Mesanovic CDM65 Studio Monitor Review

[amirm]

The link above says they won't sell to individuals.

 

[Inertiaman]

Switching to bass heavy music, brought out the real power. Impressively, the cabinet was not transmitting hardly any vibrations. Typically I have to work fair bit to isolate these when performing my listening tests but with CDM65, I didn't have to.

Isn't this simply a consequence of dual opposed woofer arrangement?

 

[phoenixdogfan]

These are a lot like the Buchardt A10, looks like the same AMP and WISA setup. Similar preference score and bass extension, besides being a 2 way vs 3 way. Any reason to take this over the A10?

Great question. The Buchardt's seem to be unable to even hit 100 db based on the settings of their limiter in stock tune. IDK if they have a Cardioid tune either, but they definitely have the better appearance.

 

[staticV3]

Great question. The Buchardt's seem to be unable to even hit 100 db based on the settings of their limiter in stock tune. IDK if they have a Cardioid tune either, but they definitely have the better appearance.

The Buchardt is a simple 2-way design and is incapable of cardioid playback.

For that, additional side- or rear-firing woofers are required.

 

[DearSX]

Great question. The Buchardt's seem to be unable to even hit 100 db based on the settings of their limiter in stock tune. IDK if they have a Cardioid tune either, but they definitely have the better appearance.

They do have a Cardioid tune or something like it I believe. Is it the same as the near field tune? Nvmd I see the above post.

Ps. I own the A10 already

 

[phoenixdogfan]

The one that we're not seeing, unfortunately, is the GGNTKT M1's, which are also cardioid down to 150 hz, come with premium electronics, and some very nice cosmetics. And they are also designed to play louder with lower distortion than the CDM 65's. Unfortunately not sold in the US, and not likely to be anytime soon.

 

[kemmler3D]

I don't know why there's been such a fuss over my opinion that this is a scam. There is simply no universe where this speaker is competitive.

I think scam is much too strong a word to use here.

OK so you don't think it's the #1 value in bookshelf / monitors. That's a valid position to take, even if I personally think you're under-valuing cardioid bass. The #1 value is arguably a used pair of JBL 305p, but there are reasons you might want to spend more.

But if you've spent any time on ASR you've probably seen plenty of threads about actual scams. You know, audiophile ethernet, cryo-treated cables, and so on. Not to mention the various $100K speakers that sound and measure badly. This is nothing like that.

This Mesanovic speaker is just charging a moderate premium for a feature you don't personally think is important... it's a far cry from "scam". They never claimed it was the #1 value king on the market or anything like that.

It's competitive with the KH150 in THIS universe, I would bet big bucks that at least a few people will decide to buy the Mesanovic instead because of the cardioid feature.

 

[Cbdb2]

removing signal wiring for surround and ceiling speakers.

Often its easier and cheaper to run signal than power o in ceiling/wall speakers.

 

[napfkuchen]

The one that we're not seeing, unfortunately, is the GGNTKT M1's, which are also cardioid down to 150 hz, come with premium electronics, and some very nice cosmetics. And they are also designed to play louder with lower distortion than the CDM 65's. Unfortunately not sold in the US, and not likely to be anytime soon.

These were also on my shortlist. The manufacturer claims cardiod to 200 Hz and constant directivity from 250 Hz. Horizontal radiation is wider (140°) than the CDM 65s (120°). The recommended listening distance for the CDM 65 is 0.9-1.8m (3-6 feet), for the M1 it is 1-3m. For me, the listening distance is around 2.2m and at this distance, even without a subwoofer, the distortion in the low frequency range, which was sometimes criticized here, was not noticeable. Maybe the M1s are more suitable for slightly larger rooms? Unfortunately they are also about 2.000 Euro more expensive per pair. What really sets them apart though is the looks. They look elegant without being obtrusive and dominating the room (just my opinion). For an additional charge, for example, the front can be finished in any automotive paint.

 

[Purité Audio]

I am beginning to think that GGNTKT are a junior Geithain, we have a review lined up but no contact from Berlin, one would have thought an English language review in SoS would be useful.
Keith

 

[DanielT]

I read a little about cardioid speakers, the principle that is. I found this interesting:

I-or:
Kidney-shaped radiation pattern has become fashionable in recent years with constructions such as Kii THREE. By combining two different radiation patterns (monopole+dipole), you get the equivalent of a cardioid microphone (cardioid). The idea is to achieve directivity even for low frequencies, where conventional loudspeakers are omnidirectional. Now, of course, the directional index does not become excessively large in this way, approx. 5-6 dB for kidney-hyper-kidney, and still drowns in comparison with the room contributions of 10-20 dB that hearing cannot separate from the direct sound. For low frequencies, speaker+room form a single connected system almost no matter how you do it.

You can compare the direction index above with what is obtained from a point source mounted on a wall, 3 dB, and in a corner, 9 dB. Placing the speaker in a corner is thus more effective from a directivity point of view than creating a kidney radiator and I think everyone who has tried it (combined with appropriate equalization of course) doesn't think the room affects much less subjectively.

On the other hand, it can have certain, smaller, advantages to utilize the directivity of the kidney radiator from a couple of hundred Hz and up, where the hearing is able to benefit from the reduction of the room contributions. However, this is much easier to achieve in practice, as the requirements for air pumping capacity are much smaller here.
With reservation for inaccuracies due to using Google translate

faktiskt.io • Visa tråd - Fokuserar vi verkligen på de viktigaste mätparametrarna?

 

[amirm]

Often its easier and cheaper to run signal than power o in ceiling/wall speakers.

I have power all around room but no signal wires. Agree if you have to run them low volt 8s easier.

 

[thewas]

The Buchardt is a simple 2-way design and is incapable of cardioid playback.

For that, additional side- or rear-firing woofers are required.
View attachment 414699

Or just using rear or side openings with adjusted damping material before in the enclosure which act as acoustical delay elements like for example Geithain very successfully does on their K models as well as D&D on their 8c (their rear woofer isn't used for their cardioid upper but to reduce the SBIR problem from the front wall distance)
Here is also a very interesting analysis on such:

"Analysis" of cardioid speaker radiation via lateral slots - like D&D 8c

First off, I want to temper expectations, I'm certainly not a cardioid radiation expert - but will do my best. I can only touch on a few topics and if something interesting comes up I will expand the post if necessary. Index 1. Does it work? 2. Comparison speaker with slots to "normal" speaker...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Blockader]

Or just using rear or side slots with mechanical absorbers before in the enclosure which act as acoustical delay elements like for example Geithain very successfully does on their K models.
Here is also a very interesting analysis on such:

"Analysis" of cardioid speaker radiation via lateral slots - like D&D 8c

First off, I want to temper expectations, I'm certainly not a cardioid radiation expert - but will do my best. I can only touch on a few topics and if something interesting comes up I will expand the post if necessary. Index 1. Does it work? 2. Comparison speaker with slots to "normal" speaker...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Those vents introduce steep roll off below a certain tuning frequency. Even with a 10'' midrange driver, D&D 8C struggles to output decent SPL around 100 ~ 150hz at 1% distortion. Buchardt would require significantly larger midrange woofers to use delay vents.

 

[thewas]

Those vents introduce steep roll off below a certain tuning frequency. Even with a 10'' midrange driver, D&D 8C struggles to output decent SPL around 100 ~ 150hz at 1% distortion. Buchardt would require significantly larger midrange woofers to use delay vents.

Yes, even the 12" Geithain RL 921K and 15" RL 901K are not SPL monsters in the bass also due to that.

 

[dfuller]

Those vents introduce steep roll off below a certain tuning frequency. Even with a 10'' midrange driver, D&D 8C struggles to output decent SPL around 100 ~ 150hz at 1% distortion. Buchardt would require significantly larger midrange woofers to use delay vents.

Specifically, this is because the mid does quite a bit of excursion - D&D have compensated for the bass roll off with EQ to make the blend behave itself. Also, it's an 8", not a 10".

If you had a Purifi 8" in there instead it would be a different story since it has something like 50% more linear excursion.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks for the review amirm.
It's an interesting a well measuring loudspeaker. It's a pleasant enough looking unit and is likely to garner more fans on this basis than the Genelec offerings for home users.
I think Mesanovic may have priced it just out of range for people like myself who might consider buying at the £4000.00 a pair mark. It really needs pricing to slightly undercut the other well regard options in this price range in my opinion. Great piece of engineering but just too expensive.

 

[Ilkless]

Also the Mesanovic has a more continuous PIR and sound power due to its wider directivity and better vertical radiation:


View attachment 414582
View attachment 414583
View attachment 414584

Wow this really puts it into perspective. The KH150 has an unusually deep waveguide compared to the 120 or 310 and that shows.

I think what @deni has achieved especially as a small boutique setup is incredibly impressive.

 

[bachatero]

This is some of the weirdest, most baffling and irrelevant ranting I've seen on a review thread yet. Well done.

I am just very picky with value ever since picking up day trading

 

[amirm]

Thanks for the review amirm.
It's an interesting a well measuring loudspeaker. It's a pleasant enough looking unit and is likely to garner more fans on this basis than the Genelec offerings for home users.
I think Mesanovic may have priced it just out of range for people like myself who might consider buying at the £4000.00 a pair mark. It really needs pricing to slightly undercut the other well regard options in this price range in my opinion. Great piece of engineering but just too expensive.

Agree that $1,995 would have been a better price.