Russell K Red 120 - compact floorstander
Posted by: Jez R Oakley on 12 April 2018
Listened to these at the dealer on the end of 272, XPS, 200 with the following conclusions:
Way better than the smaller Russell K Red 100 standmount
Significantly better than the PMC 25.23 floorstander
These speakers have a lovely balance, sweet treble and a superb low end presence without being overpowering. Much more musical insight than the PMC 25.23 as well.
Highly recommended.
Interesting... how does the upper mid treble compare to the k 50, which I prefer by some margin over the k 100? Thanks.
The tweeter in the 50s,100s and 120s i think is the same,apart from the 100s which is a up rated with a extra magnet on it so being more revealing, this could be reason the 50s and 120s sound a bit more of a laid back listen, but after a quite long running in this becomes a lot smoother on the 100s and with the extra detail a very good listen, but all three are very good speakers,sorry to go off track of the thread.
Yes, I don’t like smooth high end.. I like clear and transparent.. such that a very natural sound is portrayed... smooth distorts, it filters and hides detail and can damage imaging. My findings of the 100s was I found them a little too prominent in the mids. The 50s less so, but the high end is a little too high lighted on some content. Hence my question on the 120.
these are not made in China speakers ???
I believe they are constructed in Poland
I demo'd the 100 and 120 back to back and have to say, despite the theoratically superior tweeter of the 100, it sounded comparaitvely harsh compared to the 120 which shares the same drive units as the 50.
Didn't like the 100 all that much but once the 120s went on the PRaT was in major evidence as my foot started to tap away to the music. Drums and basslines have great separation compared to the 100 where things tended to get lost in with the midrange somewhat.
I wouldn't say the treble on the 120 was "smooth". I love a biting textured (Hendrix) lead guitar sound and these things definitiely conveyed that. No rounded edges to my ears.
As for the NAP 200, it seemed to have absolutely no trouble at all driving and controlling the 120s although I haven't done a comparision with the 250.
I have had a couple of demos with Russell himself, and my own private dealer demo with the 120 and 150,s. As much as I like their PraT, I felt they could be a bit relentless, in your face and felt I would not be able to live with them, long term. But that’s just personal, I am sure for others they will be just great.
Gazza posted:I have had a couple of demos with Russell himself, and my own private dealer demo with the 120 and 150,s. As much as I like their PraT, I felt they could be a bit relentless, in your face and felt I would not be able to live with them, long term. But that’s just personal, I am sure for others they will be just great.
Yes, similar experience, although the last time I heard the 150’s they were paired with the new TQ Statements Speaker cables, and have to say extremely good