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

[Briz Vegaas]

Congrats Nonu. With hifi what you need is the right tool for the job, sounds like you got that pretty much spot on.

Not sure about the sound pressure thing, I guess you are referring to that kick in the gut feeling when you move a lot of air rapidly. The little Naim Allaes are the last speaker where I felt that punch, but it even gave string quartets punch, or drive at least. Would be a great "party speaker" and I would even consider a cheap second hand pair just for that purpose. On some material I get a bit of punch from the B1s but its subtle. It's more of a tension to the sound. It varies a lot.with all the other setup factors. For example the lastest Audirvana gives a different presentation to the last version. It's enough to change your opinion about a speaker, but the sound character is down to the software, not the speaker at all.

[nununo]

Thanks bart and Briz.

Briz, it's incredible how Audirvana quality is evolving and I'm looking forward to see the browser he's developing to get rid of the iTunes dependency.

Cheers,
Nuno

[Portugal]

Nuno, congratulations. The solution you've adopted V1.5 + JL sub is interesting.

I've listened to the V1.5 in my room and liked a lot. So much I bought the B1. After some time I've upgraded to the G3.

[nununo]

Once everything is fine tuned, I hope not to think about changes for a looooong time.

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by nununo

Once everything is fine tuned, I hope not to think about changes for a looooong time.

when you figure out how not the think about changes, please let me know -- my wallet will thank you!

[nununo]

))) don't scare me

[Briz Vegaas]

Run Audirvana. It keeps changing every version. I just went for 5.1 to 5.2 and the level of openness to the sound and the detail kind of takes you back.

It does make you wonder what the developer is using to build the software. Is he running something as transparent as Vivids. I guess if he is using top headphones he would hear what we are hearing.

Only comment is that my balance sound is now slightly edgy with some of my pop music. I love " like a version" CDs for the live sound but some tracks are starting to sound edgy when before they all just sound great. I am putting some of the edginess down to my wall wart power supplies, unfortunately the guy making my replacement ps has not been well and is struggling to get back on line to deal with his backlog. Will be interesting to see if that edge goes when the upgrade comes through. See there you go again, upgrade. It's all about balance in the system, if you are getting edgy sound on you favourite tracks it will drive the desire for change.

This one still sounds pretty good.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=zEmTk...%3DzEmTkXr9Ssg

PS. That link keeps asking me to log in, but I have no intention of registering. If you are curious and dont want to log in just google missy Higgins heart's a mess like a version.

[nununo]

I see what you mean

[hifinutt]

Originally Posted by bart

Hello,

This is my first post!

I heard the Vivid Audio B1 the first time at the New Music Show in Brussels in October last year. That was the time I was building up my new stereo system.
Had tested lots of good speakers already, and was going for a complete Burmester system. Bought all the electronics of the 'Classic line'. And was saving for a nice pair of Burmester speakers (which dó sound really good!).

And then I heard these strange Vivids... and fell immediately in love with the lovely little aliens.
I continued my pursuit of the best sound for my bucks though, listened to B&W, Martin Logan, Wilson Audio, Focal, Kef, Vienna Acoustics, Magico, Adam Audio, MBL...
But I couldn't forget the so... vivid sound of the B1's.
One problem: the Mrs didn't like the looks at all. She had to admit though it was a brilliant sound.
She preferred the Giya's. Oops, these are 3 times the price.

So I wrote Laurence Dickie to ask him where I could audition these (not possible in my country). To my surprise, he invited us to his English headquarters in Billinghurst, West-Sussex.
And there my wife and I spent a wonderful day with the creator and the manager themselves.
We connected the Burmester gear and heard the most wonderful sound we had ever experienced.
We also tested the G2Giya's, which actually don't come far behind.
And the B1's? Well, they offer almost the same transparency and soundstage, but don't go so deep.

No escape possible: our loudspeakers will be made in South Africa...
Start saving!

Bart

met Lawrence at a hifi show couple years back, lovely speakers . a friend has just bought some B1 so hoping to hear sometime