Robert Harley – BEST SOUND (highest value) at THE Show Newport goes to Audience!


Posted by: Robert Harley at 9:09 am, June 11th, 2012

Best Sound (highest value)
Audience Wavepower amplifier and Wavemaster preamp driving Audience’s ClairAudient 1+1 loudspeaker (see below).
Greatest Bargain
Audience’s new ClairAudient 1+1 loudspeaker. This tiny cube, priced at $1800 per pair, combined the transparency of a one-way crossover less design with the dynamics and extension at the frequency extremes you’d expect from a larger conventional system.


Posted by: Neil Gader at 9:09 am, June 8th, 2012

Audience presented one of the smallest and one of the largest new speaker systems geared to promote the scalability of its full-range-driver philosophy. Driven by all Audience power was the new Mk II version of the ClairAudient 16+16 flagship ($72k). It continues as a bi-polar, one-way line source with thirty-two A3-S2 three-inch full-range drivers but has been upgraded with the addition of eight 6” x 9” custom passive radiators. To my ears the difference was quite startling with solid low-end response that didn’t inhibit the speed and crystalline focus that makes this design so listenable. In comparison and obviously bass-restricted, the tiny ClairAudient 1+1 was captivating in how well it retains the flagship’s remarkable voice and timbre ($1800).

 

TONEAudio Review of Audience Au24e Phono Cables

“While this cable is not inexpensive, at $1,100, it’s not crazy money, either. I’m keeping it as a reference in my AVID Volvere SP/Funk Firm FX•R/ Denon DL103R combination; it’s that spectacular”.  

Jeff Dorgay –  June ’12

SoundStage! HIFI Online Reviews aR12-TS

soundstagehifi
“As I continued listening, it became clear that the Audience’s levels of midrange and lower-treble resolution were standard-setting — again, that vanishing noise floor paid big dividends in the listening chair.

The upper midrange and lower treble were nuanced, finely shaded, and highly resolved, presenting harmonic decay and inner detail that I’d never heard with any other conditioner.

The decays of the piano’s upper registers, previously obscured by a fine layer of glare, were more fully illuminated and harmonically developed with the aR12-TS in the system. I felt I could see into the lowest, previously obscured levels of harmonics of pianos, guitars, cymbals, and even voices. Piano lovers will love what the Audience does. ”
Ryan Coleman — Mar ’12  Read Full Review

 

Au24e Phono Cables Testimonial

John,

Received the cables last week. I don’t listen to records (LPs) casually very often. So I was alert from the start picking up as many clues as I could. Initially I was impressed how the music presented all the frequencies not just opening up the top end as was indicated would happen. Yes that happened but I noted that I could hear into the middle ranges with more clarity as well as the bass coming and going quicker and in tune..

Several days were devoted to  very pleasant listening  until yesterday…… When I put on the remastered Joni Mitchell “Blue” album from Classic Records? Joni Mitchell records can be problematic because her voice in those days went clearly from alto to mezzo frequently within the same phrase. Listening, the mezzo has hither-to  come out  as shrill. Well, shrillness did not appear yesterday and instead I  heard how well controlled her voice actually was during this period. Needless to say, the emotional impact is much stronger when you are not so distracted.

So.. Yeah I like the new phono cables a lot.

Don Rawlins