a few points of clarification. .....The Plural Evo, Reference Klassik and Reference Ultra are from 3 different Zellaton series and therefore there is a big disparity between price point and performance. Yet having said that Ray commented how good the PE was. He did seem to prefer the Reference Klassik at Taiko headquarters but IIRC that speaker is at least twice the cost of the PE. Ray is anxious to hear the Reference Ultra and IIRC it is over 3x the price of the PE. Further each speaker has its own unique set of drivers and crossovers so there is comparison and contrast yet there remains the Zellaton signature as the drivers are all made in house by Zellaton. The Ultra series also has different Duelend capacitors as well as crossovers and drivers from the Klassik series. The Klassik drivers appear silver color whereas the EVO and Ultra series are black. Bottom line, just like any speaker mfr, there is a sonic signature yet every model or series brings something more and/or something different to the table. That's why Im hoping ray will find some time (or maybe even Emile) to comment about the Klassik vs EVO series
Back home after a very engaging and fun weekend in Costa Mesa. Wonderful to see folks in person, and catch up.
Thanks again to Steve and Cathy for so graciously hosting
@nenon and me last night. As Steve mentioned, I had been over to enjoy his listening space and hospitality before, when Lukasz visited to debut the Horizon360 with XDMI going to the Taiko Olympus. I had recently received my Olympus as well and completed extensive listening tests (documented in my long form Olympus review
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/revi...audio-olympus-music-server-part-1-of-2-r1305/ ) so I was very familiar with the Olympus sound. That was my first time hearing the Olympus+Horizon XDMI combo, and my first time hearing Steve's system, with his (at the time) Wilsons.
Since then, after many years of digital optimization, I've been on a bit of a world tour auditioning various speakers (part of my on-going Reality Quest). This included a visit earlier this year with Emile Bok and team at Taiko in the Netherlands, where Emile has the Zellaton Classic Reference speakers as part of his reference system. After spending a couple days in Emile's listening room, I was blown away by what I was hearing with the Zellaton + Olympus combination, and it quickly moved to the top of my interest list.
I read with interest about the new ultra series and the EVO series, but had not had a chance to hear them (alas Gideon was traveling last time I was in NYC). When Steve mentioned he had the Plural EVOs in house as a loaner while waiting on his Ultra speakers, I was hyper keen to hear what so many had been saying such wonderful things about.
First, by way of background, several years ago I gave up large full range speakers and went all in on single drivers (most recently Voxativ 9.87's with the Vox 4d drivers), in a quest to get ultimate coherence, transparency, imaging, and speed. I've come to learn that I'm unusually phase sensitive, but very tolerant of tonal imbalances (my brain does natural EQ for that). The Vox's for me give almost full 360 surround imaging, and with improved sources and music content, create a remarkable experience of being in the recording space with the performers. The combination of point source audio and no cross overs and 103dB+ sensitivity has been magical.
For many years I had been pushing my system to get more and more of this sense of "reality", but at the same time, missing the authority and physicality that larger full range speakers bring to the party. With this latest refresh cycle, I was keen to see how much of this missing authority and physicality I could bring back, without losing that amazing holographic phase coherence and speed that I've become so addicted to.
I've always admired the authority and solidity of the Wilson presentation, but always found myself wishing for more when it came to speed, bite at attack edges, and coherence. In Steve's room about 6 months ago with the Olympus and H360, I was finally hearing hints of what I was hoping to hear, but they were still distant from where I was hoping to get to. I appreciate and admire Wilson, but that session was a realization for me that I would be giving up too much of what I love with the Vox's to get everything the Vox's don't have with the Wilsons. Time to keep looking.
In Emile's room, it was my first time hearing a happy combination of these presentations. In Steve's room last night was the second time. I had high expectations with the Plurals, but they exceed them. The contrast between the EVO's and Wilson's in Steve's room and system was striking.
I was immediately struck by the speed and control of the Plurals, and the considerable range that they were able to cover (I was expecting more bookshelf'ish response, but these are real deal). It was amazing how well they scaled to meet the contributions of the rest of the chain. The range and authority was a step down (or two) from the Wilsons, but the speed, imaging, and control was spectacular. There was very little (if any) slop or overshoot on attacks, the the brilliant bass resolution and imaging of the recording space that the Olympus delivers so well was wonderfully present.
It is difficult to compare listening sessions and experiences separated in time, but I would definitely give the edge to the classic reference Zell's I heard at Taiko. There was a wonderful coherence of presentation that gave me a new found appreciation of the importance of speaker drivers being built the same (something I take for granted with my single driver Vox's).
In Emile's room, I was remember more spatial resolution and depth, and more extension of the sound stage beyond the speakers and even to the sides and behind me. There was even more of that exquisite sense of precision and control that (on more challenging) tracks exceeded what I heard with the Plurals -- the classic reference Zells could just roll through more challenging material and reproduce it brilliantly, without breaking a sweat. The more the Olympus could reveal, the more the Zells could precisely present. In Emile's room, my spidey sense was that his Elysium amps were the first component that was approaching limits. I felt the Olympus and Zell's had more to give, which given what the Elysiums are capable of, is truly remarkable.
That being said, the Plurals hit WAY above their weight class. World class speaker in this price range, that can not only keep up with world class systems, but showcase them in the best light possible. These are speakers you would be delighted to install and call it a day and just enjoy the music.
Needless to say, having now heard the EVOs and classic reference Zells in world class rooms, it has me over the moon excited to hear the reference ultras once Steve takes delivery. I have not yet had the opportunity to hear the ultra drivers, but in rooms and with systems like Steve's, it is certain to be breath taking. Very much looking forward to a return visit to hear what the ultras are capable of revealing
Thanks again for a delightful evening Steve! I learned a tremendous amount from the session, and the company and music was marvelous.
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