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Franco Serblin R.I.P. What happens to Ktema?

Again, my heart goes out to his family and his legacy. I have had the opportunity to listen to both the Ktema and Stadivari side by side. I came to listen to the Strads since i was thinking about purchasing them. The owner insisted i listen to the Ktemas, so i said OK. I attached my modest simaudio 600i integrated and played Traci Chapman. Wow, i immediately heard the separation, the dynamic soundstage and even the precise base. Truly, i felt the sound was a bit bright, but i understand these particular speakers have not been broken in yet. My girlfriend which has no audiophile background nor listen to much music said, the sound is no longer muffled in comparison to the Strads. So i turned to the owner and stated, "by you playing the Ktemas, i no longer want the Strads, unfortunately i cannot afford the Ktemas" needless to say i walked away empty handed, but i really are considering the Ktemas.

So i sit wondering, what will happen to company following the passing of FS? Are the Ktemas limited? Should i think about the availability of replacement parts in the future?

Any advice or suggestions would be highly appreciated.
128x128harris4crna

Showing 6 responses by doug99

doug99
288 posts
 
I was speaking to David Lewis Audio at the NY show this weekend and he was going to be a dealer for Ktema.
He was telling me, now that Franco Serblin has passed, thats pretty much the end of Ktema.
Thats why i wouldn't buy the Ktema speakers now.
Looking at the Ktema speakers, those drivers might have been custom made to Franco Serblin specifications by a driver manufacturer..
So if the drivers break, how do you get a replacement?
Thats why i wouldn't get them.
doug99
288 posts
 
Harris4crna ask him about the drivers in the speakers?
Ask him, If their off the shelf drivers, or drivers made to Franco Serblin's specifications by a driver manufacturer.
Thats the most important thing.
My friend has the Dunlavy 4A speakers and even though Dunlavy no longer exists, the drivers are easy to get cause they were off the shelf Scanspeak and Vifa drivers.
doug99
288 posts
 
Harris4crna, he's not giving you correct information.
The drivers were custom made to Franco's specifications.
I'm looking at the drivers and they dont look like Scanspeak drivers.
Now read this.

http://www.bornrich.com/entry/franco-serblin-s-ktma-speakers-are-a-possession-forever/

Franco Serblin ktema speakers 1

Special attention has been paid to not disturb or “soil” the central part of the acoustic spectrum. It’s the part where the harmonic richness highlights the true timbre of the instruments. The speaker cabinet is a triple arch-shaped structure, with the two lateral front cheeks that are concave and a convex woofer compressor. They have used a 28mm soft-dome tweeter created by Ragnar Lian, one of the famous Danish masters of transducer design. The midrange array comprises two custom-made 4in units in a step-compensated baffle for the ultimate music reproduction.

While the woofers are custom 9in metal cone, piston performance-optimized units, the crossover enjoys a coherent spatial radiation design. Other technical specs include an in-room frequency response of 26Hz to 33Khz, nominal impedance of 4 ohm and a sensitivity of 92 dB/W/m.
doug99
288 posts
 
Harris4crna, do you have the website or email address of the Italian seller of Franco Serblin speakers?
doug99
288 posts
 
Harris4crna, What about the 9 inch woofers on the Ktema speakers?
Scanspeak doesn't even make 9 inch woofers.
Here's Scanspeak's site.
Show me the 9 inch woofers they make?
Scanspeak makes 8 inches, 10 inches and a 12 inch woofer, but no 9 inch woofer.
http://www.scan-speak.dk/woofer.htm
doug99
288 posts
 
When you get them, tell me how you like them?
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