July
2010
Exclusive
review of the TIDAL Contriva Diacera SE:
"The science of beauty".
Marc
Mickelson, writer and founder of "The Audiobeat", and formerly
editor in chief of "Soundstage", published an exclusive
review about the Contriva Diacera SE.
 |
"...My
persistent thought about the Contriva Diacera SE's was that
they are for true connoisseurs, for experienced listeners
who have made the equipment rounds and come to value tonal
and harmonic rightness along with high-frequency sophistication
over boom and bluster.
The Tidal speakers urge you to lean into your music, to
lose yourself in it, instead of simply to listen to the
sound coming from them...
While Jörn Janczak set out to design a speaker that strictly
adheres to the scientific principles of reproducing sound,
I think he's created something that's much more than this:
a speaker that is immediately likeable and forever engaging,
a speaker through which you want to experience your music,
not simply play your CDs and LPs."
|
"A litany of the Contriva Diacera SE's merits -- its unique
and varied treble, its chameleon-like ability to change with
each recording, the way it absorbs listeners -- doesn't come
close to summing it up, and that's much of its charm.
More than anything, it provides a unique standard of beauty
-- not the cloying kind we've come to think of when the word
is applied to sonic reproduction, but one that's universal --
like a sunset over the ocean or a rose in full bloom....
We have come to value beauty in just about every facet of our
lives, so why not with our music as well? Music is beautiful,
and the Tidal Contriva Diacera SEs were a constant reminder
of this."
Please feel free to read more at: www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/tidal_contriva_diacera_se.htm |
June 2010
TIDAL
has changed the distribution in the U.S.
As of June 1, 2010, a wholly owned
subsidiary, "TIDAL Audio Imports USA", based in 94020 La Honda,
California, is now overseeing the sales, distribution and marketing
of TIDAL products in the USA. We will continue to fully support
our existing dealers and customers. Please contact us directly with
any questions, warranty issues or general info.
Also we are glad to inform you that we exhibit at the Rocky Mountain
Audio Fest high end show in Denver, Colorado (15th - 17th of October
2010). We will show a truly special and sophisticated setup.
--
 --
May 2010
We
did exhibit at the HIGHEND 2010 show in Munich.
Praised as on of the very best rooms
for natural sound reproduction at the whole show, we were visted by
many visitors.
 |
First place in best sound 2010 Munich high end - TIDAL
Sunray
“This is the first time TIDAL displayed its reference speakers
- the Sunrays.
Driven by 4 Impact mono amps, an LPX and the new Presencio
preamp.
TIDAL has set new standards in naturalness, explosive dynamics
and accurate bass, with amazingly deep and third dimensioned
sound stage, when all of those elements were present in the
recorded event. The high frequencies were presented in full
scale with sparkle, transparency, definition and accurate
timbre.
|
Sometimes, speakers wow you in the first hour, only to become
fatiguing and annoying as time goes by. Not so with the TIDAL
Sunray - even after longer listening session, we found ourselves
still rocking our feet, enjoying the music’s intimacy and tempo.
The
sound remained accurate thru out our session with neutral balance
and tonal accuracy. One of the Sunray’s exceptional attributes
is its very wide dynamic range that created that ”live event”
feel. These speakers are tonally accurate, allow great separation
between notes, and are able to reproduce even the most minute
harmonies very faithfully. And compared to other large speakers
they almost completely disappear in the room."
Tomer Tzinn, Dtown audio magazin |
 |
"I find it very interesting that when walking a show with
as many rooms as this show presents (and CES) - after a while,
most setups morph into a steady stream of sameness. Not so with
TIDAL. Wherever and whenever I hear the TIDAL loudspeakers and/or
electronics I am moved to that special place that begins to
imagine what they would sound like in my home.
In a word: I immediately become envious. This was certainly
among the top sounding rigs I witnessed at this year's show."
Clement
Perry, Stereotimes
|
 |
"Best Sound of Show" (www.frank-landmesser.de)
"I was certain that the outstanding demonstration in the
TAD room was impossible to top, but I ended up puzzled in the
TIDAL room: until then I was always thinking this brand is similar
to Burmester and MBL, means it has a million dollar look but
a poor sound. What a fallacy: unfortunatelly beyond ones reach,
but incredibly homogenious with an extreme bandwidth, stability
and resolution the sound was close to perfection and showed
real masterliness. Chapeau!" |
April 2010
We
do exhibit at the HIGHEND 2010 in Munich
March
2010
We
present our new reference pre amplifier: TIDAL Presencio.
Ultimate details for ultimate function
allows us to present maybe a new standard
if it comes to control the most sensitive music signals from a turntable
and high level sources and delivering it to the power amplififer.
 |
Three
true balanced phono input's incl. free configuration for each
cartridge, channel selected power supply and an unique level
adjustment technology are just some very few details we list
here.
Please feel free to consider nothing less then rediscovering
vinyl after hearing the new TIDAL Presencio.
|
February 2010
Abouthifi.com
reviewed theTIDAL Contriva:
|
"... On to the sonic attributes, this system has a truly
unique approach, combining resolution that totally unveils
a recording, with musical conveyance that directly addresses
our inner feeling. From the first listening moments, focus
is inevitably drawn to the stark realism in which the musical
event is presented, as well as to minute details of the production
that hadn’t been observed before, even on the most familiar
recordings...
|
|
...The
Contrivas don’t care to butter their audience, or their
ancillaries, or the recorded material for that matter. They
cast light inside every dimple of the musical sheet, leaving
no shadows. As time goes by and the initial impression fades,
music starts talking to the feeling, showing how easily
this setup can establish communication with its audience,
through the Contrivas...
|
...So, generous and “big sounding” as the Contrivas may be,
they neither disrupt the “order” of proportions nor do they
tend to favor gigantism. At the same time, they seem inexhaustible
when it comes to dynamic transients and tireless when it comes
to bringing out all the detail that made it, through the recording
console, to the production.
The overall experience of auditioning the Contrivas could be
filed under those rare moments when someone is put in front
of the truth, but without experiencing any discomfort, whilst
having their senses cleared-up and readied to follow the music."
Read more: www.abouthifi.com/first_impressions_more.php?s=tWg#
|
January 2010
TIDAL
displayed the flagship Sunray at the CES in Las Vegas 2010:
|
STEREOTIMES: Best of CES 2010.
"Now, down to Best of Show (for these ears)...The 3-tier stacked
modules that make up the German-made Tidal Sunray loudspeaker
using Bridge Audio Laboratories (BAlabo) electronics - including
their new DAC - really had this room singing by the 2nd day
(last minute burn-in assisted in a hardness that went away
after the first day)...
|
 |
...Sonic-wise,
the sound was impressively fast and dynamic, with a sense
of harmonic rightness that easily put me at ease.
Bass energy was a bit on the full-side considering the smallish
size of the room, but all in all, I would nominate this
as being my second most favorite sounding setup at this
year's CES!"
Clement
Perry, Stereotimes
|
|
STEREOTIMES:
Best of CES 2010, part 2:
"Another candidate for “Best of Show” would have to
be the Tidal and BAlabo room. I probably played more of
my discs in this room than in any other.
I’ve listened to a number of Tidal products over the last
couple of years but their second from the top-of-the-line
loudspeaker, the Sunray, is something special.
It uses (4) 9” side firing black-ceramic diaphragm woofers,
(2) 7” midrange-woofers, and (1) 1.2” tweeter.
The soundstage dominated the room but it wasn’t hard to
imagine just how extraordinarily satisfying these speakers
can be when paired with high-quality amplification like
the BAlabo BP-1 Mk II amplifier and in a larger listening
space like, oh, say my listening room for instance (hint,
hint).
Dave
Thomas, Stereotimes
|
|
MAGAZIN AUDIO: Best of CES 2010.
"To begin the presentation of this system, two words spring
to mind: It's giant! in every meaning of the word, the CES
began here and if you missed this demonstration well it's
"just too bad", because it really made the trip worth it.
You enter a world of high-end, each part of the design perfectly
integrated to form one coherent high performance. Each of
the companies featured in the system have played their role,
to give us their show, one of the best of CES 2010.
These sculptural speakers stand almost 2 meters tall (actually
quite a bit more), code name: Sunray, trivia: It is the
first time that this speaker is demonstrated to the public
in North America, consider us fortunate to be able to see
and hear this system developed with care and passion. For
the record, the gentleman who is the brain behind the TIDAL
Sunray, is as tall as his "toys".
|
|
Use whatever superlative, that comes to mind, say what you
have to ... I have no words to describe this system. This
is no ordinary system, please realise, how rare it is to visit
exhibitors as well equipped, prepared and coordinated as is
the case here.
Despite an unfavorable acoustic, this set was beautifully
behaved, the dynamics of the subjective tone of voice, everything
was in place, though we could have been overwhelmed by such
an sizeable stature in front of us, so imposing and yet, fluid
and graceful, the sound was fine, far, far from ordinary.
You
might think of certain "large" speakers driven by monsters
of uncontrolled power, but not here, only sound of music playing.
|
|
I congratulate all those people involved who have worked
for years to get to this point, I may be far from your reality,
but what you presented at CES 2010 is simply masterful.
I
feel obligated to acknowledge the extraordinary work of
design, which means I will extraordinarily bestow two accolades,
one for the design and one for sound quality. Congratulations,
you amazed me, what you have made is great art."
Marc Philip, Magazine Audio
|
The
Audiobeat: CES & THE Show 2010 • Best of Show
"Big speakers and expensive, statement-level electronics
crammed into small rooms are usually wasted at best and a
sign of hubris at worst. But sometimes the whole thing works
sonically in spite of the close quarters, and that was the
case with the system BAlabo distributor Fred Nadel put together.
A pair of BAlabo BP-1 Mk II stereo amps drove Tidal Sunray
speakers, producing such gorgeous tonality and copious physical
presence that we could have listened here for the entire afternoon.
Also in use from BAlabo was a BC-1 Mk II preamp, which the
company calls a "control amp," and the new BD-1 32-bit digital-to-analog
converter...
|
 |
While
very large, the Tidal speakers offered precise physical
scaling on our demo cuts, and the BAlabo electronics seemed
to belie their solid-state nature.
While the soundstage was obviously lacking ultimate depth,
a byproduct of the cramped room, the sheer beauty on display
made this system memorable."
Marc Mickelson, The Audiobeat
|
CES
coverage of "Dagogo.com"
"As someone who used to own a pair of the Tannoy 15-inch
dual-concentric speaker, I recognized big sound when I hear
it. The Tidal Sunray of Germany ($178,600/pair) are large
speakers in dimensions, what with four woofers in one speaker,
plus two midrange and a tweeter.
The sound from these speakers are also big, but not in the
same manner as the Tannoys. Even more than other large speakers
at the CES, the Tidal Sunray was extraordinarily delicate
in tonal recreation. There was very high level of behavorial
refinement in its proportioning of dynamic contrasting and
dynamic scaling that I seldom hear from other speakers.
|
 |
I reckon
a large degree of what I'm hearing was attributable to the
two Balabo BP-1 MKII stereo amplifiers, which had one stereo
amp driving the top-end and midrange, with a second stereo
amp driving the bass.
In addition, considering that it was a Zanden transport
that was held by many in high regard, driving a Balabo BD-1
DAC, there was certain assurance in resolution attained.
Very dynamic, powerful and yet refined performance overall."
|
"My
initial inclination was, as in years past, to talk about the
two or three rooms which, given my particular priorities, sounded
the best IMHO; however, given the numerous rooms that really
sounded good, this does a real disservice to those which escape
mention.
Instead, it seemed much more interesting to talk about the products
that fired up my imagination. In no particular order, these
are as follows:
- the Ypsilon Aelius Hybrid monoblocks
- the Bergman turntable
- the TIDAL Sunray speakers
- the Steve Dobbins turntable and Reed tonearm
- the EMM Labs XSD1 SACD player
- the Lamm ML3 mono amps
- the Audio Note (UK) Gakuon amps and M9/S9 phono preamp"
Constantine Soo, dagogo |
CES
showreport - Stereophile:
"...Here it was paired with a loudspeaker new to me,
the towering, 500 lb Tidal Sunray, whose 6'8" designer, Jörn
Janczak, is equally imposing. The rest of the system included
two BAlabo 500Wpc stereo amps, with one amp performing bass
duty on the bi-amped Sunray; and the new BAlabo BD-1 24/192
DAC....
Most notable about this system was the tremendous depth it
conveyed on Reference Recordings' Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances,
and the wonderful weight and richness in the lower mid-bass.
|
 |
Playing
Renaud Capucon's new recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto,
I was especially impressed by the clarity of rapid thwacks
on the timpani.
I'm sure Frederik Caroe's pure metal-film Dueland Coherent
Audio capacitors, which are handmade in Denmark, contributed
to the overall gestalt. The Tidal Sunray is definitely a
speaker I hope to explore further in a larger space.
|
 |
CES
showreport - Ultra High-End:
"Besides soulution, JV is enamored of the BAlabo (Bridge
Audio Laboratory) components, so I expected a lot when I
walked into the BAlabo, Tidal room.
The Tidal speakers I heard at RMAF were among the best of
show. Here, BAlabo partnered its BP-1 MK-II power amplifiers
with Tidal Sunray speakers.
They sounded spectacular. "
|
November 2009
Videohifi
Italy wrote a review about the TIDAL Amea:
 |
"First
of all, I was used to feel the ceramic sound as light, sometime
inconsistent. With this Amea there is nothing slight or
aerial.
You can easy feel a quite lack of coloration (this aspect
hits you directly), the remarkable dynamic quality even
macro but more micro, the ability to recreate an affective
image through a careful dynamic reconstruction....
....I never experienced before to listen a mini/midi speaker
with a so rare ability to ingenerate no confusion, no compression
at all (…) instrument tone seems really dependant from a
record quality (…) be sure that is you are playing a good
recording, you will increase the volume, never full of a
distinct sound, never euphonic at all, that brings you to
be rounded of music....
....I think
everyone who is looking for a speakers system of these dimensions
and that have an adequate budget (and an adequate system
below, you can’t joke with these Tidal!) have to put in
the list a listening session of these Amea. Is really likely
that, when you have the Amea in your room, you will revise
the whole discotheque to see… “the new sensation”."
|
Feel free
to read here more of it on the detailed site of the TIDAL Amea.
|
October 2009
TIDAL
at the
Rocky Mountain Audio Festival (RMAF) October 2009:
 |
"...In
Room 2004, I the TIDAL Contriva multiway floorstanders with
all ceramic and diamond drivers.... I think the best word
to describe the Tidal sound is beautiful, because it certainly
is that.
Joan Baez came across with more ambience than I heard with
the Focal Scalas and very good reproduction of her characteristic
tremolo and her fingerpicking...
|
...Though not quite as high in resolution as what I’m used to
listening to - nor, ultimately, as lifelike on something like
Guitar Gabriel’s “Keys to the Highway” - the Contriva's are
truly gorgeous-sounding transducers."
Avguide.com
|
 |
RMAF
2009: Best of Show
"...Though the Tidal Contriva Diacera SE speakers seemed
too large for the room in which they were used, the sound
they produced - big, fast, and musically detailed - overcame
any preconceived notions.
We expect a particular sound from speakers with ceramic
drivers - one that's unnaturally uptight, often constricting
dynamics and instrumental bloom. But these Tidal
speakers seem to be of a different breed, as the sound billowed
from them with ease and natural dynamic flow.
Hugh Masakela's "Stimela," a demo-music staple, was as forceful
and quick-paced as ever on LP. Some great sound in a small
room; what could all of this equipment do in a larger space?"
TheAudiobeat.com
|
May 2009
TIDAL
exhibits at the HIGHEND 2009 in Munich:
 |
Aside
of mostly loudness-sounding boomy rooms we were praised as
one of the most natural sounding rooms.
We presented a small, but very sophisticated setup. Therefor
we treated the room perfectly with components from Transparent-Acoustic.
|
As source
we used an Audiostone Pythagoras, the Thales tonarm and the
amplification was done by TIDAL Preos, TIDAL Impact Monobloc's.
As speakers we played our TIDAL Amea and Contriva. We would
like to say thank you very much to all the nice visitors.
|
April 2009
Herewith
we offer you to download as PDF your personal
TIDAL brochure:
February 2009
TIDAL Contriva: "World Class Loudspeakers from Germany".
Described as one of the finest loudspeakers we feel honored to be
praised in this very nice review at Stereotimes, written by Mike
Wright.
|
"...I
can say confidently, that I have not encountered a better
made speaker, prior to the time the Contrivas arrived in
my listening room. That includes most of what I can remember
of my speaker reviewing experiences and all of my CES experiences....
...Phrases such as “high frequency air”, “midrange presence”
and “low frequency performance”, seem mundane in comparison
to what's really going on. The performers, especially musicians,
and vocalists, came through with more realism than what
I had experienced before...
...I’d
be hard pressed to imagine that there is a loudspeaker significantly
better than the Contrivas. When you take into account their
thoughtful design, quality of finish, solid build quality,
and stunning musical virtues, you get a speaker that could
be on anyone's short list of the ultimate loudspeaker."
Feel
free to read the full review here:
http://www.stereotimes.com/speak020209.shtml
|
December 2008
TIDAL Amea Diacera.
|
We
present the TIDAL Amea Diacera.
Instead of long words we just say: it is the finest and
most noble compact speaker in all aspects we know of.
|
October 2008
TIDAL Contriva is voted to the best products in 2008.
|
STEREOTIMES:
TIDAL Contriva loudspeaker choice of the year 2008.
"If we had a category for “component of the year”,
this would be it for me personally.
The Contrivas took my musical enjoyment to a height I didn’t
know was possible in my listening room. I’m still going
through withdrawal with having sent them back to the distributor.
I first heard these speakers at this years CES and thought
they were exceptional then. Having them at home did nothing
short of convince me of how wonderful they really are. I
reached new heights of realism, presence, performance at
the frequency extremes, and most importantly, a level connectedness
to the music I had not felt before.
Every time I turned on my system, each album or CD I played,
I was not just sitting there listening to music, it was
more like an “experience.”"
[Mike Wright]
|
September 2008
ARGENTO
Audio, premium cable manufacturer is now the official distributor
of TIDAL for whole Scandinavia. As example of first clients reactions,
we like to share this example from a client in Sweden:
|
"Dear TIDAL Audio,
Will start to thank TIDAL Audio for their support before
I decide to buy one of their speakers, you not only buy
a product, you also get their knowledge and very good service.
Start with the looks and finish. This speaker looks like
a speaker should look like, nothing fancy or catchy, just
a classic look who will win in the long run. I choose a
ebony-macassar veneer, this finish is so fine that I can't
describe it with a picture or in text, you must see it in
reality. Buildquality is 100%.
All of this don't mean so much if they don't sound good,
but they do. This speaker is for people who love music,
now you want me to describe all of the hifiparameters that
all do but I won't. They are like a good red wine or a book,
it is just a pleasure to listen to music over these speakers.
Under my 3 months with these speaker I have never listen
to so much music, while I have listen to all this music
I have never thought, how does they sound. So good and right
are they for me.
Best regards Anders"
|
More impressions
and pictures here:
http://www.euphonia-audioforum.se/forums/index.php?showtopic=5760&hl=tidal
http://www.euphonia-audioforum.se/forums/index.php?showtopic=5809&hl=tidal
August 2008
|
Jörn
Janczak, founder and head behind TIDAL, has been voted as
"Business Man of the Month"
from Germany's business-journal "impulse".
We don't see it as a neccessary indicator for what we are
doing here with passion and joy - but as little honour doing
things right here at our TIDAL company for almost 10 years
now.
|
July 2008
New: TIDAL Impact Monobloc
This
new power amplifier uses the same design and highly praised
internal amplification module like the Impact - for a very good
reason. Cause there was no wish for us and all who saw and heared
it to improve this. This is why we drove this technology to
the limit and designed a fully controlled power supply for it
and used the whole inner space for it why only one channel was
over for it. And we had our true Monobloc. Disadvantage: one
needs two of these beauties now.
But the effort is all worth it, it is simply the best amplifier
we know of.
|
|
We did not changed the design from the outside - why should
one change here something ;-)? The real difference between
Impact and Impact Monobloc is behind the glossy shine.....
|
|
As
new feature the TIDAL Impact Monobloc has a remote power
on/off, intelligent controlled by the Preos. With its special
master/slave input and output it controlls also several
Impact Monobloc's.
|
June 2008
Mondo-Audio,
new TIDAL general importer for Italy received their first pairs
of TIDAL Amea and TIDAL Piano, we would like to share the nice words
with you:
 |
"...They
look gorgeous; the finishes are absolutely the best I ever
saw. The standing is at top level and the sound extremely
engaging.
Piano is really magical, she faces any kind of music with
energy and fascination. Great heart, she don’t try to convince
you, she plays music and nothing else. Never insecure, no
minimal distortion also at high volumes.
|
Musicality of Piano is real and the presence of the musical
message is really something that I never heard before. Soundstage
is very detailed, large and focused, they are absolutely persuading.
They are speakers which you can fall in love with.
Sometime I'm supposing they play so well because they charm
me with their look. So I close my eyes and concentrate only
on what I'm hearing... Conclusion is that Piano are a superb
music machine." |
 |
"They
are very detailed and coherent and, with their stands, a
craftsmanship masterpiece.
I cannot appreciate them at Piano level because they are
still bind but at the first sound they appear with all their
high status and stand out for their quality and potentials.
They need a little more attention on setup to find the best
position to appreciate their quality. When found, you can
notice they are a complete speaker with quality that you
can find only on systems that cost twice the price.
In any case I would buy them also only for their look. ;-)
They deserve a refined and luxury house to find their accommodation."
|
(MONDO
Audio, official importer for Italy, www.mondoaudio.it)
May
2008
The
TIDAL T1 - our top of the line loudspeaker.
 |
.....If
you have ever experienced the small TIDAL Amea, then you
will know that there is no need for having more to be happy
with. So where is the reason to offer such a - in all aspects
breathtaking - speaker?
The answer is actually pretty simple:
it was created for our love to music, our passion for designing
speakers and to find out the sonic frontiers of realistic
music reproduction. And therefor for people who still admire
such things.
The T1 is designed to play fully passive without any compromise,
every detail is balanced for an experience which makes typical
phrases of sound describtion obsolete.
We do promise with the T1 nothing less and nothing more
then that.
|
 |
The
TIDAL T1 is:
- the unique Sunray exclusively equipped with a pure silver
cross-over
- the unique T1-Subtowers, designed to extend the F3 point
of the Sunray and to create the most realistic reproduction
of deep frequencies without any own sound
- the active cross-over LPX for the free option of driving
the Subtowers and / bass modules partly active - for endless
configurations and combinations even of different amplifiers
|
 |
The
T1 Sunray has the most expensive and exclusive passive cross-over
inside we know of. The parts for this cross-over are easily
more expensive then the diamond tweeter we are using.
But it is not about prices or simple superlatives, it is
to give you an idea what it needed to improve a speaker
like the Sunray. Cause it was not possible for us to improve
this speaker - except for using components which cost more
then a pair of our fine TIDAL Contriva.
This is when we decided to build the T1 and look for the
sonic frontiers in reproducing music in the most realistic
and natural way.
|
Together with the Subtowers one can have an experience which
we describe very simple: all what the T1 is doing is presenting
the artist - and not itself. If one is open for that experience,
the only alternative we know of then is live music. And that
means we reached all of our goals with it. |
April 2008
TIDAL
importers do receive their very first models of the Contriva,
afterwards one can read a very nice example, we would like to share
the pleasure:
 |
"....Many things are said in the international world
of high-end for products that use advanced technology and
design. Some are following the classical pattern with brand
names, heavy in history, which they use as proof for the
supposed excellent sound they offer....
|
|
....some of their speakers unfortunately have the approval
and support of the reviewers although they don't follow any
electro acoustic engineering rules. On the other hand some
speakers disappear in their performance, but the critical
issue, is what remains in doing so.
The sound stage, the presence, the layering, how fast, how
smooth it is, or if it is not, are only some of the specifications
used to evaluate the sound quality of a speaker. After living
the two past months with a "TIDAL" , I can honestly say, in
my amazement, that at last have found a speaker that can eliminate
the surrounding space giving me the feeling that the musical
event is taking place alive before my eyes.
Truly, beyond the cold numbers which are the result of technical
measurements - we tested the Contriva in the lab and it is
technically amazing - the TIDAL are indeed speakers that have
the ability to create emotions. The kind of music is of no
importance, a TIDAL, talks directly to the subconscious travelling
you in the place and time where the event actually happened.
It is so true, effortless and clear that it seems that you
hear familiar music, but at the same time you feel as if you
hear it for the first time. TIDAL as a real time-machine travels
you from the present to the past, to a recording which took
place five minutes ago or fifty years ago, and I am certain
that you will still have them after a hundred years and they
will still have the magical power to transfer you through
time.
TIDAL is a dream, with a TIDAL you live your dream, and as
we all know that living your dream is priceless.
Best regards Anastassios"
(SIRIUS-Group, TIDAL importer Greece, www.sirius-group.com)
|
March 2008
Our Hongkong distribution "AudioExotics" received its
first pair of TIDAL "Piano Diacera" - nothing special
in particular but what we like is sharing the pleasure and using
this is example to get confirmed that TIDAL speakers do not sound
"ceramic" or "diamond" - in the best and most
natural way:
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"....The
exquisite finish must seen in real person to appreciate.
It is the best piano lacquer that I have ever seen.....
TIDAL Piano Diacera, although having 2 ceremique drivers
on the front, doesn't sound anything like ceremique, music
is soft and mellow with timidity and uncompromised speed
and rhythm.
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Compared
to the ****** , the presence of the ceramique drive is so much
more transparent..... The speakers are amazing! It does not
sound like ceramique or diamond as you said."
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Feel
free to read furthergoing impressions at the famous Audioexotics-forum:
- TIDAL Preos - Welcome to Audioexotics
-
Piano Diacera - The Empress's New Clothes
- TIDAL Impact - David vs. Goliath
January 2008
TIDAL
presents at the C.E.S.
in Las Vegas 2008 his new Contriva:
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Positive
Feedback, CES 2008 show report, wrote:
"....This
system was incredible!
Half Note Audio featured TIDAL Contriva loudspeakers, ASR
Emitter II amplifiers, Stylos SYS DAC and Argento cables.
What a pleasure to sit and listen to our music here ...
this is only one of about four rooms we actually had the
time to sit and listen."
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STEREOTIMES,
Mike Wright's CES 2008 show report:
" Half Note Audio / TIDAL / ASR
This was absolutely one of the best, if not my favorite,
room at CES this year.
This was the room that I kept coming back and comparing
the other rooms to. Daniel and Jae Barnum, et al, put on
a wonderful demo that was musically involving, balanced,
dynamic and detailed.
The team did a wonderful job of setting up the system to
give you a nice stage with a good sense of depth and layering.
Music came by way of the beautiful TIDAL Contrivas being
driven by the majestic looking ASR Emitter II Exclusive.
Digital source came via an Oracle transport driving the
Stylos HAD D/A Converter. Argento Serenity Master Reference
cables and Argento Flow Power cables were used throughout.
Equipment rack was provided by Audiostone and the isolation
bases were Critical Mass Systems Grand Master Isolation
System. "
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Douglas
White, CEO of Matrx Systems, USA, wrote:
"....Congratulations on the Contriva.
It's a fabulous sounding speaker and, in fact, the most
complete speaker product I've seen and listened to in my
31 years in audio.
The sound we were getting at the show was very musical and
clearly better than every room I visited. "
from left: Douglas White
(Matrx Systems, Pennsylvania), TIDAL Contriva, Jörn
Janczak (CEO and designer
of TIDAL)
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STEREOTIMES,
Clement Perry's CES 2008 show report:
"Half Note Audio put on an absolutely
excellent sounding demo using electronics I've seen before
but never heard perform like this.
The new Tidal Contriva loudspeaker of Germany shown in African
Mohogany) sounded remarkably detailed and musical driven
with an ASR Emitter II Integrated amplifier.
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Cabling throughout was Argento Serenity Master
and Flow AC cords. Digital was by way of another newbie I heard briefly
last year at the Munich High End show, in the Ascendo room: the Stylos
SYS dac, while an Oracle top loader was the transport of choice.
No question, this was one of the best sounding rooms I've had the
pleasure of visiting and spending a good amount of time in. "
Dave
Thomas from STEREOTIMES wrote:
" Half Note Audio: Daniel Barnum of high-end
distributor Half Note Audio (a real life descendant of P.T. Barnum
himself) is fast becoming one of the most fascinating people in the
industry to me.
While many U.S. distributors are looking for inexpensive products
that can be sold to the masses, Daniel seeks products that frankly,
only a small tribe of people might be interested in or can afford.
The roster of manufacturers represented in his room at the Venetian
reads more like a “Who’s Who” of European hi-fi "
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"I
must have visited more than one hundred rooms during the
week and I know I still missed getting to many more. In
fact, I ended my coverage of the high-end exhibits early
on the last day so that I would still have a little time
to check out some of the exhibits over at the Las Vegas
Convention Center (a.k.a. The Zoo)....But out of all the
exhibits I saw I managed to come up with a list of the
Ten Best Rooms at the Shows.
I like each of these rooms for a variety of reasons. All
offered great sound but some were chosen because they represented
great values while some were selected due to there sheer
beauty and combination of strengths.
So here they are in alphabetical order:
- April Music: Aura Note and Aura Speaker
- Audio Design & Marketing: Berning, TW-Acustic, German
Physiks, Exemplar
- Avatar Acoustics: Abbingdon Research, Karan Acoustics,
Acoustic Systems
- Bertrand Audio Imports: Perfect 8/Bridge Audio Labs
- Half Note Audio:
ASR, TIDAL, Stylos, Audiostone, Pythagoras, Argento, Critical
Mass
- King Sound Oracle
- MBL
- NAT Distribution: Raysonic, JAS Audio
- Signals Super-Fi: Vitus Audio, German Physiks, Continuum,
Stereovox
- World Hi-Fi Group: Escalante, Electrocompaniet
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Beside of the Contriva premiere we supported
another manufacturer with our classic TIDAL Piano and TIDAL Impact:
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Audiostone/Thales presented his 80.000,-
USD turntable flaggship incl. the unique Thales tonearm
with our power amp and speakers, www.6moons.com wrote:
".....We
listened to a few tracks through the beautifully made TIDAL
Piano speakers and TIDAL Impact power amplifier and the
sound was indeed silky smooth."
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Thanks again to Halfnoteaudio,
our very involved US-importer, and the other brands - cause every
system is the sum made out of all components.
December 2007
We
present the new TIDAL Contriva.
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Please
see to your left side a very first snapshot in our factory.
The consequent improving
of the formerly model allowed us to introduce this new speaker.
All we can say is: this is the best Contriva we ever built
;).
Worldpremiere: CES 2008.
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October 2007
We
present detail improvements of our reference amps TIDAL Impact und
TIDAL Preos.
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Our
listening reference of power amplifiers: the TIDAL Impact.
A "power house" which combines speed, precision
and control to a level where "sound" not longer
exists - in the best way.
New since this year are the isolator feet, made out of three
parts of stainless steel with an ice-hardened ball which
controls the resonances pressure-point to pressure-point.
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The
details:
- new improved circuit of the voltage-part inside: opimized
running-time of the feedback function for higher objective
precision and subjective musicality
- new stainless-steel isolators for optimized chassis resonance
control
- new silver wiring inside,
silver fuses inside
- new ATA-flightcases with a doubled bottom for the accessories
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We did a very long thinking, how we could offer a true symetrical
output to drive amps far away from the Preos, without compromising
the unique unbalanced minimal-circuit topology, which is
the reason for the transparent sound of the Preos, and it
is famous for.
Therefore we developed new output modules with an balanced
output. First time ever we are convinced to offer a true
symetrical output without the typical disadvantages of it,
like adding additional sound to it, cause of its way more
electronic parts in the signal way - compared to a classy
minimal unbalanced design.
We are happy to present the best Preos ever build.
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The
details:
-
new descrete build dual-mono output stage modules with balanced/unbalanced
output
- new silver wire inside,
silver fuses inside
- new impedance adjustment for the MC-phono part: 8 different
steps, exotic configurations as free option possible
- new surround sound processor loop-in with intelligent
1:1 active level forwarding
- new constant temperature board for the sensitive phono-part
-
new stainless-steel isolators for optimized chassis resonance
control
-
new ATA-flightcases with a doubled bottom for the accessories
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September 2007
We
received the very first cabinets of our
new TIDAL Contriva II.
Here you can see the cabinets before it is getting the transparent
piano finish - only this will turn the dull veneer into a breathtaking
surface.
We improved the Contriva after 5 years building it with following:
- 3°
more slope for better time correction
- two 8,5" ceramic woofer instead one 10" for a higher
efficiency and more SPLmax.
- new, unique and dynamic design
April
2007
As
the TIDAL Sunray was the very first speaker in the world using the
biggest and most expensive diamond tweeter ever made and is using
the unique black ceramic drivers, we created again another new benchmark
and something never done before:
Here
you can see a part of the midrange-x-over of
the T1-Sunray,
most probably the finest and most expensive x-over ever made. Equipped
with the worldwide first pure silver capacitor and a pure silver
aircore inductor. These parts are the most expensive, biggest and
most heavy parts ever made. The electrical value of the parts will
never be available out of the catalogue
and are exclusively designed for TIDAL internal specifications,
every x-over is handmade by CEO Jörn Janczak personally.
Together with
the unique time-aligned filter technolgy it is designed for ultimate
precision combined with the most minimal microphonic effects and
distortions.
Unfortunatelly
such an ensemble of parts for one x-over is as expensive as 3 of
our big diamond tweeters, but we wanted to have something very simple:
the best.
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Size sometimes still does matters: the cap alone with its
massive silver foil inside alone is 4,5 Kg heavy....
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January
2007
The
TIDAL "Contriva Diacera"
was this years demo speaker at the C.E.S. show 2007 in Las Vegas
of Argento Audio - manufacturer of finest high end cables.
The room was praised as on of the finest sounding and most tasteful
presentations at the show. The press wrote:
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"Argento
Audio’s room was defined by crisp dynamics and clean, fast
transients, all wrapped up in a sound that never irritated
in any way -- in fact, it was always a delight no matter
what music we played. And did we mention that the system
had terrific bass?
Listening to a Tracy Chapman track on a sampler disc that
Marc Mickelson brought to the show, we were impressed by
the overall low-end agility of this system. But from the
top of the frequency band to the bottom, this setup satisfied
in every way.
The
system consisted of a variety of components from overseas,
such as Germany’s Tidal Contriva Diacera speakers, the look
of which we just loved due to the perfect finish and attractive
proportions.
Also in the mix were the ASR Emitter II Exclusive integrated
amplifier, Switzerland’s Orpheus Zero transport and Heritage
DAC, Argento cabling, a Furutech power conditioner, and
an Acoustic Dreams rack."
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Stereotimes.com:
"It’s
nice to see the Tidal Audio and their Contriva Diacera loudspeakers
stateside. I was smitten by this company in Munich.
Here they were being shown alongside the ASR II Emitter
integrated using Argento wiring throughout.
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The digital source was a personal favorite of mine; the Swiss
built Orpheus Zero transport and Heritage dac. The sound was
gloriously articulate, open and harmonically spot-on.
The thing I noticed about the Tidal series of loudspeakers under
very different settings, is that their tonal character remains
wonderfully well-balanced. This tells me they're consistent,
which is always a good thing. The ASR/Orpheus combo displayed
greater promise of what Tidal is fully capable of. Great sounding
rig! " |
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Audiofederation.com:
"The
Argento Acoustics (cables) room. Tidal Contriva speakers,
Orpheus electronics, and *Acoustic Dreams equipment rack.
The sound of this system, such as this poor listener was
able to hear it during his short stay off-axis, is Sophisticated
and Enjoyable.
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The midrange had a beautiful delicacy,
but with real world bass and flat frequency response top to
bottom. We are talking about the system sound here - and, given
what I know about these speakers, they like, and are a reasonably
clear window on, high-quality electronics upstream."
"I
also heard the ASR Emitter II sound just plain swell in the
Argento room, driving a pair of superb Tidal Audio Contriva
Diacera three-ways (with diamond tweeter, ceramic midrange,
and 10-inch magnesium woofer).
Wired with Argento cable and interconnect and fed by a Orpheus
Zero transport and $30k Orpheus Heritage DAC, the ASR Emitter
II sounded anything but polite on the Copland Third CD-R, with
very good decay and transient response on the big bass drum
strikes at the start of the third movement.
So I’m in a quandary. I’d thought the ASR were dynamically limited.
Clearly, they are not - at least, with the right speakers."
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December
2006
our new importer in Australia
- www.sensusaudio.com - received his first TIDAL speakers.
October
2006
John
Potis from 6moons.com choosed the "TIDAL Piano" as BEST
SPEAKER OF 2006.
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"......Quite
simply, they are the finest audio reproduction components
to ever grace my listening room. I was recently asked if
they were really competitive with other speakers in their
class. My response was simple. They don't sound anything
like most of the speakers in their class.
If you're a gear head who wants to hear his equipment and
be awed by all the tricks it can do, the Tidals may not
be for you. But if you want to hear into the music in the
most natural and involving of ways that I've ever witnessed
at anywhere near their price, you simply have to score an
audition of the Tidal Pianos.
And it doesn't matter of you're an aficionado of tubes or
transistors, high or medium power, the easy-to-drive Pianos
are just about guaranteed to work with and quite possibly
make the most of what you already have....."
John
Potis, 6moons.com
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November 2006
Now serial with all TIDAL "jewels": in-house made professional
ATA-cases.
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...a last polishing, then the fabric covers over it and
closing the case: perfectly prepared for sending our musical
jewels all over the world.
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September 2006
Our
TIDAL Piano received the nicest praise from John Potis of 6moons.com
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"I haven't heard every great speaker in the world but
I'm convinced that the Piano deserves its place among the very
best. There's something very different about these Pianos, something
very special.
I've never yet had to have speakers of the Piano's cleary superior
-- and concomitantly costly -- caliber." |
Read
the whole review here:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/tidal/piano_2.html
July
2006
Remasterer Steve Hoffman is remastering some legendary LP's and is
using this equipment:
TIDAL Preos - pre amp
TIDAL Impact - power amp
TIDAL Contriva Diacera - loudspeaker
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"....I
do have those big bad babies, yes. At least until Jan when
they go to CES. :( Well, they are $xx,000.00 list, beautiful
and I love them. I use them (and my Venture Excellence III's)
every day.
I do know that the Contriva Diacera are very system dependent;
in other words, what you feed to them will be very important.
I cared for them less with a high powered solid state amp
than with my 200 watt tubed Groverblocks. With tubes these
speakers just shine. Real beauties.
If you have the money, they will last your lifetime. Be
warned, they need really good electronic gear for them to
shine the most. But when they do, look out!"
Picture and comment are friendly
taken
from the forums of www.stevehoffman.tv
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June 2006
-
exclusive review from STEREOTIMES:
We received finest praise in our latest review about our reference amps:
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Read at: http://www.stereotimes.com/amp062606.shtml
Just
some examples for printed reviews in different countries:
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