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To Fritz, Quicksilver, and all the exceptional makers trying to get the word out

It's been a while since I've posted. When you're in the sandwich generation, life intervenes. I've not had much chance to keep up with the conversations here, but I've managed some changes in my system, including a new set of speakers from a local audio fixer and DIY genius. These new speakers are wide baffle design with JBL woofers (15") and Beyma AMT tweeters. 97db sensitivity. I've put a picture on my system page.

But I've been thinking about Fritz and Quicksilver for an odd reason. There's an interesting guy on YouTube, Andy Edwards. He's a drummer and teacher with interestingly provocative analyses of rock, jazz, and music. Recently in a video entitled "Ten things non-musicians get wrong about music," he was pointing out how the music industry tends to advance very select fractions of talented people. There is a tremendous funneling effect that excludes a huge percentage of talented people. They are better than many of the most popular musicians, but they cannot get a hearing. They have to make a living in other ways -- but they are extraordinarily talented, nonetheless. This tends to skew the public perception of what a good musician is because people hear what they hear and then celebrate it because it's what they know. Subjective bias leads to (false) objective estimations of how good musicians can be. (Take one case in point: Kazuhito Yamashita. Look him up. Staggering genius on the guitar who didn't become a worldwide phenomenon.) 

This made me think about two of the pieces in my system -- Fritz speakers and Quicksilver amps. They are complete unknowns to 99% of the buying public, and if you look around on YouTube or other media, it's pretty hard to find much promotion. It's all word of mouth, and even if they did advertise, who would hear them? With Klipsch and Focal and Yamaha et al. taking up most of the available attention economy, how could their message get through? 

I am so grateful to the members of this forum for helping guide me to Fritz and Quicksilver. They are the most listenable, comfortable, and high-quality gear I've owned. I've heard amazing things about other brands -- such as Audio Note -- but I'm paying for college, soon for two kids, and that just ain't happening. These are not the best things money can buy, but as value propositions, you really cannot do better, IMHO.

For those whose ears are perking up about Fritz for the first time, I have done two reviews of what I think is his better speaker, the Carbon 7 SE MKII. 

Written -- https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-fritz-heiler-s-carbon-7-se-mk-2-bookshelf-speakers?

Video -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpI6eAvc4_M

I've tried them with everything: they're tube friendly (Quicksilver, 60w); they're class D friendly (DIY Hypex-based amp, 275W); they're class A friendly (Pass XA-25, about 25-80w); they're class AB friendly (Adcom, Akitika, 60w). 

I like them because if I focus in on them, they perform but if I just want them on in the background, they're lovely that way, too. 

Hope everyone has a good 2025. 

128x128hilde45
whiteknee
56 posts
 

@Hilde45  Thank you for initiating this informative post.  I too have been steering towards the smaller designers/builders with help from this forum and some useful YouTube videos.   I own the QS MidMonos and have had some very helpful tube discussions with Mike.  He’s a class act.  A few years ago I purchased from another small outfit, Zu Audio, and found their owner Sean Casey to be very available, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.  I kept his Dirty Weekends for 3 years, in a second system, and wondered how they sounded so good for so very little money.

Same goes for Clayton Shaw who has developed the wonderful Caladan speaker which, unfortunately, I plan to sell.  The buying process for the Caladan’s was a forum post on Audiogon last year.

The best experience I have had buying from a boutique was with Greg Roberts at Volti Audio.  During my evaluation of his speaker line-up he took me into his home in Baxter, TN.  He and his wife Lori fed me, we conducted multiple listening sessions while sharing drams of his favorite beverage, he toured me around the twisties of Tennessee in his sports car, and he helped sell my Klipsch Belle speakers that I had ordered new and had been part of our family for 40 years (selling the Belles was difficult...emotional).

So, I am currently in the market for stand mounts in my smaller room to replace the Caladans and I see Fritz has multiple speakers, all about the same size and all in the same relative price range, if I am reading his website correctly.  What is your assessment of each model with lower powered amps, and how did you end up with the Carbon 7s?   I will certainly reach out to Mr. Fritz but I’m curious to get your input.  The MidMonos will continue to drive my Volti speakers but I do own 3 other low powered amps (Pass XA25, SIT3 and Cary 300SEI) that I plan to audition with the new stand mounts in my smaller room.  Thoughts?

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,007 posts
 

@johnc5  I don't think that's would explain it. Maybe you should call Fritz.

@whiteknee  I know only the Carreras and the Carbons. From talking to Fritz, I know he is really focusing on the Carbons. I have powered both with my XA-25 (no problem) and with lower watt amps (tube amp with KT77 tubes). I've not tried the Carbons with even less power, alas. My guess is that the Sit 3 will run out of gas. I don't know the Cary. The Fritz do enjoy some power, though. When I hooked up at 300 wpc Class D amp they were really moving! But I think the mid-monos would do pretty well with the Carbons. I'd say call him. Super nice guy.

The Volti story is a hoot. I don't know how someone gets that kind of treatment and doesn't buy a speaker, in the end!
 

whiteknee
56 posts
 

@hilde45 Thanks for the reply. The Volti’s and the MidMonos are a match made in heaven in my big room. Couldn’t ask for more and a huge step up from the Belles in the low frequency and horn midrange dept.  I’m in front of the system everyday streaming something that gets me involved in the music.

I forgot to mention earlier that I was also able to select my own unique “red gum” veneer from a diverse inventory of standard and exotic woods for Greg to use on the speakers. And then the first night I slept in a small bunk in the veneer/vacuum impregnating room in his shop only to be woken up the next morning by his crew and some not so quiet wood working tools.  Surreal!

robshaw
260 posts
 

I have spoken to Fritz several times over the past couple of years about his Carbon 7SE MK2's.(NEVER for SALE) and growing up with Muscle cars. For my second system, in a smaller room, 13x13'  ATI AMP 6000- 2 channel,( a little known A/B BEAST)  LA-4 Pre amp, Meitner MA1 V2 DAC,  Audio lab Transport 6000, SVS SB3000 Sub, along with Qobuz. All I listen to is 60's 70's some 80's Rock and Roll. (will upgrade the transport sometime, funds allowing) But, unit still sound very good. (At least to my ears) His speakers just talk to me. They seem to offer my system a certain value between the ears that is just Nirvana. I have called him up a few time after listening to a session (bourbon included, BUFFALO TRACE, as I know someone will ask) and we have reminisced for awhile Music, his life and Cars of the 60's and 70's. Almost like talking with Bob Dylan. Fritz, just a shout out to say thanks for the speakers and the conversations. Robert TN

vthokie83
942 posts
 

Whiteknee

Which Volti speakers did you end up with? Greg's Lucera and Rival will be in the running for my next speaker, sometime in late 2025. I've got a friend with his Razz, and another with his Luceras......both LOVE them, and I am happy when they ant to get together for a listening session. The dynamics are something I've never experienced before, and work really well with lower powered Class A amps

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