REVIEWS & SHOW REPORTS

Jeff Dorgay - Tone Audio - June 2006 review of the Concerto 2's: ". . . fantastic results [with SET amps] . . . The C2's have nice weight, but aren't boomy . . . they go pretty strongly down to 40Hz, with some useable output at 30Hz . . . smooth, natural high-end response. . . Thanks to the ribbon tweeter and waveguide, these speakers do a nice job of throwing a big sound into the room . . . Randy nailed the crossover on these speakers, as I have never heard this tweeter sound this smooth in other designs . . ."

Dave Clark - Positive Feedback/Audio Musings - June 2006 VTV LA Show Report: "... and he said let there be speakers... rather good ones too... simple system and nice sound." System: Royal Device Sara 300B SET amplifier and Sonist Concerto 2 loudspeakers.

Audio Asylum November 2005 VTV Pasadena show report by Rick R.: "Best Monitor Speakers - Sonist. The Sonist Concerto 2 is just the kind of monitor I am interested in. Designed specifically for use with low powered SET amps, enough bass to get by without a sub in a small room, . . . great sound and excellent imaging. These use a treated paper 8" woofer, a ribbon tweeter, integral wave guides and extended bass shelf tuning. Three years of development done by science and by ear seem to have paid off. At $2,500, these definitely compete with the best monitors I have heard. These were run with a very sweet Sara 300B stereo amp."

SonicFlare - November 2005 VTV Pasadena Show Report: "At $2495, the Concerto 2 speakers from Sonist received a lot of positive comments at the show. One guy commented that the Sonist was the first speaker he heard that nailed this particular tweeter/woofer combo. The 2" solid front baffle sports integral wave guides for the Fountek ribbon tweeter and custom 8" woofer. Frequency is 40Hz to 40kHz and 95dB sensitivity. Power came from the $3295 Royal Device Sara 300B providing 10 watts into 2 channels. The Royal Device line is imported exclusively from Italy by OSS Audio, maker of the Sonist speakers."

Audio Asylum November 2005 VTV Pasadena show report by Jon L.: "Sonist Loudspeakers. Definitely another speaker company to watch. Fountek ribbon tweeter with simple paper-cone woofer. I've heard other speakers with this formula, but Sonist seems to have gotten it right. Stock Sony NS875V multi-disc player to Royal Device 300B SET ($3295) was making some seriously good music with strong bass and coherent integration. Speakers cost $2495 and definitely worth checking out, if only for the beautiful, 2" thick solid poplar baffle."

Audio Asylum November 2005 VTV Pasadena show report by Phil R.: "Randy Bankert also had a very nice sound going in the OSS room. The amplifier he was demo'ing his speakers with was the Royal Device 300b stereo. OSS represents the line in the US. The RD is Italian, with a particular emphasis on transformer quality. The designer uses an aggressive circuit that gets a full 10w/ch out of a single 300B each side, rather than the more common 7 or 8. Heck, there's 2 iMPAMPs worth of difference there! Anyway, I've listened to that Royal Device amp on some of my own equipment and it sounds beautiful, especially if you slip some upgraded tubes into it. It's simple, direct, uncluttered and was driving the new Sonist pair nicely."

Steve Hoffman forum - posting by 'audio': ". . . And finally, if you are attracted to the idea of a slim tower with great, accurate, tight and deep bass...wonderful midrange, total absence of fatigue...and a lush presentation, I would highly recommend that you keep your eye on Randy Bankert's superb Sonist Loudspeakers....a review of which will be posted here shortly in my CES report. Randy, FYI, also happens to be the former US Reynaud distributor."

Audio Asylum November 2005 VTV Pasadena show report: "I remember the OSS room because it was crowded. I have to say that I am now intrigued by tube products and high efficiency systems."