square_wave
Well-Known Member
This is my third visit to Rethm. And as usual, a truly enjoyable one. I still remember vividly my first visit about ten years back. An encounter with a crossover less speaker was a pleasant shock. Those were the original big rethms without the built in subwoofer and made with lowther drivers.
Being in Cochin last week for the Biennale, took the opportunity to take those long winding suburban roads that take you to the beautiful rethm listening room again.
Much has been said about the new and older versions of the Sadhanas so I can share my experience with the Bhaavas. Hydra has covered a lot of ground here and I pretty much agree with him.
These new babies are fantastic for the money! Some speakers make fine sounds but some speakers sing. The Bhaavas sing well. Really well. I have heard the more expensive rethms doing this as well. But getting a speaker at Bhaavas price point to do this is no mean feat. I am sure this is a result of careful design choices and very competent thinking coming from years of experience with these kind of speakers.
Some key qualities that caught my attention.
1. Very musical and expressive. The pedigree is the same as the main rethm line.
2. The speakers disappear into thin air.
3. A very deep and cavernous sound stage.
4. Connects very well with the listener.
5. Great tone. Those modified paper cone Philips drivers have such a natural tone.
6. The entire frequency range is devoid of any muddiness. All sounds in the musical space is heard clearly with its attack, sustain and decay without anything mixing up with the other. And they all sound part of the same musical fabric.
7. The bass is really nice. Detailed and easy to track. Makes your foot and head move along with the bassline.
Most of the listening was Jazz (small bands as well as vocals), and classic rock. It played AC DC also pretty nice. Leonard Cohen and dire straits sounded sublime and ethereal! If most of your music sounds good with this speaker, it is a must listen for someone who is looking for a speaker at this price point. Else you may lose something special.
I switched to the new Sadhanas and listened to couple of tracks as a comparison. It is better. But for most people, with the Bhavaas, you are not really losing a lot. If you want to play the high end game, the sadhanas open up a platform and world of opportunities which you can explore.
From my conversation with the designer, Bhaavas are not finicky with the associated gear. Nice solid state works. I am sure some of those competent mid level tube amps will work too. They are about 94db. So you dont have to chase super fine and expensive first 5 watts as you would ( should ) with the Sadhanas.
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A quick note to say that the Bhaavas were placed much wider when they were played. The photo was taken while the bigger Sadhanas were playing. The amplification were rethm tube amps...new ones in development.
Being in Cochin last week for the Biennale, took the opportunity to take those long winding suburban roads that take you to the beautiful rethm listening room again.
Much has been said about the new and older versions of the Sadhanas so I can share my experience with the Bhaavas. Hydra has covered a lot of ground here and I pretty much agree with him.
These new babies are fantastic for the money! Some speakers make fine sounds but some speakers sing. The Bhaavas sing well. Really well. I have heard the more expensive rethms doing this as well. But getting a speaker at Bhaavas price point to do this is no mean feat. I am sure this is a result of careful design choices and very competent thinking coming from years of experience with these kind of speakers.
Some key qualities that caught my attention.
1. Very musical and expressive. The pedigree is the same as the main rethm line.
2. The speakers disappear into thin air.
3. A very deep and cavernous sound stage.
4. Connects very well with the listener.
5. Great tone. Those modified paper cone Philips drivers have such a natural tone.
6. The entire frequency range is devoid of any muddiness. All sounds in the musical space is heard clearly with its attack, sustain and decay without anything mixing up with the other. And they all sound part of the same musical fabric.
7. The bass is really nice. Detailed and easy to track. Makes your foot and head move along with the bassline.
Most of the listening was Jazz (small bands as well as vocals), and classic rock. It played AC DC also pretty nice. Leonard Cohen and dire straits sounded sublime and ethereal! If most of your music sounds good with this speaker, it is a must listen for someone who is looking for a speaker at this price point. Else you may lose something special.
I switched to the new Sadhanas and listened to couple of tracks as a comparison. It is better. But for most people, with the Bhavaas, you are not really losing a lot. If you want to play the high end game, the sadhanas open up a platform and world of opportunities which you can explore.
From my conversation with the designer, Bhaavas are not finicky with the associated gear. Nice solid state works. I am sure some of those competent mid level tube amps will work too. They are about 94db. So you dont have to chase super fine and expensive first 5 watts as you would ( should ) with the Sadhanas.
A quick note to say that the Bhaavas were placed much wider when they were played. The photo was taken while the bigger Sadhanas were playing. The amplification were rethm tube amps...new ones in development.
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