Top one looks like "The Plumbus" of Rick and Morty fame.In my occasional Google Image searches, I have been amazed at the incredible variety of loudspeaker designs out there, and some of the Gradient models certainly fit in the exotic category...
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All of this assumes D & D goes belly up. Maybe they become the next KEF or Revel instead.There are a lot of end-of-life options here. (postulating D&D's eventual demise): A couple of techs/engineers buy remaining stock and technical docs and have a modest but steady repair and remanufacture business going. A major audio company could do the same. Happens all the time in various tech businesses, especially ones that have limited markets and highly respected products.
Having studios as major customers (in my opinion) will create demand for this type of service (should it become necessary.)
Some of us are obviously pulling for this to happen.All of this assumes D & D goes belly up. Maybe they become the next KEF or Revel instead.
I'm not completely sure why you say the D & D's might not work in a multichannel environment. If, for example, all you wanted them to be L-R fronts in a 5.1 setup, couldn't you find 2 passive surrounds and a passive center with an adequate timbral match and dispersion characteristic? Do their DSP create some sort of latency issue which makes them unable to "work and play well" with the other speakers, or are you just worried about timbre and possibly mismatches on cosmetics?As others have pointed out, in a domestic environment, acoustic performance is not the only factor. I mulled this over in print when I decided to stick with "traditional" Revel Studio2s and Benchmark AHB2s. My speakers go in a living room where neither the D&D or the Kii is esthetically acceptable. In addition, my system is multichannel and synchronizing these guys is not impossible, I am sure, but not assured so far as I know. When he visited with me and listened to my system, Martijn Mensink, confirmed the validity of my choice.
(FWIW, I have set aside funds if this situation changes.)
The solution is to go back to the earlier operating system and use the PC running that your dedicated music server. Nothing else on that system. As long as the software works, no updates at all. As long as your streaming services will continue to work, shouldn't really be a problem.Exactly!
Only way to setup & control (EQ aso) my Elac SUB-2050 is through an IOS app. Apple released IOS13 and app ceased to work. Took months before Elac released new app that worked under IOS13.
Not expecting Elac to maintain app much longer.
It ticks all the boxes.Hi
Trying to be short: The 8C is one of the best measuring speaker system around, is a ROON -compatible complete system with DAC amps, etc .It integrates well with normal environments , producing accurate in-room full range performance. For $10,000.
I would not call it this a bargain but would call it the answer to the dream of most audiophiles.
All of this assumes D & D goes belly up.
I don't think anyone here wishes them or any other non-snakeoil manufacturer ill.Some of us are obviously pulling for this to happen.
I'll only answer this by saying if you were going to spend this kind of money on a multich system, you should expect to get SOTA results. IMO to do so requires more that just using them for the front L & R speakers, then trying to come close with the other 3. I've heard this argued a thousand times but if your goal is really a SOTA system, you want identical speakers in all 4 corners and even the center if at all possible. I've never heard anyone argue, since around 1965, that the L & R speakers on a stereo system need only be "close" timberally. I could go on about why identical speakers are important, but remember we're taking about wanting SOTA multich reproduction, and I don't believe it's really necessary to explain if you think about it.I'm not completely sure why you say the D & D's might not work in a multichannel environment.
Identical speakers? I seriously doubt most owner's of flagship speakers like Ultima Salon 2 have identical speakers in their multi channel set ups. I know Kal, for one, uses F206s with his Ultima Studio 2 L-R fronts, and one of the Revel Centers. I'm sure they all have a close familial resemblance, but they're hardly identical. And as we go to really, really multichannel (16 channel Atmos and 13 Channel DTS-X) it will be even more likely surrounds diverge in size, price, timbre and directivity from the front mains. So, yes, careful matching, but there's no reason that has to mean everything from the same manufacturer. That's especially true if one's passion for 2 channel music reproduction greatly exceeds one's passion for cinematic explosions and space ship flyovers!I don't think anyone here wishes them or any other non-snakeoil manufacturer ill.
I do wish for a honest appraisal of new products by reviewers and salespersons and even owners. (maybe too much to ask ) I've been at this hobby for close to 60 years and I'd hate to add up the times a product using a new approach or technology proclaimed "all else is gaslight" or a "total revolution in sound". In near every case the truth is, if anything, that it's made a incremental improvement in the SOTA. In the case of Kii or D&D they've done an excellent job of bringing together a number of existing technology's to offer more of a lifestyle product that offers the layman (non-super enthusiast) a product he can bring home, set in place, and very quickly have near SOTA reproduction. Before this required something like many of the members here have done, using expensive speakers, doing extensive measurements and plugging them into some modern DSP system.
Like I said, no one wishes these manufacturers ill, they themselves are pretty much totally innocent of any real wrong doing. Any ire that has sometimes fallen on the others for making exaggerated claims is mainly due their attempt to put money in their pockets. But that's business and expected, then there are others, like some here, who like to shine the light of truth on exaggerated or mis-represented claims.
I'll only answer this by saying if you were going to spend this kind of money on a multich system, you should expect to get SOTA results. IMO to do so requires more that just using them for the front L & R speakers, then trying to come close with the other 3. I've heard this argued a thousand times but if your goal is really a SOTA system, you want identical speakers in all 4 corners and even the center if at all possible. I've never heard anyone argue, since around 1965, that the L & R speakers on a stereo system need only be "close" timberally. I could go on about why identical speakers are important, but remember we're taking about wanting SOTA multich reproduction, and I don't believe it's really necessary to explain if you think about it.
I don't know if the type of DSP and radiation patterns of the D&D's or Kii's would have a problem in this kind of arrangement but unless there are some specific issues I don't understand, I would think they would be capable of producing a world class multich system if used in a room that is properly sized to their capabilities.
Based on what I've read about them and the Kii 3s, I would question whether you would need room correction other than what's included. Mitchco covered them extensively and he basically said they had impeccable Harmon curve FR, time coincident linear phase drivers, and could reach into the 20hz range just as is. The only real criticism I've read indicates they can't play much louder than 105 db and their directivity (by design) is narrow (but smooth and constant). They will accept either LPCM or analog signal, so the only question I can see regarding mating something to them (either subs or integrating into multichannel) is one of latency, and I don't know they would have any issues there either.So are people buying these ? To get back to the OP.
Iv a question, if I bought a pair of the basic studio version would my anthem str pre amps room correction software work with these and could i still integrate duel subs like I do now.
Or dose the design of the 8c prevent this ?
Oh you might be surprised. Our @DonH56 has Salon 2's in the four corners, I don't remember what's in the center. There are a few more here right around that level but with my senior memory I'm having trouble remembering right now. It just all depends on your dedication and wallet. I'm running the new JBL HDI-3600's in the four corners and the 4500 center. I've got a bit of experience in multich systems, having assembled my first in 1974 with a Marantz 2270 receiver and their 2440 quad adapter/amplifier. My first set of fully matching system speakers came from Paradigm around 1990. Do you own a multich system? Multich music recordings being done by the real pro's from Steven Wilson to Mark Waldrep of AIX master incredible recordings that immerse you in the performance with musicians wrapping completely around you on both sides. If you expect to have the performers solidly image on the sides in the same manner you get across the front, the better the match, the better the image. Identical is the ultimate, how much your willing to compromise below that is up to you.Identical speakers? I seriously doubt most owner's of flagship speakers like Ultima Salon 2 have identical speakers in their multi channel set ups. I know Kal, for one, uses F206s with his Ultima Studio 2 L-R fronts, and one of the Revel Centers. I'm sure they all have a close familial resemblance, but they're hardly identical. And as we go to really, really multichannel (16 channel Atmos and 13 Channel DTS-X) it will be even more likely surrounds diverge in size, price, timbre and directivity from the front mains. So, yes, careful matching, but there's no reason that has to mean everything from the same manufacturer.
You can use them like traditional active speakers, send them an analogue left/right signal from theAnthem preamp, or you can send them a digital signal use the inboard PEQ/tone controls, adjust volume either from your playback software or from the speakers own app.So are people buying these ? To get back to the OP.
Iv a question, if I bought a pair of the basic studio version would my anthem str pre amps room correction software work with these and could i still integrate duel subs like I do now.
Or dose the design of the 8c prevent this ?
Very possibly. In addition, the D&Ds simply would not physically fit where my SL/SR speakers have to go.Do their DSP create some sort of latency issue which makes them unable to "work and play well" with the other speakers
Incorrect. I use three Ultima Studio 2 for L-C-R fronts.I know Kal, for one, uses F206s with his Ultima Studio 2 L-R fronts, and one of the Revel Centers.
[...] Iv a question, [...] would my anthem str pre amps room correction software work with these and could i still integrate duel subs like I do now.
Or dose the design of the 8c prevent this ?
So are people buying these ? To get back to the OP.
Iv a question, if I bought a pair of the basic studio version would my anthem str pre amps room correction software work with these and could i still integrate duel subs like I do now.
Or dose the design of the 8c prevent this ?
But @mitchco reported accurate room response from 21 Hz to 20 kHz within 3dB at the listening position in his room, without external DSP.