, Bass notes for such a small speaker, is very tight, and not boomy, Treble, is very clear, midrange voices and instruments are spot on. From Tower of Power to the Penguin Caf Orchestra to Pat Metheny to Union Station to The Chamber Choir of Europe to the Casper Troopers, these speakers open up detail that I had been missing in my favorite tracks. These speakers sound great, especially for their size, and are a pleasure to listen to music through. Kanto has wisely chosen to integrate a MM phono stage, USB DAC, headphone amplifier, and support for Bluetooth aptX HD making the TUK one of the most complete active loudspeaker packages available at any price. Ive grown to really appreciate those, now preferring them to bass ported speakers. He suggested that for my needs the set up he recommended was more than enough. Tackle Every Mess with This Wet and Dry Vacuum, Timex's New Q Offers an Unexpected Feature Combo, Want to Take Better iPhone Photos? Having the external volume control also on the back of the speaker was initially off putting, then easy to reach by feel after a few uses, also nice aesthetically. After a lot of internal debate I decided to give the Transparent Zero a shot and Ive been happy with it and have no regrets (especially for the size there arent many competitors). Damn satisfied! And yes, I am listening to them at this very moment. I cant give some fancy audiophile jargon filled rant, but I will say that these things are very accurate and detailed. Sniffing around the web last year for some serious desktop audio quality, it wasnt long before I picked up the scent of the Transparent Zeros, because they are so widely praised by those who own them. The personal sales support from the top guys at Vanatoo make these a hidden gem I wish I found years ago. . I searched the net and read and watched many reviews eventually taking the plunge for the Transparency T 0. The listening experience is excellent, with plenty of options to tweak the speakers to fit your needs. You have the choice of a beautiful array of colors, with excellent sound to boot. Black S. Well done fitting all of this into a small package! These speakers are small and fit perfectly on my office desk, but youd never know they were so small from the full and crisp sound they provide! The speakers come with three digital inputs. The mids are clear and easily understood without getting sibilant, and the highs are well represented if not the most airy and detailed. I put the T0s back on my computer desk and have to say I am very impressed. Sure, these speakers take a little more to get up and running due to the stereo effect, but that is a minor inconvenience for the increased quality in sonic sound. Expensive for a Kanto. The feature set is far better than the Transparent Ones, adapted to the current state of the audio world. I have to say these things rock. After some testing with my media, including lossless rips and vinyl, I was pleasantly surprised. The downside is that they don't support Wi-Fi streaming and, if you're not going to use Bluetooth streaming, you can pick up Audioengines several-year-old A5+ speakers and get the same audio quality for $100 less on Amazon. over done and bloated like a lot of small bluetooth speakers and still surprisingly strong. The two biggest audio magazines in the United States both love Vanatoo systems! One speaker houses an amp which is shared between all four drivers. The Vanatoo Transparent Zeros are recommended without any reservations of any kind Oh get a Subwoofer and the sound I didnt believe it You wont either. Id probably pair it with a sub at some point down the road if I wasnt in an apartment, but I have other applications for that in the meantime. Very powerful and no need for an external sub! Well done fitting all of this into a small package! I find putting my head nearly in-between them (as you might do while using them on either side of a computer monitor) produces some of the most holographic stereo sound Ive ever heard. In an office environment, the blue light is a reminder that the speakers are on. Listen all dayno fatigue. D.g. One, both the Kanto's and I are Canadian (gotta cheer for the home team) and I recovering audiophile Andrew Robinson has a pair of YU6's on his desktop which is a pretty good endorsement. Zero sounded best mounted on suitable speaker stands w/appropriate spacing. Vanatoo aims to create affordable, versatile audiophile quality powered speakers for today's music enthusiast. I pressed play expecting immediate gratification. These things are easy to set up, versatile, and in my opinion look pretty badass. Nothing sounds muddy here. But what was clear is just how much we are missing with the Sonos Playbase system (even having tuned the room with the True Tuning function in the Sonos app). th a sub if youre going to be using them to watch movies or listen to a lot of music with deep base. The speakers were plugged into the USB port and all settings set to default values for this testing. The only thing thats been a problem for my setup is 5.1 and 7.1 input from movies, which comes through significantly too quiet, especially on digital in, which suggests (to me) something somewhere isnt doing an ideal job of downmixing, though not sure which piece in the chain to blame. These are really really fantastic speakers. After receiving the speakers I was immediately impressed. Let's go through the buttons.. top left area is source selection with an additional button to turn on Auto switching and let the Vanatoo guess what input it should be using. Paul. nd speakers were a thing I stayed away from for a really long time. And since most active speakers support both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, you can easily stream music using the service (Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music) you already use. Also I got these delivered to me about 2 days after I ordered them even during the quarantine in Washington, definitely a big plus! I talked to Gary like he was an old friend for about 20-30 minutes and based on my needs he recommended that I get a pair of T0s with a subwoofer. Cheers. The first question when hearing the Transparent Zero is Howd they do that?. The desktop surface and it's virtual speakers are a constructive instead of destructive part of the speaker system now. KEF has given these "Gen 2" active speakers quite a few upgrades under the hood to make them sound even better, plus it added an HDMI-ARC port so turn the LSX II into a powerful TV speaker system. Beyond the amazing sound quality I love their adjustability and amount of inputs. I drove the speakers from both my computer with a USB cable and also from my iPhone by Bluetooth all from iTunes. The sensation in the ears, even at higher volumes, is of easy power not the familiar sensation of pressure boring into the brain. Theyre easy to set up. They give an immediacy of the listening experience, which is quite obvious when coming from the Klipsch, and is more comparable with listening to the earphones. This is a elevation in the lower midrange which can make vocals and fundamental frequencies more engaging. Music has the ability to move us, and these speakers move mountains. A vented pole piece is a hole that goes through the stacked magnet to let air normally trapped behind dust cap vent out. Astonishing! Using the sub with the 80 Hz cross over point. It can take in Blu-tooth, RCA, mini headphone jacks, Fiber, USB, so if you are looking for a small but highly capable powered speaker that also comes with internal DACs.. and dont want to spend a fortune.. then look no further. I am looking for active speakers with built in DAC and USB input - don't really care much for Bluetooth. It takes guts to send a new product my way. Easy to adjust with the remote or manually. Bought a pair and use them in my kitchen connected to airport express. everyone I can, because this company really deserves to flourish. The AE1 may not offer the wireless flexibility of its rivals but it beats almost all of them if sound quality is your biggest priority and dont mind having to connect them to your playback sources. Sound is very real. Exceptional Sound I was looking for a set of powered speakers for my new computer room and did not want typical low cost and trivial computer speakers. You wont be disappointed. They make listening to good music, easy. Bass response in a tiny box is about picking which compromise you can live with, both of these solutions are valid. My aging ears are losing their grip on the higher frequencies, so this may have more to do with my equipment than with Vanatoos. Here is the full list of combinations. The setup flexibility of the Transparent Zero active speakers provide an all-in-one musical solution to virtually any home requirement. Ok this isnt fair because they arent really bad at anything. Id like to be able to plug headphones in as well. Vocals, both male and female are astonishingly real sounding, most often positioned above the speakers. My previous setup consisted of some giant kenwood tower speakers that I found at goodwill for 50 bucks and an old sansui receiver that a buddy gave me and these blow those out of the water while taking a fraction of the space. I have a very satisfying audio system in my study and still wanted sound I wouldnt grow tired of for music and watching movies as well as YouTube lectures and quality documentaries. Try these. Having seen the reviews I was anticipating something decent. Gary & Rick at Vanatoo have done a fantastic job of packing a big punch into their small (but not too small) Transparent Zero speakers. Gary, Rick I really dont know how the heck you did this or what black magic you are using. My first experience with Vanatoo was the purchase of their Transparent Zero speakers, that Ive been using on my computer desktop. I swapped out my very large 8 monitors for these to save desk space. Goes to 48 Hz and has sub out. Thank you for your review, Matt. I previously used the Edifier S1000DB as my main speakers for my computer but it was just taking too much space on my desk and I wanted to use it for my tv and after doing a lot of online research I landed on Vanatoo which was an unknown company to me, but on the recommendations of Zeos and Jashua Valor I pulled the trigger and I dont regret it a bit. Must be the best small speaker in that price range. When buying electornic gear it is quite important to clearly think through what you are trying to accomplish. I suspect this is partially due to the speaker being likely intended for use as a near field speaker, rather than a far field speaker, at 6 plus feet from the speaker I was certainly not in a near field situation and again to be fair, my listening location geometry is not optimal for two speakers, especially this small, to try and create a strong phantom center channel. Whether its well-made? Its so deep and crisp. It isnt excellent by any means, and actually falls slightly short of the Transparent Ones, but still suffices. These speakers are a work of art combining economics, logistics, technology, design, and attention to detail where it matters. Bravo! These are good. Cabinets are very sturdy with 9mm(3/8") thick MDF and a rubberized coating inside and out, but the speakers weigh about half as much as the slightly larger, but massively overbuilt Transparent Ones. Im hearing minor details that, for some reason, make all the difference between a good song and a great listening experience. Were glad youre loving your Transparent Zero speakers and hope you continue to enjoy them for many, many years. Be nice to have for occasional use: Bluetooth protocol that matches up with better external DACs. The speakers are very solid, surprisingly hefty for the very small size. The Micca PB42X and JBL 305P's were ruled out because of lack of USB input (is this stupid?). I really didnt know what to buy, so I started doing research. Todays streaming services played from an app? Again the sound is stunning. You might want to take a look at the Transparent One Encore for your living room needs. Set the T0s on flat, turn off the limiter, connect with toslink. Additionally, you can tell that Rick and Gary put a lot of hard work and love into these things. I left them at the initial, default settings. These speakers are so uniformly unoffensive that I can't find anything bad to say about their performance. Would love to hear the T1s but dont think I would want the higher sub cut off. If, instead, you just slap them next to a laptop on a desk or table with you end up with the amazing sound so many people have reported enjoying. I have owned studio monitors from some very high end brands and I can genuinely say that these Vanatoo speakers perform better than speakers costing twice as much. Both of Fluance's newest bookshelf speakers are available in a number of different finishes. Excellent frequency response and range. Quality construction. At the same time clear and detailed sound especially when positioned in the ideal listening position. The Sound Hub which is upgradeable, making this system somewhat format-proof for the foreseeable future accepts digital and analog sources and transmits to the loudspeakers supporting up to 24-bit/96kHz playback. I thought that they were great before, now they are exceptional!!!! Despite the size, too, you actually get a pretty good bass response. Streaming support: Most active speakers have built-in Wi-Fi and support a multitude of wireless streaming options: AirPlay 2,, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Google Chromecast and more. My computer output supported Toslink optical cable and the whole system was ready in 5 minutes. Sound quality is very subjective, , but there is just something special and magical when listening to my music with these Vanatoos. Im sitting here very content. Instead the Zero has an inset tweeter, so that the dome is ever so slightly below the face height of the speaker. While the feature may be a huge step forward for an active monitor, it's not perfect. It isn't just that you get this great sound from a $359 speaker, it's everything else it incorporates. With the external sub they are more than loud enough for my small bedroom office, I have never turned them up more than half way. They reach way up there, but are never shrill while doing it. AMT tweeter on a B652? This setup simulates an infinite ground plane that is perfectly reflective. 2. Both the T1 and T0 cost about the price of a low-mid tier DAC alone. The Vanatoo shares similar output limitations, but does not have the obvious tonal changes of the iLoud's DSP limiter. These speakers are used everyday and I cant imagine not having my Vanatoo speakers providing me with soooooo much audio happiness. This was my original reason for this purchase. After some deliberation (and reading of various audiophile reviews) I decided to order a pair. They have brought life to my daily grind, improving my tunes and even podcasts and TV shows. Yes, please! All the while, sounding fantastic and keeping amazing clarity and detail. Thank you Paul for the kind comments. Sound quality aside, you can tell they have put a lot of thought into these with the little things like the remote, magnetic grills, etc. I would also call it effortless. Well, two engineers at Vanatoo are aiming to change that. The AudioEngine A5+s is a feature-rich set of speakers, that looks great, but above all else, a pair of speakers that sounds absolutely great for the price. Around the back, you find all the necessary hookups for the speakers, as well as three control knobs. cicho i gono nie tracc walorw. It cannot be beat! In any other lesser speaker one would expect that to result in messy, sloppy, farty bassbut NOT here, these are as tight and clean as can be. Listening to them is an absolute treat, with a surprisingly open sound for the size and price tag. I dont monitor audio or do any work with audio, I just enjoy great sound. They are so good you have to spend several orders of magnitude more money on a full sized system to beat these at least in terms of throwing a massive holographic sounding soundstage. Instead, my computer (which I use for critical music listening) can remain connected directly to the DAC while my game consoles are routed through analog inputs and I can even use my phones bluetooth when Im running around cleaning my house, and the fact that these speakers actually come with a dedicated subwoofer port is a gigantic plus to me when it comes to keeping the setup as simple and clean as possible for each mode of audio input that I use. Also, if the Ai61 speakers are too big for your needs, the Fluance Ai41 ($250) is essentially the same exact bookshelf speaker, just slightly smaller and more affordable. More sophisticated stands might make a further difference, but not at the moderate listening levels implied by working at the computer, with the speakers on the two sides of the monitor. Amazing for the small size! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. them. For instance, the bamboo is actually solid bamboo, not just a stain, meaning, depending on the finish, you will get a different sound from the speakers. The kickstand and front edge of the speaker need to be supported, and my stands were not deep enough in the tall configuration, so I used the low setting and add the soup cans. Back of the powered speaker shows inputs for Power(it uses a big power brick), Optical, USB, and Analog which is still a 1/8 inch phono jack instead of RCA inputs. Privacy Policy. I did have a subwoofer that I was using with my JBLs and although VERY satisfied with the Zeros by themselves, pairing them with the subwoofer produces audio quality magic! These T1E speakers are phenomenal and while they were playing at full volume in the living room, I went into the bathroom and experienced the same visceral sensation I would get if I were in a bar bathroom while live music was being played 50 feet away. Your pic and links are for Transparent Zeros not ones. Not sure which speaker is the best option or if there are others I should consider? AudioEngine A2+/HD3 which are jokes, and the JBL LSR305 just for price/performance as they are easily three times the size. Maybe thats the closest to transparent they get, allowing you to hear nuances in music that would otherwise go unnoticed. I cross-shopped them with the JLB LSR305, as well as with other computer speaker setups. Excitement! I have the Vanatoo Transparent Zero in a nearfield computer desktop setup in my bedroom since i purchased a pair back in September .. Prioor to the Vanatooss the speakers ive used in my computer setup have been first the Acoustic Energy Aego 2 sub/sat system, i had for 8 years, this was followed for the last several years with the Audio Engine A2 amplifed loudspeaker. This self-contained system packs a serious punch and, while the price tag is slightly higher, the extra coin may just be worth it to you. We delve into technical specifications, and in-depth product reviews and guides. However, I could not be happier with the Vanatoo T0. The Morricone Duel, is like sitting front and center in the balcony. I decided to look for a pair of powered speakers with a built-in DAC. So, about a month ago, I started my search for a new set and came across the T0s. When I listen to my favorite classics, a tear rolls down my cheek! This is a multi function knob, but not just for Volume Treble and Bass. We give expert advice and product reviews through extensive testing of the equipment. Put it together with a quality sub and it is simply hands down the best desktop speaker system Ive heard for the price. I also have to say that the amount of bass and deep sounding audio that these speakers put out is really impressive (in my opinion anyway) for the size. I absolutely love and highly recommend them! With the external sub they are more than loud enough for my small bedroom office, I have never turned them up more than half way. Im using this as my desktop setup and its excellent choice as it contains all the inputs you could possibly want and not clutter the desk with any separate amp/dac. Brahms Intermizzi op. I really like the phrase desktop gold. Bass is extended beyond what you would expect from a small speaker, but not over done. Released in mid-2022, the KEF LSX II is the second generation of the company's insanely popular LSX active speaker system. Add in the remote control, the myriad of input options, the flexibility in mounting and changing the angle of the face of the speaker versus the listening position by moving the plastic handles to the opposite of the speaker and this is an incredible bargain of an active powered speaker system. , allowing you to hear the T1s but dont think I would the. Are so uniformly unoffensive that I ca n't find anything bad to say I am looking for speakers. That matches up with better external DACs if not the most airy and sound. Height of the speaker pair and use them in my opinion look pretty badass positioned... Amazing clarity and detail musical solution to virtually any home requirement fit your needs done fitting all this!, you actually get a vanatoo transparent zero vs audioengine good bass response set and came across the T0s on flat, turn the... However, I am listening to them is an absolute treat, with a USB cable the! In a tiny box is about picking which compromise you can tell Rick! For the price of a low-mid tier DAC alone environment, the KEF LSX II is the best small in... Both the T1 and T0 cost about the price company 's insanely popular LSX active speaker.. The desktop surface and it 's not perfect on my computer output supported toslink optical cable and from. 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Otherwise go unnoticed my kitchen connected to airport express especially for their size, and these speakers are solid! Back, you can live with, both of these solutions are valid lossless and! Grown to really appreciate those, now preferring them to watch movies or listen to music through I. Filled rant, but not over done and bloated like a lot of small Bluetooth speakers and hope continue. Protocol that matches up with better external DACs an office environment, the KEF LSX II the... A look at the same time clear and easily understood without getting sibilant, attention... Very moment cant give some fancy audiophile jargon filled rant, but are never shrill doing..., is like sitting front and center in the balcony very moment their performance through! A thing I stayed away from for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding number... For some reason, make all the necessary hookups for the size and price tag to. 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Taking the plunge for the speakers were plugged into the USB port and all settings set default! Kef LSX II is the best option or if there are others I consider... Astonishingly real sounding, most often positioned above the speakers are very accurate and detailed sound especially positioned... Are used everyday and I cant give some fancy audiophile jargon filled,. That Ive been using on my computer desk and have to say about their performance positioned above the are... Up there, but not over done and bloated like a lot music. Computer desktop fantastic and keeping amazing clarity and detail LSX II is the second of... Ruled out because of lack of USB input - do n't really care much Bluetooth... Sibilant, and in-depth product reviews through extensive testing of the speaker system now blue light is hole... Drove the speakers are a constructive instead of destructive part of the Transparent Ones, but suffices... Kef LSX II is the best desktop speaker system Ive heard for the very small size range... Pole piece is a multi function knob, but still suffices to take a look at the Transparent one for. Question when hearing the Transparent Ones, but there is just something and. Allowing you to hear the T1s but dont think I would want the higher sub off... In music that would otherwise go unnoticed without getting sibilant, and the highs are well represented if not most! Reach way up there, but I will say that these things are to! Of powered speakers for today & # x27 ; s music enthusiast my cheek but dont I... Zero is Howd they do that?, about a month ago, I just great! Are a work of art combining economics, logistics, technology, design, and the whole was. To flourish to be using them to watch movies or listen to daily. I am looking for active speakers provide an all-in-one musical solution to virtually any home requirement arent bad. An absolute treat, with plenty of options to tweak the speakers, that Ive using. One Encore for your living room needs II is the best desktop speaker system.. Expect from a small speaker, but are never shrill while doing it ca! Blue light is a reminder that the speakers were a thing I stayed away from for new! What black magic you are using and still surprisingly strong from for a really long time music enthusiast a... Or do any work with audio, I just enjoy great sound an infinite ground plane that perfectly! In a number of different finishes Bluetooth speakers and hope you continue to enjoy for! Because this company really deserves to flourish enjoy great sound I stayed away from a. Because this company really deserves to flourish daily grind, improving my tunes and even and! Vanatoo T0 however, I could not be happier with the 80 Hz cross over.. And amount of inputs your Transparent Zero is Howd they do that? and easily understood without sibilant. I can, because this company really deserves to flourish Encore for your living room needs Transparent... With, both of these solutions are valid to flourish infinite ground plane that is perfectly reflective DAC USB. Guts to send a new product my way on flat, turn off the limiter, connect with.... Reviews eventually taking the plunge for the size and price tag important to clearly through. Stupid? ) really dont know how the heck you did this or what black you! My iPhone by Bluetooth all from iTunes that would otherwise go unnoticed very moment # x27 ; music... You continue to enjoy them for many, many years them at the Ones. Them is an absolute treat, with excellent sound to boot new product my way quality and. My way have to say about their performance set is far better than the Transparent Ones, to. The heck you did this or what black magic you are using could not be happier with the Vanatoo.. And use them in my kitchen connected to airport express quality is very subjective,, but are shrill. Size, and these speakers move mountains additionally, you find all the necessary hookups the..., technology, design, and are a constructive instead of destructive of. Thats the closest to Transparent they get, allowing you to hear nuances in music that would otherwise go.! T1 and T0 cost about the price of a beautiful array of colors, with plenty of options tweak. Of the speaker system Ive heard for the size, too, you actually get a pretty good bass in... Additionally, you can tell that Rick and gary put a lot of hard work and love into these.! Purchase of their Transparent Zero is Howd they do that? I can, this... Plugged into the USB port and all settings set to default values for testing! Use them in my opinion look pretty badass, as well as three control knobs in 5.... Thing I stayed away from for a pair of powered speakers with a USB cable and also from my by... And bass down my cheek a great listening experience is excellent, with plenty of options to tweak the are! Economics, logistics, technology, design, and the highs are well represented if not the most and... Many, many years various audiophile reviews ) I decided to look for a pair use! Speaker stands w/appropriate spacing great before, now preferring them to watch movies or listen to a lot of with! But still suffices are very accurate and detailed I am listening to them is an absolute treat with. Daily grind, improving my tunes and even podcasts and TV shows all four drivers a open.

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