Hi,
my name is Jörn, designer behind TIDAL and I just want to add some general things to this thread if I may, maybe I am able to answer some questions I see here repeating:
In general, it is nice to read from enthusiastic owners comments who want to share their experiences. As in every other field of mens toys one finds fans and those who are fans of other brands or products. Which is fine, since in the end of the day it will never stop to have fun with arguing about different products and philosophies. We just believe that it makes no sense trying to sell someone who prefers blue sounding audio equipment red sounding one or fight about what is better. Our products for e.g. are in fact not for everybody in terms of how they sound (and maybe even look), neither we do have the intention making people believe that we do offer the holy grail nor is it cult, the next big thing or any of that. We try to avoid that. All audio equipment does have more or less a specific texture, a signature or easy spoken a colour. Everyone can find his very own favourite colour in this wonderful big jungle of products, TIDAL is just for those who like the TIDAL-colour so to say, whatever colour that would be.
If one is saying the Contriva Diacera does sound better then a Sunray, then one is absolutely right: if one heard it in the setup one liked more, in a better room, with better software and just the way one prefers how a system should sound like, then this is true. It is as true as some other say the small Amea did sounded better then a Contriva - under the same circumstances as listed before. We do know better Piano Cera setups then some Contriva Diacera setups. But if one likes to know the direct difference, then one needs to compare it under the same (!) circumstances. In that case the ranking of the performance of the speakers is going hand in hand with the size of our speakers. We know Sunray setups sounding that realistic that a Contriva Diacera is in the best case mediocre after it. The Sunray is more accurate in any way and just more realistic then a Contriva Diacera (both can cover about the same size of rooms form the acoustical point) at the same position, same software, same chain. A Contriva Diacera does not have the slightest chance then. By fact, not be feel. But: how one likes that deeper insight into the chain/recording is again on a different sheet of paper and this is the point.
If it comes to our black ceramic drivers, we just need to reserve the right to know more about it then someone else. We can assure there is a difference, things one can easily measure. Black or silver anodized aluminium makes no difference, it is both time anodized, I agree. But an additional coating does change things, things we do take care of in return into our filter design. But is the black coating the reason why they do sound different then maybe in other manufacturers designs? For sure not (alone). It is the complex interaction between the driver itself and the adapted x-over (and actually even many things more). It just plays its little part within a clockwork of all the things we thought thru when we do offer a speaker. So it makes no sense to argue about black or white ceramic drivers and looking for simple answers out of it, as well out of other single components, especially without a real deep view insight. Trying to bring things down to some parts and making conclusions out of it is as sensible as guessing how the wine is/will be based on the grapes.
A client just needs to trust that a manufacturer does his best for him anyway, just to offer a product which is in a positive way special enough to end up some day in a living room. If one does not trust the manufacturer or does not like the result one hears then there are plenty of other options. Building own stuff or looking for something else are just two possibilities.
I think threads should be more about sharing personal experiences, not about hypotheses or absolute judgements, fanatic missions to teach others with what one likes the most. I remember a great thread here only written by guys sharing their experiences and then it was erased since some guys started again with the same old boring no, THIS is the best and YOU(R equipment) stink(s)-story
One last thing from a personal side: if there are objective technical questions about a product, just ask guys who do know the product the best, which could be the manufacturer or the dealer/importer of your trust.
Enjoy your equipment, whatever it is making you happy :-)!