VIVID AUDIO's new small room/apartment speaker!

The Audiophiliac lends an ear to VIVID's latest design.
The new Audiophiliac Podcast can be heard on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and soon over iHeart Radio and Apple Podcasts.
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#vividaudio #audiophile #speakerreviews
Looking for great sounding FREE UNCOMPRESSED or processed music? Check out these videos about the two MA Recordings samplers:
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Steve’s System:
SME 15 turntable sme.co.uk/audi...
SME V tonearm sme.co.uk/audi...
Ortofon Cadenza Blue cartridge
Van Den Hul Grail phono preamp audioshield-di...
Technics SL 1200GR turntable
Parasound JC3+ phono preamp
Grado Platinum3 and Epoch3 cartridges
Jay’s Audio CD Transport www.jays-audio...
Denafrips Terminator DAC www.denafrips....
Denafrips Ares DAC www.denafrips....
Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ mytekdigital.c...
Border Patrol DAC borderpatrol.ne...
Oppo BDP 105 Blu ray player www.oppodigita...
Pass Labs XP30 preamp
Pass Labs HPA 1 preamp/headphone amp www.passlabs.c...
Pass Labs XA25 power amp www.passlabs.c...
Pass Labs XA100.5 power amp
First Watt J2 power amp www.firstwatt.c...
First Watt F7 power amp www.firstwatt.c...
First Wat F8
First Watt SIT3 power amp www.firstwatt.c...
Amp Camp Amp Stereo diyaudiostore....
Schiit Aegir power amp www.schiit.com...
Mytek Brooklyn Amp+ mytekdigital.c...
Decware Zen Triode
Reisong A10 tube integrated amp
Denon PMA600NE integrated amp usa.denon.com/...
Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers • Klipsch Cornwall IV wi...
KEF LS50 Meta speakers • REVIEW: Radically impr...
Q Acoustics 3030i speakers www.qacoustics...
Emotiva B1+ speakers emotiva.com/pr...
Quadraspire Q4 EVO Rack
AudioQuest digital cables www.audioquest...
Kimber digital cable www.kimber.com...
Cardas Clear interconnect cables cardas.com/clea...
Cardas Clear speaker cables.
JPS Labs interconnects jpslabs.com/co...
Nordost speaker cables nordost.com/le...
Wireworld Aurora 7, Electra 7, and Silver Electra 7 power cords, • Time to think about up...

[@theprof291166]

We use the S12s as part of our monitoring systems for Base2 Music. They are impeccable studio monitors with very very low colouration, making it easy to hear what is going on with the microphones. Love them.

[@ryanschipp8513]

Great for monitors but not great for finished music. They are anemic for music. That 4-inch driver is going to puke out with anything under 60 hertz

[@supabayes3284]

They can play down to 40’s in my room. No kidding as I have measured with my Trinnov Amethyst and pair these s12 with dual KEF KC62 sub as 2.2 Sat-sub. It’s easy to dismiss how good these speakers are based on their look and spec. Hard to believe why they are 6k until you have heard them.

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@supabayes3284 well if they can play down to 40 Hertz in your room then my Canton Towers will play down to 20 Hertz. The other thing you have to explain is if the 40 Hertz is truly Audible. By your ears not by equipment. Now you're talkin about adding probably a couple thousand more dollars in subwoofers to try to compensate for a small bookshelf speaker costing $6,500. The whole point of my comment was to let others know that there are much better options out there for the money.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

@@ryanschipp8513 its ok man... i'm mad too that I can't afford these.

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@ColocasiaCorm you can get speakers for much less that will rival these. Don't be broken that you can't afford it. I would have no problem being able to purchase them, but I just took a smarter approach to get more for my money and not overpay for high fidelity.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Vivid Audio are the only direct radiators that can compete with horns.

[@garyhilbolt4363]

Speaking of the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers album, Can't you hear me knocking? What a fabulous track that brings so much to the listener. My most favorite Stones song.

[@stefanfalkpetersen1376]

Dear Steve. I have to write this to you. What makes your chanel something very special compared to other audiophile chanels is the way the music is presented. It makes a huge difference to me that you're talking about the music with the same enthusiasm as the gear. Because in the end it is the music that it's all about. Thank's for that!

[@ryanschipp8513]

Good call

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Thanks

[@gtodave6768]

Good day to you sir. I'm so glad you mentioned two of my favorite musicians. Thelonious Monk and Vladimir Horowitz. Eack an absolute Master in his musical genre! My mother turned me onto Mr Horowitz as a kid, and my grandfather and I listened to hours of jazz which ALWAYS included Monk! Piano is a great way to gauge speaker diversity and accuracy. Once again, well done my brother from another mother! Peace and happiness to you and Mrs. G this coming year.

[@joshklein6450]

@@keplermission4947 Absolutely, yes. Both Fats and Art Tatum, absolute undeniable, technical and musical geniuses. Full stop. As to Monk...just listen to all the (spaces-in-between) the notes...he's NOT playing! They're all there. Stunning. Beautiful.

[@gregsturgess3876]

There's a lot going on ,,,,, too small too expensive. ,,,,,🇦🇺

[@joshklein6450]

@@keplermission4947 I absolutely agree with you. They are ridiculously fast players with scary good technique. No arguments there. I was just trying to suggest that Monk's sense of timing and use of space makes him, in my opinion, quite underrated and by extension, under appreciated. He wasn't all about playing and filling up every single measure with flurries of notes. He said so much with his phrasings with minimalism, humor, irony and space. Many of his contemporaries including Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins regard Monk as having the best sense of timing of all the great bebop giants. Obviously that could be open for debate. Quite clearly all very different players and no doubt geniuses. Tatum and Fats were amazing stride players who needed no accompaniment in terms of sidemen whatsoever. Definitely Nero. Oscar Peterson is another. Monk was underrated in spite of this and because of his sense of irony, sense of humor and in leaving spaces for the notes to breathe. His very compositions are examples of this. Some don't like him or dig him because of this, therefore I feel he's underrated as such. My intention wasn't to start a war of words over their genius. Clearly all were just that. As Steve himself likes to say, "horses for courses." I love and listen to all of them, despite their own styles and signature sounds!

[@joshklein6450]

@@keplermission4947 OK, I think I understand now what you're saying! I appreciate the discussion and the enlightenment! Happy listening!

[@jonathansturm4163]

Those speakers are far and away the most aesthetically pleasing I’ve ever seen!

[@ColocasiaCorm]

I LOVE YOU STEVE G. LONG LIVE VIVID AUDIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Finn-McCool]

KD Lang released an album in 2021 titled "Makeover". The vinyl is remarkable. It's basically a club mix of a few of her songs. Such as: "Lifted By Love" gets the (Club Xanax) subtext. And she is in top form I must say. Stream it before ya buy it. That's the way to go. 😉

[@dudemastermaster8944]

This is the sort of speaker I’d imagine the Halo Masterchief would listen to, If he was an audiophile (especially in the Color Green). Thanks and take care

[@audiofabulous]

Hi Steve, i heard the Kaya 45 about 9 months ago now and the sound has stayed with me ever since. Remarkable.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

sorry for your burden

[@Rhinosaurus]

I auditioned the Kaya s12 last Saturday @audioconcept, Stockholm. I was gobsmacked… That 4inch driver ain’t 4inch bye any other manufacturer, look at the shoot of the Genelec and Kaya s12, the Genelec have a 5 inch woofer if I recall correctly. Anyway, whatever music I put on, felt just right, homogeneity. Dynamics unfettered, and the bass, really great and tapered off in a great manner. They´re built for smaller rooms or multichannel. Listened to Adeles Go Easy on Me, made me think “they’d never mixed the song like that listening through these speakers”… Still really enjoyable. Quality over quantity. Quality is the feelin left long after the price is forgotten. Just my 2 cents

[@collenfisher3635]

I had the privilage, nee honour of visiting the Vivid Audio factory in SA. Blown away I was!!!!

[@RichardDurishin]

Those are beautiful! Funny that you would juxtapose K. D. 's Ingenue with the Stones given that it started their relationship.

[@edwardgonczy3170]

I am a big fan of an older TV series from the early 60's: "The Outer Limits". The speaker looks like a miniaturized version of the alien in the episode: "O.B.I.T."

[@dylanmountain5357]

The black and white freaked me out

[@luigimattei7698]

Thanks Steve. Great records list. Maybe I m "music driven" in my audiophile hobby.

[@morris7025]

Excellent DIY system!!! love to see it!

[@AdrianIII]

Oh. If they had only used 2 tweeters per side, they would have had a 3D version of Edvard Munch's "Scream."

[@techrider2088]

Looks like a Barbapapa

[@dougg1075]

Love the design

[@LS-ti6jo]

My wife (former school teacher) calls Vivid's floor standing model the Smurf speaker. I chuckle everytime we see them.

[@tomhirschel8524]

She's right !

[@rabit818]

Love it or hate it design as far as looks is concerned. With the exception of the trip hazard stand, I think it looks good. The S12 will look good with the speaker/stand in a spacious minimal home. Thought of the Genelec when I saw the still shot.

[@Magnum_Opus_Music]

Design looks a lot like the Genelec monitors

[@stimpy1226]

Nelson recommended EJ Jordan speakers to me for his Amp Camp amp but these designs look beautiful.

[@Projacked1]

That line of speakers looks like the Barbapapa family! HAHA

[@ivarwb4115]

Lovely comment! I had forgot Barbapapa 40 years ago! Good one!

[@carlosbauza1139]

These speakers are very interesting! Wonder if they will be available ten years from now when I May (?) change my KEF LS50 Meta.

[@boidsonly]

I agree with you re: The Stones.

[@LS-ti6jo]

I wish Steve would review Vivid's two floor standing speakers immediately above this stand mounted speaker. Btw, its a year later and the center channel speaker Steve mentioned still hasn't been released.

[@Rickzolla]

Signed up for the Podcast on Spotify. Look forward to future podcasts.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Thanks, I’m really looking forward to seeing where the podcast takes me.

[@gotham61]

K.D. Lang has described herself as "semi retired."

[@mornecoetzee735]

I can always hear that aluminium cones...

[@FOH3663]

As if Geddes' Abbey received a face-lift pulled overly tight! Of course it should soundstage and image well... what appears to be a superb execution and elimination of diffractive elements (just as Geddes' offerings are). Anyone interested, Vivid Audio's Laurence Dickie (Loudspeaker Magnate), is an outstanding interview. I've seen such interviews on video, and in print... either way, it's certainly worth one's time. Yes, that's what his LinkedIn profile is labeled; Laurence Dickie, Loudspeaker Magnate ... which is fffnnn hi-larious on multiple levels! Thanks SteveMo

[@alex-wk7mq]

I ❤ k.d.lang

[@AllAboutRush]

Yes, but what about the Klipsch Jubilee? 😁

[@siddheshdeshpande7183]

Hi Steve, I recommend you to have a look at Sonodyne speakers especially the SRP series. I think they offer a lot for the value.

[@pickyaudiophile]

I doubt these could be the better choice over the Genelecs. In small apartments active speakers with DSP like the Genelecs IMO are the way to go.

[@theprof291166]

I don't think so. S12 is Bughatti territory. You really need to hear it as its in a different league to anything that has come before. Its that different.

[@henriksrensen3220]

To me Exile is their best album. I also love Blue And Lonesome.

[@craigaust3306]

I wish Steve would review some thing from Legacy Audio, as well as Monitor Audio Gold and Martin Logan motion.

[@billbones1000]

Steve have you checked out love hurts album from Julian Lage? For myself and many of my musician friends that album is a modern masterpiece. Probably the best trio working today.

[@RockCity1111]

Do u have any suggestions for someone with my musical tastes? I'm a rocker with a love for bass Guitar . And I like the v curve sound I believe

[@billbones1000]

@@RockCity1111 check out the double album titled east/west by Bill frisell. It rocks pretty hard in places (most songs build to climax slowly), great live bass sound. Also check out the album Mockroot by Tigran Hamasyan.......last two tracks on that album (titled the grid and out of the grid) is some of the heaviest music ever composed. Also the track KARS 1 on that same album is a modern masterpiece and widely considered one of the most unique compositions of the modern millennium.

[@RockCity1111]

@@billbones1000 Thanks a ton. I need some new stuff.

[@billbones1000]

@@RockCity1111 we all do! Check that stuff out....I'm a former metal guitar player (in teens and twenties). Past twenty years I've moved on to jazz and world music but my metal roots still inform my ears....if shit ain't serious I'm not interested. You might like the naked city album by John Zorn (think it's on KZbin). Crazy album but very much informed by hard rock styles.

[@RockCity1111]

@@billbones1000 That's cool. I have heard some Jazz metal Fusion and thought is was great. Like Zakk Wylde Man with no name colab . I will definitely check this out.

[@BobMonty99]

Jarvis Cocker Chilly Gonzales room 29 . Great album if u want to test ur tunes

[@bobb.9917]

Hmmm…at that budget…just give me The Buchardts and I can spend the $4K left over for some spanking electronics! 😛

[@johnmckay428]

really looking forward to podcast on apple...

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Thanks, it’s coming soon

[@gdwlaw5549]

I’m definitely going to audition them somewhere……..actually my girlfriend wants to audition just the wall bracket :-)

[@thepickyaudiophile]

But Steve.. we don’t talk about Bruno! 😃🎶

[@lukerabin5079]

I have a feeling you may have inspired me to find the Buchardts to listen to…I don’t have to hearing or the interest in spending $6k on a set of speakers that sound like they might just tire me out while listening.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Jelly beans on a stick

[@ELECTECHNUT]

"Form follows function." (See Magnepan) So... $6K for these melted boxes? Pass.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

im sorry what?

[@gerasimger15]

penguin speaker

[@lordi200056]

i don't care how good they sound. they are so ugly, i would prefer silence

[@59vovo]

how do these compare to the small genelecs?

[@weeooh1]

The $2000 stands gives an idea of the sort of margins Vivid is probably making on the speakers. Would love to see this in blind tests vs $2-3000k speakers.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Great idea for a KZbin channel! Go for it.

[@martytoo]

Regarding the viewer system of the day, does anyone reading this know if the Raspberry Pi4 is able to playback files gaplessly? I've been searching for the answer for a couple of weeks. I'm considering the Allo Boss2. Thanks!

[@sudipdutt9699]

Capsicum speaker 😁😁

[@mikrophonie5633]

How does Old Fart At Play by Captain Beefheart sound on them?

[@toffe2ventil]

This or the 805D4?

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

The B&W!

[@Octocoupler]

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac but he was mr b&w

[@thitiwatnarksompop9740]

New Subscriber , followed from Andrew Robison Channel

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Welcome, thanks for watching.

[@RockCity1111]

I listen to alot of rock and would love to hear suggestions for that genre that's audiophile quality? Or am silly ?

[@pjo1964]

Steely Dan , Primus, Radiohead. They usually record things well.

[@peterlarkin762]

Dire Straits. Knopfler put huge effort into studio perfection. Maybe not quite rock enough! There's a remastered version of ZZ's La Grange that is really.worth a listen.

[@RockCity1111]

@@peterlarkin762 thank u. 😊

[@RockCity1111]

@@pjo1964 👍

[@maxhirsch7035]

The Vivids are incredible speakers- some of the best in the world. They won't please everyone, but what audio gear does? They are exceedingly neutral but not clinical-sounding; and are fast, non-boxy, timbrally detailed and accurate (probably most of all due to their pistonic drivers), highly dynamic, and IMO combine the strong points of both dynamic and electostatic speakers, perhaps a hybrid of their sounds. Anybody into high-end speakers owes it to themself to give them a listen.

[@tomhirschel8524]

They sound good, BUT, do they look good ? :) Y G acoustics have a new baby range. Compare? Probably not.

[@bradthurkle7217]

6.5k a pair. I’m out. I’m sure they have a place somewhere.

[@carlbarker4519]

Wow. 6000 and still needs a sub. Hahahaha

[@parapobabam]

Pretty hideous looking speakers. Also those stands don't look like they are worth 2k. Not even close. Which makes one think that the speakers are also a ripoff. No bass? Hard pass for me.

[@fletchermunson6225]

For men of a certain age, a suppository comes to mind

[@scottbernard8824]

The floor standers look like vacuum cleaners.

[@danmar007]

Small room/apartment, big-wallet speaker. :-)

[@jlo8775]

Looks like a xenomorph egg.

[@jamesbrotherton5487]

Thanks, Steve. I think you meant function follows form.

[@jamesbrotherton5487]

I'm an idiot. You're right Steve, it's form follows function.

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

May I suggest a follow-up video comparing these (awesome!) speakers to the new B&W 805 D4?

[@tomhirschel8524]

No. :) Some English channels do it.

[@lansinghuck3742]

Hi Steve, I can't find that "system of the day" storage table at Ikea. Can you spell the name of it? Thanks

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Ikea TRULSTORP

[@lansinghuck3742]

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thanks so much. I am also using the Lii F15 in open baffle with a Velodyne sub for the lows and a Raspberry Pi 3B running Moode Audio Player with music files sourced from a NAS via ethernet. My system has never sounded better. Many people feel Moode is the best software available in terms of sound quality, and it is free. Keep up the good work!

[@goodsound4756]

Thumbs up for having an individual design, but they still win the award for ugliest/awkwardest speaker.

[@grotius912]

I'm curious - where would you put the Vivid v1.5 in the Kaya range?

[@theprof291166]

They are the smallest, but the sound quality is the same across the range, and the bass is pretty good for such a small speaker. The rest of the Kiyas have bigger woofers so move more air. That's about it.

[@pjo1964]

A Why buy a speaker with limitations at that price???!!! 😮

[@jonathansturm4163]

All speakers have limitations regardless of price...

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@jonathansturm4163 you are correct that all speakers have limitations. But considering how much these cost they are a rip-off. The anemic stands at $2,000 are even more of a ripoff. A mid-tier Canton bookshelf with dual Rel subwoofers would outperform them for a fraction of the cost

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Because you won't be finding a speaker without limitations at that price.

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@ryanschipp8513 My wife recently purchased a painting for $12,000. I could have photographed it and had a first class giclée print made for less than $100. Now _that’s_ a price/performance ratio to aspire to!

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@VideoArchiveGuy wrong. I bought a pair of NEW Canton 890.2's....$2100 shipped......essentially no limitations except for under 30hz...get a used Rel sub for maybe 1k...now you are at half the price of the Vivids....they make no sense based on their asking price. 4" woofer?! Lmfao

[@ryanschipp8513]

I love how you glossed over the price of the stands. I could hear it in your voice that you wanted to mention they are a massive ripoff. $2,000 is outrageous. Someone would be much better off getting another pair of speakers and even a pair of subwoofers for a fraction of the price. As far as who the speakers are for... someone that doesn't mind wasting their money. My recommendation for a fraction of the price would be a pair of Canton speakers with a pair of Rel subwoofers.

[@TheSecondMaker]

He is not allowed to say anything negative about the product he is pushing.

[@divertiti]

@@TheSecondMaker He says negative things he doesn't like all the time

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@TheSecondMaker lol

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

If you can find a better stand for less, buy it, the Vivid stand isn't required.

[@ryanschipp8513]

@@VideoArchiveGuy but to ignore them asking $2,000 for the anemic pair? Let's look at the speakers themselves then. Way overpriced for what you get. You are essentially overpaying big-time for The Unique shape and Design. I would put a pair of mid-tier canton's and rel subwoofers up against it and it will annihilate them

[@donquixoteupinhere]

Vladimir could Putin to a piano 😂

[@nanchanger]

For 12 grand, what's the point?

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Good sound.

[@nanchanger]

@@VideoArchiveGuy of course, but this Channel isn't for the average consumer, very limited market...

[@ColocasiaCorm]

hey dummy, its 6.5k for the pair, with $2k optional stands.

[@nanchanger]

@@ColocasiaCorm and knowing the overwhelming majority of buyers don't spend anywhere near nine grand for a pair of speakers makes me dumb? OK brainiac, you got that...

[@xstensl8823]

they look expensive

[@pjo1964]

Looks like cheap molded pc speakers!

[@TheSecondMaker]

They look like something people from 60's imagined the design in 2000's would look like. Seems to me you can't afford to say anything negative about any product ever. The stands of those are as much as a pair of Buchardt s400 mkII. I bet they sound "fast" because they have no bass to speak of. For 6 grand it's beyond absurd.

[@rickymartinakasgk]

Can’t compete with my Kii three’s in any form.

[@Lovelacewatkins139]

Give me a rectangular box any day, horrible looking things

[@the_famous_reply_guy]

Wait till you hear them, simply incredible.

[@edd2771]

He didn’t like ‘em.

[@Kowinaida]

I've always thought Vivid make ugly speakers! Steve, perhaps you could review the new Audio Physic Spark standmount...

[@glennsuntor8653]

The speaker is way over priced; trying to use a midrange speaker for a woofer never works.

[@tonipinto228]

Caro , muy caro . Mejor genelec

[@1959ludo]

To expensive for my budget

[@jamesm90]

Look like Genelecs, I don't like how the look at all.

[@CCC-AUSTX]

SG...RE: NEW SMALL SPEAKERS; ....Funny looking (odd.....well ugly)....You review these speakers, like we can all go out and get 2-3 sets of these what? 8 Grand VIVD S12 sets! Gosh Steve have ya heard about the little virus going around; COVID? People out of work....trying to take care their kids at home....hard to always get food and supplies at the grocery?? And you want us to go spend 8 GRAND on these BUT UGLY small room speakers, Hmmm... later Steve..... CCC Austin, TX

[@cory3685]

Stands are $2k a pair....GTFOOH

[@tonipinto228]

Hablas mucho y muestras poco

[@nhennessy6434]

$6000 for a speaker with a 4 inch woofer. LOL. Sell it with that purple audiophile prose. 🤣

[@Dave30867]

Steve please change your diet your loosing too much weight buddy 😲🤔

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Thanks for the kind words