Larry Lang
For years, I have been drawn to the coherence of single-driver loudspeakers. While I've owned and listened to excellent three-way designs with high-quality crossovers, I often found their listening sweet spot, particularly vertically, to be too restrictive. I wanted a speaker that allowed the music to remain consistent and engaging as I moved throughout the room.
Over the previous three years, I had been enjoying a well-known 10" wide-band speaker. While it performed admirably, I always felt there was something missing. The issue was not my amplification or supporting equipment. It was simply a feeling that the system had not yet reached its full potential.
That search eventually led me to the CHARNEY Maestro X equipped with the optional AER-BD3 drivers. The drivers arrived directly from Stuttgart, Germany and required an extensive break-in period. Following recommendations, I allowed them to accumulate well over 100 hours of play time before serious listening. During those first days, the sound was understandably rough, but with each passing hour the presentation continued to improve.
The cabinets themselves required patience as well. CHARNEY offers a variety of finish options, and after reviewing numerous veneer samples, we initially selected Thailand teak. When that option became unavailable, we ultimately settled on zebra wood. A few manufacturing delays and material issues extended the wait, but the finished result proved well worth it.
For reference, my system consists of a Brinkmann Nyquist DAC, VTL 6.5II preamplifier, and Tube Audio Lab 300b amplifier fitted with Sophia 300b tubes, Emission Labs rectifiers, and NOS RCA drivers. Power is supplied through a dedicated 110v line with surge protection, line conditioning, and DC filtering. Speaker cables are Ricable Audio from Italy, and the room includes four bass traps for acoustic treatment.
Approximately ninety percent of our listening is streamed through Qobuz. Evaluation tracks included recordings from James, Dido, Miley Cyrus, Gotye, Bozzio Levine, Gary Moore, and Cigarettes After Sex, selected specifically for their midrange clarity, tonal balance, and bass performance.
My first impressions were overwhelmingly positive:
A) An almost complete absence of listening fatigue. The sound is sweet, inviting, and allows the warmth of tube amplification to shine.
B) A broad, spacious soundstage with impressive depth and dimensionality.
C) Exceptional coherence throughout the frequency range. Despite my initial concerns regarding whizzer-cone designs, the integration is seamless and remarkably natural.
D) More bass authority than expected, even while using two REL T5 subwoofers during evaluation.
Brian Charney delivered exactly what he promised. The cabinet construction is exceptionally solid, with no audible resonance. The waterfall veneering is world-class craftsmanship and a testament to American excellence. The Tractrix horn configuration also provides excellent placement flexibility, allowing the Maestro X to perform well closer to walls than many comparable designs.
The Maestro X has exceeded my expectations in virtually every area. I look forward to many more hours of listening as the speakers continue to develop and reveal their full potential.