Xavian Madre Perla - Sweet Highs and Expressive Speakers

I first saw and heard this speakers through an FB posting by AFC Top HiFi. I believe it was paired with XTARK amp. Sounded huge for its size. Initially I thought it was a Rega speakers as it is quite small for a floorstander. But then they clarified that this a Xavian speakers from Czechoslovakia. This particular model is named as Madre Perla under the Natura series.

Soon after that, the speakers landed at my house for a review. A good time as MCO have started to be relaxed a bit by the authority. Thank you to AFC Top HiFi for this opportunity to review this speakers. Spent about a month with these babies.

BUILD AND SPECIFICATION


At 18 kg per unit, I consider this as relatively heavy speakers given its size compared to my PMC at 23 kg. Matthew helped to set it up which was relatively straight forward apart from aligning the spike with its shoe. It needs 2 people to properly align it as the landing on the shoe is very precisely machined to fit the thin sharp point of the spike. 

The cabinet is of a 'mosaic' oak which was rested for 3 weeks before the milling process is done. The end product is a beautifully finished cabinet that has a high WAF in it.

The mid bass unit is a custom made XAVIAN 150 mm driver made of special PP membrane and the tweeter is an Audiobarletta 26 mm soft dome type. 

Now, another interesting about the design is it front firing slot bassreflex similar to my PMC but this is not Transmission Line design. I have had conventional rear firing and bottom firing speakers before but for front firing without TL, this is the first experience.

For sensitivity, it has a relatively common design at 88 dB with 8 ohm impedance.

The speaker terminals allows single connection so no bi amping option. The terminals are located about 1/3 from the top of the cabinet. So for those with heavy speaker cables, I recommend to use spades instead of banana plugs.

THE SET UP

1. Kronos Sparta

2. SPL Audio Phonos

3. SPL Audio Director Mk2 pre amp

4. SPL Audio S800 Performer power amp

5. SONY HAP Z1 ES

THE TRACKS

• Istana Impian - Saloma (WAV 16/44)
• Dancing In The Dark - Diana Krall (DSD)
• Lets Face The Music and Dance - Nat KIng Cole (WAV 16/44)
• Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden): Dance of the Tumblers (WAV 16/44)
• Gone Too Soon - Michael Jackson (DSD)
• No Me Ames - J.Lo and Marc Anthony (WAV 16/44)
• Pengungkapan Hatimu -Candra Darusman feat. Andien (LP)

Various

Now, I purposely played this old track which was not remastered nicely just to see whether the Perla will show this track full character. The Perla indeed deliver the track as it is. A bit of a 'dirty' sound just as it was back in Saloma's time. The Perla however did not deliver any harshness and this track was still listenable.

Going to a nicely mastered DSD file of Diana Krall Dancing in The Dark, this is where I really start to understand the character of the Perla. It brings out the various layers of music with vocal to be highlight. Diana;s vocal was brought forward while the rest of the music is giving the overarching ambient. 

This was further confirmed with the track by Nat King Cole. The vocal was just mesmerizing. And these are singers from different generation but the emotion delivered through the Perla was indeed sweet and suitable for those who are going for musicality and relaxing ambience.

I then tested the Perla with a more complex music. I chose this track for its complexity in it various tempo and instruments behind it and of course, no vocal as all the tracks I tested the Perla with seems to highlight vocals. Maaaaann..... this was even more exciting as the Perla managed to bring up the energy and various tempo of this masterpiece with such energy, liveliness and at the same time maintain the warm overall presentation. Layer and layer of musical instruments seems to pop out left right and center and I am liking it.

Back to something more common, a slow tune by the King of Pop. This one is mainly to see how the Perla in delivering a simple straight forward piece. No worries for the Perla. Again, the strength of vocal is the main highlight. Perla can really make you enjoy superb vocals from great singers at a different level. No harshness on highs and it really reveals the vocal strength of any singer  of their true potential. i.e. crap singers...take note including myself! 

No Me Ames

This was actually the first track played once the speakers were all set up. I kind of know how this speaker will sound when it comes to vocal and instrumental. I was really curious how it sounds when it comes to a common ballad/pop track. I purposely chose this track as it is not in English nor Malay. If this track could give me the emotional vibes, it can only mean on thing - this speakers can deliver the musicality and emotion of the song. First impression, yes it did!. The vocals are clear and energetic, full of emotion. The guitar plucking during the solo also sounded clean and crystal clear. Percussion especially the high (snare, hi hats, cymbals) sounds splashy and wide. The bass however is not heart pounding nor aggressive. It is sufficient on its own but once compared to an ATL bass from the PMC, one will find that is rather on the soft side.

Pengungkapan Hatimu 

Playing good quality mastered LP like this one will only make you fall in love with the Perla. Sweet and sweet throughout. The bass that I feel was much less compared to my PMC is instead replaced by a very warm and subtle bass that makes music like this sounds deep and emotional. Wind instrument sounds alive and spacious, giving me the pleasure listening to rather a huge sound stage. Vocals again, super wow with its clarity and while delivering a nice tone variation between Andien and Candra.

THE CONCLUSION

This is in fact a very unique experience for a few reasons. While the Perla is not a power hungry speakers with quite a high sensitivity, depending on the music, I can get the impact at lower than usual volume, but for some music, I had to crank it up a bit more.  Secondly, is one of those speakers that the more I listen to it, the more I feel that it does have a special place for those who really focus on vocal. While the bass is not for those who are into metal nor hip hop, it substitute that with an overall warm and also refined bass. And lastly, I am still very surprised with its ability to deliver that complex music with such boldness and energy.

It is worthwhile to check the speakers out at AFC Top HiFi if you are into vocal, orchestral music and refined bass. The Perla MSRP is RM 13,980. You can contact Min Ping Ong for an audition and maybe you can request to bring your own amp as well to test the speakers with.

Sepang Audio Den Revamped - Zu Audio, Accuphase, Denon and Bladelius

It has been 6 years since my last visit and first experience with Zu Audio speakers and Leben amp. To listen to this pairing or even to one of the product here in Malaysia, one have to know who owns one and request to be invited to have a listen. There was a distributor of Zu Audio here but not Leben if I am not mistaken. At this time, it was a pair of Zu Audio Druids.

Over this 6 years, the owner fondly know as Sting (yes, not the singer 😬) have gone through quite a revamp of his system but I have not had the chance to audition the synergy of this new set up.

• Zu Audio Soul Supreme
• Accuphase E600 Class A integrated amp
• Bladelius Embla media player
• Denon DN950FA CD player
• A pair of Goldenear ForceField 10" subwoofers (yes 2.2  set up)

The only remaining from the previous setup was Frank Power Bank and PTP TT.

Believe it or not, this must be the longest digital session I have been in for quite some time. 3 hours solid, from track to track of various genres were played alternately between Bladelius and Denon.

Sting has always been very particular of component matching and proper set up of the listening area. 6 years ago I experienced a fluid presentation between Zu Audio Druids and Leben with Triode CDP and PTP TT. He has now outdone his previous set up with this current one.

Why?

1. The vocal was dead centre between the speakers.
2. When played a full spectrum tracks like Dire Straits, I could feel the energy transmitted in the song.  The highs and lows were very controlled. A very tight and impactful presentation.
3. It delivers a very musical and enveloping ambience that wraps your body all around. Literally I had to look behind me on what he has done with room acoustic.
4. Emotion ran high throughout the 3 hour session. When I listen to a set up, 2 things can happen. Either I just sit still leaning against the sofa or I will start leaning forward and sing along or drum along. Listen to the video and you can hear me singing along.
5. I came home and start looking for my CDs of the tracks that were demoed this morning particularly Ella USA.
6. All the experience were coming from digital source that most would say, only analogue source can deliver such presentation.

This is not a review article but sharing of a listening experience. I find that this set up have stepped up 2 notches from 6 years ago which evolved around mostly analogue. 

The addition of the 2 subwoofers have injected life into the musical gaps if any. Positioning of the subs have been moved from beside the sofa to the front. According to Sting, he is still experimenting on the sub position.

Control, refined and huge sound extension are the 3 top characters I can say about this set up. The vocal throw, although having the speakers line as the main stage, I could feel the vocal reaches to my listening point.

It shines fully with full spectrum music a.k.a bass, electric guitars, drums, vocal, keyboard maybe. On  live, acoustic or unplugged tracks, although detail and emotions delivery are good, the highs can be a bit sharp to my ears. Prefer to play typical full spectrum songs.

But nothings beats his Mrs Mee Bandung and cheesecake that was served for lunch. 

Thank you Sting for the Hari Raya listening session.