video2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.38 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from a store in Hamburg /

Summary:
I bought them because compared to other speakers in the store (and they had some fine speakers there) they sounded so well balanced and sweet, there were no harsh- or sharpness in the sound, also they provided a fantastic spatiality, plus they looked the best (bought them in a cherry-finish).
At home i listened to all the stuff i like - I'm listenening mainly to indie-sounds and singer/sonwriters and was enthusiastic about how all my old records and CDs sound now. Then I tried a underground Hip Hop record. And when I did that the first time with my brand new Haydns I missed a kind of attack in the sound. The voice, the snare-drum - everything sounded just "nice"., I raised the volume to achieve more aggression, but nothing happened (maybe my neighbour felt more aggressive) . Although I really liked the sound with all other musical styles I was really unhappy with the Hip Hop-sound.
But I stayed with the Haydns, changed some things: bought some stands and a new needle for my turntable, and - and that's the main point - gave them speakers some time to develop (don't know if that's the correct english word but I think you know what i mean).
And what can I say, today (almost one year after the purchse) I'm really more than happy with them. Even with Hip Hop and other rhytmic and dancable sounds. They just needed some time... Even though they still don't kick ass like hell you now can dance to them if you like to - there's really a big difference compared to the beginning. But what I like most is the experience with the new indie- or also classical-records I buy: I often sit in front of the Haydn Grands and just be enthusiatic about the spatiality, the warmth, the details.
I guess it's hard to get some speakers in this price-range that sounds, looks, feels better. Strongly recommended for those who like to listen to a wide range of different musical styles. If you are mainly listening to Dance-Music you probably should go for other speakers.

lmck2

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.56 of 5, 16.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1299.00 from magnolia

Summary:
i purchased these in addition to the theatro center channel speaker. i was in the process of auditioning new speaker and they sounded great... ...in the store. when i got them home, i felt like something was missing - or rather too much was there.
originally, i had a pair of mirage omnisat fs with the accompanying cc speaker up front so i guess i got used to that "non-direct" sound. the problem i had with these speakers was that i could always tell exactly where the sound was coming from. i.e. directly out of the box. toe in, toe out, eyes wide shut and ears at dog crooket positions; it didn't matter. the sound quality was good enough but they just didn't do it for me. i think it may have had more to do with my particular room than anything, so no slight on the speakers. they just didn't work in my room for my tastes.
also, there seemed to be something missing in the midrange. voices didn't have the same presence that i'm accustomed to.

since i listen to mostly jazz, blues and classical and attend live venues frequently, i've been spoiled by the real thing. i know how it's "supposed" to sound. my aural memory kept refrencing live venues throughout the united states, from the village vanguard to the saenger theater to yohi's.

the center channel, however, was fantastic.

Strengths:
strong presentation, beautifully put together. solid and heavy. well constructed. no one will mistake these for cheap speakers.

Weaknesses:
unnatural coloration in the midrange. probably due to very strong base for this size speaker. highs too harsh. female vocals hard to listen to. (couldn't listen to aretha franklin, anita baker, cassandra wilson, billy holiday, or even roberta flack for extended periods of time.)

Similar Products Used:
sonus faber. boston accoustics klipsch.

View Comments (3)

Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

mike kletecka

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.69 of 5, 13.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1495.00 from magnolia

Summary:
The Haydn Grand’s are probably my most favorite speaker that I have owned. About six months ago I purchased a 900 sq. ft condo that provides a panoramic view of downtown San Diego all the way up to Balboa Park; the negative is that the living room is oddly shaped and small (not stereo friendly). Because of this, I sold off my VAC Super Avatar and Magnepan 3.6’s. Over the last ten years in this hobby I have owned Sonus Faber Concertos, Guarneri’s and JMR Offrandes and enjoyed each of them.

When looking for a smaller system for this condo I purchased a Prima Luna Prologue 2 (excellent value for the money), and the Magnepans MG 12’s (a very good speaker, but still to big and needed valuable space to work properly). I then tried the Spendor S3/5se (they were the right size, easy to place, however to my ears they were dry sounding, lacked bass and definitely needed a sub woofer, which would have taken up valuable space). In defense of the Spendors, which are only 84db efficient “even less than the magnapans”, the Prima Luna was probably not the right amp for them work properly.

In choosing the next set of speakers for this room, I decided to speak with a good audiophile friend who is in the business and has access and experience with a variety of many well known high end products. He said that of all the monitors under $2K, the Hayden Grands “were among his favorite, easy to set-up and forgiving in acoustically challenged spaces”. I followed his advice and have not been happier.

In my opening statement I say that the Haydn Grands are probably my most favorite speaker, I say this because to my ears - they just plain do everything “right”, and do it being positioned 8” from the back wall in a sonically challenged room. It seems that no matter what kind of music I play through them, they never fail in providing a wonderfully smooth/silky, yet very detailed presentation Also, the bass is realistic, never exaggerated or boomy. I have found that they also cast the proper amount of depth, width and height of the source material being played through them as well.

In closing, some of other speakers that I have owned were certainly better, but they also demanded careful set up and plenty of space to be at there “best” and therefore would have never worked properly in my new condo (in my opinion, it would have been like having a Porsche and only using it the city kind of thing). In closing, if any of you are looking for a small monitor, are limited by a space situation and on a budget like me, then give the Haydn Grands a try for I have found that regardless of price these are a very, very fine speakers “keepers, if you will”. Please note, there are many other speakers out there at this price range which I have not heard, which could be better and maybe/probably are, so let your ears be the final judge.

Strengths:
they do everthing "right" - fantastic value!

Weaknesses:
none for what I am asking them to do

Similar Products Used:
Sonus Faber, Spendor, JMR, Magnapan

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

leekb

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.92 of 5, 13.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1008.00 from Singapore

Summary:
The Haydn Grand is the successor to the Haydn. The key differences between the two are: a) bigger mid-woofer (6" vs 5.5") b) front ported vs rear ported c) bigger dimension all round d) 4 ohm vs 6 ohm impedance The front port is camouflaged very neatly by the tweeter which is mounted right at the center of the port. I would have thought the Haydn Grand is a sealed box if I had not read the specs and run my fingers across the front baffle. Build quality is excellent. The rosewood finish makes the package even more attractive. I ordered a pair and I look forward to have them in my setup. I auditioned the Haydn Grand using a pair of 100W/ch Flying Mole Class D digital monoblock amplifier with excellent results. I have a pair of the Flying Mole at home too. It is good to have a feel of Haydn Grand's performance driven by the amplifier I will be using at home. I am also keen to hook them up to my other amplifier - a Conrad Johnson tube integrated CAV-50.

Strengths:
Warm overall Seductive mid-range Excellent soundstage Tubeful bass Bass slam

Weaknesses:
None at this price

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy Profile Plus 609, Monitor Audio Monitor 2.