Audio Craftsmen Laval Speakers: Written and YouTube Review

 




A great lament over so many audio, reviewers, and true audio fans, is that seemingly the great technology in speakers went to the development of the drivers while the crossover was somewhat ignored. Most likely because it was hidden inside the cabinet, it was seen as a great area to cut cost rather than an opportunity to deliver absolute first rate sound.

While, as a teacher economics to my high school students, I fully understand cost in price point is critical in the manufacturing process. It’s terribly sad to see over the years potentially tremendous speakers limited because the manufacturer (usually the big guys) cutting cost even with the economies of scale of their mass production, the difference in price would’ve been worthwhile to the buyers.


As with my last review of the Buchardt S400 Mk 2, another stand mount speaker that is focused on first rate parts quality both visible and inside the cabinet, are the Audio Craftsmen Laval. Following the design tradition of both ELAC and GR Research, the tweeter and driver slightly overlap to absolutely minimize time integration between them. The drivers are from SEAS Prestige series, well known across the world for excellent design and performance. The 1 inch (27mm) tweeter is composed of aluminum/magnesium alloy dome using SEAS proprietary DXT Lens which acts like a miniature wave guide. A mesh cover adds a bit of protection. The 7 inch (189mm) SEAS midbass polypropylene driver with a missile cone cap set in an aluminum cast basket completes the duo.


The cabinet is designed with extra bracing that limits vibration, therefore allowing the drivers to provide the music without a desired coloration. The review pair came in a Rustic Orange which works nicely with its very light matte sheen. Other finish choices are: painted matte finishes of Black, White, Oasis Blue, Apple Red, Ink Blue, and American Walnut or Oak veneer for a $200 uncharge. It is a few inches larger than all directions than the Buchardt S400 Mk 2. Rapping my knuckles on various sides creates a very solid knock rather than a hollow sound. The rear panel has a worthy pair of five-way binding posts and more importantly, the rear port is nicely flared in order to avoid the chuffing, which I never detected.


Listening

Since the Laval’s arrived from another reviewer, there was no need for a burn-in period. While the Laval’s are not particularly finicky, I did spend about four hours over a couple of days dialing in the best position in my approximate 11x10 listening space, with the speakers on the 24inch Celestion si stands out 25 inches from the front wall, 21 inches from the side wall, and 80 inches apart from the center of each tweeter. Like most of the stand mount speakers that I have reviewed or just listen to in my room, I have found that a slight tow in just outside with my shoulders works best rather than pointing the Laval’s directly at my ears as the sound was too sharp.


I replayed virtual all music during the my review time with all four amplifiers in my fleet: Galion TS A75 solid state, Peachtree GaN 400 class D (gallium nitrite chip set), Vera-Fi Audio 600.2SE hybrid class D/tubes, and the Vista Audio i34 integrated tube amplifier. The sources were Roon/Qobuz, WiiM Ultra streamer thru the Denafrips Ares II DAC, and Oppo HA-1 acting as a preamplifier.


Within the first few songs on one of my review playlists, the Laval’s demonstrated that they are cut from serious cloth. The lack of hiss is eye-opening, yet the treble frequencies are in no way constrained, yet at the same time, for a metal dome tweeter, not sharp. The flute of James Galway, piano attacks of Keith Jarrett, or the vocals of Alison Kraus were reproduced in a pleasing way.


Tonally, the vocals of males avoided a heaviness that sometimes occurs at this price point in order to create richness. The Laval’s won’t be mistaken for Harbeth, but they are quite comfortable for long listening sessions. Most importantly, the Laval’s don’t color or thicken the vocals of more reedy singers such as Sting and Kenny Loggins. Singer-song writers such as Dan Fogelberg, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and Jesse Colin Young with their unique vocal talents are well articulated. 


Spinning Joni Mitchell‘s Cort and Spark album on vinyl with the Vista audio integrated tube amp and their Phono Pre II does add a bit more warmth to the mid range, but a bit surprising, not as much as I expected. Confirming that the Laval’s lean more towards analytical than romantic. This is not a bad thing. It’s a matter of personal taste. A good friend of mine who writes for Positive Feedback enjoys the analytical sound more than romantic.



The chorus in Mitchell’s “Everything Comes and Goes”, the differences in the vocals of Mitchell versus her backup singers is highly defined. As is the long instrumental section with both woodwinds and string instruments. The oboe or clarinet right before Mitchell starts her vocals in the last part of the song is very well reproduced.


Like most every stand mount speaker, performing at absolute club level volume is not in their wheelhouse.  Headbangers should look elsewhere, but that’s a small minority of people looking at these Toronto, Canada-built and assembled speakers. However, the Laval’s were stunning with techno-electronic music. The dynamics of each note created by synthesizers is stunning. Take a listen to Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas Extraordinaire album. Track “Fum Fum Fum”, with its clarity in combination with the rolling from one channel to the other in the intro of the drums is a real treat.


Caveats

The Laval’s do like the power the Galion TS A75 amplifier at 75wpc, did get them moving no question. But much like Magnapan’s the more power you feed these speakers the higher they jump. The Emerald Physics 600.2 SE amplifier at 600 W per channel into 8 ohms truly was a fun match. They were able to dig deep into the base and flush it out at lower volumes.


Anything with a strong base line, such as Dire Straits Brothers In Arms album or the late John Entwhitle’s bass in The Who’s “Imminence Front”, made pressurizing my room quite easy. The micro details that were light background with Vista Audio integrated tube amplifier became a major part of the music.


Obviously, if you’re pairing with a subwoofer, then this becomes a moot point. But for many of us like myself with a small space, not having to activate the subwoofer is quite nice. It becomes an option rather than a requirement. Let your own taste in room size, and equipment dictate your choice and know that you are not wrong whichever way you decide to go.


In listening to the Laval’s with the Peachtree GaN 400 class D amplifier with its gallium nitrate class D design, the detail is a bit sharper. I did detect some ringing when playing Toto‘s Africa. As well as listening to the piano in Keith Jarrett‘s classic he Kohn Concert. Therefore, I would say that in a room without treatments and a lot of reflective space, walls, floors, etc. class D technology may not be the best bet in amplification.


The Laval’s are a fascinating speaker in that so many will like their technical almost ATC-like sound. At the same time they can be quite casual. I believe this is due to the simple, but elegant, first rate parts of the crossover, including the usage of Sonic Caps. Like I mentioned before, speaker designer Danny Ritchie, who is all about using Sonic Caps, it seems has potentially inspired the design of the Laval’s.



The Competition

Compared to the KEF R3 Meta’s, the Laval’s are an easier speaker on the ears, even though they have many of the traits of ATC speakers. Listen the top end, while it’s just as open as the R3 Meta’s, isn’t as sparkly bright. In my humble opinion it’s more natural. The midbass and bass are far more distinct with the Laval’s. 


The Laval’s did overlap in time with the Buchardt S400 MKII’s. Therefore, it would be unfair not to compare them. Are they better than the Buchardt S400 MKII’s? That’s going to be a personal choice. If you’d like a warmer sound, then the Buchardt is a better match. If you like a more analytically precise presentation with just a hint of warmth, then the Laval’s may be the speaker for you.


Final thoughts 

In all my years, there have been very few speakers that provided such a clean sound. The Laval’s at are truth-tellers at a price that won’t break the wallet. Many years ago I reviewed a pair of smaller ATC floor standing speakers. The Leval’s have one advantage over those ATC’s and while it was many years ago, I can remember that ATC’s just lacked an emotional connection. The Laval’s on the other hand do provide that connection. And I consider that to be critical in making a final decision. Therefore, the Audio Craftsmen Laval’s $1990 a pair shipped direct are truly the stealth speaker in this category.


www.pahmeraudio.com/audio-craftsmen-speakers-laval


Specifications


2 way bass reflex with rear port 180 mm / 7 in mid/bass driver 27 mm / 1 in tweeter 

Frequency range 38 Hz - 25 KHz +/- 3dB 

X-over frequency is 2.2 KHz 90 dB efficiency Impedance 8 ohm 

25 to 120W suggested amplifier wattage 

90 dB efficiency

Frequency range 38 - 25,000 Hz +/- 3dB

25 - 120 watt suggested amplifier range

Height 15 1/2 in / 39.5 cm Width 8 1/8 in / 27 cm Depth 12 1/8 in / 31 cm Weight 24 Lbs / 10.8 Kgs ea.

*Real Walnut veneer add $200



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