Clayton Shaw Returns: Lightning Strikes Twice! Introducing CALADAN

[@Newrecordday2013]

Update: Clayton has opted to exclusively provide Caladan in hardwood, leading to a slight increase in price compared to the initial video release. Originally considering an MDF version, he decided to discontinue it due to the overwhelming popularity of the hardwood option. For inquiries, feel free to reach out to him at 801-631-2994.

[@CavalierLiberty]

Website in the description is incorrect. You got it right at the end of the video.

[@Newrecordday2013]

@@CavalierLiberty Thanks, fixed.

[@CavalierLiberty]

@@Newrecordday2013 glad I could help

[@theaustralianconundrum]

Yes, I see them! At 6:18 someone has placed the speaker cables on their little 50 cent stands so they don't don't touch the floor and vibrate the electrons!!!!!!!!!!! I laughed so hard I cried. @@Newrecordday2013

[@oakmountainman7872]

What species of hardwood are those Caladan speakers in your video?

[@JonPrintzian]

Mine arrived on Saturday and they sound fantastic post break in. Their build quality is phenomenal. For those concerned about the required feet away from the wall - You can still play music with them near the wall and it sounds fine but not HiFi. One feature not talked enough about these speaker is how they're only 10" deep and 35 lbs. Mine are tucked neatly near the wall and I easily pull them out when I have a long listening session. I play music for my young daughters with them near the wall. I've been to a few audio shows and have had a few listening sessions in HiFi stores and per my untrained ear, my system now competes with the best of them.

[@NVMDSTEvil]

might be able to put something like a blanket against the wall or something v-shaped so the back wave isnt going directly into the wall. Might take some testing on size or angle but would be worth a try

[@DrNoahBoddy004]

Artisan, audio statesman, genius….. we are grateful to Mr Shaw. The industry needs more gifted sincerity on this scale.

[@legione1capone]

Even through KZbin the sound clips sound fantastic. Midrange is superb

[@kevintomb]

Not so sure that is a good thing. I have heard great sounding speakers, in real life on youtube that sound muffled and just okay, so what does this actually mean?

[@robk5745]

I’ve watched A LOT of speaker reviews, and never have I wanted a speaker more. They are so perfect for my tastes and style too. What beauties. The realism is staggering from these, the energy that pumps out of them too ❤❤❤

[@Newrecordday2013]

Glad you like them!

[@robk5745]

@@Newrecordday2013 thanks for sharing them with the community

[@okafka5446]

@@Newrecordday2013 "Sound clips sound very good. I'm curious what your opinion on minimum room size for these to work well in would be?" Me too, any thoughts?

[@vernkeplinger6237]

I placed my order. Crossed my fingers. Haven't been this excited since I was a kid waiting for Santa. Was on the phone with Clayton, what a solid guy. Very easy to talk to.

[@darrenreed883]

How did you order the web site is down. Is there a different site

[@rockroll9513]

Did you get them? How are they?

[@almiragustinal9670]

No reply. May of sold them already, don't know what's real these days :(

[@simonwang4222]

After listening "Winter sounds" album, I tend to agree that the most important factor of the sound quality, is the source of the recording.

[@195516Z]

Breathless and breathtaking! I don't ever recall you being so passionate in your delivery of a review. It was detailed and measured. ( and always entertaining. ) Like someone mesmerized and out of control by a cult leader I want to run out and buy these speakers. Great review!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Wow, thank you!

[@AUSER7117]

As I will.

[@harryberry474]

And...did they cost $2950 for the pair or $3295 like the site is showing today 11/19 just 3 weeks after this video's posted? add $150 shipping plus tax? So realistically they're closer to $3700

[@Mike-vb6qw]

Which wood on the test speakers? It would be great to see an example of each on his website.

[@truthbespoken7750]

Wow that 3rd track with the blues is amazing ! My Martin Logans and Depth sub was absolutely astounding, the imaging, depth, placement and sound stage was flawless ! Thank you for sharing. Literally made the hair on my arms stand up lol !!

[@jarradmann3357]

Just brilliant. Have to wait a while before Clayton can fill international orders.

[@SomaliCoastguard]

Interesting review...but for everyone commenting how great they sound. You can't know that till you've heard them. You are listening to YOUR OWN SYSTEM!!!

[@strngbns1370]

Best reviewer in the world of Audio!

[@ccdccd8615]

I’ve been following speaker reviews intermittently on KZbin. One of the trends that has emerged (apart from a few interesting designs) is the increasing affordability of high end sound. It has appeared to me that, at least for the past few years, audiophiles need not break the $10,000 barrier to get superlative sound. This speaker, based on your review, breaks new ground with a superlative speaker well under $5,000. That is unheard of. The second jaw dropper is how in the heck does he get such bass extension in a relatively compact OB design??? This sounds like, if you have the space to properly setup an OB design, this is the speaker you have to consider!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Bingo!

[@JohnScheppler]

Wow, you don't look a day older than yesterday, but the maturity of your review is impressive.

[@ClassifiedBrief]

It's obvious in his reviews which products he actually cares about and is making because he wants to vs he is obligated to

[@boomcrash]

I forgot to mention that the production quality of this review is pretty entertaining. The last 15 seconds were well executed 🙂

[@MrDubbindan]

The extension into the lows is downright NAUGHTY !!!! ... You know something is special about a driver setup when it just surprises...

[@boomcrash]

Order placed, deposit made, anticipated delivery in JAN. Taking a leap of faith as this will be the first time seeing/hearing OB speakers (other than NRD on YT).

[@vernkeplinger6237]

i did the same last week. Paid in full. It is a leap indeed.

[@djb113]

Did you get them? How are they?

[@boomcrash]

@@djb113I like them. It’s taken a while for my ears to acclimate to the tweeters as they are not what I’m used to (AMT or beryllium), but they’re good. The open baffle sound is something I’ve never experienced. I really like it. They’re essentially in the same spot since setting them up. I assume there will be further improvements as I move them around the room. I have about 40 hours on them so far.

[@VisionCarrierDreamCatcher]

It is impossible to unhear that. Eish, talk about complicating, in an extremely good way, my Christmas gift to self. Thank you NRD. Now some initial amplifier pairings.

[@randyp7072]

This video is perhaps the best hifi review I’ve ever watched. Thanks so much much for continually raising the bar. And yes I so want a pair!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Much appreciated!

[@matiasmerono]

Oh yeah! Only better in the old western movies, with the seller taking a drink from the top of his carriage. Magic ointments, flies and mules.

[@sidvicious3129]

NRD, you just dropped a Bomb on us!!! I'm in,especially at that price!!!

[@Bloozestringer]

Sound clips sound very good. I'm curious what your opinion on minimum room size for these to work well in would be?

[@obudaifourty9]

I can hear ALL the way down to 25Hz. + easily with my own hand built OB system featuring 2 Lii Audio W15 subs I modified, and designed. It's truly amazing. Thanks for making, uploading and sharing Ron 🙂

[@paulsochinfan]

Could you kindly share your design? Thank you

[@riccitone]

Holy Shiiiite.....Never heard my desktop speakers and sub sound so good. They're so good they made crappy little monitors sing. Even through the squashy KZbins. I'll listen through headphones when I get home tonight. Geeeeeez. Um...and affordable. Gagh!

[@angelheart1129]

Danny helped me design my open baffle alnico full range with ambient neodymium tweeters with low crossover and it’s the way to go 🎶✔️🥰

[@writemeanovel]

Couldn't tell you how happy I was to hear the price, and the high sensitivity which means we'll be able to drive it with a number of TUBE amps. Looks like you are also using my new favorite INT ss AMP - the Electrocompaniet, which I just obtained on the used market. More people in the US should know about that product, it's really a cut above most of the stuff I've owned including MF, Arcam, and some older levinson. Of course years and model types vary in sound Q, but that's what we have you for. Really cool review, well done!

[@ericelliott227]

Where was price mentioned? I watched the whole thing and nothing about price was mentioned. I don't think it has been established yet.

[@Newrecordday2013]

@ericelliott227 if you didn’t catch the price, watch the ending again.

[@treyhorn5645]

What??? New OB"s ??? I remember these.... Your golden child.... Happy B-Day brother. ❤

[@Simplyveej]

Sounds terrific! Had a couple of questions before I place an order. How would this sound with complex music, such as classical symphonies or rock music? I already have a great speakers for jazz and vocal music. But it struggles with the aforementioned genres. I’m looking for speakers that can do exactly that.

[@shardie78239]

When I was watching this video, I thought I will go to living room and watch on TV. I was listening through a pair of Tekton Lore Reference speakers. Usually listening that way, you get an idea but wow I was blown away! I can only think about what it would be like in person. I downloaded the second track, and listened and it made my walls rattle. Excellent track for those speakers. But the real star of the show is the vocals which are as real as any speaker I've ever heard. The first time I ever heard those small Maggie's, LS, those sounded really good, but the added warmth in these is fantastic, triple the price of the Maggie's. Thanks, I really don't think you need other speakers with these. They cover all the bases. Open Baffle speakers truly do have a unique sound. Wow.

[@4thewinir344]

Another awesome video! I hope your long awaited Schiit Tyr review is loaded in the hopper!

[@jon4715]

Yes, I’m also dying to hear the full Tyr review.

[@Newrecordday2013]

Coming soon!

[@hennievangalen3789]

Impressed to say the least! Great presentation, superb room acoustics, great recording. This is highend my friends.

[@rawheadjim]

Instant like and subscribe after this review! I've been wanting an affordable open baffle speaker and this sounds like the e-ticket to bliss. I was too late to the game for the Pure Audio Project kits and Preludes which now start at 7k. You are doing a solid for the common man audiophile on a limited budget. Great review and thanks for the heads up!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Awesome, thank you!

[@danmarjenka6361]

I heard the Caladan speakers at AXPONA this year. Yes, they are fantastic! They were being driven by a pair of Atma-Sphere mono blocks. The DAC was a Linear Tube Audio Aero.

[@HeyWaj10]

So does this essentially leave Spatial Audio Labs in the dust, or is there still a competitive place for them? Super exciting for Clayton, and truly glad to see him back in action (in a very serious way, it appears), but talk about an aggressive branching off in the industry move! Between the design, price, and performance superlatives present here, looks like there are some truly exciting times ahead!

[@rosswarren436]

Don't think it "leaves them in the dust", they are still very good speakers of course. It does mean that going forward they will likely refine some of their designs, such as addressing the integration of the treble, mids, and lows better. If this is indeed Clayton's last or next to last speaker before he retires, there will always be room for someone to come along later and push the technology even more. That's the great thing about this ride. The future can, in theory, bring us even better products at competitive prices. But man, oh man, $2950 for these would be very tempting. I had my eyes on JBL L100 Classics but now I'm just wondering...

[@2undrpar787]

Ron, thanks for this great update! I owned the M3 Sapphires and when the Peerless tweeters became a problem, I was able to get a pair of replacements...it was a miracle and helped me sell the Sapphires without taking a huge loss. Based on the size and the price, I will be first in line for the Caladan if and only if it is using components that are widely available in case of a problem....my strong suggestion to Clayton is to offer an option to be able to buy a pair of spare tweeters at the time you order a new pair of speakers. PS...I agree about the discontinuity of the Sapphires that from time to time made the Sapphires seem like there was an imaging or phase problem.

[@rareearthfab5511]

I’ve twice almost pulled the plug on a set of open baffle speakers. Both pair more than 2 times the cost of these. I’ve already reached out to Clayton…

[@Newrecordday2013]

Smart

[@sumeetlamba4603]

Brilliant review. And amazing sound. 👏👏

[@68arild]

not often I pay any attention to you tube playback, but this comes through very impressive so can only imagine how they are in the room. well done!

[@daveapex493]

@Ron - You mentioned the ZX's not having the bandwidth of the Caladans unless mated with a sub. However, what is your opinion in comparison with what you heard on the top end? Looks like a 1.25 inch silk-dome with a cupped-back vs. the GR Neo 3. Thanks

[@vernkeplinger6237]

Caladans arrived two days ago. Finally set up last night. They sounded very mediocre at best. Was sorry I bought them. This morning .....OMG...... astonishing sound. Lock the doors, somebody could steal them. I ordered them 10/30, a long time ago. They were worth every minute I waited for them. Clayton recommends at least 50 hours of burn for a good reason. I cant believe these things will still be getting better. He has crushed it.

[@Newrecordday2013]

They do take some time to open up - those woofers really get better around the 40-50 hour mark.

[@vernkeplinger6237]

@@Newrecordday2013 Thanks Ron for all you do.

[@BostonMike68]

I would be worried about the tweeters failing eventually. The fs of those tweeters are 710 and they are crossed at 1000 , you can get away with 1400 hz with a 3 order 18 db slope but a second order at 1000 . Those tweeters aren't designed for that. If you don't believe me call parts express and ask what is the lowest that the Dayton RST28f tweeter can be crossed over. I know I been using those tweeters for years

[@ryanchappell5962]

@@BostonMike68 The good news is that the tweeters are cheap and available. hopefully he made them easy enough to swap out. 1khz with 2nd order does seem like an impossible situation for a 1 1/8 inch tweeter.

[@BostonMike68]

@@ryanchappell5962 actually I have used that tweeter and the rf is 730 hz or something close and I was able to cross it at 1400 with a third order high pass. 1000 I think it will have problems.

[@dilbyjones]

It’s all about the tuning great job here obviously. The space really paying off now !

[@svtcontour]

The main issue with open baffie is more difficult speaker placement so I would say the "any room" part is not really true. Physically, yes you can but it may not be ideal in most rooms unless its a dedicated room or if the room lends itself to an OB setup.

[@mikehuntington4440]

My experience pretty much matches your comment. I bought Spatial Audio m4 turbo ...A couple years ago. The problem with open baffle is that it's harder to fine tune the speaker. Box speakers give you an ability to tailor the top end, and even the mid-range.... Without altering the bass too much. Towing the speaker in or out can really change things. The problem with open baffle is that when you tow the speaker in or out, the bass comes with it. My experience was it was significantly more difficult to get the sound just right.

[@ASSOpid]

@@mikehuntington4440 100% correct. I tired some open baffle designed and never truly found a sound that i liked.

[@svtcontour]

@@mikehuntington4440 Agreed. when I was building my Open Baffles, I had a specific room in mind and I had done some testing with a test baffle and found it to work so I went ahead with it, but I know they wont work well in most of my other rooms. Though once they are set up well, open baffles are mind blowing or can be :)

[@Unpreeeedictable]

Ron, it’s great that you continue to support Clayton’s efforts. I bought the M3 Sapphires two years based on your review. They are SO well-suited to my room, system and listening tastes. That said - and I get it, Clayton struggled mightily with health issues - I now own a speaker for which I can’t get a replacement tweeter if needed, even though the speakers are virtually new. He lost the company, which I assume was a management/supply chain/financing issue. Making great speakers isn’t enough. There needs to be proper after-market support, including servicing and replacing parts as needed. The Caladons are going to be huge bang for the buck, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I’m a hard pass.

[@svtcontour]

@@Unpreeeedictable Now to add to this, usually manufacturers will only have replacement parts for a certain number of years then abandon. Sort of like cars. I believe the min for cars is 7 or 10 years.

[@lavman555]

I agree with the comment about the "passionate delivery". I want them, and at that price I'm going to have them.😊

[@Pressure_23]

Sounds like a very interesting speaker. From my selfish perspective, I would find sound clips that reflect my music taste more convincing - I.e. fast electronic music with deep bass. I like the music in the clips but while acoustic blues and country represent a significant challenge in their own right, I think other genres might reveal different aspects of performance. Happy with my Genelec 8331s for now.

[@idianmansjur2673]

This is a great set of speakers. I wolud love to hear how it paired up with another gem in the audio world, the AGD Amp.

[@thomasvargas5984]

Or even a StarCrimson :}

[@idianmansjur2673]

oooh yes..Orchard Audio, forgot about that one..Thanks@@thomasvargas5984

[@shardie78239]

OMG. I can’t believe those things sound that good. I mean thats unbelievable

[@svtcontour]

Oh this awesome album - winter songs. The bass on it is nuts. I've got some huge OB's and when this thing strikes those notes - I'm assuming in the 30Hz range, its pretty epic.

[@myuncle2]

I have good headphones, and the recorded sound from this clip is the best one compared to all other speakers.

[@512bb]

So Ron, I'm think 7-8 thousand a pair, at 2950.00 I have no clue how Clayton is going to keep up with demand...he's got a real hit on his hands, all the best!

[@Newrecordday2013]

I am a little worried he will have trouble keeping up with the demand but I believe in him.

[@Newrecordday2013]

I believe he’s working that all out. He said he can easily assemble two per day. This is doable but I have a feeling he is gonna need some help if the momentum keeps up like this. I disagree about the price though - we REALLY need an affordable open baffle offering and I’m glad this is finally happening.

[@Simplyveej]

@@BrentLeVasseur sounds like somebody has too much money on their hands :)

[@nazcircosta2512]

Not sure if you had a hand in it but I'm happy to report that Clayton contacted me since posting here and I'm hoping to place an order soon.

[@nelsonclub7722]

I have never in my 40 years of selling Hi-End for Audio Excellence and buying my own hi end heard anything on YT like this - even on a Mac Air through its own speakers - astounding - not sure whether they would fit my system its a bit Mcintoshy Dual Mono but would love to give them a try - but they would have to beat some pretty substantial Monitor Audio Platinum 500II's - you know the big ones at 6'2" b- ut if they did I would be all over them

[@ginom407]

I listened to these yesterday for about 45 minutes at Capital Audio Fest. They played the same tracks that Ron plaued. These speakers are Amazing!!!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Dude! I was hoping to hear a report! And keep in mind those rooms are usually awful!

[@michaelgarnett1372]

Think pair w new class A musical fidelity w a less laid back sources

[@noahblorm2990]

Awesome review and wow! $2950 for the Caladan! If they are flat through the full range, I'm sold! I was going to ask if you had ever tried the Buchardt A700 but at the end you dropped the Caladan price bomb on them.

[@ericelliott227]

Where did you get that price? If true, while that is very hard now days, it is still reachable over time. In other words, not bad at all indeed!

[@losendos8963]

​@ericelliott227 The price was stated at the very end of the video. It was the "mic drop", so to speak.

[@noahblorm2990]

@@ericelliott227 As losendos8963 said, in this video at the end around the 20:00 mark, New Record Day dropped the price. Crazy low considering they bested the pair of Sapphires NRD spoke so highly of for so long.

[@photobriangray]

Damn. Even through my R3/NAD setup, those tracks sounded good. Crazy.

[@peter3728]

exciting stuff! Will Clayton have a showroom for auditions?

[@MusiclyricsByECDaleyC]

I am amazed at how the low end & and overall sound spread sounded on my APS-- Klasik 2020 Studio monitors, clearest lows I have ever heard from any speaker I have heard anywhere! The sub low was astounding, even over KZbin....

[@marcellorotino810]

I've owned the X5s for three years now and they are still fantastic, just wondering Ron any thoughts on the sonic differences between the X5s and Caladans?

[@BrentLeVasseur]

Shhhhhh… me too! X5s for the win! ;) Can’t beat that horn air-motion tweeter that goes down to 550hertz and the active adjustable woofer. But for $3k, that speaker is a no-brainer! In fact I think he is underpricing it by a lot.

[@Newrecordday2013]

@BrentLeVasseur I think in your room, the X5s are perfect!

[@BrentLeVasseur]

@@Newrecordday2013 Thanks buddy! Me too. I love my X5s. The only problem is my cats have destroyed my cloth grills and I need replacements. They love to climb on the speakers. lol

[@marcellorotino810]

I have a problematic room so my X5s are perfect sounding in this room being controlled directivity. I believe the X5s tweeter crossover is 1 k same as the Caladans. I also purchased a spare 250 w amp from Spatial Audio just for peace of mind. I don't use the grills but have no cats to worry about lol. These speakers are sensational, too bad they were discontinued but I believe the 12 inch mid is no longer made by Eminence

[@BrentLeVasseur]

@@marcellorotino810 Yeah I got the 100 watt plate amps and was jealous to hear that the newer unit shipped with 250 watts. I might ask for an upgrade price along with my new cloth grills. I don’t plan on getting rid of these speakers anytime soon. They fit my room perfectly. It’s difficult to improve on perfection. lol

[@zackw4941]

I'm about $10k into a set of Tekton Moabs with Be tweeters, upgraded crossovers and Townshed Podiums. I LOVE them! But also, my uncle is working with active crossover, omnidirectional stuff, based on Linkwitz' old work. I heard his latest effort (after a long hiatus) a couple weeks ago. They weren't well tuned yet, but already, key aspects of their performance exceed my Tektons. Transient speed and clarity and the believe-ability of vocals, namely. I don't know how much of that is from the open, omnidirectional design, a lot is from the hand tuned active crossover with no analog filters. From you just showed us in these recordings, I definitely have my on these now.

[@edgardorivera617]

Wow wow, the bass is awesome!!!!!!!!, the clarity is dynamite. This are better than anything I heard through my headphones. Super

[@Newrecordday2013]

Wow, thanks!

[@argo117007]

*while listening to YT compressed audio through said headphones*

[@Bloozestringer]

@@argo117007 you did see the file downloads?

[@craighoffman6876]

@@argo117007 Links provided to the uncompressed high res sound files. 🙂

[@dannyjonze]

oh my. Well done to Clayton and thanks for bringin amazing news. I was disappointed when you said last week about the problems with the Saphires. But lookahere, now this is something something to dream of.

[@yippie6862]

Sounds pretty darn amazing! What was the amplifier you were using? Electrocompaniet?

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Ok tou make it FUN!! I spent almost 2 decades away from real listening due to work/travel an living in small places so get to listening and the latest I tried KZbin. Because in the 80s ,90s we only had magazine or show but HIFI shops Thanks

[@Thomas..Anderson]

I have downloaded those high resolution files and after critical listening I can say that those Clayton Shaw Caladans sound exactly the same as my table top computer speaker. Needless to say I am very proud of my little speakers matching those highly praised Caladans.

[@nicoeleich]

hahahahahahahahahhahaha..

[@stiffmeister0hYeah]

at 3:40 he mentions that it's time to put headphones on.

[@duroxkilo]

lols jokes aside, mic placement has a great influence on the captured fqs. place the mic (or ear) close enough to a 2in speaker and it will capture 30Hz with ease. that's how headphones can dig low w/ authority...

[@russelldawkins9094]

@@stiffmeister0hYeah…then you’ll hear your headphone’s interpretation of the Earthworks microphone’s interpretation of the sound of the speaker in close proximity to the tweeter. What would be more useful would be to hear the recording of the speaker interspersed with the line level signal being fed to the speaker.

[@rongoodman8874]

Excellent comment. I was wondering the same. The mic placement definitely would give a different result than one could expect sitting in a chair 10 or 15 feet from the speakers. @@duroxkilo

[@boomcrash]

My Caladans have arrived! As bad luck would have it, they were delivered the same day I departed for four days. I’ll unbox on Monday. Can’t wait! Still anxiously awaiting NRD’s assessment of the production speakers you received.

[@vernkeplinger6237]

what day did you order them on ?

[@boomcrash]

@@vernkeplinger6237 NOV 1, but I wasted some time pulling out of PayPal and reordering via Square. Probably could’ve had them a month or two ago.

[@JonPrintzian]

@@boomcrash I ordered mine Nov 5th. I hope to get my tracking number soon.

[@vicentvanmole]

If only if they can make a compact &smaller room friendly,less imposing ,better styling .i will jump in . For time being i will keep my Focal .

[@Staybrown11]

When you say “any room” what does that mean? Is this speaker for folks who can’t pull their speakers 8ft into a room? Or for those with small rooms? Or are you talking to audiophiles who have special rooms for speakers?

[@Nightjar726]

Pardon and I mean no offense at all, but could you put at least one classical piece on since it’s a ‘reference sound’ for many. Dont get me wrong , I don’t just listen to classical. But it is a reference for me also when choosing speakers. I’m 54 and listen to rock , blues and classical mostly. Some jazz May I suggest for a classical piece and good recording Helen Grimaud Beethoven piano concerto No. 5 the third track - III Rondo Allegro as it has a really good piano recording and string. The piano in the beginning if done well should have grunt in it. Much obliged.

[@Karto86]

The recommended tracks are soo good :)

[@mark120371]

Simply astonishing. I've been looking for my set of towers and I was in the process and about to build some but at this price point. Oh my Lord astonishing great review. I am all in on these

[@ericbrown5744]

Great teaser Ron! Room is looking amazing!! I want a pair of these!!!

[@losendos8963]

I truly appreciate your channel. Ive been watching in silence for a while, taking mental notes. Im currently without a system, due to past health issues, etc. The last pair of speakers i owned were a pair of Infinity Epsilons with the servo unit. (They were wonderful in my opinion). But open baffle design has caught my attention, not because i think they sound great (I dont have anywhere nearby to audition any), but because reviewers (like you) who i trust have spoken so highly of them. So, as I slowly scrape the funds together to get into another system, I get excited about a review like this. (The price seems very reasonable!!) That being said, is there any indication as to when production models might start being released?? In other words, how much longer might I remain without a system? Thanks again for all you do. (Oh, and sensitivity of these speakers if you know?) Thanks again.

[@larryh.4629]

Glad your mending. Now we know why people value good health. Till it's not there you don't miss it.

[@jeremiahchamberlin4499]

I think he said the sensitivity was 93 dB.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Two thumbs up ! This will allow people to listen to MUSIC .............instead of analysing a hi-end SOUND system....... Will also make it more easy to choose a musical amplifier and source instead o reading and choosing by numbers on glossy papers. Thanks

[@SgtMjr]

I dunno, those look more Arrakis than Caladan if you ask me.

[@QuangNguyen-oh6ju]

The spice must flow

[@hbg70]

Does it matter

[@BrentLeVasseur]

You can paint them blue if you want… then😂

[@JuanGarcia-kv7yv]

Wow!! This must be one impressive speaker!!

[@Newrecordday2013]

They are.

[@georgechirayus4865]

Glad to hear Clayton is recovering well from his illness. The Caladan seems to be amazing - look forward to its continued development. Having said that, warning bells tend to ring when I hear, “as he heads into retirement” even before the launch of a product and new company. Hope Clayton will put into place a succession plan / customer support. Would hate to have something go wrong and the main man is on a beach sipping Pina Coladas. 😅

[@Newrecordday2013]

I probably could have said that line better: Caladan IS his retirement. It’s not a matter of quitting hifi, he’s sunsetting things by focusing on this one design.

[@Bd-ox4mi]

Definitely on my shortlist thanks for the great review as always ✌️

[@roberts3889]

I owned Clayton's original Emerald Physics CS2 back in the day, and have always thought they were an excellent speaker. Edit: the only issue I had (applies to open baffle designs in general) is the narrowness of the sweet spot. Not a good solution if you're looking for broader dispersion in a combination music/home theater setup.

[@braxtkj]

Thanks for letting us know that the sweet spot could be narrow i watch movies with hifi speakers

[@jvburnes]

This is not true in general. I've had Alon 1 open baffles that had incredible, holographic sound staging and it was not limited to the so-called sweet spot. The Linkwitz lxminis are definitely *not* limited to a sweet spot.

[@philschack9937]

Not true. My M4's have holographic imaging across 3 seats. As with any speaker the very best is center but unlike other great speakers it is not head in a vise or the only spot with sound stage.

[@thomasdix8453]

Thanks for the review, Ron!

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Wtf happened to Spatial Audio?

[@DaleCrommie]

Holy crap, the music is out of the Box. Stellar sound.🔥❤️😄

[@BestKiteboardingOfficial]

I'm here to listen to all the guys who can identify the sound characteristics of a speaker they don't know, in a room they don't know, with other gear they don't know, via a compressed audio file....

[@stefanandersson6750]

first time I got the goosbumps through YT. Brilliant stuff

[@garysmith8455]

I smile at the open back, dynamic driver designs that are being built today. However, I think that the reviews we have seen with the Martin Logan 'Masterpiece' electrostatic series have been a game changer for true, dipole, with a two way line array concept for a while now. At 90+ DB sensitivity, attach a 400wpc. amp and one can be amazed with the dynamic range, and spatial image an arched, mylar panel can create. I know, as a Klipsch Forte'4 owner along with a pair of Classic 9 ESL's side by side in my dedicated 18x24' space, the ML's NEVER disappoint me or my listening guests. 😉 Best wishes with the final production and introduction of this new speaker.

[@ryanchappell5962]

The thing is that the Martin Logan speakers do not use an open baffle bass section. The bass region is where you need it the most. I'm sure the Martin Logan's are superior in the range that is covered by the electrostatic but you aren't really solving the small room acoustics issues considering that it's crossed somewhere around 500hz. Everything below that range is basically a normal speaker and even worse considering the boundary on the floor which is going to excite room modes pretty badly unless you have a large enough room. The Caladans are really designed to address the severe problems of small room acoustics.

[@garysmith8455]

@@ryanchappell5962 Oh well, can't win 'em all, but at least the single xover point is OUT of the most sensitive area of our hearing. Less drivers and crossover points always a good thing, as does a line source / dipole design in most instances (O: If the room is NOT friendly, you can always treat it for better results.

[@ryanchappell5962]

@@garysmith8455 good points and I suspect that people who buy that level of speaker have a pretty nice room anyway.

[@blastfromtheeast]

Not sure how much I was expecting to hear but I think I am in shock. Good . . No GREAT news for people in the market for a new speaker of an upgrade. Exciting review.

[@madcrabber1113]

They look amazing.

[@rockonabfive]

Endgame Speakers...Love it! All you will ever need. Period.

[@51Percent]

Do you own them??

[@rockonabfive]

@@51Percent No, just appreciating the sound. Best sounding speakers I've ever heard. It's my own personal endgame speakers I have in mind.

[@torchbox]

Can’t wait for their next release, Arrakis 🙂

[@DaleCrommie]

Being of those guys experimenting with the Lii Song 15s, open baffle, I am now on board the OB express. One of the aspects of the Caladan that I first noticed was the 1.5 inch thick hardwood baffle. And, only $3000. I hope Clayton’s new company sticks around, while I decide if my Lii Audio experiment is gonna work for me. 😄

[@boomcrash]

Looking forward to your comments on the production pair you received. Same as the pre production model?

[@Waitaminutesilly]

Ron - I love the way you present and choice of words you use is so brilliant to a point that making to place an order of these OB speakers.

[@louisxiiii]

I remember hearing the Spatial M3s at Florida Audio Expo 2019, they stood out, but I haven't kept up with audio much since then. Interesting about your comment on continuity. My notes from FLAX say "Sounds good, not in-your-face, perhaps because it's not played too loudly. Bass OK, clean, musically deep, not special-effects deep. Sometimes sounds discontinuous from tweeter to woofer." The ability to play satisfyingly at low-modest volumes and a non-fatiguing sound are high priorities for me. How do these compare to Pure Audio Project speakers? The model with 4 woofers and tractrix horn midrange really stood out to me at FLAX, better than the M3.

[@naturalverities]

Love the demo tracks and the challenge to greatness this presents to us DIYers! Guess I'll have to unpack the pair of old Polydax 35mm silk dome tweeters I have stashed away. But I'm also quite happy with the midrange speed I'm obtaining from 3" titanium diaphragm mid drivers with 20lb motors. They might even sound great WITHOUT 38" wide classic CD horn lenses to introduce them to the room, lol!

[@a3marketing991]

Can't we hear some alternative rock or similar? I appreciate the song choices, but I'd like to hear these with some heavy music as well. Will they still sound open, etc?

[@michaelm.3231]

Haven’t ever been this excited for someone to take my money.

[@arthurwatts1680]

That's great Ron but I could have sworn you used servo subs with the Sapphires the first time we saw them - I must have them mixed up with Danny's open baffle speakers. Thanks for the vid.

[@Newrecordday2013]

Thanks Athur!

[@BoredSilly666]

Your room is looking and sounding Fantastic. Nice One

[@Newrecordday2013]

Thank you kindly

[@MrRonnmaui]

Great review! Nice price for such an exceptional product. Going to shake the competition for sure.

[@sunvalleydrivemusic]

When is the final production review? I’d love to hear an update. I’d also love to hear how these sound with some rocking music (do I hear the sound of cheap audio man pulling up to the driveway?).

[@chadddada]

Heard these at CAF and had the pleasure of talking to Clayton several times. They are fantastic speakers and of incredible value. I will own a pair.

[@Newrecordday2013]

Couldn't agree more!

[@chadddada]

Just an update - I was a December order and I am still waiting. Communication has been getting better. There have been parts shortages but they have been prepping speakers for parts availability. He noted there are 75 orders placed in 2024 after the initial bubble around this video and CAF. They may be shipping ~50 pairs a month is seems. I am happy to wait as I am still very excited for these.

[@harrisedgar]

Wonderful news...!!! Amazing audio clips..!!! (BTW they look fantastic)