Thoughts on Tidal Speakers?

[Fore]

I've heard thru the grape vine that this relatively new company from Germany are making some exc. electronics and speakers...the Piano specifically at $17k. Said to be neutral, highly resolving yet musical and quite dynamic to 25-30hz. Anyone with any other real listening experiences? Steve? I see you have the Tidal Contriva Diacera, care to share your thoughts?

Thanks

[Steve Hoffman]

I've heard thru the grape vine that this relatively new company from Germany are making some exc. electronics and speakers...the Piano specifically at $17k. Said to be neutral, highly resolving yet musical and quite dynamic to 25-30hz. Anyone with any other real listening experiences? Steve? I see you have the Tidal Contriva Diacera, care to share your thoughts?

Thanks

I do have those big bad babies, yes. At least until Jan when they go to CES. :(

Well, they are $46,000.00 list, beautiful and I love them. I use them (and my Venture Excellence III's) every day.

Those are the only Tidal speakers I've heard though (not from lack of trying) so I have no idea how the other models sound. I do know that the Contriva Diacera are very system dependent; in other words, what you feed to them will be very important. I cared for them less with a high powered solid state amp than with my 200 watt tubed Groverblocks. With tubes these speakers just shine. Real beauties. If you have the money, they will last your lifetime. Be warned, they need really good electronic gear for them to shine the most. But when they do, look out!

[Fore]

Ah, Thanks for the information Steve, I was wondering how much they were and how they'd sound. Your experience is very similar to what I heard, the Piano's were highly resolving speakers, yet the mids were rich and smooth and never fatiguing. Again, an SET amp sounded much better than a ss amp, and even though rated only at 88dbs, was easy to drive.

Maybe not that model Steve ;) But maybe one or two down the line and go from there. I've still got very good, but ss monos that I'm planning on eventually upgrading to some tubed amps. Anyway, nice to here similar things about these speakers. Thanks.

[Steve Hoffman]

There is a good guy who is the US dealer for Tidal. His name is Daniel Barnum and his website is:

http://www.halfnoteaudio.com/

He emailed me out of the blue one day and offered to send me the Tidal speakers PLUS the Tidal amp and line stage. I was intrigued and not disappointed. Very nice sounding gear. The speakers are especially good sounding to me. The gear I have will be used in a CES room at the Venetian in Vegas during January.

Daniel is the guy to talk to about TIDAL!

[Fore]

Thanks Steve. Perhaps I'll see you at CES, not sure I can make it yet.

[Steve Hoffman]

Hope to see you there.

I've been told that the Tidal PIANO is the favorite speaker of the designer. Have not heard them but that might resolve (pun intended) in a few weeks. If so, I'll let you know. They cost much less than the C/D...

[Fore]

Steve, I couldn't make it this yr unfortunately. But I was wondering how the Contriva Diacerras were? What electronics sounded the best? Wondering how they sounded in comparison to some of the other :$50k speakers which were aplenty I see.

Thanks
Fore

[Steve Hoffman]

They sounded nice at the show. Can't really tell much in those rooms with furniture in the way and people milling around playing their weirdo CD's...;)

I liked them better in my living room though..:D

[TONEPUB]

Glad to be home and away from the weirdo cds!

[Fore]

Steve, thought you'd be interested, I ended up getting a pair of Tidal Piano's from Daniel. First pair up here in the bay area (You're welcome to visit anytime you're in the area Steve if you'd like to hear them). I ended up also getting a pr. of Canary 339 monoblocks (50wt/ch 300B push/pull) and went with Argento cabling too. Add my Vacume State modded Sony SCD777 and an older BAT VK5i, and I"ve been real happy. Granted they need some quality bass at some point, but I recently heard Wilson Maxx 2's and yes the added bass was awesome, but instruments to my ear sound more realistic on the Pianos. It was interesting to compare at least.

Anyway, I know these can't compete with the Contriva Diacera's...but I'm getting there! ;)

Fore

[Claus]

I know these can't compete with the Contriva Diacera's...but I'm getting there! ;)

heard the Contriva Diacera at my dealer...... the best "small" speaker design I've ever heard. Better as Wilson's Sasha (IMO)

[TONEPUB]

As Steve will attest, the Tidal's take a LONG time to break in. You might be surprised once you get more hours on them!

[Fore]

Claus, even though my Piano doesn't have the range or impact of Wilson's Alexandrias, the Wilson's never gave me as much musicality, and the "correctness" of what instruments are supposed to sound like compared to my humble Piano. And I also agree, they take 3-500hrs to break in fully. I'm sure you're going to enjoy the Contriva Diacera's immensely.

[TONEPUB]

Actually, I meant surprised for the better.... They are excellent speakers.

[Fore]

I meant the same, sorry for the confusion.