Need Impressions of SoundKaos Vox


Hello All,
This is my first post here on Audiogon. I have been very intrigued by SoundKaos Vox 3 speakers (both 3F and 3A). Since there aren't many reviews or discussions out there, I would like to know if any of you members own any of these (Vox 3a or 3f) speakers or have auditioned them/heard them for good amount of time. In case if you do, then also please let me know of the chain that was used with them and any comparison to other speakers that you may have owned previously or heard.
Looking forward to hearing from someone.
Regards,Saurabh
128x128audio_phool

Congratulations on your new speakers.  I heard them in the Old Forge Audio room at the audio show in 2019.  They were the original 3Fs, and they were sitting on some substitute aftermarket stands because the proprietary stands had been damaged in shipment to the show.  It was one of my favorite rooms.

Incredible speakers — so dynamic and engaging, in such a small box.  I really wanted to own them, but I had already purchased Boenicke W5s several months earlier.  And now you have the new model with all the added refinements.  Would love to hear then one day with my Enleum AMP 23R.  Enjoy!

@randyk you said it correctly..they are very dynamic and engaging in a tiny package...if you have a small room like me, I think this can very well be last speaker you need.

I’m really interested in these. At first glance they look like tiny bass light Japanese style speakers. But they go down low, as long as they are placed close to sidewalls apparently. Seems perfect for smaller rooms.

Audiophool how do they seem after longer term ownership? Did you get the lessloss firewall version.

@agisthos Yes, I have the lossless version viz. Vox 3afw. I thought that I should not contemplate later about not going for the topmost version available.

Yes, these are meant for smaller rooms or for near-field/semi near-field  listening. These are not the speakers for partying or playing out really really loud. If one can play these within this constrain then it can make one very happy.

In my room they are actually far from the side walls, but they are just 30 cm from the front wall (viz. from back of the speaker to the wall behind it). This is needed for the lower bass reach, else it will sound absolutely anemic in bass department. But once placed correctly you will find quality bass which is surprisingly deep given it's size. Besides the bass is very fast, no bloat what so ever. It brings out very nice texture out of the bass notes. But bass is not very hard hitting or having lot of emphasis or weight. It just satisfies me for wide range of genres that I listen to. If you are into large orchestral music or listen to a lot of metal, for rest of the genres the bass is absolutely sufficient (that's my opinion).

Most people notice it's top end at first which is just brilliant. A lot of air, very well extended, smooth, refined and delicate but never sounding harsh. Raal ribbon tweeter mounted on the top is very much responsible for this trait.

but for me the real strength is in it's mids. It just addictive. I am hard pressed to find such a beautiful mids/vocals in multi-driver speakers. One of fellow audiophile who visited my house said, it feels like you are sitting in a small club/bar and singer & band is performing right in-front of you. It's just intimate without having over emphasis on mids or lower mids, but has good body to the vocals wherever need. It's just magical for me.

Another trait of this speaker is it's just darn fast. I once played "B.̉Y.O.B. from Mezmerize album of System of Down" for another fellow audiophile when he came to my house & his reaction was "that's not how the metal is supposed to sound" (in positive way) because he way able to pick out all the individual elements in the song while being able to hear vocals very clearly.
 

For me this is very likely the first and very last speaker I will every buy. I might just add a RiPol sub from SoundKaos if I move to a larger room than my current one, otherwise I am completely happy with my setup.

And from aesthetics point of view they are darn pretty and got approval from wife as well as from the interior designer who designed the interior for my house. Now that's a big feat.

But one thing you will have to keep in mind is that the description which I gave you regarding the sound is because of my entire system. So you need to make sure you have right from the source to amplifier everything of the same caliber to get most out of the speaker.

If you are interested in seeing photo or read in detail about my impressions then I have posted it on Audiophile style with title "SoundKaos Vox 3a + Bakoon Amp 13R + Merging NADAC Impressions & Long Term Ownership Review" check it out.


Regards,
Audio_phool

I actually am a metal guy but I don’t listen to that genre on my audiophile system, or like to listen loud. I like an airy and intimate/forward soundstage. These could be the ticket with my 14 foot wide room.

I noted that Srajan gave them a lunar award (rare for him), and for the Hifi Knight guy it took the Borresen M1 to beat it. You took a big chance to buy such priced speakers unheard, but a well calculated decision considering these reports.