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kdude66 wrote : " Yes,the drivers look like Radian coaxial drivers with a added tweeter waveguide,with possible options for different diaphragm materials. They look fairly well made but with the normal limitations of a compression driver I certainly wouldn’t be interested.Just not my cup of sonic tea. Enjoy, Kenny. " Hi, my name is Marco from Italy. My HiFi dealer told me about the Coherent 15" and I'm very interested. I'd like to understand the Kenny's statement "... the normal limitations of a compression driver I certainly wouldn’t be interested.Just not my cup of sonic tea " : do you think the Coherent speakers have technical limitations related to the Radian driver? What kind of limitations and how would you translate them to sound? I think it won't be possible to test the Coherent's for me and that's why I'm asking. Thank you! Marco |
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Hi All, I wanted to announce to you that I have spoken with Frank at Coherent and will make my system available for people in the PNW who want to hear his speakers if they are considering to order the speakers. I have a real-world listening area and use a SET amplifier with both a digital and analogue source so I think it will be useful if you are considering a pair of these amazing speakers. Currently running my set with a Don Garber FI-X integrated and also a Triode Lab 2a3 si ffx integrated. Please just write me privately if you want to now more about all this.Thanks |
“I am actually considering trying a Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 solid state amplifier so I can perform room correction. I'm not a purist when it comes to appreciating only tubes. I think my impressions around the bass response are due to the speaker placement against the wall.” Yes it will and other possible issues. Kenny. |
Well, I've been avoiding posting to this thread because it seems comments made on the Internet stay forever, even when systems and circumstances change. But I'll chime in, in the context of my system today, which of course may change tomorrow. First off, I own the GR10s in walnut -- they are gorgeous and visually beautiful in their simplicity. I heard rwanda's pair at his house, and although they didn't have the incisive detail of my Spendor BC-1s at the time, they didn't seem to do anything wrong (I primarily wanted to be sure they weren't "bright," which they weren't). So I sprung for a pair and knew I could tweak the presentation with front-end components and cables. Fast forward to now -- once I had these speakers in place, I found I could listen to every genre of music, which before was not the case. Now I could pay rock and pop, in addition to adult contemporary (vocals w/guitar) and jazz. I have had so many "wow" moments hearing new details in songs and feeling like the musicians are in the room. However, here is where it gets tricky -- at first I felt the treble was a bit attenuated making songs a little too smooth. This turned out to be my source and cables -- I was using a Magna Hifi modified Sonos into a BorderPatrol DAC at the time. I switched to Roon core running on a Synology NAS and an Allo USBridge as the Roon endpoint (still connected to the BorderPatrol DAC using a Curious USB cable, then a Sablon Audio USB cable). I feel I am missing nothing in the treble now. And, horrors, I have very limited speaker placement options and they are between 1 and 1-1/2 feet off the wall. They have two rear-facing ports so you probably know where this is going -- I've been fighting a little bass muddiness and boom the whole time on certain songs. I'm running a Weston Acoustics KT120 Topaz push pull tube amp, and strangely a boutique SEP amp I purchased to use with these sounded even worse in this department, although the treble was clearer. I've had to be very careful with cable choices to not produce any bass bloat (I'm using Duelund ICs and SCs, and Triode Wire Labs PCs). I inquired about Frank possibly building me a front-ported version because otherwise I enjoy these speakers so much, but at this point I am actually considering trying a Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 solid state amplifier so I can perform room correction. I'm not a purist when it comes to appreciating only tubes. I think my impressions around the bass response are due to the speaker placement against the wall. This is a long post and will just sum up that the speakers are extremely transparent -- I can hear every cable, cord and component change very clearly. This may be a bad thing for some people -- they seem to require very good equipment in front of them (even though I'd say most of mine is mid-tier). At the end of the day, I've heard some of the most realistic, present, intimate, powerful music to scale, I've ever heard in my living room. The speakers handle everything. They are beautiful looking and sold at a fair price (around $3500). I think once Frank gets a better website, his sales will increase. I'd recommend these speakers with the caveats of having decent components and a room they will work in. |
At the last TAVES I heard the tiny Coherent speakers being played - some sort of prog/jazz thing with heavy slap bass if I remember properly. They were fairly astounding in terms of the size of the sound, imaging, impact and clarity. They were really cool and make me want to hear the larger speakers. |
hi there. I’m really interested in getting one of these speakers. i am using a MTM transmission line DIY for now which is very nice sounding. but I would go to another route and use class A and SET amps so I want high efficiency speakers. I have read the posts and would like to know more from people who owns it. like how is the bass with low wattage amps? hows imaging and soundstage? Frank told me he has the GR10 ready. thanks |
Fraterperdurabo: I believe Frank uses Radian drivers...as I recall....it is of course his crossover and cabinetry that are a key component in this equation. I must say that as much as I enjoy auditioning things sometimes I just take a leap of faith...and mostly that has been rewarded. IN amplifiers, speakers and such....but most importantly in music. At this time I am also using the new Hana SL cartridge, whihc I did hear locally and then had my local shop-Stereotypes-here in PDX install on a Rega p9 with RB2000 arm. While others told me that the newer Rega decks sound even better I have always loved this model/design......after all for me the aesthetics go hand in hand with the music...... I agree great photos make the difference on a website....and like you I am a professional photographer and educator (direct an MFA program) so while Frank would benefit from them he seems doing well on his terms. I have spoken to several people about the speakers and in many cases people have ended up purchasing them.....or coming by to hear them......In the end I think also it is the synergy of a system.....I am still using cables from the mid-1990;s as they were great sounding then and continue to reveal new things to me with new gear... |
Unlike many of you posting on this thread, I’ve always preferred solid-state—high-power, high-current solid-state—to tubes. The most amazing speaker demo I’ve ever had was Tannoy Churchills driven by a Krell FPB 300. The night before we’d heard Le Sacre du Printemps live, 5th row center at Avery Fisher. The Tannoys, playing the Reference Recordings version of same, were able to recreate the performance, the sound washing over us like waves breaking on shore. I love tubes as much as the next guy (probably more ... was deeply into horns and SETS for many years), but there’s a lot to be said for big, effortless, grain-free solid state. Except the cost, of course. |
A long-time Tannoy dual concentric enthusiast, I recently auditioned, at Coherent Audio, a pair of the Model 15s (non-beryllium version). Suffice to say, I put down a deposit and expect to take delivery in the next week or so. Unlike many of you posting on this thread, I've always preferred solid-state—high-power, high-current solid-state—to tubes. However, as with a good pair of Tannoys or Altec/GPA 604s, the high-nineties sensitivity of the Model 15 comes with some seriously high power handling, so one can use virtually any amp, from the 2A3-based tubes amps of 3.5 Wpc that Frank uses to demo the speakers, to the 1500 Wpc amp I'm current enjoying from D-Sonic in Texas. Will endeavour to report in the coming weeks on how I find the Model 15s compared to my trusty Tannoy System 15 DMT II (now 25 years old), |
I hope to hear these speakers some day. They are understated but seem to be very well designed and executed. The fact that they are easily driven with a 3 watt 2A3 SET amplifier confirms the easy speaker load which is always a good attribute in my opinion. I suspect that the sound quality is very natural and high level. Charles |
Coherentguy: Here's an example: my personal website: www.steve-fretz.com. It took me a couple of hours, tops. It's for my fine art photography, so not exactly your line of work, but I think it's cohesive and advertises what I do accurately. I did it even though I know nothing about web development. For you, getting really good product photos will be the hardest part. I love speakers and speakerbuilding, and if you'd like advice/help, PM through audiogon and I'll give you IRL contact info. It's probably not as hard a job as you think, if you start with the right framework. I totally get that your "real" work comes first, but as a very perceptive realtor once told me, "people shop with their eyes. |
I spend a lot of time on speaker-building related sites and I KNOW I've seen that coaxial driver somewhere. (It's not B&C, Faital, Eminence or P.Audio, but ... I'll find it). Of course the work in speaker building is optimizing the crossover and building a furniture grade cabinet, and from the looks of things (and your reports) it seems as though this is done well. The drivers are probably quite expensive, even purchased in bulk, so the price being charged for the speakers seems exceptionally fair to me. Would love to hear them. |
A quick update...the Triode Labs 2a3 si came this week, I believe the last one to be built as Frank Ing told me it was his last chassis for this model. It is a hammertone gray and quite lovely to behold. I had it upgraded from the normal build, with Hashimoto transformers all around and Hashimoto choke. In addition working with Frank Ing he put in a number of other upgrades including Mudorff Supreme coupling caps, Lorlin selector switch, CMC tube sockets and more....it is a FFX model. It has only about 24-30 hours on it and I have been told it will need about 150 hours to really settle in to judge fully the sound. I put the KR 2a3 tubes in it and am enjoying it immensely already.....a really wide sound-stage, solid bass and mid range base and beautiful upper range. Will keep you informed but so far really enjoying this ride......and listening to lots of cd's and vinyl....Bill Evans is back in it now...... |
Well it seems as though he (Frank) is quite accessible via email and he is very busy building speakers for customers. So it appears that orders are being placed and fulfilled. This is the classic one man operation predicament. No doubt he could use an additional helping hand with a growing business. I suspect he's acutely aware of this and will "eventually " sort it out. I'm rooting for anyone who manufactures quality high efficiency speakers (reasonably priced) that work successfully with low power amplifiers. Charles |
Re-posted from another forum. Well making the website better has been on my to do list for a year or so. The problem is I have no time, I'm good for 7 to 8 hours a day so have to spend them in the shop making customers speakers and new prototypes. Will get help to post more models soon. |
Well thought to update people about these amazing speakers.....as time has gone by they have only improved.....but recently I had the opportunity to put a Don Garber 2a3 FI-X on them...all I can say is WOW!!! The speakers were really voiced for this tube....and all these years being a 300b person I did know what else was out there....needless to say I am overwhelmed. The 2a3 tubes were a pair of Sovteks and then a Pair of KR.....I am so impressed that today I ordered a new Triode Labs integrate 2a3......again without hearing or auditioning it first but on the good advice of Frank Fazzalari. It will be some weeks before it is here but I will let you all know how the combo sounds....... |
I am still enjoying my Coherent speakers , especially now that they have some time on them.....just perfect for the music I listen too. Currently fall is here and I am listening to more LP's on my Funk LSD with the FXIIR arm.....magic with a good single malt:-) Really Frank is one of the super people in HI-FI and I cannot praise enough his product or service...simply superb! |
I have heard two models out of the lineup under show conditions at the Toronto audio show. I have heard both the 12 inch in the 15 inch. My strong favourite was the 15 inch. They are very similar to Tannoy. The first year I heard them was with the 15 inch and they were in the running for best of show for me. They were being powered by McAllister amps at the time. The next two times they were powered by The Elekit 300 B kit amp, which I believe was holding them back a little. They still sounded very good but I wasn't blown away like the first year. Like Tannoy I believe they would be best served by a good 845 amp but I'm sure many others would suffice as well. I thought they sounded great with all genres of music. Frank is one of the good guys in the game that's for sure! |
There are apparently 2 models, both are coaxial. The 8GR (8 Inch driver) 21 inch tall (monitor) and the floor standing model which can be built with a 10, 12 or 15 inch woofer-midrange driver. All of the models seem to use the 1.75 inch tweeter. I bet that this speaker line sounds wonderful. Charles |
Well thought to update all on these great speakers.....as I continue to listen to them it lets me know I made the right decision for my system....very neutral, immediate and engaging...listening to Sonny Rollins this night..."Rollins Plays for Bird". I was also listening to Gerry Mulligan meets Johnny Hodges....so a few changes to the system in the last days....using an older VT231 tube in my Cary....smooths out the sound quite lovely....and added a PH3D phono stage....so records are playing daily now:-) I also moved the entire system to a different room and this likely had the most effect on the sound...but the speakers now have an additional 100+ hours on them...... |
Audio Aero is a dream...I had the Lector 7CDP tl , it was quite nice but not as resolving or even across the spectrum...it felt a little "dark" with the whole system....but was also an excellent player....in the past mostly used Naim players. As you can see I prefer tube CD units as these more closely approximate Vinyl.....and sometimes there is not the time or energy to put on an LP.....so I go to my CD's.... I have enjoyed this hobby for some time and continue too....I typically have a cut off financially as to what I can commit and try to stick by it....I know it is all too easy to keep upping the ante...and in the end it is the music that counts and pleasure from the system. Today I heard a lot of ggreat music on a friends system...Rega Cd player and vintage MArantz 2270....it was lovely.... |
Hi all, Not trying to diss anyone else's speakers Wolf_Garcia, I just happen to love these especially after my Blumenhofer FS 3 whihc I sold when I left the right coast.....to the left coast. My digital source is an Audio Aero Capitole MK II se....I have had many but this one fits best since my Bluenote Stibbert died a year or so ago...that player was heaven but had a finicky transport. I use all Synergistic Research Looking Glass wires...bought them about 20 years ago and still love them with this gear....In the end am still looking for music...mostly Art Pepper and Gerry Mulligan, but lately Dollar Brand.......and many many others.... The biggest challenge is that I am in a new space...it has little in the way of rugs or furniture so that it can be bright, at least it was with my Odeon Monitor speakers (back up pair ) and once I started listening to the Coherent those problems largely disappeared.... |
This has been said before, but when has redundancy every stopped somebody around here? Any properly designed speaker should play all music well. Dynamics of classical music, acoustic jazz trios (especially modern ones…as an example a current fave of mine, Vijay Iyer, can be as heavy as Megadeath), or whatever you prefer are all demanding of drivers in a box. Those drivers should deliver the goods regardless of musical type obviously only restricted by ultimate levels and lowest bass response…if that's important get a good sub (or 2). Play some delicate music as I do when sound checking a multi thousand watt live system and it should be beautiful and nuanced…don't settle for anything less in your home. |