AD36

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac late 2020 with Ventura 13.3, 40GB RAM, Audirvana Origin, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 network switch, Sonnet Pasithea DAC; Active filter: icOn Gradient Box at 80Hz/4th-order hi/lo-pass; Power amplifiers: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos, Goldmund Job 225; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Phones: HifiMan Susvara; Loudspeakers: Qualio Audio IQ w. sound|kaos DSUB 15 on Carbide Audio footers, Audio Physic Codex, Cube Audio Nenuphar Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc Krion and glass amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, LessLoss Firewall for loudspeakers, Furutech NCF Signal Boosters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat
2nd system: Source: Shanling M3 Ultra, Soundaware D300Ref; DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe; Preamp/filter: Vinnie Rossi Signature L2 + icOn 4Pro + 4th-order/40Hz hi-low pass; Amplifier: Enleum AMP-23R; Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini, Dynaudio S18 sub; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF + Akiko Audio Corelli; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Audioquest Fog Lifters; Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win10/64; USB bridge: Singxer SU-2; Headamp/DAC: iFi iDSD Pro Signature;  Headphones: Final D-8000; Active speakers: DMAX SC5
Upstairs headfi/speaker system: Source: smsl Dp5 transport; DAC: Auralic Vega; Integrated amplifier: Schiit Jotunheim R; Phones: Raal-Requisite SR1a
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Zu Submission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: €11'500/pr

"I'm Train from Kenaz of Taiwan. Stephen Gong of COS Engineering recommended I contact you. After hearing his praise of your reviews, I wondered whether you'd be interested to write about my speakers. I was a pro-audio systems engineer and now make active speakers with a different design and high-quality parts for playback in the home."

After visiting Train's site, I noted poor English likely due to a generic software translator, basic stained Birch Ply finishes and lack of how-to-buy intel. A global English review would need all that fixed.

So I had questions. Were the photos outdated? Was a website refresh in the wings?

I knew that Stephen wouldn't send me someone whose product he didn't believe ready for global exposure. I just had to make sure on my end. Avoid missteps which would serve no one.

Ingredients of Faital Pro drivers like this 1" compression polymer HF 102 tweeter with custom phase plug and neodym motor, 5" 5FE 100 mid/woofer, active FIR filter and Boenicke-reminiscent Powersoft class D modules were certainly different enough to tweak my curiosity.

Yet I knew nothing on price, finish options, sales model, warranty support and other transactional data. The product I'd hold in my hand would be part of a bigger picture. I first had to see that bigger picture before I could make any informed presentation for Train's first non-domestic exposé.

For his AD36 three-way monitor, Train combines a visible 6" coaxial fiberglass driver with tweeter behind its dust cap with an inner 6" woofer, DSP by Germany's DFM then an active filter on the woofer, a passive on the dual-concentric. He also performs unconventional airflow management via secondary vents and a long port.created by internal bracing which is shared by all drivers. To my eye, some of it recalled Franck Tchang depressurization techniques. Then a quick Google session ascertained that Kenaz is a Nordic rune denoting flame or torch.

All of it had my ears perked. Potential buyers simply need more. Google Translator had some from a prior Taiwanese review. Kenaz are a 2nd-gen enterprise whose Wang Youcheng aka Train builds upon principal Wang Xintang's work. The latter spent more than four decades in the pro-audio sector and was in charge of the Great Hall of the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial as well as handling sound for countless theaters, ceremonies, concerts and Golden Horse Awards. When Zubin Mehta brought the New York Philharmonic to Taiwan and the Cincinnati Symphony performed the 1812 Overture, it was Senior Wang behind the scenes. But he also oversaw sound for BB King, Michael Bolton, Chick Corea, Steve Vai and domestic vocalists Cai Qin, Huang Xiaohu, Fei Yupin and Feng Feifei. In addition he spent much time in recording studios. By 2017 he founded Kenaz to bridge home playback with the concert experience.

"I'm still working on a new website and the final AD36. The finish options on the AD15 are the stained Teak shown or clear Birch sanded and oiled. Because we're young, we still sell direct from Taiwan, with ship fees and VAT covered by the client. Our warranty is 2 years. Should any failure occur, I or a future distributor will repair the product." For the AD15, the basic specs are a very tight 55Hz to 18kHz ±1dB response, DSP which operates at 96kHz, this 600-watt Powersoft Minimod 4 module configured for 2 channels, XLR and AES/EBU inputs, deafening max SPL of 107dB/1m, dims of 18 x 24.8 x 26cm WxDxH and weight of 6.7kg. Pricing is €2'990/pr ex VAT/shipping. The digital input bypasses the ADC. Analog inputters encounter it for DSP, driver matching and the active filter. That's the name of the DSP speaker game.

"AES/EBU is primarily for recording studios. Most home users will use the analog XLR input. Our volume control is a mono pot for each speaker. We have no remote for this so recommend a standard preamp or variable analog source. I don't use Powersoft's various presets but fix the intended voicing inside my DSP chip so the product is plug 'n' play. With the AD15 out of stock because the August Taiwan show went better than expected, I prefer to submit the new AD36 for review in the near future."

Dual-concentric aka coaxial main driver | Powersoft power module | passive filter board