As I opined in our 2nd episode of the new 7th Moon podcast, soundstaging in my experience is primarily a function of speaker positioning. With proper clearance to detach from the front wall, widely spaced and toed in face on, Blue Train projected cavernous acoustic spaces unless a recording clumped mostly in the middle—which some do. Just so, the decoupling from subtle box-talk remnants which I get from my half-dipole IQ wasn't as extreme. I suspected that Marek would concur. After all, he still planned on widebander-fitted OB for Verseo. On the flipside of dipole openness is not only the gainful loss of deleterious cabinet effects. With them a certain minor warmth and transient softness vanish, too. Many listeners value those softer warmer aspects because the vast majority of direct-radiating speakers set them as archetype. Unlike IQ, Blue Train conforms to it. Though its dosage is reasonably small, it is clearly present. Blue Train thus steps more lightly on the accelerator and aerator. To that add its robust render of the upper-bass/lower-mid band. That injects its own weight. What now offsets an otherwise potential bias for curvy comfort is the dynamic power of Mundorf's tremendous tweeter. It acts as counterweight and prevents built-in warmth from acquiring an overly dark hue. It's how resolution maintains a foothold in a tuning that prioritizes tonal bloom and density. It's how image localization remains high. At this juncture, Marek interjected.
27" iMac w. Audirvana and 4TB external SSD ⇒ Gustard U26 ⇒ Sonnet Pasithea ⇒ Hattor ARP-S ⇒ spl Crossover MkII ⇒ Kinki/Vinshine Dazzle ⇒ Nord Acoustic nCore-500 monos.
"It's hard to disagree. You've accurately captured the spatial nuances of the Qualio models. Thanks to their dipole mid/high panels, IQ and IQ 30 in particular offer an exceptional spatial presentation. Trying to replicate that 1:1 with direct radiators is pointless. There'd be no reason for a dipole if its spatial presentation were identical. The Verseo models generally are warmer. I don't view this as inherently better but it certainly eases system matching. They do possess a bit more body and less of that 'esoteric' quality. They are easier to drive or rather, simply easy. I created them to be easy loads for almost any amplifier. Nevertheless, I made an effort to bring the presentation closer to the Qualio style and infuse it with some of that signature atmosphere. To this day the IQ remains one of my favourite projects and I still enjoy listening to it. With Blue Train and its architectural design, the spatial presentation feels less airy even though the vertical and horizontal scale are similar. Just so, it remains highly differentiated depending on a recording. It simply lacks rear radiation and its associated reflections. Consequently the soundstage feels more intimate with small ensembles compared to the dipole whereas with spacious open-sounding tracks, the presentation expands much like it does with an open-baffle design. Thanks to this—and as you mentioned, the denser substance in the lower midrange—images gain more body. With Qualio they sound more ethereal with no loss of dynamics or scale. Coming soon from Cube is the long-promised dipole featuring a Cube widebander designed for DIY to be used as a free project. It will be a 2-way with either one or dual 15" woofers. It follows the Sensus formula in a simpler design. The first baffles are currently being cut. For Verseo I'm planning a more advanced dipole superior in practically every respect, from driver isolation within the baffle to the low-end reinforcement section which is very useful for dipole bass. I'll provide a more detailed description at the time of its launch."
Where 'easier' means 'uncomplicated', we naturally also think 'less critical'. That quickly becomes 'friendlier'. It applies to lesser and premium recordings, equally. The former benefit from less exposure, the latter lose some glamour. For libraries of mostly mediocre productions, Blue Train's tuning is a definite asset just as a softer car suspension is for pot-hole-ridden rutted dirt roads. Intrinsic to softer suspensions is lower magnification of magnificence. Well-produced complex fare won't tease out as far. Space won't unfurl to the same extent. Separation can't penetrate as deep. Our insight isn't as keen, the frisson less. Here I loved Marek's non-technical choice of 'esoteric'. The word denotes the uncommon. The experience of it can turn tell-tale; decisive—addictive even. It's why I've listened to IQ since my December 2022 review of it. In the interim, nothing came through to derail my choice. Just so, I'm first to admit that its cosmetics won't be everyone's cuppa, its width not suitable for all rooms whilst amplification ought to be stout to get its best. Against IQ's sonic precedent, Blue Train is a surprisingly effective alternative. It splits the frontal profile right in half then on top fires the acrylic open baffle with exposed driver backs and hook-up wiring. It'll go places where IQ can't without invoking a wholesale shift of presentation. As Marek explained, the presentation couldn't be the same. However, he did his best to shrink radiation-induced differences. A brother from another mother. It makes the first Verseo model rather well versed; and more versatile!
Marek comments: "Hello Srajan, it appears that I made a mistake. Your loaners arrived back safely. I gave them a listen and just to be sure, compared them to another pair. The difference was significant to put it mildly. I even took measurements to confirm. Your samples showed a clear dip in the upper midrange. I now understand your comments about the Blue Train properly which I hadn't fully grasped before. By design they are warmer than your IQ but not darker as you heard it with this pair. A mistake was made in its crossover, something that hasn't happened before. I take full responsibility and apologize." My takeaway from this is twofold. One, my hearing remains good so I get to continue doing this job. Two, Blue Train actually performs closer to my Qualio IQ than described which makes its disparate means of arrival even more surprising…
