28-Feb-2016, 17:13
Finally, the Kaiser Chiara. Rather an off-piste option at first glance, because Kaiser are not primarily a loudspeaker-making business. What I'd read about the Chiaras in the few on-line reviews I could find was all positive, though. Perhaps more to the point, they seemed to be designed by a very experienced engineer (Rainer Weber) who had interesting ideas about the right way to design a very good stand-mount speaker, and wasn't having to build it within an arbitrary price range.
As it turned out, these were the first speakers from my short list that I listened to, and the last. I had two home demos, the best part of a day each, but separated by about a month. (The G Evos and Accordos were at home for two weeks in between.)
First impressions were very positive:
(These comments are the first time I've listened to different speakers in my home system for fourteen years, remember.)
There seemed to be nothing not to like! I listened to most of my test tracks and was thoroughly impressed. This was a really good speaker, based on one day's listening.
Time passed, during which I spent two weeks with the Evos and Accordos. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I began to doubt my memory of the Chiaras -- were they really as good as I had thought? Did they have the same sense of air and openness that I'd found lacking in the G Evos? And, given that they definitely have a more "technical" look to them, would my wife be happy after seeing them in the flesh? In short, were they worth the extra cost over the Accordos?
The obvious way to answer these nagging questions was to have another demo, back-to-back with the Accordos. The dealer was kind enough to agree. By the way, it's no fun moving these speakers around: they may be stand-mounts but they are not light - the case with two speakers is about 100 kg!
The second listen very quickly confirmed that these are really great speakers, for my taste. They just don't do anything wrong, as far as I can tell. There is no SAM profile to experiment with, but even without that their bass is tight, well-defined and goes plenty low enough for me. And I am hearing the air that I wanted to:
An easy decision, then? Not so fast...
As it turned out, these were the first speakers from my short list that I listened to, and the last. I had two home demos, the best part of a day each, but separated by about a month. (The G Evos and Accordos were at home for two weeks in between.)
First impressions were very positive:
Quote:More bass! - darker sound than I’m used to
Some warmth in the upper bass, lots of body to (eg) classical guitar
Faithless sounds great
Orchestral (Janacek) very well balanced, organ solo excellent
Timing e.g. on Jens Felger is excellent - guitar sounds very natural, attach on percussive notes is good
System sounds cleaner, tighter, faster, more lively.
(These comments are the first time I've listened to different speakers in my home system for fourteen years, remember.)
There seemed to be nothing not to like! I listened to most of my test tracks and was thoroughly impressed. This was a really good speaker, based on one day's listening.
Time passed, during which I spent two weeks with the Evos and Accordos. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I began to doubt my memory of the Chiaras -- were they really as good as I had thought? Did they have the same sense of air and openness that I'd found lacking in the G Evos? And, given that they definitely have a more "technical" look to them, would my wife be happy after seeing them in the flesh? In short, were they worth the extra cost over the Accordos?
The obvious way to answer these nagging questions was to have another demo, back-to-back with the Accordos. The dealer was kind enough to agree. By the way, it's no fun moving these speakers around: they may be stand-mounts but they are not light - the case with two speakers is about 100 kg!
The second listen very quickly confirmed that these are really great speakers, for my taste. They just don't do anything wrong, as far as I can tell. There is no SAM profile to experiment with, but even without that their bass is tight, well-defined and goes plenty low enough for me. And I am hearing the air that I wanted to:
Quote:Miles Gurtu: Golden Rust @ -32dB: excellent - bass sounds great, good layering
D’Angleo: Playa Playa/Devil’s Pie @ -29dB: - lovely cymbals and finger snaps, bass is tight, vocals not too sibilant
Janacek: Glagolitic Mass - Veruju (5:00-ish) @ -18dB: really excellent, full-bodied, realistic vocals, doesn’t get befuddled
Bruford: Nerve @ -25dB: tight, dense, solid, controlled
Porcupine Tree: Halo @ -32dB: tight! cymbals sound great - plenty of air, but controlled
Gary Willis: The Everlasting Night (No Sweat) - very good
Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time - excellent, cello sounds great!
Seem to take a lot more drive than the Accordos for the same volume level?
Overall impression is slightly "drier", more accurate than the Accordos. Less emotional, more intellectual?
Sound is open and airy. Not “sweet” but equally not at all harsh.
Bass is tight, controlled, deep.
Imaging and timing are very good.
Work very well at low volumes too.
An easy decision, then? Not so fast...
Roon (Mac Mini), Wilson Benesch Full Circle, Expert 1000 Pro CI, Kaiser Chiara
Warwickshire, UK
