Kudos S20

Posted by: BPhotographer on 22 February 2017

Just tried the Kudos S20 with my 500 series system and really understood two things:

1. They are fabulous speakers. Phenomenally good.

2. They are NOT fit to my system. The 500 amp combined with the 552 is just too much (power) for them. "don't shout at me!!!"

It was supposed to be very exciting but for me it was just annoying, however they are extremely capable of speakers.
I loved the Kudos, make no mistake, but they have been handled and gripped like the amp was quite drunk.

You can feed the little SL2 with as much power as you want, and they'll sound great, "a wall of sound"; dramatic, interesting and involving (I heard them connected to S1 preamp + NAP 500 at friend's home and they were certainly not over-powered. They have this special capability to show how good the system is no matter how good/powerful the system is).

The Kudos, on the other hand, are not just a good pair of speakers. It is their unique sound that makes every other speaker to sound pale.
They put-in-place every single note in a maximum precision. This is their personality. The sound is completely perfect.

The tweeters need at least one month to burn-in to not sound bright, and the overall tones gets more relaxed after a few weeks.

I then connected the Kudos S20 in my other house to my second system: 72 + 140 + Hi-Cap + Hugo + Mana acoustics rack.

Never in all my years in this business have I encountered any system — including the 500 series — that’s quite so good at make music fun. Which makes it the most enjoyable system — pause — in the world.

I then got back home, listened to the same music with the 500 series system, and I'm sorry, folks, but I'm right about this. The other system is extraordinary.

Yes, the much bigger amp brings detail, space, weight, and majesty to the sound, always lightnings up everything in the recording, but I’m glad I heard the other little amp with the Kudos because I would never have experienced something that’s unique.

BP.

Posted on: 22 February 2017 by Moussa

Waw thanks for sharing your insightful experience. I guess this shows how synergy among components is crucial regardless of price points.

Posted on: 22 February 2017 by badlands
BPhotographer posted:

Never in all my years in this business have I encountered any system — including the 500 series — that’s quite so good at make music fun. Which makes it the most enjoyable system — pause — in the world.

I then got back home, listened to the same music with the 500 series system, and I'm sorry, folks, but I'm right about this. The other system is extraordinary.



BP.

Wow, that is a great reason to sell that 500 series system and just purchase a similar system like the one in your other house for your main listening room.

Why have such an expensive system when you can get more enjoyment from such a more modest system?

All you really need to do is just make sure you pair your new much less expensive system with another pair of Kudos S20's.

Posted on: 23 February 2017 by naim_nymph

The 72 is a fabulous pre, it must be said.

But perhaps your 2nd system/home with the 72, has the far better room acoustics?

Maybe a problem with you main 552 system room acoustics, or room shape/size?

Perhaps the Hugo is better than NDS with 2x555PS  < ! >

I've heard Kudos S20 with 500 series in a dealers demo room [in Leicester] on more than one occasion, sounds musically enjoyable with nicely rounded organic realistic feel. However, this was with LP12 up front.

I've not tried S20s in my own home in fear they wouldn't work here - really do need a boundary speaker so i'm sticking with my trusty old SBLs : )

Debs

 

 

Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Christopher_M
naim_nymph posted:
......i'm sticking with my trusty old SBLs : )

In this context, fairly similar to the SL2s cited in the story above.

C.

Posted on: 23 February 2017 by Chris Bell

I went through a "shouty" issue when I first got my Kudos Titan's. Turned out the problem was with the speaker pins and solder joints on both ends of my NACA5.  New factory Naim pins properly soldered tamed the sound.  Sometimes it's the little things.  

Posted on: 24 February 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...nth-and-final-review

Hi BP,

Not sure if you have read my review but link above.  I think this confirms that system/speaker/room synergy is more important than one individual component. 

Good write up thank you.