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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
nrenter's avatar
nrenter
766 posts
 
Not only do I own a set of GMA Callistos, I’ve followed every thread I can find on GMA speakers - I disagree with your “fact” that the vast majority of audiophiles end up disliking their sound. 

I’ll not engage further; I’ll simply allow this thread to provide context:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/warmest-sounding-green-mountain-speaker
kenjit
1,771 posts
 
The title of that thread and the very first reply to it simply confirms that the green mountains do not have a neutral tonality due to the resonances and incorrect bass response. 

Some like resonance and poor bass response. Most do not. Obviously the designer of the speakers enjoys this type of coloration and perhaps can't hear it. That doesn't mean nobody else can hear it and find it unpleasant.







audiokinesis
2,747 posts
 

Kenjit, I looked at your previous posts.  How long are you going to treasure your grievances about a speaker not working well in your room?  As my granddaughter would say:  "Let it go."

I compete against Roy.  I have lost sales to him in the past and expect to lose sales to him in the future.  He does things that are way beyond my ability as a loudspeaker designer.  I have nothing but respect for him and his work.  Not many speaker designers outright intimidate me, but Roy does.  It's not that he's an intimidating person; rather it's because his expertise is genuinely on another level.  Roy doesn't often choose to talk but when he does, I shut up and listen.   

If your intention was to harm Roy and his company, I think it's backfiring... you see, now you've got his competitors sticking up for him. 

Duke LeJeune

AudioKinesis

mindlessminion
99 posts
 
@kenjit did you build the power amp yourself?   You said you used a kit power amp.  What other speakers have you driven with this amp?
kenjit
1,771 posts
 
@audiokinesis 

I've asked a series of questions in this thread about green mountain speakers and their technology / design choices. These questions have not been answered but will not go away.
I think they are reasonable questions which require answers.
This has nothing to do with grievances. The questions are about the speakers, not the designer per se.

@mindlessminion

I didn't build it. It was pre assembled. I just put it in a case.

I've used it with my previous PMC speakers. If you are trying to blame the amp for the problems I've mentioned,  that is ridiculous. Cabinet coloration, uneven frequency response and lack of bass are caused by the speaker. Nothing to do with the amp. 

The UK distributor brought the green mountain Rio speakers over to my place to demonstrate. The same amp and room were used then. he set them up and checked. If the amp or room was that bad he would have mentioned it.

the funny thing is, the chromas I bought actually sounded worse than the original rios I heard.

the rios themselves still had the same problems with bass. But I preferred the sound of the crossover on the Rio.

It's also important to note that the woofers natural response can vary between batches. unless you measure each woofer to make sure, the crossover will no longer work properly. 

But I asked green mountain
Audio for the records of the frequency response. They would not provide it.




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