Acoustic Precision Eikos FR1
Chris Totten
Hi folks,
Has anyone any experience of these speakers - for anyone who doesn't
know the FR1's are designed by that guy Hanscombe from Electrofluidics
- they are very lowmass/high density designs using a single Ted Jordan
alloy driver. The magswho review them seem to give rave reviews and I
was wondering if anyone has personally heard of them or better still
actually heard them themselves.
I'm aware that the bass extension won't be too good but if coupled
with a good REL sub they supposed to be amazing - true or false?
While I'm here - does anyone have any info on Phase Linear designs or
any technical information on the Jordan drive units?
Cheers,
//chris
Chris Totten
> You said you've read reviews of the FR1's. I've only read the one's in
> Hi-Fi
> Choice. If you know of any other reviews, I would be grateful if you
> would let
> me know.
I get Choice every month which is where the interest stems from - they
really seem to go for it in a big way.. I've always liked the sound of
even my A300X so I think that the Precision is (hopefully) a natural
progression.
As far as other reviews go I read a very good one in Hi-Fi World - if
you
want I'll fax you a copy but it'll have to wait until next Monday when
I'm
back to work. In summary though they had this to say about the
Precision
amp...
"Wiring up a pair of Jamo Concert 8 loudspeakers which have an
exceptionally clean, clear and detail tweeter, proves the changes
really
work. To hear every drummers stroke on perfectly distinct and separate
cymbals is unexpected from any amplifier, let alone a £400 one.
Neither is
it normal to hear such silvery bells listening to Mozart's Ein
Musikalischer Spass. This is a lively piece at the best of times and
the
combination of the Concert 8s and A300-R Precision is a real sprinter
thanks to the amp's quite remarkable rhythmic grasp."
"Somehow, transistor amplifiers that portray depth and an overall
acoustic
seem to have become rarer these last couple of years. The Pioneer
proved
particularly good in this area, with a definable acoustic that
extended to
full-scale orchestral recordings like the Adagio from Mahler's Ninth
played by Barbirolli and the BPO."
In summing up they said...
"Word Verdict : 5 out of 5 - A bargain at £400, pure and simple.
Outclasses the competition in every area."
Not bad eh? I've also got all the reviews from "What Hi-fi" but they
seem
to push the sound of the Ki-Sig more because it's warmer and easier to
listen to which is fine but it's the greater insight I'm after - I've
heard both systems and the Ki-Sig CD/Amp is indeed very nice but I
preferred the extra dynamics and "edge of your seat" feeling of the
Pioneer myself..
I've yet to hear the FR1s but I've been told that you either love them
or
loath them so we'll see..
Where did you hear about the Precision speakers? I've heard a setup in
a
Hi-Fi show in Belfast where Pioneer showed the Precision system
connected
to a prototype Precision tuner and a set of small Pioneer speakers -
they
didn't say anything much about the speakers but I have to say that I
*hated* them - they were very cold and glassy but maybe that because
I'd
just spent 15 minutes listening to an expensive Naim system - it's
certainly something to wait for just in case.
//chris
>I've auditioned the PDS505 Precision against Trichord Genesis, Arcam something,
>Alchemist Nexus and a Cambridge CD & DAC at £400. I also spent a lot of time
>comparing the PDS505 CD & A300R amp against the KI Signature 63KI CD & amp. I
>found that there is a lot of synergy between the Precision stuff. It sounds just
>like it's name, Precision. Timing is superb. Clarity and dynamics are excellent.
>Bass was very well controlled. Whereas the KI Sig duo sounded warm and easygoing
>at times, the Precision pair had your attention glued to the music. Strings, for
>example, had real bite, whereas other CD players sounded mushy. The Precision
>pair are not always the easiest to listen to, need time to warm up and need care
>in setting up but my money is going to Pioneer. If you're looking at the FR1s
>then the Precision range really is the only choice in their price range as Tom
>Evans was heavily involved with the design of both the FR1s and the Precision
>duo. One other choice is the new Pioneer Precision loudspeakers at £700 that
>will be coming out about February or March.
>
>Regarding your query about subwoofers, Acoustic Precision are looking to bring
>out matching subwoofer/stands. They have a webpage at
>http://www.acousticprecision.co.uk but it only contains their logo at present.
>
>You said you've read reviews of the FR1's. I've only read the one's in Hi-Fi
>Choice. If you know of any other reviews, I would be grateful if you would let
>me know.