Zellaton Speakers– Next BIG thing or Hype? For Music Lovers or Detail Freaks?

[tsaett]

For me, the Zellatons/Analog Domain along with Oceanway Audio/Viola Labs were the best sounding rooms in Munich - better than the million dollar systems!
I think Zellaton are one of the few manufactors, that do things really different.
I'm tired of all the old concepts packed in new fancy boxes (regarding Zellaton no pun intended - they are old), that's why I only get excited when someone thinks out of the box - and Zellaton got me excited.
The standout quality for me was the already mentioned disappearing of the speakers and the spatiality which was the best I ever heard if I remember correctly.
I own a pair of MBL 116, so I guess caesar will like the Zellatons too.
BTW, MBLs can sound harsh and bright, but this is in my experience only due to room issues.
When I change the position of my speakers for only 1 inch, I get sharp "s" tones which make listening almost impossible. Back in the right position I get the smoothest highs one can imagine, not a single harshness.

So, if you hear some harsh sounding MBLs, someone didn't do his setup-homework.

Christoph

 

[redsquare]

MBL is really quite different than Zellaton. I had incredible difficulty getting my older MBL's to lock in whereas my Zellaton is plug and play. The MBL sound for me was always a hifi illusion so I could not connect. Ozarktom, have you demo'd Zellaton with CH gear at all? I heard that Gryphon also works well with Zellaton but never heard together.

 

[Alpinist]

Has anyone tried any of the Pass Labs XA series amps with Zellaton? I am curious how they sound together.

Best,
Ken

 

[LL21]

... I heard that Gryphon also works well with Zellaton but never heard together.

I have heard same from someone who liked them together. I recall he liked Analog Domain and FMA as well.

 

[wizard]

They also sound great with dart 458 and Jadis 800.

 

[ozarktom]

MBL is really quite different than Zellaton. I had incredible difficulty getting my older MBL's to lock in whereas my Zellaton is plug and play. The MBL sound for me was always a hifi illusion so I could not connect. Ozarktom, have you demo'd Zellaton with CH gear at all? I heard that Gryphon also works well with Zellaton but never heard together.

I have not, I am afraid too, that would probably spoil me forever. I would also like to try the top Goldmunds, Constellation, Lamm, and the wild looking Graff GM400. Most of these amps are priced in the same ballpark.

Since the Zellatons are so fast and linear, I would stay with the above amps or OTL tube amps like the David Berning or Atmashere amps. I hooked up one tube amp with trannies and it sounded sluggish and colored. Also, Digital recordings have never sounded better since I switched to these Zellatons.

 

[ashandger]

Just discovered that Zellaton now have a 'Statement' product. Does anyone have any info/specs on this model? All I have found is this image.

 

[ozarktom]

Wow, now to win the lottery and get those Statements..

 

[wizard]

View attachment 17451

View attachment 17452

Drivers and crossover parts, and an interview with the man who builds the drivers.

 

[JJoergensen]

Hi, this is my first post. I just ordered a pair of Zellaton Emotion S (without downfire woofer) . Will post pictures when they arrive, and let you know if I think they live up to the hype... Thanks for a serious hifi homepage.
/JJ

 

[redsquare]

I almost went for the Emotion's but ultimately went for the Grand's because my room could accommodate them. Still, the Emotion has an intimacy and immediacy that can't be beat. What electronics will you use with them?

 

[JJoergensen]

Would like to have ordered the Grand, but don't have the space or money.
I use DCS Puccini/U-clock, Dartzeel NHB108 and NAD M50/Sonos for stramning. Wires are Kharma ic, Kharma powercable, and VDH Cumulus speakercable.
What do you use with your Grand?

 

[redsquare]

That's funny since I also used a Dartzeel 108 with my Zellaton's. That amp is very musical and refined with the kind if high bandwidth the Z's need. But, the Dartzeel was lacking in the drive/energy category so I went for a full CH Precision system. Still pretty but more effortless and dynamic. The CH digital front end makes a tremendous difference as well. Looking forward to your observations....

 

[thedudeabides]

The MBL sound for me was always a hifi illusion so I could not connect.

My sense is that you may prefer pinpoint imaging, which is fine but does not, IMHO, correspond with what one experiences with live music. Or perhaps you had other system issues you were unable to resolve.

All music systems are merely an illusion of the real thing. It depends on what illusion you prefer.

I personally will not own anything but MBL's.

 

[ozarktom]

My sense is that you may prefer pinpoint imaging, which is fine but does not, IMHO, correspond with what one experiences with live music. Or perhaps you had other system issues you were unable to resolve.

All music systems are merely an illusion of the real thing. It depends on what illusion you prefer.

I personally will not own anything but MBL's.

I have been a fan of MBL's since the 80's. Back then, I just never had the bucks to buy them.

But some of the MBL owners in the UK have traded their's for Kaiser Kawero's or Zellaton Grands and have never looked back. With the Kawero's close to 70K, the Zellaton Grands is a much better deal. Plus the Kawero's has a midrange crossover while the Grands don't. No crossover is always the best.

Live amplified music has imaging that is more diffuse, but un-amplified music still has pinpoint imaging. I listen to a lot of live un-amplified music here in the Ozarks.

 

[thedudeabides]

Hi Tom,

I'm glad you are an MBL fan. Very unique in many ways.

Market value for my 116's is about $8K and I find them very musical and satisfying.

Regarding your comment on imaging. As we all know, it's totally subjective depending on the venue and where you are sitting. Un-amplified classical music in an outdoor environment will obviously image differently than the same indoors.