An Extraordinary Find

The Frieds were powered by a Audible Illusions preamp and 50 watt solid state monoblocks whose name I don't recall. One of the nice things about these speakers is how easy they are to drive. A very stable 4 ohm load and 90+db efficiency. The 50 watt monoblocks absolutely filled a huge room with sound with excellent control in the bass. A recent review in Bound for Sound recommends tubes all the way around--both because they are easy to drive and to achieve a slightly warmer tonal balance. However, these were preproduction units under review and several small changes have been made between then and the current production, which I heard. Having said that, I do agree that the tonal balance is slightly on the cool side of neutral. However this is not an analytical speaker--as I said, it is one of the most musical I have ever heard. It is just that there is none of the midbass bump many speakers posess which provides a warmer balance. In fact, if anything, there is a slight dip in the frequency response in the midbass region. What you hear in the bass is just a shade cool but with incredible power, drive and tautness. From there on up I would call the speaker very open and neutral in its presentation. And again, it sounds like live music--not hifi. This is what makes the speaker magical. I don't know if it is the first order crossovers or the tranmission line loading of the bass and midrange drivers or what but no other speaker I have heard sounds so real to my ears. In fact, the only other speaker which I have found similarly engaging is the Vandersteen 5A--at $15K! The Vandersteen has a similar musicality (also due to first order crossovers?) but with a warmer more liquid tonal balance. The Vandy doesn't have the dynamics and speed of the Fried but it is a warmer sounding speaker, which I actually prefer. Unfortunately, I can't do 15K and therefore that leads to the Fried as the best possible alternative. BTW, the Fried sells for 6.5K. Give a listen, you won't be disappointed. (Sorry to sound like a sales pitch--I have no relationship to the company whatsoever and am simply a consumer like most of us)

I first must say that I am a part of Fried...

Dodgealum, thank you for this thread! Where did you hear the speakers, if I may ask?

I have had differing experiences with the imaging, like you. I believe that the room first, and ancillary components second play a huge role in the way they will image. I have heard them not image very well, and I have heard them image in spectacular fashion. In the end, I will say that if you do wind up owning a pair, and get the other things right, you will find that they seem to image as least as well as any large floorstander has any right to.

Still, I believe a truncated pyramid is the king of imaging. No getting around physics there.

TRUE Transmission Line bass, implemented well, is surely something to behold. Deep, powerful, tuneful. Not much else to say beyond that it sounds real, and other alignments do not compare in terms of absolutes.

I have also heard the midbass sound a bit cooler than I personally prefer, but I have again found it room and system dependent. I also wonder if the superlative deep bass response that we are not usually used to makes the midbass seem not as warm as it actually is.

Not much to add to your statements on the midrange and treble, except to say that despite their musicality, the amount of detail and refinement is something that I am quite proud of. It sometimes takes a while to realize it, as I think we often get lost in the music as opposed to the tic tac toe analysis with a speaker like this.

As you mentioned, 50 watts more than powered them. Despite the specs, these are incredibly easy speakers to drive. Even at 4 ohms, my Atma Sphere M60 OTLs absolutely love them, more than any other speaker in fact. The quality versus quantity (parts count) of the first order resistive series crossover makes this a speaker that does not conform to a lot of the patterns we are used to. Please note that Frieds were Ralph Karstens long time speakers in the past, and that will explain a lot. I'm part of the low power SET and OTL tube crowd myself (Bud LOVED that - I say sarcastically).

I will pass along your comments, along with my own opinions to the company. As you mentioned, we are a company who believes in continuous improvement. Always seeking to extract the absolute maximum we can out of the product. Constantly making them better. The last point I want to make is that they were only $4995 in the recent past, and though I am happy to hear you feel them to be a good bargain at $6495, my goal is for us to always to offer the best product we can at the lowest price. I would be more comfortable at $5000, but I also cede (though kicking and screaming) to some of the realities of economics. My long term hope is twofold - to forever honor the legacy of Bud Fried and to be part of an American company that proves that we can more than compete with the best of the rest of the world.

Again, thank you very much!
Joe Trelli

Dodge, I wonder if you have heard the new Vandersteen Quattro. SInce you like the 5A, the Quattro might give you that sound at $7K.

Not to take anything away from the Fried, which is a speaker that interests me a lot based on a brief listening to an earlier model at CES last year.

Trelja. I had the fortunate pleasure of hearing them with Dr. Raines. Since you are affiliated with the company that may put the listening room and system components in clearer perspective. I am inclined to think that the tile/stone floor, wall of window and lack of any rear wall behind the speakers may have conspired to muck up the imaging. In fact, I am really surprised at the sound quality I heard given the surroundings. I am hoping to set up a demo at an area dealer as soon as one comes on line to hear the speaker under more ideal circumstances (and conditions closer to those in my own home). Dr. Raines indicated that there would soon be a pair at an outfit on the Upper West Side of Manhatten. As far as the price is concerned--I agree. I wish they were still 5K and am not clear as to the rationale for the price hike. Certainly the falling dollar can't be the culprit to any large degree. I also think it may be an error to price them above the original 5K since this is a company that is trying to get a toehold in a very competitive marketplace. Once you move above 5K you are looking at a somewhat different class of consumer. While I'm not really in that class, I will scrape together the extra 1.5K if the performance of the speaker warrents. Having said that, I stand by my statement that 6.5K is a bargain given what you get. I have heard a number of speakers that cost more that don't offer half the sound of the Fried's.

Drubin. Thanks for the tip on the Vandy Quatro. It is on my list and actually the last speaker I will hear before making my decision. It will have to be pretty darn close to the sound of the 5A to win out over the Fried. We will see.

Audio Revelation advertises these on Audiogon below "manufacturer's suggested retail". That's what their "$callpls" indicates.