Andrei
Active Member
So, since yesterday I'm one happy owner of the impressive XTZ 95.44 speakers.
Tested them in the showroom hooked to a big Arcam receiver (a model from the new series - AVR 750 maybe?...) and with a NAIM CD/DAC unit.
From the first listen I was impressed with the crushing sound and impressive stature, and also with the resolution these speakers were putting out (you know that feeling when it seems that the music slows down and you can analyze each detail, you can almost visualise it). Still I felt that something was not at full potential, like the amplifier was struggling to drive these babies. Anyway, it was clear that these speakers are capable of offering some serious listening. Next, just for the sake of comparison and out of curiosity, I tried a pair of Focal 716, and horror, had to turn them off after a minute, it was like suddenly jumping from a BMW into a VW minivan. Next, also tried a pair of small Epos EPic 1, and horror again, had to turn the music off after a few seconds. As the guy there said too, it was clear that it was a mistake going from up scale down the scale and that maybe we should have tried in the reverse from the beginning. It was clear that the XTZs were in another league compared to the Focals or Epics.
Anyway, once I got home I hooked them to my vintage but mint Pioneer 757 amplifier and man! this monster really got hold of the speakers and controlled them like the Arcam in the showroom could only dream of. The bass is clearly more controlled as opposed in the showroom where it was out in the wild, so to speak, the sound received even more finesse, the soundstage deepened.
Tested them in the showroom hooked to a big Arcam receiver (a model from the new series - AVR 750 maybe?...) and with a NAIM CD/DAC unit.
From the first listen I was impressed with the crushing sound and impressive stature, and also with the resolution these speakers were putting out (you know that feeling when it seems that the music slows down and you can analyze each detail, you can almost visualise it). Still I felt that something was not at full potential, like the amplifier was struggling to drive these babies. Anyway, it was clear that these speakers are capable of offering some serious listening. Next, just for the sake of comparison and out of curiosity, I tried a pair of Focal 716, and horror, had to turn them off after a minute, it was like suddenly jumping from a BMW into a VW minivan. Next, also tried a pair of small Epos EPic 1, and horror again, had to turn the music off after a few seconds. As the guy there said too, it was clear that it was a mistake going from up scale down the scale and that maybe we should have tried in the reverse from the beginning. It was clear that the XTZs were in another league compared to the Focals or Epics.
Anyway, once I got home I hooked them to my vintage but mint Pioneer 757 amplifier and man! this monster really got hold of the speakers and controlled them like the Arcam in the showroom could only dream of. The bass is clearly more controlled as opposed in the showroom where it was out in the wild, so to speak, the sound received even more finesse, the soundstage deepened.
