Kudos 707/808 vs ..?

Posted by: jverlen on 12 June 2018

I have read a bit on these speakers and they look great.  Unfortunately there seems to be no distribution at all in the US.  Also there don't seem to be any reviews comparing vs other high quality speakers.

Has anyone compared the Titans to let's say Proac D48R, K6, or K8s?  Or other good speakers?

 

 

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

Neat XL6 and 10.  

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by jverlen

... and which did you prefer and why ... the Neats or the Titans?

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by Polarbear

It depends on the room interaction 

 

You could always read this :-

https://forums.naimaudio.com/t.../time-for-a-change-1

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by Steve Crouch

Just changed my Ovators to PMC MBL SE. Unbelievably good

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by The Strat (Fender)
jverlen posted:

... and which did you prefer and why ... the Neats or the Titans?

That’s a very good question.   I have always loved Neats but when they were tried in my room they just didn’t work. The Kudos S20s just integrated.   

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by Hook

Kudos lists Fidelis AV as their US distributor.

Posted on: 12 June 2018 by jverlen

If you go to their site they don't list Kudos as a speaker they carry

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by joerand

A lateral comparison, but I heard the Ovator S-600 and Titan 88 in a friend's room. Lots of glass and hard surfaces. Comparable in clarity and resolution, but the Kudos played warmer with better overall tonal balance and their isobaric bass was nicely tight. I suppose you might consider the S-600 or S-800 as contenders, but again, good luck finding a dealer in the US that has them in stock. It's big bucks to spend on speakers and I'd stick strictly to what I could home demo as the room interaction is key.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by The Strat (Fender)

Email Kudos direct for advice.  

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by Magic Bus

Kudos is now being distributed in the USA again. Next Level HiFi just picked up the entire Kudos line including the Titan models as the 1st USA retailer. They are located in the Chicago area ( Wayne, IL). They are also a Naim dealer. Owner Tyler Mueller is a great person to deal with.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by djh1697

Contact Peter [@mention:1566878603906177], he is based in Leicestershire, UK. However, he has installed Kudos speakers worldwide.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by Polarbear
djh1697 posted:

Contact Peter [@mention:1566878603906177], he is based in Leicestershire, UK. However, he has installed Kudos speakers worldwide.

And he comes highly recommended 

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by oldneil

You really try to listen to Kudos.

I went from Kef Ref speakers to 707.

And never looked back.

I also tried Sopras and Neat.

But in my room the Kudos was much better!

 

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by jverlen

Thanks everyone ... sounds like situation in the US is being worked out. These look like fun speakers - back to the days of sbl/dbl active - cool!

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by joerand
Magic Bus posted:

 Owner Tyler Mueller is a great person to deal with.

+1. Tyler is a great dealer and was very responsive in helping me resolve a warranty claim. In the context of this topic I have to say Kudos to him.

Posted on: 13 June 2018 by MangoMonkey

Can't think of a better speaker at the moment than Kudos with Naim!

The Super 20s totally outgunned even the Ovator 600s. Even at the end of the 552/500, the ovators sounded shut in at the top frequencies compared to the super 20s powered just 552/300s (and even 282/250s).

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by Jonas Olofsson

Same story here. Super 20 clearly better then Ovator 600 in my room.  I’m really happy that I found the Kudos brand. 

//Jonas

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by sjbabbey

Currently waiting to home demo a pair of Kudos 606s to upgrade from my S20s on the end of NDS/252/300DR.

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by nigelb
sjbabbey posted:

Currently waiting to home demo a pair of Kudos 606s to upgrade from my S20s on the end of NDS/252/300DR.

We have very similar systems and I too am considering the 606s so would be very interested in  your thoughts on them from your home demo.

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by MangoMonkey
sjbabbey posted:

Currently waiting to home demo a pair of Kudos 606s to upgrade from my S20s on the end of NDS/252/300DR.

I'd be interested in your thoughts - The Super 20s were designed/voiced with the Nap300 - so would be interesting to see what the switch to 606 does for balance. 

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by Dave J
MangoMonkey posted:
sjbabbey posted:

Currently waiting to home demo a pair of Kudos 606s to upgrade from my S20s on the end of NDS/252/300DR.

I'd be interested in your thoughts - The Super 20s were designed/voiced with the Nap300 - so would be interesting to see what the switch to 606 does for balance. 

Balance and everything else is improved. If you like your S20’s you’ll love the 606’s. Tremendous speakers.

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by sjbabbey

I have to admit that the S20s and the 252/300DR sound wonderful for the most part but the S20s sometimes have an issue with very close-miked vocals if the recordings aren’t mastered so well. Am hoping for an improvement in this area and wth (I’m told) the 606s being less sensitive I should have a greater available range to control the playback volume via the preamp.

The upgrade to the 606s would also make my system more ND555 ready (wishful thinking ) 

Posted on: 14 June 2018 by joerand
sjbabbey posted:

I have to admit that the S20s and the 252/300DR sound wonderful for the most part but the S20s sometimes have an issue with very close-miked vocals if the recordings aren’t mastered so well. Am hoping for an improvement in this area and wth (I’m told) the 606s being less sensitive I should have a greater available range to control the playback volume via the preamp. 

That's an interesting approach to me. You've built a resolving system that exposes flaws in recording/mastering quality and are now looking to use speakers as a tweak to ameliorate that factor.

Posted on: 15 June 2018 by sjbabbey

Hi Joe

Obviously I'm hoping that the 606s will bring an overall improvement in SQ to my system. As I've mentioned the S20s are great speakers and in the main I love the airyness and resolution they bring to the mid and higher frequency bands and I certainly hope that the 606s retain this quality.

If they also make some less than ideally mastered recordings more enjoyable to listen to then so much the better.  

Posted on: 15 June 2018 by TOBYJUG
sjbabbey posted:

Hi Joe

Obviously I'm hoping that the 606s will bring an overall improvement in SQ to my system. As I've mentioned the S20s are great speakers and in the main I love the airyness and resolution they bring to the mid and higher frequency bands and I certainly hope that the 606s retain this quality.

If they also make some less than ideally mastered recordings more enjoyable to listen to then so much the better.  

The 606s are a little bigger than your S20s and I'd imagine they are more weightier.   Shifting down a notes centre of gravity would likely leave some aspects sounding less exposed.