Five hours of listening, with different electronic components that will be reviewed at the end, with all kinds of music, has given to capture here what will be some first impressions about these boxes from distant Vietnam*. The impressions may be crude, inadequate or totally unfair -in this world, what is not?- because they will be compared with contenders that with today’s money would cost seven times more, from a brand known worldwide with whose technological advances, Despite whoever likes and likes it more or less, it is in the elite of acoustic development, to finish off that they are considered cult and totally timeless boxes, with four real tracks instead of the three that the manufacturer concludes.
The Vietnamese measure exactly the same as the Matrix 801 (+/-3 mm), but those have two channels: a 15″ paper mega cone that acts as bass and mids (they are cut at 2Khz, which is nothing) and a 1.4″ tweeter with a titanium diaphragm and a 90º radial horn. For the rest, they weigh 45 kilos according to the manufacturer.
The physical aspect
The photos give no idea of how tochas they are. They are big, really big if you see them from the front, although later in depth they are more demure, especially if you have about 800 of them next to you. I don’t know what Sigmund Freud would think about it.
The finishes are very good given a product of its class and price, with an aspect that leaves in doubt whether we are really facing a product categorized as high fidelity or more intended for a professional environment. The “spikes” legs are of the highest quality and he paints it once the boxes are anchored sto them it is the less spectacular. It should be noted that the exterior wood is plywood (rosewood), but, I repeat, good manufacturing is customary and the finishes are of quality. The rear terminals look strong and fulfill their function without any problem, to conclude by noting that although they look like boxes with infinite enclosures, they are not! They have a huge bass-reflex output at the bottom, and when I say big I mean exactly that: huge. A hand with a mobile phone fits perfectly inside to take photos, inside where you can see a great thickness in the DM used, as well as lateral reinforcements that provide extra rigidity.
The manufacturer says that they are indicated for rooms of 15 to 40m2. I’m going to tell you something: it’s not true and to try a button.
Ultimate Audio Elite room in Portugal. If there isn’t 80m2 out there, it won’t be long. It can be a picture of 3 people and living room
In other words: it would be ridiculous to use these boxes in rooms smaller than 30m2 without careful prior acoustic care. You are warned. Sound It’s very direct, present and listening to them makes it clear that you’re listening to a two-way ensemble. There is a blurring in the mid-high band usual in these designs, even more remarkable if it fits in a box whose 15″ cone acts as a sub, bass and medium. It should be remembered that the cutoff between frequencies is at 2Khz, for what the cone has a lot of work to do. I don’t think they are suitable boxes to listen to any recording or musical genre, but they have been exceptional for me on some recordings. It is worth mentioning the album “Little girl blue” by Nina Simone, where the realism in her voice is at the level of the best boxes I have heard. They also feel like a fish in water with live recordings (Pink Floyd “Pulse”), where the cut “Hey you!” it sounds like you’re more in a concert hall than at home… and that has a lot of value. I wanted to try another well-known album such as Eric Clapton’s “Unplugged” and, likewise, it sounds very, very good and has a great live feel. Current recordings like SOHN’s live album with the Metropole Orkest that sounds especially good on my 800, the same doesn’t happen with the Thivan, listening to the voice very sibilant and hardly credible. Interestingly, the Thivan sound great with non-audiophile classical recordings.
In other words: it would be ridiculous to use these boxes in rooms smaller than 30m2 without careful prior acoustic care. You are warned.
Sound
It’s very direct, present and listening to them makes it clear that you’re listening to a two-way ensemble. There is a blurring in the mid-high band usual in these designs, even more remarkable if it fits in a box whose 15″ cone acts as a sub, bass and medium. It should be remembered that the cutoff between frequencies is at 2Khz, for what the cone has a lot of work to do.
I don’t think they are suitable boxes to listen to any recording or musical genre, but they have been exceptional for me on some recordings. It is worth mentioning the album “Little girl blue” by Nina Simone, where the realism in her voice is at the level of the best boxes I have heard. They also feel like a fish in water with live recordings (Pink Floyd “Pulse”), where the cut “Hey you!” it sounds like you’re more in a concert hall than at home… and that has a lot of value. I wanted to try another well-known album such as Eric Clapton’s “Unplugged” and, likewise, it sounds very, very good and has a great live feel. Current recordings like SOHN’s live album with the Metropole Orkest that sounds especially good on my 800, the same doesn’t happen with the Thivan, listening to the voice very sibilant and hardly credible. Interestingly, the Thivan sound great with non-audiophile classical recordings.
The manufacturer recommends amplifications of more than 7W and I’m not saying it’s crazy, although I currently move them with monophonic stages of 300W continuous per channel, the first 100W being in Class A… and they ask for chicha. It is a box that at low volume does not get what they are capable of giving; you have to turn the pot to the right to understand that this is how a box of this type really sounds. At low volume, I would strongly discourage them, even.
Another thing I’ve noticed is how sensitive the listener’s position is to boxes. The speakers are very directional and encourage you to position the drivers directly towards your head so you don’t miss a thing in the movie. Then I have also noticed that raising them a few centimeters from the ground (I created some stands with wheels for them) sound a little fuller (as with the Matrix 801, which sound much better when separated a quarter from the ground).
I know that in time I will have different (better) considerations about these boxes, because I reiterate that their cones are still “virgin” and that implies that with the passing of days, weeks and months, the sound will settle down and definitely get better.
Because this thread will have a sequel.
Something that I love about the Vietnamese company is its closeness to the client and its speed in any query that may be asked, whether through social networks or even WhatsApp.
Associated team:
– Sony CDP-X777ES Swoboda modification.
– Preamplifier Vincent SA-93
– Power amps Vincent SP-991 Plus
– Canare 4S11 speaker cables
