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:



TIDAL brochure 1.PDF (1,9 MB)



TIDAL brochure 2.PDF (2,1 MB)



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:

"....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.


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."

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:

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."




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. "




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)




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.


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 "


"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




Beside of the Contriva premiere we supported another manufacturer with our classic TIDAL Piano and TIDAL Impact:

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."



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.

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.



October 2007

We present detail improvements of our reference amps TIDAL Impact und TIDAL Preos.

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.


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




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.


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




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.


Size sometimes still does matters: the cap alone with its massive silver foil inside alone is 4,5 Kg heavy....



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:

"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."




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.


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! "



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.


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."



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.

"......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





November 2006


Now serial with all TIDAL "jewels": in-house made professional ATA-cases.



...a last polishing, then the fabric covers over it and closing the case: perfectly prepared for sending our musical jewels all over the world.



September 2006

Our TIDAL Piano received the nicest praise from John Potis of 6moons.com





"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

"....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




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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