Once again, prefer the Engstroms to the Kagura (on a screen over the internet for what that's worth)...it is at least consistent! I would say the first track above has a clear musical line that is 'completely understandable' on the Engstrom...whereas, i am not sure where the tune is going in the Kagura version...seems to wander a bit.
I put the Robert Koda K70 power amps into my system tonight. Wow is all I can say. My kids both said they preferred it. Gonna have to investigate this some more....
It would be great if you could do videos of the same tracks again but no worries if you prefer some other tracks. Many thanks for your time and efforts.
Sure. All I can say is they are as detailed as any other speaker I have heard or owned. I dont feel that they want for detail at all. My previous comments about how intimate they sound allude to the feeling of realism and the singer really being there with all the detail that comes with that occasion.
Sure. All I can say is they are as detailed as any other speaker I have heard or owned. I dont feel that they want for detail at all. My previous comments about how intimate they sound allude to the feeling of realism and the singer really being there with all the detail that comes with that occasion.
Thanks! What other speakers of similar price/performance have you compared them to? What are you thoughts on the strengths of this speaker versus those?
Thanks! What other speakers of similar price/performance have you compared them to? What are you thoughts on the strengths of this speaker versus those?
My two previous speakers were the Stenheim Reference Ultimes and the Sonus Faber Aidas. Both excellent speakers in my opinion with the Stenheims being more resolving and a little bit more detailed than the SF. If I had to choose, I would say the Gobels are a mix of both. They don't have that piercing resolution that some speakers have and which give you a headache after 30 minutes. That sounds Iike i mean there is no detail just fuzzy warmth but it's not that either. Live classical music in a good hall never sounds piercing. It sounds warm, organic, liquid and real, like the human voice does close up. That is how the Gobels feel. It doesn't feel processed. Neither did the others, but imo the Gobels do it better.
Okay folks the proof is in the pudding so to speak. Let me know which amp you prefer. Same recording and everything is the same apart from the amps. Bear in mind there may be mismatch between the Kondo and Engstrom and the Robert Koda preamp. I assume such would not occur with the K70s. The result could be different with a Kondo or Engstrom preamp. Apologies for the occasional road noise. We are about to open up again and roads are getting busier. Oh and please use headphones!
The dynamic range, nuance, and drama of the Koda is so much superior. Whether this is purely a function of the amp being superior, or the fact that Koda has more control than the Engstrom and the speaker requires that control - I do not know.
But the Koda is clearly adding the intensity to each ebb and flow of the note, especially as she goes deep, it makes me want to conduct, while Engstrom is very meh by comparison. You might get some valve tone in the woodwinds but that is not material in this case. You can feel her emotions with every note with the Koda
The thing about a GREAT pair of speakers is they allow you to hear what you feed them. The better they are the less of themselves they impart on the music. While none are perfect, Oliver would argue with me LOL, these speakers do an incredible job of bringing the listener closer to the music, the ambiance, the power and the majesty of the source. I think Howie can still get more out of them with some refinements of the positioning and the footer adjustments however they seem to be working very well in the room. BRAVO and enjoy
The thing about a GREAT pair of speakers is they allow you to hear what you feed them. The better they are the less of themselves they impart on the music. While none are perfect, Oliver would argue with me LOL, these speakers do an incredible job of bringing the listener closer to the music, the ambiance, the power and the majesty of the source. I think Howie can still get more out of them with some refinements of the positioning and the footer adjustments however they seem to be working very well in the room. BRAVO and enjoy
Hi Howie, wonderful comparison indeed! Many thanks for your efforts. Look like you may have found a way to save a lot money Just makes me wonder what the new M160 sounds like....for a lot higher price of course. Enjoy and thanks for sharing.
I feel more connected with the Engstroms.
Koda sounds a bit controled in my opinion, less expressive.
Stunning sound in both cases anyway.
I’m sorry but Kondo is miles away from other two.
I feel more connected with the Engstroms.
Koda sounds a bit controled in my opinion, less expressive.
Stunning sound in both cases anyway.
I’m sorry but Kondo is miles away from other two.
The dynamic range, nuance, and drama of the Koda is so much superior. Whether this is purely a function of the amp being superior, or the fact that Koda has more control than the Engstrom and the speaker requires that control - I do not know.
But the Koda is clearly adding the intensity to each ebb and flow of the note, especially as she goes deep, it makes me want to conduct, while Engstrom is very meh by comparison. You might get some valve tone in the woodwinds but that is not material in this case. You can feel her emotions with every note with the Koda
I also much prefer the Koda. Much more muscular, more resolved (i dont mean that in 'resolution' terms...but in the music's purposeful drive. There are far greater musical intonations, crescendos where the artist is clearly doing something very purposeful (like at 0:28)...this downward drive of the notes is literally missed by the Engstrom when I went back to the Engstrom to compare not having noticed this strong downward drive of the notes. It was not there.
Thinking about it...i cannot imagine an amp can ADD that downward drive to the notes...it is an artist's interpretation of the drama of the music. But i CAN see an amp MISSING that downward drive because its dynamic range, the 'amplitude' of peaks/troughs is flatter...which gives a lilting and gentle musical rhythm...but if we assume that my 'pure guess' is correct that an amp CANNOT add such a specific downward drive at 0:28...then THAT presumably is the more truthful reproduction. Pure guesswork, but that is my instinct.
I also much prefer the Koda. Much more muscular, more resolved (i dont mean that in 'resolution' terms...but in the music's purposeful drive. There are far greater musical intonations, crescendos where the artist is clearly doing something very purposeful (like at 0:28)...this downward drive of the notes is literally missed by the Engstrom when I went back to the Engstrom to compare not having noticed this strong downward drive of the notes. It was not there.
Just makes me wonder what the new M160 sounds like....for a lot higher price of course. Enjoy and thanks for sharing.
