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Green Mountain Audio Chroma HX Review

I just had my Green Mountain Audio Chromas upgraded to Chroma HX. The difference is the crossover, with the capacitors being exceptionally high-grade. The low-pass filter is specially made to Roy Johnson's specifications. Unobtainium (not for sale) Litz wire is used with the latest unobtainium solder. The change is dramatic enough to consider the HX a different speaker, even though the schematic is essentially the same.

And the result is absolutely stunning. I was expecting a substantial improvement, but I was unprepared for the result. It's going to be difficult to put this into words, but I'm going to try. Let's face, we've heard it all before.

I have never heard a speaker that so effortlessly plays music. Every note has more music in it. I guess you could call that greater detail, but the HX transcends that description. Perhaps I should call it harmonic richness. The sound is unbelievably accurate, yet musical, throughout the frequency spectrum. The copious bass digs down deeper while being more well-defined. I would call it high-definition bass, to coin a term. The midrange is similarly tuneful, clear and also hi-def. It just flows naturally and cleanly. I would describe the treble as ethereal, sparkly and airy, never bright.

The HX is also the most coherent speaker I have ever heard. The woofer and the tweeter coexist happily. It is impossible to tell where the crossover frequencies are. You cannot hear the port either, just the bass. I find myself listening for hours, without fatigue, because the music captures my attention and holds it.

The sheer accuracy seems to lend itself to the soundstage, imaging with pinpoint precision. You know where every voice and instrument is at all times. This is an area of audio that I didn't much care about previously, but I cannot ignore now.

Any criticisms? Well one, maybe. If you like to crank the bass hard enough to drive your neighbors to yell death threats, you're going to need a powered sub.

I have heard many speakers in my time, among them Wilson Audio, Joseph Audio, Paradigm, Triangle, Meadowlark, Dali, Thiel, Usher and Vandersteen. None of them can deliver what the HX can. It's not even close. If you have a pair of the already excellent Chromas, HXing them is a must. I have found the speakers that I am going keep for life in the Chroma HX.

Related equipment:
Musical Fidelity A308cr with upgraded clocks
Audio Note Kits DAC 2.1
Pass Labs B1 buffered passive pre modified for shunt volume control
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amp
BPT BP-1 balanced power conditioner
Audio Magic Matrix Mini power conditioner
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amp


dave122
kenjit
1,771 posts
 
It's not odd when you've been in this hobby a long time you learn that what you read in magazines is not always accurate. Ultimately what you read in magazines are opinions. Eventually you realise that opinions can differ greatly and there's no reason to value a reviewers opinion more than anybody elses

Magazines like 6moon do not even bother to measure the frequency response let alone claims about time coherency and more detailed information like distortion. Sterophile do at least carry out such kinds of tests at the end of their reviews. even then nobody has still figured out why some speakers sound better than others or what parameters should be optimised in a high end speaker.

The moral is never trust a magazine review simple as that. That is precisely the mistake I made when I bought the green mountains without spending enough time listening to it.

Ask the manufacturers for evidence which can be independently verified. We have every right to if you're spending thousands of dollars on a speaker. If they get defensive or don't reply, I would not bother with them.


mindlessminion
99 posts
 
true...audition before you buy is best, especially new.  I listened before I bought my GMA.  Absent of that - you are relying on posts, reviews and documentation.

I have foregone "the listen before you buy" in cases where the used market is very solid - I think Klipsch heritage speakers, Harbeth, etc fit this category.  In these cases you need to ensure you are receiving a quality product.  If fore whatever reason the speaker doesn't live up to expectation you can sell without taking a major hit in the wallet.  
mindlessminion
99 posts
 
@kenjit what speaker did you finally end up with?  
kenjit
1,771 posts
 
@mindlessminion

None at the moment. I'm in no hurry to buy another expensive pair after the previous mistake.

Ive seen green mountain chromas come up for sale online over the past few years for a fraction of the original price.

Another tell tale sign of a bogus product is any benefit which is promoted and based on snake oil.

For example the original post refers to "Unobtainium (not for sale) Litz wire is used with the latest unobtainium solder."

This is just bogus bs.

Stay away.
mindlessminion
99 posts
 
lots of good speakers out there.  If you were unhappy with the Chroma I recommend moving on and not rehashing its design and what is or might be wrong - in my opinion not worth your time,  

Once you identify the sound you like you can more easily find a system and speaker for your tastes.  I have 2 main systems - sometimes I like a more detailed, with excellent separation and other times I like a warm polite sound. 

I bought a pair of used Celestion 33s that I really like (Celestion I believe made the driver for the Spendor SP1).  I also have the Cornwalls modded that I am listening to right now - Dire Straits in fact.  You can find many great speakers for under 1K.
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