The Computer Audiophile Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Thanks for the thorough job @DuckToller! DuckToller 1 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
mstulken Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Thanks for attempting this comparison review. I was wondering for a while what the state of the art is for desk top speakers. I have an ifi micro i-dsd so I'm not too concerned about a built in dac. But wondering if there are other desktop alternatives that were not covered? DuckToller 1 Link to comment
Popular Post PeterG Posted May 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2020 Lots of great info here. But it makes me uncomfortable from a journalistic perspective that this is billed as a comparison when the author had only one set of speakers to hear. Kind of makes it feel like DT and AS are flipping the bird to Kanto. It makes me even more uncomfortable that there's an extensive hurry up and buy now come on at the end of what purports to be an objective review. LarryMagoo and mourip 2 Link to comment
DuckToller Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 9 hours ago, mstulken said: Thanks for attempting this comparison review. I was wondering for a while what the state of the art is for desk top speakers. I have an ifi micro i-dsd so I'm not too concerned about a built in dac. But wondering if there are other desktop alternatives that were not covered? There are ! You have plenty of options in almost every price range. Imho. you can only get through that jungle of options by defining your personal needs. You may have notice that I have used the iFi DAC as well, and if I'd use this DAC in a desktop system only, I'd personally look for some more pure active monitors like the Audio Energy AE1, or powered speakers from JBL, Klipsch, Ruark, Dali, Dynaudio, Wharfedale, Audio Engine, Yamaha, Kef ... That's why I narrowed it down to the models under review. 😉 Link to comment
Popular Post DuckToller Posted May 13, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2020 8 hours ago, PeterG said: Lots of great info here. But it makes me uncomfortable from a journalistic perspective that this is billed as a comparison when the author had only one set of speakers to hear. Kind of makes it feel like DT and AS are flipping the bird to Kanto. It makes me even more uncomfortable that there's an extensive hurry up and buy now come on at the end of what purports to be an objective review. @PeterG Thank you for commenting ! I feel sorry for you that the review makes you feel uncomfortable. However, I am unsure why this happened and what would be the requirements to journalism to make you feel comfortable? From my journalistic perspective, that review has started with the TUK and I did invest thoroughly in preparing everything for the best possible outcome. I have had communications with KANTO about the situation all over and subsequently about that precise form of comparison I'd do about the TUK for the last 2 month. - While the review process started with the TUK on offer by Kanto, I looked for a competitor - found it with the A100 - and I put in place a comprehensive research process about both products. In fact, I had arranged the review period of the A100 to be matched with the then newly announced availability of the TUKs for February/March 2020, in order to listen to both side-by-side, when I could have had them in already November last year. Eventually, there had been the point to call it a day and proceed. - From my pov, I can't see any malcontented information about the TUK in that review, whereby I pushed hard to distill all the favorable details of the product in order to provide a balanced view and accurate product information. As we are in the field of consumer products, there seem to be always some shortcomings open for indication. I couldn't name them for TUK's acoustic performance, thus I pointed them out for the A100. Your 2nd point had been interesting, too! It was something I have discussed with the editor in advance, starting early April when I noticed KANTO's April promotion, a week before the review changed hands. To my notice that wasn't an established standard for Audiophile Style, but the C19 reality was striking most of us quite hard at that moment, if I remember correctly. As a reaction to these particular hard times for both, manufacturer and consumer, Chris exceptionally accepted the presence of that information. There had been no financial interest, neither for AS nor for me, in providing it. My personal intention was all about our reader's advantages. Both manufacturers were having great offers during April, the TUK i.e. were 18 % down at 649$. Unfortunately the production schedule did not allow the review to be published earlier, so both were contacted about that issue in April and asked if their promotion would be continued into May. Hence AIRPULSE decided to continue with their special offer, Kanto didn't react to that request, but thanked me anyway for the review yesterday. Regards, Tom The Computer Audiophile and PeterG 1 1 Link to comment
blaven Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 Thanks so much for the fun read. I am in the position of desiring a nice sounding setup for near-field (2-3 feet) listening off a new mac-mini. I need to really minimize the cabinet depth - hoping no more than 5-6". I looked at the Kanto site and they have this YU2 that looked interesting. I would be open to something really small + SW. I was looking at KEF Egg. Love my LS50's, but those LSX are too large. Audioengine? I was really interested in those Martin Logans mentioned above by Sonis, but they would require amplification and I'm looking for simple here. Depth is a bit frustrating as otherwise I'd be really interested in a few speakers, but these 8-10" depth speakers just wont work in my setup and I am guessing others reading might perhaps be in a similar scenario of really needing less cabinet depth (not really smaller size, but less depth) in a powered speaker like this Thanks for any guidance and the interesting article and comments. This is a rather interesting topic. DuckToller 1 Aurender N10--> DCS Bartok w Rossini Clock—>Audio Research REF6 Pre --> Vandersteen M5HPA—>Vandersteen Quatro CT Speakers; AMG Giro Turntable w Lyra Delos Cartridge —> Audio Research Ref 3 PhonoPre Link to comment
DuckToller Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 7 hours ago, blaven said: Thanks so much for the fun read @blaven Wow, I looked at your signature ... stunning ... I may have my doubts you'd be happy with what you'll find in the standard desktop class of speakers. I have heard the ABACUS C3 (5'x6', only available in Europe), which match your space requirement but they would demand a DAC for their analogue only input. I liked them a lot. Going down to 35hz, you may pass on the sw. Thus, finding some i.e. 6x6 inchactive speakers with all digital inputs and excellent sound seems to be quite a task. Audio-Engine would come to mind. Or Genelec, though they lack the connectivity. If it's about minimal footprint AMT speakers, the ML's (2i/4i) are imho the best deal, perhaps in connection with a NAD D3045 digital amp? Cheers, Tom Link to comment
jcbenten Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Thanks for this review and hoping you do more in this category. Really. I think active speakers is an under served portion of music listening; particularly for main home systems and not necessarily PC listening. When I was looking at the Edifier S1000DB, that I ended up purchasing, I came across the Air Pulse but decided it was a bit rich for my use. As the Edifiers have ended up in my garage, I would have loathed to put the APs out there in that environment (South Central Texas). The number of connections on the Edifier more than justify the price and I have used them all. The only complaint I have is gain matching...if the BT is used you better crank the volume down before using Toslink or your eardrums will shatter. Now Edifier is really fleshing out the line and on the Edifier USA site are the Air Pulse options. If my Linn system ever breaks down I am switching to this type of setup. DuckToller 1 QNAP TS453Pro w/QLMS->Netgear Switch->Netgear RAX43 Router->Ethernet (50 ft)->Netgear switch->SBTouch ->SABAJ A10d->Linn Majik-IL (preamp)->Linn 2250->Linn Keilidh; Control Points: iPeng (iPad Air & iPhone); Also: Rega P3-24 w/ DV 10x5; OPPO 103; PC Playback: Foobar2000 & JRiver; Portable: iPhone 12 ProMax & Radio Paradise or NAS streaming; Sony NWZ ZX2 w/ PHA-3; SMSL IQ, Fiio Q5, iFi Nano iDSD BL; Garage: Edifier S1000DB Active Speakers Link to comment
mourip Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 On 5/13/2020 at 7:11 AM, DuckToller said: @PeterG Thank you for commenting ! I feel sorry for you that the review makes you feel uncomfortable. However, I am unsure why this happened and what would be the requirements to journalism to make you feel comfortable? I have to agree with PeterG. While the article was a worthwhile review of the Pulse it would not have seemed so confusing if the title had not promised a comparison. It is not really a comparison without the other speakers in hand to audition. Simply changing the wording of the title would have solved this dilemma. I hope that you will consider having a Part Two where you complete the proposed comparison with Kantos in hand for listening This will allow you to still continue "with the comparison until the end". k-man 1 "Don't Believe Everything You Think" System Link to comment
DuckToller Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 3 hours ago, mourip said: I hope that you will consider having a Part Two where you complete the proposed comparison with Kantos in hand for listening This will allow you to still continue "with the comparison until the end". Yes, agreed, I may owe you that ;-) Thank you for showing interest for the test and confidence in me doing it. I'll check out later with Kanto how are the odds to get some review units this year ... 😇 mourip 1 Link to comment
DuckToller Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 16 minutes ago, DuckToller said: I'll check out later with Kanto how are the odds to get some review units this year Kanto reacted within minutes and confirmed that possibility ... Link to comment
Popular Post DuckToller Posted June 7, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 7, 2020 Hi all, @mourip & @PeterG I have received the Kanto TUK. Their looks are really nice ! My initial impressions had been ok, punchier, but less clear than the A100. I'll have critical listening scheduled for the end of upcoming week Today I made a couple of measurements in the nearfield, 80 cm to the mic, 1 m distance between the speaker (midth of tweeter), minimal toe'd in. Full explanation about the testing setup & results will come as an addendum to the original article with more detailed impressions using the critical listening playlist in near and midfield. Here's a pre-view: mourip and PeterG 2 Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Part 2 of this review is now available - DuckToller 1 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Popular Post blaven Posted November 26, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 26, 2020 As a follow-up, due to space constraints, I ended up getting KEF Eggs and then found a used REL T-Zero Sub. I'm loving life. These things baffle me how well they image - voices coming straight out the center of the monitor. Have a built in DAC, etc, etc. Don't want to derail the discussion, just following up, bringing up another cool desktop option, and of course, emphasizing that its a good time to be a computer audiophile :) Happy Thanksgiving everyone Rexp and DuckToller 2 Aurender N10--> DCS Bartok w Rossini Clock—>Audio Research REF6 Pre --> Vandersteen M5HPA—>Vandersteen Quatro CT Speakers; AMG Giro Turntable w Lyra Delos Cartridge —> Audio Research Ref 3 PhonoPre Link to comment
DuckToller Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 The A80 arrived ... Link to comment
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