I put on the Sonny Rollins, Way Out West (LP) album and listened to Solitude. Sonny’s saxophone was delivered in a visceral swinging fashion, carrying with it amazing emotion. The tone was natural, and he stood as though within the confines of my room, blowing on the reed and wandering his fingers over the flaps. His tooting on the sax was dynamic and vibrant, boasting his expertise with the instrument. Moving to the next track on the album, “Come, Gone”, I was convinced that the X3’s were delivering the music without any softening or tempering. From the ring and shimmer of cymbals, to the tight snap of the snare drums, the quick string plucks of the upright bass and over to the bite of Sonny’s quick sax notes; everything about the music was as vigorous as I expect it would have been when it was originally performed. The X3 was delivering an in-your-face performance in the most pleasurable manner, putting me on the edge of my seat, raising my heartbeat and getting my adrenaline going. Not for the faint of heart, this was Jazz like it was meant to be heard – real, raw and uncensored.
Moving over to The Oscar Peterson Big 4 band and their live from Japan album, Freedom Song, I listened to the track “Now’s The Time”. Here again I found the driving rhythm was delivered in spades by the Kudos X3. The raspy chatter of the high hat seemed to reach out just before the front baffle of the X3, with the shimmer of the cymbals expressed in an unadulterated manner. What got me though was the golden tone of the piano keys as Oscar unleashed his fingers on the instrument. The impact of the keys had greater apparent intensity, expounding the impact of each-and-every key stroke. Comparing the sound of the X3 to the KEF LS50 and the Aurum Montan VIII, the X3 seemed to relay a greater sense of speed and micro-dynamic energy, as if less damped. The elements within the soundstage with the X3 were more forward with less overall depth; however, this had the effect of bringing Oscar’s piano just inside my room, rather than out farther on a stage and I found myself captivated by the performance. Tight plucks of the bass strings were easily followed with the X3, yet I found there was some surrendering of lower frequency weight and overall warmth.
One of my favourite test tracks is Shelby Lynne’s Just a Little Lovin’ album – 24/192 FLAC, mastered from original analog tapes. On the title track, the metronome-like high-hat strikes sounded quick and in time, if only a little short through the X3, as if the tick was there but the tock was fleeting. In contrast, the KEF LS50 captured the trailing edge more fully, giving the high-hat a more lifelike brassy signature. On the opening kick drum strike I noted remarkable transient speed of the hit, if only lacking some fullness and heft. Following the bass line was easy with the X3, as the mid-to-upper end of these notes was well articulated, though the lowest extension was somewhat lighter and missing some intrinsic grunt. Shelby’s voice came across as angelic with a slight lean towards the upper midrange and placing her a little more forward within the presentation. There was outstanding presence to her voice, making me feel almost as if I could reach out and touch her. She sounded very present, crisp and clear, yet with a little less warmth. The soundstage, as depicted by the X3 was broad with good depth – no doubt aided by the echo and reverb in the recording, which the X3 seemed to draw out a little further in the mix. And, once again, when it came to cymbals the X3 demonstrated its uninhibited nature – depicting the cymbals with clarity, focus, and impact.
Quick, dynamic, punchy, vibrant, exciting and as I said earlier, addictive, is how I might encapsulate the Kudos Audio X3 loudspeaker. Listen to small ensemble jazz, acoustic rock or your favourite vocalist and you will be sucked into the listening experience – this is where I feel the X3 particularly shines. That said the X3 does justice to a wide range of music, from classical right through to alternative; though perhaps not the best for metal and hip-house. I found that music was relayed with a distinct energy by the X3 that made an impression that once heard was hard to forget. They may not be the last word on top end finesse or bottom end grunt but the Kudos X3 nails the fundamentals and communicates music in an exhilarating manner. At its price of $4,579 there are many other capable speakers to choose from; however, the X3 delivers such a vivacious and unique experience, it demands an audition.
Kudos Audio
Distributed in Canada by Crown Mountain Imports
905-441-1142
Kudos Audio X3 Loudspeakers
Price: $4,579 CAD
About the Author: George de Sa
