RFZ_Quest
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My favorite speaker was this new speaker using two fostex ( I think they were the FE167 drivers). The drivers were arranged in line vertically, the top one had its whizzer modified, and a foam phase plug, the bottom one had its whizzer removed and a new black dust cap installed. The cabinet was about 3' tall, 8" wide by about 14" deep. On Saturday they disappeared so I don't think I have a pic of them, perhaps someone else does. The cabinet is a transmission line, ending in a passive radiator.
Terry,
I believe that the speakers you are referring to are that of the Deckert/Ziegler RETAIL line. If so, what you described seems to be that of the 'KADENCE' models.
I have had a set of these in my system now for almost two years. These are incredible speakers that I personally have deemed among my favorites. They are everything as you described for sure! These are now used as my main speakers, which overall, do everything right from low frequency extension to virtually perfect imaging, with a disclosure of micro detail present in the music that most speakers just do not portray.
The only type of speaker that I've compared to these which are capable of revealing this level of clarity, detail, and focus, are those of single, full-range drivers such as the DFR-8 in the NFX design. The cylinder type radial designs such as the 1.5's come very close to this degree as well, although they are a very different type of speaker and quite unique within parameters that no other design can approach on the same level.
When considering overall performance factors, that is where the similarity ends. While the NFX for example, produces reference grade imaging qualities with unprecedented ambience while using the modified Fostex DFR-8 drivers, the bass is very limited and falls short in that area with this type of design.
The 'KADENCE' design takes that same 'unrestricted' imaging quality, and produces a superbly controlled bass response which extends effortlessly into the lower frequency registers, usually not present within typical loudspeakers. The main factor to consider here is that not only is the lower frequency factor present here in abundance, most importantly is in how it is ‘presented‘. The transmission line design works so very well with a speaker of this type.
One cannot really categorize the radial design among other speaker designs because of the very fact that they are so unique in what they do. There is a major difference between a 360 degree ‘upward’ firing approach, to that of a more traditional ‘forward’ firing driver technique. This alone sets the standard into two totally separate categories which really hold no similarity in the grand scheme of things.
If you like the presentation of the radial design, but prefer the more traditional forward driver ‘direct’ focus design, the Kadence speaker is perfect for delivering comparable sound qualities with an extension of controlled bass response that leaves nothing to be desired.
I like both types, but I find myself listening to the Kadence designs more often than I do the radials. Room set-up has allot to do with this, as it does take a considerably more balanced set of room acoustical factors to make the forward firing driver designs perform without the distractions of common room acoustical anomalies.
The radials are more forgiving in that regard. Within a well ‘controlled’ listening environment, the Kadence speaker is simply incredible in it’s ability to present a well focused soundstage, with absolute control across the musical spectrum. The layers of detail which flow from these speakers will have you re-experiencing your music with nuances that were very likely unknown in the past. These are ultra revealing like the DFR-8 single full range drivers. This can be good or bad, dependent upon the quality of your source material. Speakers on this level will indeed reveal and expose what your system is really capable or not capable of!
Although I have not personally compared these speakers with the single driver ‘updated’ HDT design, I would speculate that these too would place within this category.
I am in the process of assembling the HDT cabinets with the single driver DFR-8’s and the updated passive radiators. Once these are complete, I will be evaluating their performance against the high standard which the Kadence designs portray. It would be my guess at this time, that the HDT’s will be very similar in regard to performance. However, that remains to be evaluated which I intend to compare these very different design signatures.
The overall concept of this speaker design captures the best of both worlds and integrates these attributes into a well built, reasonably sized cabinet design which I think is an example of excellent form and function. One that becomes a reference standard for other designs to be compared.
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Zenfest, an early report. (Read 4834 times)
