Vivid Audio B1 speakers receive Reviewer's Choice award at Soundstage.com...

[nununo]

Hello,

I'm looking for a new set of speakers.

I had been listening to the V1.5 and I feel in love with them. But they lack bass. And even though the sound is always wonderful, a cello sounds like a viola. So I asked my dealer to try a full range, and he suggested the B1.

I heard the B1 at my 30m2 living room with Nagra electronics (PL-L + PMA) and was completely taken by the amount of detail and soundstage they can create. But even after a long time trying to find the right spot for them I found two serious problems:

1. The bass was completely out of control. Someone said it may be due to lack of power from the amps. My dealer says that's not the case. At 200W each, they're supposed to be at ease with the B1. I'd believe it's my living room.

2. The dynamics is exaggerated. Listening to a string quartet I would always feel like wanting to raise the volume when a single violin is playing softly (to hear more details) and immediately felt like lowering it when the four instruments go into a crescendo. Not realistic at all.

The B1 sounded like an untamed beast.

Maybe these 2 problems can be solved with room correction. I have a fairly vivid 30m2 living room with a bookshelf, a large rug, but some clean walls. And if that is the case I'd buy them. But... I don't want to risk buying them without being absolutely sure.

Can it be that the B1 have too big a sound for a 30m2 living room? I've seen pictures of B1 placed in relatively small rooms, though. I wonder if my living room has some sort of problem. And I wonder if it can be corrected without ruining the whole place (it's my living room after all).

For now, the only alternative I am considering is the V1.5 with a subwoofer to complement it. Would you say this is also a satisfactory alternative?

It would be great hearing some opinions.

Thanks!
Nuno

[bart]

Originally Posted by nununo

Hello,

I'm looking for a new set of speakers.

I had been listening to the V1.5 and I feel in love with them. But they lack bass. And even though the sound is always wonderful, a cello sounds like a viola. So I asked my dealer to try a full range, and he suggested the B1.

I heard the B1 at my 30m2 living room with Nagra electronics (PL-L + PMA) and was completely taken by the amount of detail and soundstage they can create. But even after a long time trying to find the right spot for them I found two serious problems:

1. The bass was completely out of control. Someone said it may be due to lack of power from the amps. My dealer says that's not the case. At 200W each, they're supposed to be at ease with the B1. I'd believe it's my living room.

2. The dynamics is exaggerated. Listening to a string quartet I would always feel like wanting to raise the volume when a single violin is playing softly (to hear more details) and immediately felt like lowering it when the four instruments go into a crescendo. Not realistic at all.

The B1 sounded like an untamed beast.

Maybe these 2 problems can be solved with room correction. I have a fairly vivid 30m2 living room with a bookshelf, a large rug, but some clean walls. And if that is the case I'd buy them. But... I don't want to risk buying them without being absolutely sure.

Can it be that the B1 have too big a sound for a 30m2 living room? I've seen pictures of B1 placed in relatively small rooms, though. I wonder if my living room has some sort of problem. And I wonder if it can be corrected without ruining the whole place (it's my living room after all).

For now, the only alternative I am considering is the V1.5 with a subwoofer to complement it. Would you say this is also a satisfactory alternative?

It would be great hearing some opinions.

Thanks!
Nuno

Nuno, I first heard the B1's in a rather small hotel room, at the Brussels Audio show in 2010.
Hardly the ideal circumstances, but it sounded really great. The amp and CD player were from Chapter Audio (2x2000 Watt amp!).
Since then I heard them with Ayre, Classe, ARC.
In large rooms, in small rooms, and always very precise bass reproduction.
Is your room OK?

Good luck in your journey!

[nununo]

Hi,

Maybe there is indeed something wrong with my room. But I have no idea how I can check it by myself.

I had already planned to call an acoustics specialist to do some room treatment to it after I bought the speakers, but if its characteristics are such that they determine the choice of the speakers maybe I ought to call him before I chose them. I'll call him Monday

Thanks!

[Masterlu]

nununo... Welcome!

[nununo]

Thanks Masterlu!

[Steady339]

Originally Posted by tompj

I heard them and really liked the way they sound. I just can't get used to the way they look. A bit like aliens that look surprised.

Either surprised or asking, "Take me to your leader!"

[Briz Vegaas]

Originally Posted by bart

Nuno, I first heard the B1's in a rather small hotel room, at the Brussels Audio show in 2010.
Hardly the ideal circumstances, but it sounded really great. The amp and CD player were from Chapter Audio (2x2000 Watt amp!).
Since then I heard them with Ayre, Classe, ARC.
In large rooms, in small rooms, and always very precise bass reproduction.
Is your room OK?

Good luck in your journey!

Not sure if Nununo is still looking at speakers or not. His B1 experience does not sound typical. Mine are in a 4 by 6 metre room. Bass is pretty much spot on. A tad warm but still tight and tuneful. I use a quality 70 watt per/power tube amp but used a 180 watt ( 300 into 4 0hm) solid state amp with excellent results also.

I will say one thing, I use bass traps in all corners, it makes a huge difference to the sound. You room is 50% of what you hear. Take your system into another room just to see how different it will sound if you are not convinced.

I would not consider a sub at this level. Integration and getting sufficient speed from the sub puts me off. I use my REL for movies only.

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by Briz Vegaas

Not sure if Nununo is still looking at speakers or not. His B1 experience does not sound typical. Mine are in a 4 by 6 metre room. Bass is pretty much spot on. A tad warm but still tight and tuneful. I use a quality 70 watt per/power tube amp but used a 180 watt ( 300 into 4 0hm) solid state amp with excellent results also.

I will say one thing, I use bass traps in all corners, it makes a huge difference to the sound. You room is 50% of what you hear. Take your system into another room just to see how different it will sound if you are not convinced.

I would not consider a sub at this level. Integration and getting sufficient speed from the sub puts me off. I use my REL for movies only.

My B1s sound great in my room integrated with a pair of JL Audio f112s used for both music and HT. I purposely bought the 112s since they have the speed required for music.

That said, I had acoustic treatments (walls & ceiling) professionally installed to help correct the room's shortcomings, so that definitely helps. And, while my Classe SSP-800 has digital EQ to help smooth out the room's peaks and valley, I've also inserted an analog parametric EQ for use when listening to my Linn kit for 2-channel. It sounds pretty damn good if I do say so myself!

[nununo]

I ended up going for the V1.5 with a JL Audio f112. The B1 experience was way too traumatic for me to choose that root.

I had a REL Strata 3 but decided to replace it with HL Audio f112 for its speed. And, as far as I can tell, the feeling is that I have no subwoofer: all the sound spectrum seems to be perfectly integrated.

In no moment I doubt B1's qualities. And place all the faults in the room which, after having been measured, speaks for itself as inappropriate. Mainly the problems happened in the bass domain. And, given the room characteristics it would be very hard to install bass traps at the corners. So, since the V1.5 work so well with the f112, that was my option in the end.

What I have: great bass, great mediums, great treble, lots of detail and no harshness even at high volumes.
What I lack: sound pressure.
Can't have it all.

I still intend to do some room treatment. I'll treat the first reflections by adding curtains on one side (there's a window) and a bookshelf on the other. And I'll add diffusers to the wall behind the listening spot and maybe to the wall behind the speakers and maybe also to the ceiling.

But these wouldn't be enough to solve the bass problems. So, for now, the V1.5 were my choice. And I'm happy with it.

Thanks for your inputs,
Nuno

[bart]

Nuno, congrats with your new Vivids!
They are great speakers.
This raving review lead me to Vivid Audio:

Vivid Audio V1.5 review from the experts at whathifi.com

I ended up with them as rears.