Espeks to Klimax 350 Exakt upgrade?

[tambrose]

Hi,

I’m currently running Espeks through Akurate Exaktbox (Katalyst) and driven by two non-Dynamik 5125 amps. The source is an Akurate DS hub.

I have a chance to get Klimax 350 Exakt (Organik) with a Klimax DS hub for a very favorable price. I would likely put a Utopik in the DS at the same time.

I haven’t heard 350 speakers yet. Any thoughts on this? How big an upgrade would it be?

Thanks.

[dol]

If your room is not cramped I guess the update will be like night and day?

[entdgc]

Never hear Espeks but I love my 350p's. More refined in every way than my previous Keltiks.

[Moomintroll]

I would expect going from an Akurate system with old AV amps to a high end Klimax system would be a major improvement. Especially with Organik and Utopik in the mix.

[Tendaberry]

I haven’t heard 350 speakers yet. Any thoughts on this? How big an upgrade would it be?

Like stepping from a 90's BMW 320i into a current BMW 550e xDrive...

[tambrose]

Thanks for the replies!

My room is 10.4m wide x 6m deep.

[akamatsu]

If you do get the 350s, I'd plan on getting a second hand Klimax Exakt DSM or Klimax System Hub (newer). They are very inexpensive on the used market, and can be upgraded with Utopik. I wouldn't bother with Utopik for the Akurate DS. I found the Akurate Exakt DSM feeding Akubariks to be a bit underwhelming. I really think the 350s need a Klimax (or Selekt Edition) front end.

[tambrose]

I finally got to listen to the 350a Organiks. They had been demos, so should have had plenty of break in. The source was a current Select DSM.

They sounded very good, but I think I was expecting more. I thought they would sound better. I was expecting more, “wow”. The dealer took the time to tune-dem them and ensure the placement was correct before rerunning SO with the position info.

I listened to many very different tracks off of Tidal.

I really wanted to love them and would’ve bought them on the spot.

When I heard 360s a year ago at T.H.E. Show, they were stunning. I was trying to figure out how to convince my wife that the cost made sense.

Was I missing something?

Thanks

[Utlover]

I finally got to listen to the 350a Organiks. They had been demos, so should have had plenty of break in. The source was a current Select DSM.

They sounded very good, but I think I was expecting more. I thought they would sound better. I was expecting more, “wow”. The dealer took the time to tune-dem them and ensure the placement was correct before rerunning SO with the position info.

I listened to many very different tracks off of Tidal.

I really wanted to love them and would’ve bought them on the spot.

When I heard 360s a year ago at T.H.E. Show, they were stunning. I was trying to figure out how to convince my wife that the cost made sense.

Was I missing something?

Thanks

I know from my own 350a they really liked it when the new Klimax System Hub was paired with them. The combination new Klimax system hub and Organik is splendid, and may be the reason of your somewhat disappointing experience with Select. Was the selection of tracks the same with the show and your dealer demo?

[tambrose]

It seems like the upper mids and highs were not clear. It was missing some detail, but felt a bit over done at the same time. Comparing the same tracks on other speakers that I’ve listened to recently, it seems that some detail was missing and the soundstage was only between the speakers.

I did not get to choose the tracks on the two occasions with the 360s. Both were at events. One time they were aktiv and the other was passive with the new solo 800s.

[Utlover]

Narrow soundstage and over done mid high, but also missing details sounds like too much toe-in, combined with a listening position not completely in the sweet spot. 360s are more forgiving in that area due to the changed design.

Comparing speakers between different rooms/electronics/music/mood as also indicated above is very hard, and ultimately the only thing that matters is how they perform in your room with your system and your music.

[tambrose]

They definitely weren’t toed in at all, but could’ve been a setup issue.

I agree that it is very hard to compare speakers at different times in different rooms. At least on the 350 demo and some other brand speakers that I’ve demo’s, I got to pick the songs.

I wish I could demo them at home. That would be quite difficult, logistically.

Still thinking….

Thanks for the feedback.

[Utlover]

No toe in at all is not usual for 350s. Typically, anything in the range up to and including 7% toe-in is used in many configurations. It depends of course of the other properties in hand: speaker location, room size, position of the listener and so on. Most common is - for what I have seen - a 3% toe in.

For demo purpose sometimes there are positioned close to the wall behind them, which increases dynamics but mid and high will take a step back. Anyway, my suggestion is just to make notes on the performance of the speakers with your music as you already appear to be doing.