K.B. Rivers

Verified Purchase

April 14, 2015

It is hard for me to be overwhelmed by a product. I spend too much time researching an item before I ever make a purchase. When a product lives up to the expectation, there is satisfaction that my homework paid off, but never a thrill.

I read what reviews I could find on the Kvart & Bolge Sound Sommeliers, some seemed to be a little too over the top and there were a lot of skeptics out there on the message boards.However, when you sort through it all, there are some fundamental speaker ideas that have been tried and true in the DIY world , which made it easier to step out of my comfort zone and try these speaker out.

I will stop for a second to note, I have been in a battle with my wife about speakers for over a year. I own a pair of B&W bookshelf speakers that were on stands in my study. Sheltered away from the world, there was not a problem with the general aesthetic of my stereo setup. However, when we wanted to move it to a more central part of the house, where the family could enjoy the vinyl collection, what things looked liked became an issue.

I have always opted for the sound and quality of a piece over its aesthetic. Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but the price point can be a little steep or require a fair bit of vintage shopping luck. In our situation, neither was an expeditious resolution to our conundrum.

The first solution was to find a piece of furniture to conceal the audio elements while not in use. Unfortunately, finding an audio cabinet that met our needs did not come cheap. While reading Steve Guttenberg on CNET, the pictures of these speakers, which accompanied the article, caught my attention. The minimalist styling, coupled with endless color options, seemed to fit my wife's aesthetic needs - but what about the sound? For around $250 (before shipping), I decided to take a chance with the limited information I had on the speakers.

When they arrived, I eagerly opened the box from Mexico. When I slid the first speaker from its protective sheath, I realized the heft of the speaker. The heavy metal base and elongated cabinet are well crafted. The assemblers obviously took time to ensure that the transitions between the different materials were seamless and properly fitted.

But what about the sound? I have a rather modest setup. A U-Turn table, NAD preamp, and a basic stereo receiver from Onkyo. I worked the speakers in slowly, low volume spins of The Supremes and Otis Redding. I moved up to mid level volumes with OK Computer. Finally, I cranked it to suitable rock levels for Led Zeppelin IV. Sitting on my couch and closing my eyes, the direction of the sound faded away and I felt immersed in the music. For the price, I could not believe the clarity of the highs, mids, and lows. The bass is not going to rattle the walls, but a sub should only be considered a welcome addition- not a vital necessity.

Each album that I played, the more thrilled I was with my purchase. When I got to side 2 of Jeff Buckley's Grace, I was stunned at the definition and warmth that oozed out of the speakers with every note of Hallelujah. I would have been satisfied with these results with speakers twice the price, but the quality of the product coupled with the sound and aesthetic appeal of theses speakers, I have gone from thrilled to tickled pink.Add News Story here