Signals hi-fi for grown-ups. suppliers and installers of music hi-fi audio stereo system, systems and a/v av products to all areas of Suffolk,North Essex, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire 01473 655171

Speakers, speakers yet more speakers. We might have turned into something of a Naim centre but we still seem to collect loudspeaker brands as if they are going out of fashion.

For us, taking on Kudos is a case of evolution, with the individuals involved having been a part of our connection with Neat Acoustics. Derek Gilligan had a significant influence over our favourite Neat loudspeakers (Ultimatum and Motive series) but the decision to go it alone has not resulted in clones of previous models. These new products might be very much our cup of tea but also represent a slight change in direction:

Far from being 'clever' designs with complex bass loading and multiple drivers, the new range represents a back to basics approach with high quality drivers and crossover components in a simple 'recipe'.

Some high end offerings are promised but, for now, we have a range all called Cardea. The entry stand-mount (C1) costs £1450 and it uses the same tweeter that ATC put in their £8k+ flagship products. There is a matching floor-stander (C2) at £1950.

The higher end C10 stand-mount and C20 floor-stander (C20s are pictured top right, exotically clad C10 below it) use the SEAS Crescendo tweeter which is more normally seen in £10,000+ offerings. The C10 is priced at £2450 and the C20 at £2950.C30 flagship floor-stander costs £5250).

We received the C1 + C10 stand-mounters first and instantly found the Partington Dreadnought stands to be a sonic and aesthetic hit. The initial pre-production version of the C20 exhibited some strange anomalies in the bass which meant that it apparently suited some rooms far better than others. Predictably, our room showed them (almost) at their worst, although a potential customer's room actually managed to outdo it. Paradoxically, the C10 stand-mount delivered an even better performance in his hostile environment than in our own.

We now have the production versions of both the C10 and 20 floor-standers and can report that a small change in damping and porting has made a dramatic difference. They now 'time' extremely well and the extra low end energy can be welcome. Our preference still tends towards the stand-mounts but the floor-standers are now very, very accomplished. In any case the relative merits will be part of the room / system matching and personal taste continuum.

So what are they like?

For a start, you really have to treat these as two distinct ranges. The physical appearance might be nigh on identical with only the satin silver trim on the more expensive tweeter showing those in the know that you have invested rather a lot more dosh, but they really are quite different in terms of ability. All are ported designs. Rearward in the stand-mounters and downwards in the floor-standers. Close to boundary placement is possible but some space behind - maybe just 30-40 cm - can make a big different to the sense of focus and integration.

The C1 stand-mount is a terrific little performer. Situated on the Partington Dreadnought, it combines a respectable level of analysis with a smile-on-face level of timing and dynamic freedom. The mid band is quite Harbeth - like (this is a compliment) and the overall integration, refinement, headroom and resolution of tonal colour, not to mention lack of compression, is decidedly high end. On a Peter Gabriel Live album we were struck by how well the percussion was handled. It was actually interesting in it's own right. On a recent home demonstration, much of the music played, and it was an eclectic range, showed the worth of this quality in maintaining the listener's interest.

Stick these little darlings on a Naim CD5x and Nait 5i with NAC-A5 cables and, even in quite a large room, certainly in a small one, you are likely to be astonished. We certainly were. You could well find that Nordost Flatline Gold speaker cable works better still in this context, although further up the Naim 'food chain', good old NAC-A5 seems to be the best bet. In fact, moving further up the Naim ladder is very rewarding, allowing you to make sense of, say, a 282 with 250 or 300. This is a mid-priced speaker with real upgrade potential.

Swapping to the C2 gives a noticeable increase in bass extension and a slightly warmer presentation of voice. It is a slightly softer presentation too. The C2 is not a better speaker than the C1 but it could be more or less appropriate for a specific system. Once really suitable stands (mass loaded please) are added into the equation, the price differential is about £1700 versus £1950 for the C2, so this is not a conventional "price point" separation.

With the grilles off, the styling is ultra clean and simple. The cabinet quality and veneer is beyond criticism and the understated looks are not going to date. The grilles attach by small magnets let into the frame and simply 'stick' in place, covering the bass driver, tweeter and very little else. They are best regarded as dust or, more likely, little finger protectors as they detract from the sound slightly.

Nothing can prepare you for that level of change that comes from moving on to the C10 and C20 with the Seas Crescendo tweeter. Oops, I might have just done it. There are some internal differences too beyond the change of tweeter; the components on the crossover are much more sophisticated, and the cabinet damping is different. But it really is a case of small things meaning a lot, and the clarity from top to bottom moves up a gear. They sound faster, tighter and more focused yet retain the utterly benign nature of their siblings. The extra level of insight and focus at all frequency levels is very persuasive.

In a Naim sytem, they are conveniently easy to please. The MusicWorks mains leads that are ultra desirable with the Focal Electras and Utopias are a questionable (if not just plain bad) idea with the Kudos. Funky speaker leads are also a no-go. These are simple plug-and-play Naim partners.

Without a doubt, the £2450 C10 is one of our favourite loudspeakers (not just at it's price level) with the C20 is hard on its heels. In fact I am personally so torn that I would like to use both of them. . . and a quick peek into the stock rooms reveals that we have done just that!

The appeal of this entire range to us rests in it's ability to combine high levels of resolution with heart and soul drama and musical engagement. They open up all musical genres and they make you smile, which rather gets us back to the heading.

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