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
cd318
2,636 posts
 

@jeffseight

The Pass Amp Camp amps do not provide anywhere near the power those greedy LS 50s demand. What about the new amp with the KEFs?

 

 

Good point. Maybe the Pass Lab ACA mini amp wasn’t doing the Kef’s any favours?

The Fluance SX6s are more sensitive and easier to drive than the LS50s and might be a better match.

 

In any case it looks as though the Z4 is up to the job of powering either pair.

 

 

From their website:

Now there’s a Z4 version of the GT-102. It’s specially configured for speakers with impedance of 4 Ohms and below. We guarantee that it will deliver 50 Watts per channel into 4 Ohm loads. It typically delivers more than 60 Watts per channel into 4 Ohm loads. It will even drive a 2.7 Ohm load without complaint. If you have low impedance speakers, we recommend that you buy/build the Z4 version of the GT-102.

 

https://www.akitika.com/GT102.html

sns
3,256 posts
 

I go along with the expectation bias theory  for now. Longer term listening and switching back and forth will tell if Fluonce competes, beats or loses to KEF. I'm always mindful of expectation bias, long term listening and removing new variable by going back to original setup has meant progress not always achieved with new equipment, tweaks.

rbertalotto OP
138 posts
 

switching back and forth will tell if Fluonce competes, beats or loses to KEF.

I'll repeat....It is NOT about what was better.....It was all about the satisfying experience listening to a set of speakers that certainly are NOT as good as the KEFs, but none the less, for six hours I was very well pleased.....I reiterated this above so we don't get side tracked....

jl35
4,007 posts
 

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

petaluman
156 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.

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