Opinions on the Zaph Audio ZRT Revelator Towers ?


Has anyone heard these ? If so, how did they strike you ?
Thanks
timtim

Showing 2 responses by carlp

I built a pair of the Madisound 2-way kits about three months ago. Despite the sweat equity, I think I can be objective about the results and say that they are very good speakers. Certainly the equal of many commercial designs that I've heard and owned of equal or higher cost. Better, actually, since I don't have any of those around anymore! The driver integration is smooth. The drivers have outrageous dynamic response. While not annoyingly "detailed," thanks to inherently smooth frequency response, they do reveal system or source errors plainly. Enough to serve as fine monitors for my recording activity, yet not so extreme that I don't enjoy less than perfect records heard for pleasure. They live up to their name by revealing loads of musical nuance. These systems are for listeners who can still hear well and aren't hung up on excessive, unreal detail or extreme loudness. I'm sure you can improve on the inexpensive enclosures and achieve sharper imaging and tighter bass, but for the money the Madisound boxes make for an effective, fairly easy build for the moderately-skilled casual mechanic. I opted to leave the crossover boards outside the cabinets. They're funky, sitting out bare on the floor, but maybe there's a benefit in clarity? Anyway, I don't know of a better way to spend $1600 on speakers. You get some of the best drivers available anywhere in a perfectly enjoyable implementation. Spend the rest of your hifi money on music. Very highly recommended.
I'll make a follow-up after almost a year of living with the speakers. No change of opinion. I installed the crossovers inside the boxes with no apparent loss of clarity. In fact, the sound is a bit better, I assume because the xovers are now tied to the drivers without binding posts involved. I tied the inputs to one pair of posts since they're single-wired. I still find them very useful and enjoyable systems. If you prefer the top-end on the relaxed side, you might want to get some alternative resisters and try knocking back the tweeters a smidgen. Just a bit, depending on taste/system. But no faint-praise here - these are fine loudspeakers with the supplied enclosures. If you can improve on the kit cabinets, go for it!