This was evident in Django Reinhardt's duet with Stephane Grappelli in a 1940s-era monaural recording, Djangology (Snapper Music). As much as I enjoy listening to older discs, these speakers bring out the best and worst qualities in a recording. There are only two other speakers I've had in my home that impressed me this way: the KLH Model 9s (electrostatic speakers made in the 1950s) and the Dahlquist DQ-10s (phase-coherent speakers made in the 1970s).ĭon't be surprised if the Radia R-800s reveal weaknesses in some recordings. They connect you with the music and let you pick out various details and elements of a recording as you wish. Many speakers force you to listen-they have a so-called in-your-face sound-but the Radia R-800s let you listen. The Radia R-800s do what any good speaker should: They allow you to hear the music, not the speaker. The sound was enveloping, detailed, and accurate. When I played these tracks in multichannel mode with the rest of the speakers in my system, the voices' transparency and dynamic range were amazing, as if I were seated in place of the microphone. The Voices Unbound DVD-Audio (AIX Records) by Zephyr showcased two of the best examples of vocal alacrity in the Radia R-800s: "Now Is the Month of Maying" and "Le Chant des Oyseaux." They are a cappella recordings in the round, with a single microphone placed in the center of a ring of vocalists. The piano sounded as if it were in the room, with a solid foundation of bass and newfound clarity in the midrange and higher frequencies. With a new recording from Renée Fleming, Haunted Heart (Decca Records), the speakers revealed every detail and nuance in her voice and breath, which helped convey the sad emotions present in many of the songs. In particular, vocals were strikingly clear, creating a feeling of immediacy and intimacy with the music, as if I were listening to a live performance. Since these speakers were shipped fresh from the production line, their sound quality continued to improve after several hours of breaking in. Detail and definition was outstanding, with a strong center image. Each instrument and vocal element was easy to distinguish from others in the soundstage. Almost immediately, they produced a you-are-there sense of midrange clarity and presence, as well as high frequencies that were pure and uncolored. But the Radia R-800s define a new standard. I've reviewed other BG in-wall speakers and was pleased with the sound quality, which entailed a clean, open midrange and excellent high-frequency detail. If their appearance is formidable, their sound quality is awe-inspiring. If the room didn't have high ceilings, they wouldn't have fit as well as they did. Beware, because, once they were installed, their appearance in my living room was formidable. In fact, I couldn't have unpacked, moved, or installed them in the walls without their help. I was glad to have the assistance of Ed Jaeger, president of BG, and Fred Yando, vice president of sales, to help me install and set up the Radia R-800 speakers. My first preview of the Radia R-800s at CEDIA 2005 in Indianapolis was very convincing. This was an exceptionally ambitious review, but one I was eager to start. An outboard amplifier, the BGA-2500, which is included with a pair of Radia R-800s, powers the two woofers. Each speaker has two 8-inch woofers mounted at the top and bottom, six Neo10 planar-ribbon midrange panels, and 16 Neo3PDR planar-ribbon tweeters in a vertical-line array pattern. With 24 drivers in each speaker, this giant stands almost 7 feet tall and is clearly designed for extreme listening-extremely satisfying listening, that is. I've reviewed many excel- lent in-wall speakers, but none quite like the new Radia R-800 in-wall speaker from BG. Extreme audio: a new standard in transparency, definition, and detail.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |