Cadentia 3 Product Development thread / Audio First Designs

[manisandher]

I have the Cadentia 3 speakers now set up in my office:

The full chain is: Auralic Altair G2.1 -> [balanced XLR] -> MFA Baby Ref v2 -> [balanced XLR] -> Neurochrome 686 -> Audio First Cadentia 3

I'm not really sure what I can say about their sound, other than it's absolutely "lovely"... from top to bottom. Are they perfect? Well, they're close enough to leave me wanting for nothing.

My only real gripe is that the matching Audio First stands are 10-15cm shorter than I would like, ideally. Hunching down ever so slightly on the sofa, the very-top-end becomes a tad more pronounced, which gives the sense of more clarity.

Overall, I'm totally chuffed with these . Thanks once again to @Purité Audio and @Audiofirstdesigns_Harry for all their help.

[I really shouldn't have to say this... but I will. I paid the full RRP for these speakers - my comments above are my honest opinion, and nothing else.]

Mani.

 

[DrCalinB]

Your setup looks great!
It seems like a pretty empty space you got there,with some minor acoustic treatment you will probably get the most out of the speakers, even though they are room friendly :
Cheers!

 

[manisandher]

It seems like a pretty empty space you got there,with some minor acoustic treatment you will probably get the most out of the speakers, even though they are room friendly

Without meaning to take the thread off-topic, the room is actually acoustically treated. Here's the ceiling (almost 5m high):

Mani.

 

[DrCalinB]

Without meaning to take the thread off-topic, the room is actually acoustically treated. Here's the ceiling (almost 5m high):

View attachment 518605

Mani.

Now we re talking! Nice work,enjoy!

 

[Milt]

Is it June yet?
fingers thrumming on counter

 

[suttondesign]

Forum,
Is it okay to make the stands for the cadentia a bit shorter but cant them upward a bit? It would reduce the apparent size a bit, plus help with room modes since I have a sloped ceiling with three big beams to create a more complex reflectivity.

 

[manisandher]

On reading here that I would have preferred the stands to be slightly taller, Harry @Audiofirstdesigns_Harry contacted me to ask if I'd like a pair of taller stands sent out to me.

They're arriving today.

Absolutely phenomenal customer service! A massive thanks once again to Harry. (And Keith @Purité Audio also, from whom I've bought a few bits of gear now, always with excellent customer service.)

Meanwhile, I have the Cadentia 3s playing music throughout the day, as I work. I really couldn't be happier with them.

Mani.

 

[manisandher]

Just had two 'audio friends' over today. Purely subjectively... they were very impressed with the Cadentia 3. One actually preferred them over my KEF Blade Two Meta ! (Different rooms and different upstream equipment though.) I prefer the KEF personally, but I think it says something about the Cadentia 3 that they can be spoken about in the same breath.

Mani.

 

[Audiofirstdesigns_Harry]

Hi guys, I built a pair of custom Cadentia 3 with rosewood veneer finish yesterday... I have to say I really love it! It's gorgeous isn't it?

They are now at Purité Audio (London). Please contact Keith if you want to see and listen to them.

 

[Kravi4ka]

More than impressive! I think you and Purifi with the SPK16 have made most of the audio companies look old, tired and silly… KEF holds on but it’s a though fight when you have magnificent rosewood veneer in your corner

I once bought a damaged B&W P4 just to look at it, purely for the rosewood… I admit it, I do have a problem but at least it is socially acceptable

 

[Emiyanez]

I planned to make a new Fidelia product line (finished) in the future as a more entry-level series for my brand, which will include some slim, modern-looking, close-to-wall placement-friendly floorstanders (as a response to a lot of enquiries from East Asia), offering a very good performance for the price.

Hi @Audiofirstdesigns_Harry,

Which are the timelines and the estimated goal price for the floorstanders? I was about to order the Fidelia kit but I may wait for those. Currently, I have a pair of ELAC Uni-Fi UF52 and, although Andrew Jones made a great job for the money, I would like to try something with better linearity and directivity. Fidelia plus a sub was my final choice but I prefer floostanders.

Thanks for your amazing job and good final recovery!

 

[Shure]

Just had two 'audio friends' over today. Purely subjectively... they were very impressed with the Cadentia 3. One actually preferred them over my KEF Blade Two Meta ! (Different rooms and different upstream equipment though.) I prefer the KEF personally, but I think it says something about the Cadentia 3 that they can be spoken about in the same breath.

Mani.

What would you say the difference is between Cadentia 3 and Blade 2?

 

[manisandher]

What would you say the difference is between Cadentia 3 and Blade 2?

For what it's worth, and in a nutshell:

Cadentia 3
- beautifully balanced from top to bottom - "lovely" full sound
- great imaging
- surprising LF weight (for size)

Blade 2 Meta
- simply the most life-like speakers I've heard... anywhere

[As I said before, different rooms and different upstream components.]

 

[Milt]

Cadentia3s cleared US Customs & on the way.
Stands arrived today. Substantial.

Harry kindly sent a pic of my speakers.
I think they're lovely.

 

[Milt]

Ooops. Sorry for the duplicate

 

[Grimoire]

Ooops. Sorry for the duplicate

Did you only buy one?

 

[Milt]

Did you only buy one?

Oh sh!t!!

 

[Paul7777x]

Hi @Audiofirstdesigns_Harry,

Which are the timelines and the estimated goal price for the floorstanders? I was about to order the Fidelia kit but I may wait for those. Currently, I have a pair of ELAC Uni-Fi UF52 and, although Andrew Jones made a great job for the money, I would like to try something with better linearity and directivity. Fidelia plus a sub was my final choice but I prefer floostanders.

Thanks for your amazing job and good final recovery!

Me too. Relatively small floorstanders would be quite a godsend.

There simply are not enough, if any, that play properly.

I’ll be using two subs as ever, so bass reach is not as important as clarity all the way up.

 

[Paul7777x]

Cadentia3s cleared US Customs & on the way.
Stands arrived today. Substantial.

Harry kindly sent a pic of my speakers.
I think they're lovely.

View attachment 529017View attachment 529017

I’m really not a fan of timber finishes at all. And Rosewood second least.

But, despite that, these are a seriously impressive looking speakers.

I hope you get enormous satisfaction from them for many years. And I’m sure you will.

@Audiofirstdesigns_Harry , I hope you sell thousands sir.

 

[NopeNope2]

Oh wow! The TX woofers look so much better aesthetically. Seeing a full set instead of mix and match is a lot nicer IMO.