CD" by Patrick O'Hearn (Keyboards, Electronics, Bass & Percussion). The CD has lots of different percussion sounds and electronic sounds that are very dynamic with amazing depth. I usually don't play vocals (I'm strictly Jazz trio or instrumentals) but last night for whatever reason played "The Raven" by Rebecca Pigeon. Great recording voice (not that crazy about the music) but I loved how the Haydns presented her voice in large soundstage and the little micro details of closing of the lips and breathing. Yeah I heard all of that...and vocals are not my main thing.

pierre