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Kudos Audio loudspeakers

Kudos Audio, a long-established UK company, create of some of the finest sounding speakers in the world. They tune all their loudspeakers systems by ear, rather than relying on computer measurements and component values to decide on the sound, which in our experience is the correct way with any audio design.

Kudos have a neutral tonal balance, are very precise in imaging, and have high resolution of finer details, without being aggressive in the high frequencies. Soundstage is broad and reasonably deep, giving life-like presentation. They specialise in various paper-based cone drivers as they believe this gives the most realistic reproduction of voices and instruments.

Kudos use highest quality components in their speakers and crossovers, with special care and attention given to the choice of the main drive unit and tweeter. They have developed a long-standing relationship with SEAS the world-renowned driver manufacturer in Norway. Working closely with SEAS, they have developed drive units not to be found in any other commercial speakers and some have been designed for specific Kudos models.

Along with the exceptional driver compliment, the cabinets are also finely constructed and finished in a range of real wood veneers, satin and high gloss polyester finishes. Crossovers have the highest quality of components in all models, including capacitors from such manufacturers as Mundorf and Clarity caps, after listening tests proved their obvious sonic advantages. Some models can work in an active crossover configuration when coupled with suitable electronics.

Bass loading uses either bass reflex or Isobaric loading. With reflex loading they offer two variants: the stand-mounters (except for the TITAN 505) use traditional reflex ports; the floor-standers use either fixed-boundary bass reflex loading, or fixed boundary Isobaric loading. With fixed boundary, the port vents downwards and exits into the room through the gap between the plinth and the bottom of the cabinet. This means the floor surface is irrelevant and room placement is easier.

The flagship TITAN line utilises Isobaric loading throughout. This is a more difficult and expensive type of bass reinforcement but when done correctly, produces exceptional bass performance in both impact and extension. Isobaric loaded speakers have two mid bass drivers, one on the front as normal and another inside the cabinet, back to back with the first. Both drivers are actively driven and the air pressure control between the drivers assists with control, speed and lowering distortion. It also increases the amount of air that can be moved producing superb dynamics.

High frequencies are handled by high quality units utilising, from the Cardea range upwards, the SEAS excellent Crescendo K2 tweeter. This 29mm fabric dome tweeter, driven from a six magnet array and with a moulded alloy back chamber was developed by SEAS with Kudos. This is one of the finest tweeters in the world, able to accurately reproduce high frequencies without smearing of fine detail or compression. For the flagship TITAN range, this tweeter has been further improved with SEAS to produce the K3 unit. This tweeter has undergone significant development to precisely tailor its capabilities for the Titan design, including an improved magnet system with copper shorting rings, a completely new resonance chamber and a new face plate profile to deliver effortless “highs”.

After a long audition, we have decided to stock the following models from their three ranges:

From their Cardea series, we have chosen the Super 20A compact floor-stander. At less than 93cm tall and with a power handling rating of 300w, this speaker is impressive. It comprises of a very high quality 18cm hand treated paper mid-bass driver with copper shorting ring and aluminium phase plug, coupled with a Crescendo K2 fabric dome tweeter (both SEAS units developed for Kudos). The sound and the sound stage is exceptional for this price point. The

Cardea Super 20A (walnut, natural oak, black oak, satin white) £5700

Cardea C20 floor standing £4600

Cardea Super 10A stand mount £4600.

From their flagship Titan series, we selected the most compact floor-stander, the Titan 606 and the larger Titan 707. This range incorporates all of Kudos’s experience developed over the years. The Titan 606 incorporates a pair of ultra-high quality 18 cm (7") reed/paper mid/bass drivers. These are in an isobaric bass-loaded enclosure with the two mid/bass drivers back to back, creating superior impact, extension and texture from bass than with more conventional designs. These bass drivers, along with the Crescendo K3 tweeter were specifically developed for this speaker model and are not used in any other.

The Titan 707 is a larger but similar shaped cabinet and uses 2 x 220 mm (8") mid bass drivers of the same design and materials as that on the Titan 606. The sensitivity of the Titan 707 is higher at 89 dB at 6 ohms, (Titan 606 is 84 dB sensitivity at 8 ohms), bass frequencies extend to 25 Hz (Titan 606 extends to 30 Hz) and weigh 50 kg each (Titan 606 weights 35 kg each).

The Titan series of loudspeakers include: