Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • The Giya G1 Spirit excels at conveying the majesty and scale of music with delicious texture and detail, providing a seamless sound from bottom to top
  • They offer a transparent and revealing sound, unveiling the pros and cons of recordings and performing incredibly with good recordings
  • Visually distinct with a curved, organic form, they are designed to be structurally stiff and avoid secondary radiation, resulting in one of the lowest colouration loudspeakers available
  • The G1 Spirit's drivers and cabinets are created in-house with a freedom to develop technologies which others can only dream about, with excellent results
  • They exhibit an uncannily relaxed presentation similar to electrostatic speakers, combined with the low-end power and dynamics of a reflex design

Product Considerations

  • The speaker's appearance is dramatic and may be polarizing
  • The uppermost frequencies tend to be a bit soft compared to the best available speakers
  • Good amplification and careful placement in a large room are required to realize their full potential
  • The base is fitted with six spikes, which can make the speakers unstable and easily tilted side to side

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Magico Q7 Mk II: The Vivids could play louder and freer with more dynamic peaks, while the Magicos revealed more nuanced detail and tighter mechanical tolerances
  • Vs Rockport Technologies Arrakis: The Rockport Arrakis achieved more seismic room lock in the low frequencies compared to the Giya G1 Spirit
  • Vs Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4: The Giya G1 weighs less for the same internal volume

Takeaway: The Giya G1 Spirit speakers offer a grand and detailed music experience, uniquely blending power with exceptional clarity, and they are a fantastic choice if you want to hear your music at its very best

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

Giya G1 Spirit

reviews

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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Configuration: 4-way 5 driver system
  • Cabinet material: Glass reinforced balsa cored sandwich composite
  • Cabinet colour: Piano Black, Lexus Pearl White, Oyster Matte
  • Drive units HF: D26 – 26 mm metal dome unit with Tapered Tube loading
  • Drive units Mid: D50 – 50 mm metal dome unit with Tapered Tube loading
  • Drive units Lower-mid: C125-75s, 125 mm alloy/carbon diaphragm with 75 mm voice coil
  • Drive units Bass: 2 x C225-100, 225 mm alloy diaphragm with 100mm voice coil in 45 mm gap
  • Bass loading: Exponentially Tapered Tube enhanced bass reflex
  • Sensitivity: 92 dB @ 2.83 VRMS at 1 m on axis
  • Nominal impedance: 6 nominal, 3 minimum at 20 KHz
  • Frequency range: -6 dB points: 25 – 36,000 Hz
  • Frequency response: 29 – 33,000 Hz +/- 2 dB
  • Harmonic distortion: < 0.3% over frequency range
  • Cross over frequencies: 220 – 880 – 3,500 Hz
  • Power handling: 1,600 watts rms
  • Dimensions: 1,600mm (H) x 440mm (W) x 820mm (D)
  • Net weight: 67.4 kg
The GIYA G1 Spirit is the ultimate Giya, bringing together the very best of everything we've ever created for the GIYA range. For those who care most deeply about music, design, engineering, reputation or all of the above, the G1 Spirit represents the only and obvious choice. A peerless pedigree, irreproachable technology, and the most spectacular sound quality obtainable at this – or perhaps any – price. A true joy to own, for a lifetime of listening pleasure.
The GIYA G1 Spirit is the ultimate Giya, bringing together the very best of everything we’ve ever created for the GIYA range. For those who care most deeply about music, design, engineering, reputation or all of the above, the G1 Spirit represents the only and obvious choice. A peerless pedigree, irreproachable technology, and the most spectacular sound quality obtainable at this – or perhaps any – price.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • Vivid employs a tapered tube loading technology, extending from the rear of each driver, to absorb backwave energy and minimize cabinet resonances, promoting clearer and more detailed sound reproduction.
  • Reaction-canceling driver arrangements are a hallmark, strategically implemented to reduce cabinet vibration and improve bass clarity, enhancing overall sonic purity.

Oval

  • Positioning: The entry-level option in Vivid Audio's lineup, offering their high-end technology at a more accessible price point.
  • Description: Features a unique curved design, which reduces internal resonances and enhances sound clarity. Unlike the more advanced Giya series, uses fewer drivers, making it ideal for smaller rooms and those with a limited budget who still want high-quality sound.

Kaya

  • Positioning: A mid-range option, designed to provide a balance between performance and aesthetic appeal.
  • Description: Features a compact design and directional sound, making them suitable for home theaters and smaller spaces. They incorporate some of the advanced technologies from the Giya series but in a more compact form.

Giya

  • Positioning: Vivid Audio's high-end offering, known for its distinctive design and superior acoustic performance.
  • Description: Features a radical design and advanced acoustic engineering, providing an immersive listening experience. They include more drivers and advanced materials compared to the Kaya series.

Moya

  • Positioning: The ultimate expression of Vivid Audio's engineering capabilities, offering the most advanced features and performance.
  • Description: Designed to deliver exceptional power and precision, with a focus on low-frequency performance. They surpass the Giya series in terms of driver count and efficiency.
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Avg. Product Price
$75,001-$100,000
Used For Sale
8
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
177
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
11
Founding Year
2004

Our take on the brand

Vivid Audio's loudspeakers feature unique, nature-inspired shapes and glass-reinforced composite materials that minimize cabinet resonances and diffraction. Their proprietary Tapered Tube Loading technology and drivers made from the same alloy (developed by former B&W Nautilus designer Laurence Dickie) work together to deliver uncolored sound that makes the speakers seem to disappear in the room.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

Unlike the vast majority of our competitors, who simply use others' active components, we have, from inception, March 2001, designed and manufactured our very own bespoke, proprietary drive units. The resultant filter networks are ridiculously simple. By controlling the whole process, we are able to derive the exact response from each in it's system. A little appreciated advange too, is we are able to provide spare parts for an extended period.

Any vibrating device will impart that vibration to the substrate to which it is fixed. At Vivid Audio at no time do we couple drive units to the cabinet directly, each is decoupled by a carefully selected soft, 30 shore silicone, memory free O ring. In the case of bass units, we go one step futher - in addition to the decoupling O ring, each driver is apposed by another identical bass unit in a reaction cancelling configuration. Expensive, resulting in an inert cabinet. Note the lack of visible fixing harware. 

A perfect acoustic solution.

(No matter how heavy you make a loudspeaker cabinet, all one is doing is shifting the damped resonances in band. Place your ear against any loudspeaker to appreciate this. The worst case example is the ubiquitous eccentricly loaded sub woofer.)  

We strive for as lower mass as possible in an extremely stiff configuration. The lower the mass, the lower the energy strorage. The same requirement as aircraft, race cars etc. There are many other unique technologies we employ, jointly presenting the cleanest window into the music. Our web page details these.

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

It would be foolhardy of me to send you a short list - by definition would exclude many excellent brands of which we have no knowledge. Suffice to say: Unusually, we expend an exorbitant effort in perfecting the loudspeaker / room interface, no sharp perturbations, corners, discontinuities, etc., and the loudspeaker / amplifier interface, ensuring at the minimum impedance, the current and voltage waveforms are close to being in phase - an ideal situation. Our loudspeakers present an easy load to the amplifier. Quality rather than quantity is emphasized.

From our interview with
Philip Guttentag
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

Product image
Vivid
Moya M1
465000
465000
/
3
Reviews

The Moya M1 was born of circumstance. Quarantined in a hotel room for 10 days by the global pandemic, Laurence Dickie began to sketch out an idea for a speaker that could do it all.

Vivid Audio's loudspeakers feature unique, nature-inspired shapes and glass-reinforced composite materials that minimize cabinet resonances and diffraction. Their proprietary Tapered Tube Loading technology and drivers made from the same alloy (developed by former B&W Nautilus designer Laurence Dickie) work together to deliver uncolored sound that makes the speakers seem to disappear in the room.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Exceptional transparency, revealing details in recordings that are often missed, offering an open window into the music
  • Purity and coherence brings out the best in every recording, and is devoid of the usual loudspeaker distortions or colorations
  • Commanding dynamic range, superior transient performance, and effortless power, akin to a great horn-loaded speaker—but without the shoutiness
  • Fanatically well-damped cabinets appear to have banished self-noise, allowing the driver array to deliver protean scaling and dimensionality
  • Incredible bass power, reach, articulation, tautness, and precision rivals the best top-tier performers

Product Considerations

  • High-quality source and amplification is required to realize its full potential, which may expose weaknesses in the existing system
  • Cable terminals at the bottom rear of the cabinet can be tricky to access when the speaker is placed against the wall
  • Some may prefer a 'sweeter' sound from loudspeakers that have been tuned to flatter test tracks, the Moya is straight down the line neutral
  • Large and heavy speakers can make them difficult to transport and install
  • Careful component matching and setup is demanded to achieve optimal results

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Moya M1 boasts a more contoured radiation pattern of 180 degrees versus the Vivid Giya G1 Spirit's 270-degree radiation pattern

Takeaway: The Vivid Audio Moya M1 is a groundbreaking loudspeaker that offers unmatched transparency and effortless performance. It delivers a captivating and lifelike listening experience for those seeking the pinnacle of audio reproduction.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Vivid Audio's loudspeakers feature unique, nature-inspired shapes and glass-reinforced composite materials that minimize cabinet resonances and diffraction. Their proprietary Tapered Tube Loading technology and drivers made from the same alloy (developed by former B&W Nautilus designer Laurence Dickie) work together to deliver uncolored sound that makes the speakers seem to disappear in the room.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Burmester
BC150
150000
150000
/
7
Reviews
Burmester, a high-end audio brand renowned for its German craftsmanship, designs and handcrafts its components in Berlin. Known for its distinctive industrial aesthetic with chrome finishes, the brand supplies premium sound systems for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
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Product Strengths

  • Detailed, exciting, dynamic, and transparent sound
  • Vanishingly low cabinet coloration, contributing to speed and detail
  • Lung-emptying, bowel-clearing, demolition-grade bass
  • Bass integrates well with the rest of the frequency range for an integrated musical performance
  • Voices have breath and contour, yet the result always retains a minimum of warmth

Product Considerations

  • Room acoustics should be a strong consideration, as the BC150 reveals room issues
  • Needs a lot of quality electronics upstream
  • Requires firm control and ample current capacity from the amplifier

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The BC150 sounds more like a Burmester B38 with greater abilities to scale

Takeaway: The Burmester BC150 is a high-precision audio instrument that is both musically communicative and musically analytical, offering a detailed and transparent listening experience. It offers clarity and purity of sound, and brings music to another level.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Burmester, a high-end audio brand renowned for its German craftsmanship, designs and handcrafts its components in Berlin. Known for its distinctive industrial aesthetic with chrome finishes, the brand supplies premium sound systems for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Borresen
M3
283975
283975
/
6
Reviews

The M3 is equipped with 4 unique 4.5" M-series speaker drivers. These drivers are connected in series in pairs so that one pair acts as a bass/midrange and another pair acts as a bass speaker driver. This approach ultimately results in increased speed, precision, and depth, which enriches the speaker with much more musicality.

The M3 and M6 are both offering the option of bi-amping, allowing you to feed the bass and midrange/treble sections individually. This not only provides sufficient power to each section, but also results in a cleaner, more precise sound.

The larger cabinet has also improved the ventilation behind the bass/midrange drivers. This provides less compression and thus a much faster and more agile speaker driver, which has a significantly positive impact on the overall sound image. Furthermore, the bass speaker drivers are equipped with a bass reflex section inside the cabinet, which ensures a dynamic and harmonious balance between midrange and bass.

Børresen Acoustics stands out for its iron-free magnetic motors and cryogenically treated metal components, which reduce inductance for clearer sound. The brand's speakers feature unique elements like zirconium-based 3D-printed baskets and a patented ribbon tweeter design, combined with series crossover networks for phase-locked electrical current across frequencies.
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Product Strengths

  • The M3 presents music with an unprecedented degree of individuality and specificity, without sacrificing tonality, texture, or body
  • Remarkable level of resolution
  • Astonishing transparency and is resolute
  • Accurate tonality and represents timbre faithfully
  • Exceptional high-frequency detail and speed due to a planar tweeter
  • Accepts only banana terminations

Product Considerations

  • The planar tweeter misses the very last measure of extension, shimmer, and effortlessness accomplished by the very best available today
  • Low-frequency extension was limited to the high 20 Hz, low 30 Hz range

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to Magico M9, the M3 has recalibrated the resolution yardstick by which all other loudspeakers must be measured and compared
  • Compared to Von Schweikert Audio ULTRA 9s, the M3 has recalibrated the resolution yardstick by which all other loudspeakers must be measured and compared

Takeaway: The Børresen M3 loudspeakers boldly represent the realization of striking potential in audio and push known boundaries. People who choose the M3 will enjoy a specific level of playback that is unavailable from other loudspeakers.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Børresen Acoustics stands out for its iron-free magnetic motors and cryogenically treated metal components, which reduce inductance for clearer sound. The brand's speakers feature unique elements like zirconium-based 3D-printed baskets and a patented ribbon tweeter design, combined with series crossover networks for phase-locked electrical current across frequencies.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Wilson Audio
Alexx V
154000
154000
/
5
Reviews

Open Gantry

Inspired by natural elements found in Utah one quickly sees more svelte lines in the Alexx V™ like the XVX. The exposed "skeletonized" architecture allows an airy and openness currently only found with the WAMM Master Chronosonic® and the Chronosonic XVX®. Given the open architecture gantry design, the gantry grilles are seamlessly attached via embedded magnets, allowing for quick and simple installation and removal. Alexx V's overall size is only 1" deeper and 1" taller than Alexx Series 1.

Process of Handcrafting Alexx V Gantry

Alexx V is an extraordinarily adaptable design. Carrying over elements from its larger siblings, such as the XLF reversible woofer port and independently adjustable modules, allow this system to be elegantly tailored to your listening room. These tools built into the DNA of Alexx V allow for greater ease of installation into a wider variety of listening spaces, thus permitting the listener to truly experience the depth and ability of this system.

Gantry

The open architecture gantry first launched with WAMM Master Chronosonic, followed by Chronosonic XVX, has now found a home with Alexx V. Not only does this benefit the overall appearance of the loudspeaker, but critically, it also enhances the overall rigidity of the entire upper module section and minimizes pressure trapped behind the enclosures, resulting in greater fidelity. Easier access to the upper modules makes for quicker adjustments. Similar to our innovative lighting solution (Sono 1™ from Coolfall®) featured in Chronosonic XVX, Alexx V has an illuminated cross brace at the rear of the gantry, which aids in speaker module setup and time-alignment fine-tuning.

Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode

Building upon the research and development of Pedestal, the Special Applications Engineering Team is excited to announce the Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode™ (AD Spike for short). At the heart of the Acoustic Diode is our proprietary "V-Material." This superior constrained layer damping composite is unsurpassed in vibration absorption and resonance control.

Energy from the enclosure migrates into the V-Material where it is faced with the effective damping properties of this efficient material. The mass of the loudspeaker concentrated onto the very small ends of the spike tips results in significant levels of PSI that prevent detrimental vibrations from traveling upward into the footer. Those vibrations that do travel up the spike are absorbed by the mass of the Acoustic Diode and have to travel through the V-Material to have a chance to influence the enclosure.

Keeping the spike and threaded post separate prevent a direct path for vibrations to travel, or interplay, and are therefore dissipated and absorbed in either the V-Material or the footer housing. This distinctive design, combined with advanced vibration-mitigating materials, provides the best of both worlds; a solid base from which the drivers can launch as well as preventing the transmission of energy from the floor to the loudspeakers.

Convergent Synergy Carbon

Alexx V features an entirely new Convergent Synergy Carbon (CSC) tweeter, which builds upon a modified version of the previous Convergent Synergy motor while embracing an outstanding and intricately innovative rear-wave chamber. This carbon fiber design is completely manufactured in-house using several 3D printers. The sonic results of this tweeter development cycle have been nothing short of dramatic. The CSC offers far greater and more linear high frequency extension while providing unprecedented ambient retrieval and superior harmonic detail.

QuadraMag

With the midrange band managed by two dissimilar sized drivers we opted to leverage the incredible advances of our Alnico (Aluminum, Nickel, Cobalt) QuadraMag® design. This 7" mid was originally developed for XVX Chronosonic and has a warmth, beauty, and texture that brings to life all the elements in your favorite recordings. The QuadraMag driver combines four separate magnets, arranged in an innovative quadrature geometry, further enhancing the delicate intricacies of the all-critical midrange reproduction quality.

Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
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Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Sublime image size and expansiveness, coupled with an ability to be driven as hard as your ears or your amps can take
  • A sense of balance to the sound of the Alexx V makes renewal possible, expressive and articulate from the deepest bass to the highest treble
  • Trickle-down benefits from the WAMM Master Chronosonic and Chronosonic XVX
  • Bass performance is otherworldly
  • The Alexx V has the ability to uncover and continue to deliver micro-details at extremely high SPLs, even after that slam of a transient

Product Considerations

  • Some power behind the throne is needed, because the loudspeaker's impedance plot drops to two ohms at 250Hz
  • The dome tweeter does sacrifice the last ounce of micro-detail, compared to the insane resolving power of the best diamond and beryllium drivers
  • The choice of finish needs to be considered with care
  • Cable management can impact performance

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to the original Alexx, the Alexx V is a massive improvement—closer to a baby XVX in so many ways
  • Compared to the Alexia 2, the Alexx V was more than a mere additive sum, a step-function improvement
  • Compared to the Wilson XVX and WAMM Master Chronosonic, the tweeter is effortless and resolving by normal standards, but no match for the extraordinary levels of detail retrieval

Takeaway: The Alexx V offers a sublime listening experience with excellent balance and dynamic range that allows the listener to get closer to the music. It is a worthy contender for those looking to upgrade their listening experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
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What competes at this price?

Monitor
Hyphn
95000
/
Released
2023
Unique in shape, unparalleled in performance, Hyphn is the result of an intense collaboration between our designers and engineers, who set out to build the best loudspeaker anyone has ever heard. Featuring the new M-Array high- and mid-frequency driver array and four force-cancelled 8" bass drivers per speaker, Hyphn is capable of delivering an unrivalled listening experience.
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Monitor Audio is an independently owned hifi brand that has earned multiple Editors Choice awards for their Silver Series speakers, which feature proprietary driver designs. Their speakers are distinguished by unique technologies like the MPD tweeter and C-CAM drivers, which provide exceptional clarity while resisting distortion and listener fatigue.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Unique design where form follows function, resulting in a contemporary and sleek aesthetic
  • Incredibly tight, impactful, articulate, and controlled bass response with impressive dynamic power and clarity
  • Seamless integration of midrange and tweeter via the M-Array, creating a virtual point source for maximum imaging and soundstage
  • Exceptional clarity, transparency, and detail retrieval across the entire frequency spectrum
  • Soundstage is incredibly wide, deep, accurate, and immersive with instruments placed precisely in a three-dimensional field

Product Considerations

  • Significant power from amplifiers is required to perform optimally, with recommendations ranging from 200 to 1600 watts RMS
  • The Hyphn is a large and heavy speaker, needing a decent-sized room and strong flooring
  • Sensitivity is rated at 86 dB, which is considered low and necessitates high-power amplification

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Sonus Faber: Hyphn has a far more forward-sounding presentation compared to the more relaxed and recessed soundstage of Sonus Faber
  • Vs JBL Everest DD67000: Hyphn's bass is not as 'huge' as some monster high-end speakers like JBL's Everest, but it is tighter and more tuneful

Takeaway: Monitor Audio's Hyphn is a state-of-the-art loudspeaker with a unique design, delivering exceptional clarity, deep bass, and a wide soundstage. If unrestrained performance and a forward-looking aesthetic are desired, the Hyphn is worth considering for an immersive listening experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Monitor Audio is an independently owned hifi brand that has earned multiple Editors Choice awards for their Silver Series speakers, which feature proprietary driver designs. Their speakers are distinguished by unique technologies like the MPD tweeter and C-CAM drivers, which provide exceptional clarity while resisting distortion and listener fatigue.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
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Avantgarde
Trio G3
91000
/
Released
2022
Welcome to the world's most exhilarating, uncompromising, natural and by far the most extraordinary speaker system, the Trio. The unique Trio. Unique because its indescribable sound takes the listener straight to a place where the mundane is forgotten. World off. Music on.
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Avantgarde Acoustic is known for its spherical horn speakers that deliver exceptional sound uniformity and can produce high volume levels with minimal power input, thanks to their unusually high sensitivity of over 104dB. Their flagship products feature advanced digital processing that corrects time and phase issues, while their Zero 1 Pro model stands out for integrating amplifiers and digital crossovers directly into a compact horn speaker design.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Impressive midbass solidity
  • Remarkable fidelity at lower volumes due to the alacrity of its drivers
  • Comprehensive and dynamic sound signature with plenty of detail and clarity
  • The newly developed tweeter allows for faster response and a frequency range that easily extends to 28,000Hz
  • Features a modular design, offering flexibility with passive, iTron active, and all-in-one wireless streaming versions

Product Considerations

  • Integrating the Spacehorn subwoofers requires careful alignment
  • High-quality source components are needed to match its performance level
  • Some reviewers found that the iTron amplification did not produce the requisite bloom and musicality for classical and jazz music

Takeaway: The Avantgarde Trio G3 speaker is a top-tier audio system known for its exceptional sound reproduction and flexibility with different configurations. If you appreciate high-quality audio performance and aesthetics and want a sound system that sounds exciting and sophisticated, it is an excellent option.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Avantgarde Acoustic is known for its spherical horn speakers that deliver exceptional sound uniformity and can produce high volume levels with minimal power input, thanks to their unusually high sensitivity of over 104dB. Their flagship products feature advanced digital processing that corrects time and phase issues, while their Zero 1 Pro model stands out for integrating amplifiers and digital crossovers directly into a compact horn speaker design.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
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MBL
101 E MKII
90000
/
Released
Distinguished by its large, melon-shaped aluminum and magnesium alloy radial woofer, the 101 E MKII is a proven, legitimate successor to the original MBL speaker – the legendary MBL 100 – launched in 1979. Known then, and now, as the Radialstrahler (radial emitter), this convention-defying omnidirectional speaker enriched musical playback with revolutionary sound reproduction. The audio world was amazed, first and foremost, by its avant-garde design, then astonished when it evenly distributed the sweetest of harmonics and deepest of bass notes throughout listening rooms.
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MBL is a German hifi brand known for its unique Radialstrahler technology, which uses petal-like drivers that emit sound in an omnidirectional 360-degree pattern, eliminating the typical "sweet spot" found in conventional speakers. Their speakers are designed to fill rooms with concert hall-like sound through both direct and reflected waves, creating a more natural and immersive listening experience throughout the entire space.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • An all-encompassing sound keeps listeners rooted to their seats
  • A unique 360° sound wave design creates a natural balance of direct and reflected sounds
  • A truly huge, yet meticulously crafted, soundscape is created
  • Not physically evident in the aural landscape, offering a sound that seems to have no origin
  • Integration of the woofer's and melon's outputs was far smoother than previous models

Product Considerations

  • High-powered amplifiers capable of delivering ample amounts of current are required due to its insensitivity (around 80dB)
  • Placement can be tricky, needing more space away from room boundaries than some rooms can provide
  • The biggest problem has always been the audible lack of seamless integration between the bass box and the stack of omnis atop it
  • A 'chesty, compressed, almost grainy midbass coloration' can be exhibited if placement and other factors are not optimized

Takeaway: The MBL Radialstrahler 101 E MkII loudspeaker offers a distinctive and immersive listening experience thanks to its unique omnidirectional design. It can fill the room with a natural and balanced sound, creating a captivating musical soundscape for the listener.

Video review

Our take on the brand

MBL is a German hifi brand known for its unique Radialstrahler technology, which uses petal-like drivers that emit sound in an omnidirectional 360-degree pattern, eliminating the typical "sweet spot" found in conventional speakers. Their speakers are designed to fill rooms with concert hall-like sound through both direct and reflected waves, creating a more natural and immersive listening experience throughout the entire space.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
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Vandersteen
Model Seven XTRM
94000
/
Released
2021
Meet the Model Seven XTRM, the newest Vandersteen Audio flagship! The original Model Seven was introduced in 2009 and remains firmly ensconced as a Stereophile Class A Recommendation, a perennial TAS Editor's Choice winner, and a winner of universal praise from reviewers and consumers worldwide. All of which is testament to the fact that the Seven was a formidable speaker to improve upon!
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Vandersteen Audio is distinguished by its time and phase coherence in speaker design, where all drivers move in unison through their first-order crossover design and Perfect-Piston drivers made of carbon-fiber and balsa wood. The brand's speakers feature a minimum baffle approach to reduce reflections, while focusing on high-quality internal components over elaborate cabinet designs, with models like the Seven XTRM offering precise bass response customization through adjustable trim pots.
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Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Upgradable from older Model 7 versions, representing long-term value for owners
  • Features a 'CounterForce Bass' system with opposing woofers to minimize cabinet movement and improve clarity
  • Offers extensive bass adjustments for room integration, including 11 trim pots for precise frequency adjustments
  • Time-and-phase coherent design ensures that all drivers move in unison
  • Provides a relaxed ease and warmth that fosters musical engagement

Product Considerations

  • Sensitivity is relatively low at 85dB, requiring a powerful amplifier to achieve its full potential
  • Requires careful rake angle adjustment for optimal performance
  • Bi-wire capable, the mandatory HP-7 filter costs extra

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs KEF KC-62 subwoofer: Both use counter-opposing force woofers to stop cabinet movement

Takeaway: The Model Seven XTRM is a technologically innovative speaker designed for music lovers. It offers powerful bass, harmonic beauty, and exceptional tonal realism, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-fidelity audio experience.

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Our take on the brand

Vandersteen Audio is distinguished by its time and phase coherence in speaker design, where all drivers move in unison through their first-order crossover design and Perfect-Piston drivers made of carbon-fiber and balsa wood. The brand's speakers feature a minimum baffle approach to reduce reflections, while focusing on high-quality internal components over elaborate cabinet designs, with models like the Seven XTRM offering precise bass response customization through adjustable trim pots.
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Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
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Meridian
DSP9
85000
/
Released
2023
DSP9 is the latest product to emerge from Meridian's groundbreaking Extreme Engineering Programme; a result of years of investment and research at the extreme edge of audio design. The unique and fundamental Programme has been built around Meridian's approach to delivering authentic, natural and lifelike sound and results in a level of performance never previously achieved on a loudspeaker of this size.
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Meridian Audio pioneered digital surround-sound processing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in speakers, and developed the Meridian Lossless Packing technology that became the standard for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray formats. The brand's unique technologies include Enhanced Bass Alignment for time-aligned frequencies, SpeakerLink for simplified digital connections using Ethernet-style cables, and MQA for high-resolution audio streaming.
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Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Superb resolution, incredible mid/low synchronicity, and uncanny bass extension
  • Phenomenal, tight, and fast bass, playing below 15Hz
  • Great balance, detail, and articulation at every volume level
  • Amazing imaging and natural space in the soundstage
  • DSP9 is easy to install and place in a room, due to the DSP controls available

Product Considerations

  • At £60,000 per pair, the DSP9 is still expensive
  • Fairly generous footprint
  • Finishes other than piano gloss black are available at a premium depending on cost and complexity

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Meridian DSP8000 XE: DSP9 is smaller, lighter and more svelte, but aims to offer equally top-line performance

Takeaway: The Meridian Audio DSP9 is a sensational loudspeaker with amazing imaging, natural space, and incredibly tight bass, suitable for various music genres and volume levels. The active configuration, design, and range of finishes make it a strong proposition for premium installations.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Meridian Audio pioneered digital surround-sound processing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in speakers, and developed the Meridian Lossless Packing technology that became the standard for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray formats. The brand's unique technologies include Enhanced Bass Alignment for time-aligned frequencies, SpeakerLink for simplified digital connections using Ethernet-style cables, and MQA for high-resolution audio streaming.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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