KeithR's "Dream Speaker" Search
- Thread starter KeithR
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It’s been awhile, get your popcorn ready folks 
Some speaker demos I will comment on coming - first up the Diesis Roma Triode
Diesis Roma Triode-
I was very excited after I moved to Dallas to hear these SOTA open baffle horn loudspeakers. Chris Hesse is the former Diesis dealer who gladly setup his personal pair for me to hear one saturday afternoon. We had them setup on Dart/CH Port electronics.
It's a gorgeous loudspeaker - I know some will poo poo it for the cost (~$180k iirc), but when you walk around the speaker its Italian, expensive design just oozes quality materials and high end. High quality woods, leathers, metals, all in one congruous package. It's probably the highest quality open baffle speaker I've seen, and everything is in ultra high end materials and cabling (Kondo). Sonically, the speaker sounds ginormous. It isn't horny by most takes, but it certainly doesn't sound like a dynamic driver system. The Roma Triode completely disappears and the soundstage is enormous. What I was surprised with, compared to other horn speakers, was the Diesis transparency and resolution. Not one iota of horn coloration. It was all there in spades compared to my Fyne loudspeakers and imaging and other audiophile attributes were readily apparent. Treble extension was also very high, but natural to my ears. It didn't soften a lick, to my ears.
I did feel the speaker excelled with music above 50-60hz. Below that (like some of my electronica), there just wasn't enough drive or "umph." There is a matching 21" subwoofer, but I didn't hear that. I left feeling a bit of want for more. However, days later it was one of the most fond memories I've heard in my, going on 7 years, speaker journey for y'all. If I was a jazz or classical guy, I'd have bought these and just enjoyed music on virtually any amplifier on the market. It's a special loudspeaker for the right audiophile.
I was very excited after I moved to Dallas to hear these SOTA open baffle horn loudspeakers. Chris Hesse is the former Diesis dealer who gladly setup his personal pair for me to hear one saturday afternoon. We had them setup on Dart/CH Port electronics.
It's a gorgeous loudspeaker - I know some will poo poo it for the cost (~$180k iirc), but when you walk around the speaker its Italian, expensive design just oozes quality materials and high end. High quality woods, leathers, metals, all in one congruous package. It's probably the highest quality open baffle speaker I've seen, and everything is in ultra high end materials and cabling (Kondo). Sonically, the speaker sounds ginormous. It isn't horny by most takes, but it certainly doesn't sound like a dynamic driver system. The Roma Triode completely disappears and the soundstage is enormous. What I was surprised with, compared to other horn speakers, was the Diesis transparency and resolution. Not one iota of horn coloration. It was all there in spades compared to my Fyne loudspeakers and imaging and other audiophile attributes were readily apparent. Treble extension was also very high, but natural to my ears. It didn't soften a lick, to my ears.
I did feel the speaker excelled with music above 50-60hz. Below that (like some of my electronica), there just wasn't enough drive or "umph." There is a matching 21" subwoofer, but I didn't hear that. I left feeling a bit of want for more. However, days later it was one of the most fond memories I've heard in my, going on 7 years, speaker journey for y'all. If I was a jazz or classical guy, I'd have bought these and just enjoyed music on virtually any amplifier on the market. It's a special loudspeaker for the right audiophile.
This speaker was consistently one of my favourites on my annual pilgrimage to Munich. I was impressed from the beginning by its natural and realistic sound….
Can you explain the amp setup? Were they biamped with Dart on the lower extremities and CS port tubes on the horn?
We use a pair of REL 31subs with both our Roma Triodes and Romas. Although unless playing electronica or hip-hop most visitors prefer the subs turned off. It depends on what music one listens to.
I personally prefer using the REL subs, not just for the extended bass but the increase of the depth of the soundstage and a more dense midrange without loosing the transparency and openness that the Diesis speakers inherently deliver.
We currently use either a Kondo Ongaku or a pair of 4 Watt 45 tubes Triode Lab mono amps to drive the RT or the Roma.
I personally prefer using the REL subs, not just for the extended bass but the increase of the depth of the soundstage and a more dense midrange without loosing the transparency and openness that the Diesis speakers inherently deliver.
We currently use either a Kondo Ongaku or a pair of 4 Watt 45 tubes Triode Lab mono amps to drive the RT or the Roma.
CS Port GM70 monos. I believe we were using a Dart preamp.
If I remember correctly, this pair of Roma Triodes has single binding post so you can only use one amplifier. Like I said, I drive the full speaker with 4 watt 45/amps as they are 99 DB efficient and very easy to drive.
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Stenheim Alumine 5SE-
I've always said since 2019, when my initial search began, that Stenheim was the most interesting, up and coming brand in the business. Meeting Jean Pascal at shows was a delight and you could easily get excited for the brand to grow in the US. Stenheim was making a relatively efficient (but not horn efficient) speaker that was coherent and natural sounding, but with a resolution and transparency that most high efficiency speakers lack. My issue with the original Alumine 5 was that it was a bit shelved down up top and the soundstage too ow on Doshi tubes. It therefore lacked some transparency. I went back to hear them locally, but with the SE improvements including an all new crossover with much higher grade components. I heard them on Pilium initially, but after hearing them subsequently on a Dart 18NS/108mk2 knew the latter was a far better match. The Dart/Stenhem had much better flow and decay than the Pilium, with the Dart's signature natural treble (the best amp I've ever heard on that trait).
The 5SE was an extremely resolute, natural sounding speaker in SE guise. As expected, the Dart electronics were far more linear than the Doshi tubes on the 5s and the SE version seemed much more coherent. Bass was better defined and while the soundstage wasn't as big as the Diesis, it was very good. Dynamics were delightful, far better than another speaker we tried in the same room, and it seemed to perform on all genres of music. Imaging was excellent, Johnny Cash's voice felt "in the room." Conversely, the speaker didn't disappear quite as much as the Diesis. Maybe that's the more traditional box, I'm not sure. There is some play with the offset tweeters, so positioning can be experimented with.
In short, I left wondering if the SE had been available in my post-YG search, that I very well might have chosen it over my Fyne F1-12s (at double the cost, to be fair to the Fynes). But I wasn't sure if the SE was a substantive upgrade to justify the cost. Speaking of price, the Stenheims always were above the competition but since the pandemic induced inflation, the prices are approximate to a Wilson Alexia or Magico M2/3. I would choose the Alumine 5SE over both of those competitors, as well as over the Rockport equivalent.
I've always said since 2019, when my initial search began, that Stenheim was the most interesting, up and coming brand in the business. Meeting Jean Pascal at shows was a delight and you could easily get excited for the brand to grow in the US. Stenheim was making a relatively efficient (but not horn efficient) speaker that was coherent and natural sounding, but with a resolution and transparency that most high efficiency speakers lack. My issue with the original Alumine 5 was that it was a bit shelved down up top and the soundstage too ow on Doshi tubes. It therefore lacked some transparency. I went back to hear them locally, but with the SE improvements including an all new crossover with much higher grade components. I heard them on Pilium initially, but after hearing them subsequently on a Dart 18NS/108mk2 knew the latter was a far better match. The Dart/Stenhem had much better flow and decay than the Pilium, with the Dart's signature natural treble (the best amp I've ever heard on that trait).
The 5SE was an extremely resolute, natural sounding speaker in SE guise. As expected, the Dart electronics were far more linear than the Doshi tubes on the 5s and the SE version seemed much more coherent. Bass was better defined and while the soundstage wasn't as big as the Diesis, it was very good. Dynamics were delightful, far better than another speaker we tried in the same room, and it seemed to perform on all genres of music. Imaging was excellent, Johnny Cash's voice felt "in the room." Conversely, the speaker didn't disappear quite as much as the Diesis. Maybe that's the more traditional box, I'm not sure. There is some play with the offset tweeters, so positioning can be experimented with.
In short, I left wondering if the SE had been available in my post-YG search, that I very well might have chosen it over my Fyne F1-12s (at double the cost, to be fair to the Fynes). But I wasn't sure if the SE was a substantive upgrade to justify the cost. Speaking of price, the Stenheims always were above the competition but since the pandemic induced inflation, the prices are approximate to a Wilson Alexia or Magico M2/3. I would choose the Alumine 5SE over both of those competitors, as well as over the Rockport equivalent.
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May be Audio Arts in NYC can provide you with a test sample
They used to be at least a dealer/ importer afaik.
So you can add it to your WBF shoot out and for WBF promotion / entertainment in general
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So, are you changing to them? Based on the demos I have heard, I think I would take your Fynes over the Stenheim 5se.
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