SB Acoustics speakers (or their kits) have been going around the local scene for a few years now. While I was first introduced to it in one of the KLIAV show a few years back, the Ara BE bookshelf speakers I reviewed recently really explains why it became a rave here. When the local distributor offered me to review the big brother Sasandu model, how can I say no to this opportunity right?
I had the chance to listen to this Sasandu for more than a month now in my system. Throughout the review period, I got to play around with different amps and also speaker positions to really push the boundaries of this speakers. A few other audiophiles also had the chance to come and listen to Sasandu.
BUILT AND SPECS
The SASANDU is a mighty looking, 3 way floor standing speakers. The design is based on the SATORI 29mm, Neodymium Berylium tweeter, 6.5” SATORI Egyptian Papyrus cone midrange and 2 units of 7.5” SATORI bass drivers. All of these are housed in a solidly built glossy piano black cabinet. It also comes in white or black satin.
The cabinet is made of MDF with specific internal bracing to distribute vibrations and lower sound coloration. The internal partition is designed to be slanted to reduce standing waves. It also comes with a 75 mm rear port to ensure uncompressed bass is delivered.
Size wise, it stands at 110 x 23 x 61.5cm (H x W x D) and weighs 32 kg each cabinet. It offers quite a high sensitivity at 89 dB and recommended to pair it with 100 to 200 WPC amp.
THE EQUIPMENT
I started off with using the McIntosh MA9000 integrated amp connected directly to the SASANDU. After a couple of weeks of listening to them, I decided to also try them paired to a pre power combo of McIntosh MA9000 and SPL Audio S800 Performance power amp.
I mainly use my digital sources HiFi ROSE RS150 via Roon and also McIntosh MCD350 SACD player to review this but I also did play some analogue from my Kronos Sparta turntable.
THE SESSION
When I received the SASANDU, the Wellerman song was going viral. Hence, I tried playing it as one of the first impression of this speakers. The sound was definitely huge and it fills up my hall with lots of dynamics and clarity. Vocal seems to be a strong point for the SASANDU. For the bass, I was torn between liking the energetic thumping and missing the extension that I enjoy with my PMC.
Later that night, I out on Come Fly With Me on CD and my my my. It was so mesmerizing to listen to jazz genre with these SASANDU. I can literally experience the wire brush played across the snare. The piano sounded really engaging as well.
Overall first impression I would say that these babies lean towards delivering a wide and huge sound with great focus on highs and mids along with high level of clarity.
1st Impression - The Wellerman Song played directly with McIntosh MA9000
1st Impression - Come Fly With Me
The LP playback - Bengawan Solo by Anneke Gronloh
Of course, playing LP gave even an elevated experience for me. The SASANDU still maintains the high level of clarity and even sweeter mids and highs. It is very musical sounding and made me feel like dancing to this track. I still find the bass can be little bit deeper though to have that extensive low frequency experience.
I continue to play various music through the SASANDU using the McIntosh MA9000 integrated amp for a couple of weeks plus I also changed the toe in angles and also distance between speakers. I find that the SASANDU gives the best performance with no toe in in my hall. Once I found this sweet spot, I then was curious to hear how it will sound with a different amp.
I hooked up my SPL Audio S800 Performance power amp to the McIntosh and connect the SASANDU to the power amp.
Take Five by Kenichi Band
Playing Take Five by Kenichi band, it was a totally different performance. Everything seems to sound even more coherent. A good blend across different frequencies. The percussion sounds alive and full of energy while the saxophone gave a very airy performance without sounding lost in the whole music. The brass instruments also sounded sharp. Overall, the SASANDU delivered quiet an impressively huge sound without loosing any essence and details of this great track.
The Remembering Sound by Aubrey Logan
The usual difficult song that I put on to hear how low can a speaker go to in practice. The double bass on this track was so subtly recorded that at most time its difficult to hear it. The SASANDU had no issue to surface the bass line albeit not as deep as I expected. Aubrey’s vocal was astounding coming out from these speakers. No sign of fatigue to listen to her vocal over and over again even when she hit those higher notes. The trombone also sounded really soothing and refine coming from the SASANDU.
Take Five by Dave Brubeck
As I was still finding that deep bass lines to come from the SASANDU, I then put on the original Take Five by Dave Brubeck. The percussion still sounded really great and the toms and bass drums sounded natural just as I would imagine it would like back in the past. The saxophone maintains to sound very airy and sweet. I do believe the SASANDU is capable of the delivering a deep bass experience if the source file was properly mastered.
Easy on Me by Adele
On this track Easy on Me by Adele, it sounded a bit more on the flat side of things. Somehow, Adele’s vocal sounded a bit on the sharp side. It still carries that energetic and lively sound but became a little bit sharp. Most probably due to the gentler and more controlled bass reproduction. The piano still sounded musical and the vocal was till very detailed but it sounded a little bit flat to me.
Enter Sandman by Metallica
The final test was to listen to Enter Sandman by Metallica and hear whether the SASANDU can be played with a heavier music. The drum intro sounded really bodied with SASANDU thud thumping inorganic bass sound. It can really hit hard. The guitar works sounded really ferocious and James’s vocal was also very authoritative. It really provided me with an experience of attending to a heavy metal show. Excellent final experience with the SASANDU. A well balanced experience.
THE CONCLUSION
I would have thought that the SASANDU would just multiply my experience with the Ara BE tenfold. This is not the case as the SASANDU carries its own sound signature albeit using similar drivers as Ara BE. The whole cabinet design somehow gave a different perspective and listening experience to me in my system.
I also find that my SPL Audio power amp matches better compared to playing directly from the McIntosh integrated amp despite the latter offers 300 WPC; 120 watts more than SPL Audio. The pre power combo manage to provide a better bass control and sweeter highs and mids to the SASANDU.
Who would enjoy SASANDU? To me, if you are looking for a listening experience that leans towards hard thumping bass with a pinch of sweet high and mids, this could be the speakers that you would want to demo. A good amp match is essential I think even though with its high sensitivity. I would stick to their recommendation of 100 to 200 wpc amp. It does not give that deep extensive bass line but it can really rock you out with some heavy bass hits.
The SASANDU will be featured in the upcoming KLIAV show in October 2022, proudly brought to you by HiFi Paradis, the official SB Acoustics distributor in Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment