Tidal Speakers owners

Fcrowder, I would have said that until Sunday as I would have said about Tidal at the last CES and RMAF. At this RMAF in MHO it was among the top three.

I agree with Fcrowder's assessment, having heard the system on Sunday, and found them uninvolving. Although I am a dealer, I do not sell competing products in the same price range.

I was at RMAF on Friday and Saturday and thought that the Tidal room was one of the most musical rooms there. Many of the other exhibitors seemed to overpower their rooms or their speakers were, as one commentator has stated, "too aggressive" on the top end. Not the Tidals, they played music and I could have spent hours in that room.

I should make it clear that I am not diminishing the Ypsilon electronics in saying that the Tidals with their electronics were one of the best sounding rooms. I bought my speakers largely on the basis of what they sounded like with the excellent Ypsilon amps. I can afford neither of these fine products but would love to have either.

Luckyboy,

Yes I listened to Piano Diacera. If I had to decide today, I would rank my listening experience equally between Scala and Contriva Diacera with Piano Diacera as some way behind. I have heard Scala on 3 separate occasions. First was the best and absolutely awe inspiring. They were partnered with top Chord gears so some credit would have to be given to electronics. Second was awful - speakers not burnt in and I believe some mismatch with Accuphase electronics. Third was once again excellent but not as good as first, with BAT tube amps (same shop as second audition). My conclusion is, if I have the right amps I could live with Scala and would adore music from these speakers. I heard Contriva twice. First was truly memorable. They were as impressive as Scala but in different ways. They hit hard with thunderous bass laced with details so fine to create contrast and dynanmic at a level hard to believe. Best of all, vocal was surreal and spooky in the best possible way imaginable. Second audition was mediocre but still not shameful given their almost shameless price. Piano approached Contriva in some way and even that was almost magic but just didn't have the muscle and meat of Contriva and unconvincing in that way. So I am torn between Scala and Contriva and wished I had enough money for both. Lucky for me my budget caps off at around Scala so I should not have a difficult time deciding when I eventually have to decide. I will bring my own amps to Scala for final run before maybe pulling the trigger around bonus time (wife and family permitting as even that is a major financial undertaking). Taught me tho why there are diverging comments about same gears - because they can sound very different depending on circumstances.