Russell K Red 120 - New speakers imminent

Interesting - thanks for the heads up. 

James

I will be going to the Bristol Sound and Vision show on Friday and will certainly would like to hear the Russel K Speakers.  Also will pop into Naim and Hegel to compare their digital components among other brands.

think they are based on the k 50s, with the smaller 5 inch bass unit. They can be heard at the Acoustica  hi-fi show at Chester weekend of11/ 12 March.

At the Sound & Vision Show, the Russell K's won’t be on demo with Naim amps , but they do play exceptionally well with Naim amps and streamers. 

Keith, I wasn't aware of the R50 as the starting point for the R120, they should be good then! Thanks for the heads up about the Chester Show too, i’ll put that in the diary and hopefully will head along.

Yetizone, i think you will be hear the speakers on the end of a Naim base system if i know Jeff of Acoustica. 

Yes, I would think so - it was at the show last year that they had the CDX2 / 282 / 250 (I think that was the combination - could be wrong) making the 100 and 150 sound sublime. Just been looking at the Acoustica bulletin and I wonder if the new Uniti range will be on demo with the RK's - certainly hope so!

keith waring posted:

think they are based on the k 50s, with the smaller 5 inch bass unit. They can be heard at the Acoustica  hi-fi show at Chester weekend of11/ 12 March.

Thanks - i prefer the look of the 150's over the stand mounts so the 120 sounds a very interesting proposition. 

I'm amazed - no pictures of info up on their own website (or FB page) yet. Same with Kudos. 

Yes - I'm surprised too. I keep having a look on the website / FB page and not a thing. Russell is monitoring the forum as he acknowledged this thread (which was nice of him), referencing another new speaker (oooh!) to be launched too  Assuming the chaos of the Bristol Show itself is proving an understandable slow down in reacting to social media.From Russell's FB feed:

"For those of our friends who follow us on the Naim Forum, we spotted this post. We have indeed promised the release of the 120 at the Bristol show....and for those seeking a new small speaker watch this page closely over the next few days for something which will take your breath away...."

Yes i saw that on the RK FB page. Still it would be nice if they good get a couple of piccies up 

Russell, you little tease!

No images of the R120 just yet, but this image looks interesting (just appeared on Russell's FB page) showing a new speaker in development. To me the RHS speaker in the deep red / zebrano type finish looks like it could be a higher end / finished Red 50? Exciting times with the product range expanding and wish Russell all the success with these new models. Great to see a new UK company thriving. Copied and pasted from FB ...

"Well what a fantastic time at the Bristol Show - so many great comments from visitors to see the new Red 120 - photos will follow tomorrow... left my camera at the hotel so I apologise for no photos of the 120's just yet. However here is a photo of something else to look forward to us developing in the coming months!"

Think i read that Russell was working on a active speaker, but would have to enlarge the existing speakers .The pictured speakers look like the signatures,like you say an upmarket finish,look like the same speakers cones ,uprated internally ? Good to see a new energetic company on the block,good luck to Russell.

The Russell K dem room at Bristol Show.

Thanks Wenger - I take it those are the 120 speakers - looks like only 1 port compared to the bigger 150. Shame the speakers terminals look like they are most of the way up the cabinet as it makes the cabling (looks like TQ here) untidy. Will be interested to see more info when they (eventually) appear on the Russell K site 

james n posted:

Thanks Wenger - I take it those are the 120 speakers - looks like only 1 port compared to the bigger 150. Shame the speakers terminals look like they are most of the way up the cabinet as it makes the cabling (looks like TQ here) untidy. Will be interested to see more info when they (eventually) appear on the Russell K site 

The speaker cables were TQ ultra blacks, the terminals are indeed very high at the back of the cabinet,  unfortunately for me, they didn't leave a great impression , I was somewhat underwhelmed, maybe it was the room....

Intersting - thanks Wenger they look of similar promotions to the 150, but with a slightly narrower cabinet and of course the single port. I wonder why they didn't impress - could have been room as you mention perhaps? Hopefully they will feature at the Acoustica show with Naim hardware driving them.  

Yetizone posted:

Intersting - thanks Wenger they look of similar promotions to the 150, but with a slightly narrower cabinet and of course the single port. I wonder why they didn't impress - could have been room as you mention perhaps? Hopefully they will feature at the Acoustica show with Naim hardware driving them.  

They were way way to bright in presentation, very uncomfortable on the ear, I had to leave the room...

Not sure what the T+A thing is (DAC / Amp ?) but there is a Melco fronting and a big Entreq grounding box at the base of the rack. Picture taken by Justin on the AOS forum - 

wenger2015 posted:

They were way way to bright in presentation, very uncomfortable on the ear, I had to leave the room..

Mmm, curious. System synergy? Room acoustics? Pre production units with crossover fine tuning to do before first supplies are released? Overly bright presentation doesn’t sound like the RK speakers I’ve heard, and owning old timer MA speakers I’m pretty tuned in to shouty high frequencies. 

I do look forward hearing them in person - hopefully at the Acoustica show.

Hi I listened to these at the show...on female vocals.... the upper midrange seemed somewhat exposed ... and there was little warmth. I don't think speaker positioning was great....closer to a wall may of helped. I think this speaker may demo better at home.

When i tried the k100s the treble was a bit sharp, on some cds,on moving the speakers nearer the back wall this helped a great deal.This and the speakers needing a long run in ,about 6 months to reach there best,so i think like Richieroo said a home demo is the way to go with the 120 k speakers.

Listened briefly to the Red 120's at the Bristol show and was rather impressed. Of course the system driving them and the room have an impact but I felt wandering around the show, it was what was being played that had the biggest impact. For example, I stepped into the Kudos 707 room with high hopes and was immediately disappointed. Dull, recessed, no presence, no bass. I knew something must be wrong and I then spied the Yello Touch album and asked if it could be put on the LP12 being used as the source. Oh my goodness. Absolutely bonkers good with as much bass as you could shake a stick at (if a little uncontrolled which I am sure was room related).

So I would always recommend if things are sounding a bit sterile at a show with components you rate, just ask for something familiar to you to be played.

Any more info on the 120? Specs? Dimensions?

TIA

MCRU seem to be selling them at £2700. No info on the Russell K website...

Jim Lawson posted:

Any more info on the 120? Specs? Dimensions?

 

TIA

Can add the tweeters are smaller than the 100 k speakers due the size of the cabinets.