Complete silence on the Sonics Animas SE ?

[Googlyman]

Eager to read up on more user reviews, especially from EU people ?

[CeretoneAudio]

Maybe try contacting the manufacturer they are located in Germany SONICSONLINE - Audioequipment Lautsprechersystems Schallwandlersysteme der Marktführer, there is quite a few reviews linked on their website.

[Dayo]

Mine should arrive on Thursday and I'm UK based.

The Parasound A23 amp is already here and performs really well with my current speakers; Quested H108's. I'll live with them for a few days and post some early impressions.

Must say that dealing with Brian Lucey has been an absolute joy so far.

[ac55]

Dayo,

What finish did you go with?
Please post your impressions of them!!

[Metal Alamo]

I ordered a pair in the pearwood/black finish with the A23 amp. They will be replacing Dynaudio BM5s with a Hafler P500 that I have been using for a long time. I'm thinking its going to be a pretty big upgrade.

[Dayo]

All I can say so far is this:

Day one and work has become a joy again... Tra la la...

More soon....

[Googlyman]

Please Dayo, pics and what finish do you have ?

[Songhead]

Originally Posted by CeretoneAudio

Maybe try contacting the manufacturer they are located in Germany SONICSONLINE - Audioequipment Lautsprechersystems Schallwandlersysteme der Marktführer, there is quite a few reviews linked on their website.

[Dayo]

Originally Posted by Songhead

Chuckling and groaning here too. I had a long conversation with Brian Lucey on that very subject and heard so much to the story that just cannot be published. Suffice to say I have absolutely no doubt that the SE edition are well worth the extra.

Just took a quick snap on the phone. It's the maple finish. Beautiful.

I'll post more observations when I've lived with them for a few days more and checked translation and so on. I'll say this much; these babies are special. So special that I can't wait to get back to work on Monday.

Anyone care to buy a used pair of Quested H108's?

[Bubbagump]

To avoid getting this thread tossed, I'll say no more than here is the correct manufacturer website:

Immedia - Sonics by Joachim Gerhard - Anima

In other news, they revamped the badge on the front it seems. I'll consider my pair vintage... perhaps classic.

[blackfinder]

hey guys happy to see when got a new please....

please let's avoid "OT detail" in order to keep alive the thread

i would like some info from anyone reading that choosen the parasound A21 instead the A23 after comparing them.

i going to order a pair of anima SE but have some doubts about the amp !

[Bubbagump]

My personal take on that is let your wallet be your guide. If you can afford the extra juice. Do it. If not, you are still going to be very happy as I am running the A23 and couldn't be happier.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by Googlyman

Eager to read up on more user reviews, especially from EU people ?

The speaker that I'm offering, the one that's endorsed by it's designer Joachim Gerhard, is on back order in the only finish that's available for now ... Ebony. So there's not much new to say. The Maple pair posted here are the last of that finish for some time, maybe ever. The new logo is part of the rebranding of the Anima away from "Sonics by Joachim Gerhard" to "Spiral Groove" ... that's the SG logo. Same speaker, less market confusion by not using the word "Sonics" which is the point of contention.

Have a great weekend y'all.

[Dayo]

I've been working with the Animas solidly for about two days now. I wanted to find time to write a proper review, but with the Easter holidays looming I've got a ton of projects to finish and diminishing time. So here goes witha few random thoughts....

In short, the Animas are magical and loveable. After an hour of use I felt a deep emotional connection with the sound they produce. They're very easy on the ear and should keep a smile on your face during the longest of sessions (unless you push them way too hard and then IMHO I notice mids get a weenie bit harsh).

You know the old cliche about "desert island equipment"? The Animas would be top of my list. And I know it's a well worn phrase, but you'd have to prise them from my cold dead hands.

Why?

It's the clarity. Nothing short of astonishing. They make mixing and processing decisions simple and straightforward because you can hear the most tiny changes easily. They are coherent from top to bottom and all the information you need is right there floating somehow in front of the speakers. And as for distortion? If your stuff sounds distorted on these, that's because it is. So you can fix it. In short, they may not be ruler flat, but they are frank. If anything stinks, you'll know very quickly.

You might be worried that a small box can't produce enough bass. I wouldn't. The bass is all there but presented in a very usable fashion, even at low volumes. Of course you won't get that chest thumping room shaking energy that might impress unsophicated clients, but these babies give you well defined, clear, clean bass - the type you can use.

I'll post more thoughts when I can but just now I'm fighting the clock. I love my Animas; they are making my job fun again. Oh and they are very beautiful to look at too!

[Dayo]

Just snagging some lunch and I wanted to add two more observations:

I almost forgot to mention another magical element that makes the Animas so special. It's kind of weird and I'm struggling to find the right words to describe the effect. It may appear odd, but to my ears the bass they produce doesn't seem to excite my less than perfect room like my Questeds did. The bass is all there, but just very clean and clear.

Maybe someone can chime in and explain the physics, but when Brian suggested that they weren't so fussy about your room I think he was spot on. And with acoustic recordings you can often clearly hear the room or booth they were recorded in.

Secondly, I mentioned that if your stuff stinks then you'll know very quickly. Of course that's a very good thing and I've been pleasantly surprised when re-visiting some older projects. But I've had a few shocks too. "How the fcuk did I let that go out" kind of shocks. So I'm having to completely re-think some of my recording techniques and outboard. Warning; if you go down the Animas route be prepared to learn a lot about your material very quickly.

Back to work...

[Bubbagump]

The bass was one of the major things that sold me on the Animas finally. The bass seems very consistent on them at any volume where as with my Opals, they had a very different bass response at different volumes. The bass didn't sound integrated properly with the highs until you really opened up the Opals, and then it was cloudy... plus you are deaf after about 10 minutes of that.

To your listening to old stuff and going WTF... there are a lot just old records that I have listened to for 25 years and am like damn, I had no idea that was there on the Animas. Yeah yeah, they are tools... but they are just great to listen on too.

[feral frequency]

Originally Posted by Bubbagump

The bass was one of the major things that sold me on the Animas finally. The bass seems very consistent on them at any volume where as with my Opals, they had a very different bass response at different volumes. The bass didn't sound integrated properly with the highs until you really opened up the Opals, and then it was cloudy... plus you are deaf after about 10 minutes of that.

To your listening to old stuff and going WTF... there are a lot just old records that I have listened to for 25 years and am like damn, I had no idea that was there on the Animas. Yeah yeah, they are tools... but they are just great to listen on too.

I love them as well. I have to say that the low end took a while for me to adjust to as it wasnt as exaggerated as on my focal twins. But it translated so well. Ive also noticed that after about a month of mixing on them the bottom opened up even more than it was even with the burn in period. They really do take a bit of time to break in. I am very happy still.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by feral frequency

Ive also noticed that after about a month of mixing on them the bottom opened up even more than it was even with the burn in period. They really do take a bit of time to break in. I am very happy still.

Right.

300 to even 400 hours of full tilt loud will get them where my demo pair sits after years. The initial break in of 125-150 is most of the way, but not all.

[Diegel]

Does anyone in NY area own a pair and would be so kind to let me check them out??

[rll]

Sorry we've been locked out, if things open up next week, I'll let you know.

[Isle of Weight]

Anyone in Chicago?

AA

[Diegel]

Originally Posted by rll

Sorry we've been locked out, if things open up next week, I'll let you know.

Thank you!

[dotl]

To avoid getting this thread tossed, I'll say no more than here is the correct manufacturer website:

www.sonicsonline.de

[Googlyman]

Originally Posted by dotl

To avoid getting this thread tossed, I'll say no more than here is the correct manufacturer website:

www.sonicsonline.de

Not according to Brian: http://www.immediasound.com/products.html



Hi Dayo,
your further impressions ??

[Bubbagump]

Originally Posted by dotl

To avoid getting this thread tossed, I'll say no more than here is the correct manufacturer website:

Are we being funny? fuuck This is like dealing with the "birther" movement....

[Isle of Weight]

Originally Posted by Isle of Weight

Anyone in Chicago?

AA

Hmmmmm

[lucey]

Update: Ebony speakers are very close. The cabinet maker has submitted the final mock up in birch and the construction is A+. Now it's a matter of getting them finished in the ebony veneer, and sprayed/dried. I'm hoping that in 30 days we'll have something but that's still a hopeful guess.

It's possible that a black stain over wood is possible in the future to keep the price where it is. The US manufacture is more expensive than China obviously. This conversation about finish is still in process. For now, the new Ebony speakers are being sold by Allen Perkins and Immedia Sound for a loss to keep you all happy. That shows the integrity of Allen and Joachim.

Eventually, I've asked for Ebony, Maple and Black. They are a small company and time will tell what is their decision, it's out of my hands.


There are no speakers in Chicago that I'm aware of but you can pay shipping both ways on my personal/demo pair here when they're free. I have broken in speakers and a broken in A23.

[lucey]

Update: 12 pair of Ebony are headed to finishing today. 8 of those are already sold. Apologies for the slowness here, this won't happen again.

[ac55]

Anticipa-a-tion................!

[Dayo]

Just to add to your anticipation:

I'm about a month into my Animas now and I can't ever imagine being without them. They make mix choices so clear and easy.

Truly awesome mix tools that have totally transformed my work.

I realise now I already had all the high end mics and pre's and outboard I needed to get to my "secret sauce"; I just needed to HEAR what they could do.