2. misc-audio
  3. 182012-159065

Interesting situation! Do we need this....

  I had a very interesting and unsettling experience that brings this hobby all together...or rips it apart. Recently,  I bought a pair of Fluence SX6 speakers, on sale at Amazon for $120 pair. A small, black, two way bookshelf speaker. Highly-positively reviewed. My plan was to pull the drivers to use in another project. I couldn't buy drivers and crossovers like this for $120(More on this later)...Anyways, I was listening to my new kit amplifier, AKITIKA Z4 that I recently built...Streaming Quobuz...The Fluance speakers were set up next to the KEF LS50 Metas as I had used them previously to test yet another kit amplifier, Nelson Pass' ACA Mini.....For six hours I was simply amazed at how great the AKITIKA kit amp sounded. Massive sound stage, tight, well defined bass, some of the best vocals I've heard, the "AIR" around jazz instruments was fantastic!.....a system to behold...playing through my KEF LS50 Metas....Six hours later, after all types of music, it was time to call it a night (or early morning)....As I go to shut down the system, I realize that all night I was listening to the Fluance speakers!!! They were placed side by side with the KEFs. Do we really need any of this high end equipment to really enjoy the music!

rbertalotto
jl35
4,017 posts
 

maybe the OP simply prefers the Fluance...doesn't mean anyone else would...or not.

petaluman
158 posts
 

Never heard the Fluance speakers, but this is why I disagree that "high end" should necessarily be linked to price.  I think it's a reflection of the maker's intent.  If you're serious about making good sounding gear, it can be done at a fairly low price point. 

No doubt the Fluances have limited deep bass & dynamic range, and other compromises necessary to stay in budget.  No doubt, they are using the best components they can source with their cost constraints, and spent serious time voicing the design.  I think all Canadian companies are allowed access to a national testing facility.

The KEFs were designed & built to a more stringent set of standards and a significantly higher budget was allowed for the final speaker cost.  I have no doubt that they would out-perform the Fluances wrt those standards.  Voicing, though, is ultimately partly subjective.  Not everyone will agree with any design team's choices.

luvharbeth's avatar
luvharbeth
20 posts
 

I can enjoy both my solid state Adcom with my cheaper speakers and my Tube amp with my Harbeths it’s a enjoyment for music either way I just get more joy from the glow of tubes💫

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,155 posts
 

The better question is what was the result after you connected the kefs again?

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

If you're happy, that's great.

But don't assume I will happy.

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