Living
Voice, Kondo and Engström
June
8, 2021
Roy,
I
just finished re-reading your Living Voice Vox Palladian/Palladian Basso review from two years ago.
If I may ask two questions: what were the dimensions of the room in which you listened to
them for the review (width x length x height); and have you had occasion to hear the
Living Voice horn speakers with Kondo amplification, and if so, how would you compare that
listening experience to what you hear with Engström Lars amplification?
Al
Stewart
I
used the Vox Palladian/Palladian Basso setup in my current listening room, which is 6.75m
wide x 9.5m long x 4m high (22' x 31' x 13’) with the Lars (but also various other
amps, including a Kondo 300B SE integrated -- its name escapes me). I also used the Vox
Olympian system in my previous, slightly smaller listening room (around half a meter less
in each direction, but with a vaulted ceiling of between 3.5 and 5m) with both the Lars
and the original Kondo Gakuoh (not the current version, which is a fish of quite a
different flavor, of which more in a moment). On top of that, I have spent considerable
time listening to both systems with Kondo (mainly Gakuoh) amps in different locations,
including the dedicated Vox room at Definitive Audio in Nottingham.
How
do the Lars and the Kondo amps compare? Much as I like the rich tonality, substance,
presence and dimensionality of the Kondos, I prefer the incisive immediacy, focus,
transparency and temporal precision of the Lars. The Kondos sound more sumptuous and
musically upholstered, but they also sound a little lazy and over-stuffed when compared to
the dynamic discrimination and tension, texture and agility of the Lars. In some respects
that also reflects my preference for the Vox Palladian over its more illustrious and
expensive compatriot. Having said that, I’ve listened long and seriously enjoyed the
experience of the Palladian partnered with the original Gakuoh and the degree of
difference here is well within the bounds of personal preference. Until I heard the
speakers with the Lars, it was difficult to believe in a better match. Any fan of the
Gakuoh need have no qualms about pairing it with the Vox speakers. Likewise, the speakers
will play to and reflect the qualities of Kondo’s single-ended or parallel
single-ended amps if they are your thing. For me, the push-pull 300B approach delivers
more grip and dynamic authority, but you may well prefer the alternative.
One
thing that you don’t mention is the vintage of the Kondo amps in question. Do not
confuse the original Kondo designs of Hiroyasu Kondo with the more recent products
produced by Masaki Ashizawa since Kondo-san’s death in 2006. Although the original
designs continued for some years, they have now been almost completely replaced, the newer
models typically sporting the scalloped, three-bay fascia. These newer designs are quite
different and sonically quite distinct from those on which the company’s reputation
was built. They also have their following, but to my ears they lack the core musical
virtues that made the Kondo-penned designs so memorable. The point here is that when you
read about Kondo amps in conjunction with the Vox speakers, either in reviews or show
reports, it is the original Kondo products that are being referred to and, although many
of the traditional Kondo names have continued in use with the newer models, the two ranges
should not be confused.
One
final twist in this particular tale: I recently heard the Vox Palladian with the CH
Precision P1/L1/X1/A1.5 combination and that was revelatory -- both in terms of the music
and the speakers’ capabilities. The Vox systems do seem to be speakers that transcend
the normal strictures and limitations of horn designs and what you might partner them
with. -Roy Gregory
"Please
add me"
June
1, 2021
Marc,
Please
add me to the reader list. Thanks.
Richard
Buttala
You
have been added. To join TAB's reader e-mail list and find out about new articles
first, send e-mail to rl@theaudiobeat.com.
-Marc Mickelson
