Xavian Perla Esclusiva
Regular readers will know that I have long used Xavian Perla Esclusiva monitors in my secondary system. Alas, that system has been suspended because I repurposed the space to a roomier office/Media Room. I kept some components for comparison purposes, including the Xavians. Even if they are the manufacturer’s entry-level products, these small monitors always surprised me with their natural and expressive delivery.
As lovely as I have always found them, hearing them after the Premium Model 9s felt like a deception. Sure, they still sounded effortlessly musical and quite spritely, but they were very far behind in terms of resolution, imaging precision, air, refinement, and the overall quality of the bass. Highly resolving and precise speakers tend to be less propulsive and enthusiastic, but the Driades were easily as dynamic and expressive as the Xavians. Honestly, it was no comparison.
Of course, the Driades cost roughly double the Xavians’ price tag, but even then, one would normally not expect such elevated performance. To put it plain and simple, the Xavians are musical and fun and very good at their modest price tag, while the Driades are dipping their toes in the high end.
Conclusion
The Premium Model 9 monitors demonstrate many qualities we know from the Model 2S floorstander. The petite beauties’ bass is not as extended, but with a flat response all the way to 50Hz, still unreasonably good, especially given the tiny driver and small enclosure. The bass is fast, agile, tight, articulate, and hugely propulsive, and it has the right amount of weight to lend body where needed without adding any thickness or artificially inflating or fattening the bass in any way. As long as you don’t play music that contains absurdly low electronic sounds, you’re not likely to miss any bass depth.
The Premium Model 9s have an enthusiastic, open, communicative, and expressive delivery. Meanwhile, there is no edge, grain, or hardness; neither is there any added warmth, imposed mildness, or other aspect to stand out. Vocals and acoustic instruments, in particular, are portrayed remarkably realistically, although I did not find a single musical genre that works any less than convincingly well.
The speakers are remarkably transparent, with very good resolution and excellent focus. The sound stage extends not just beyond the speaker enclosures but also beyond my sidewalls and far into the depth plane.
Uniquely for a “regular” textile dome tweeter, the high frequencies are characterless in the best meaning of the word. The treble is remarkably linear, revealing, precise, and extended, with no roll-off that I can detect, but without being aggressive, and it never calls attention to itself.
Most of all, the Premium Model 9 is ultra-coherent, fabulously even-handed, and uniform in its behavior.
Needless to say, if you made it this far, the Premium Model 9 is highly recommended! Moreover, Driade will make a pair in a special finish to become my new reference monitor speakers. For this, please see the latest Premium Model 9 Custom Finish Industry Update.
And with that, they are not just Highly Recommended, but also HFA Favorites.
The Premium Model 9 can be pre-ordered with approximately six weeks lead time.
External Links
Manufacturer and worldwide distributor: Driade Systems
Driade Flow website: theflowcable
Contact Driade
Hi Christiaan,
How do they compare to Kudos Titan 505 or 606 speakers? Can you please shortly describe the Kudos house sound ?
Hi Sunil, I’m afraid I have no experience with Kudos speakers.
(all loudspeakers I reviewed can be found in the reviews section)
Thanks Christiaan for the reply
Hello Christiaan,
Is it already time to show your new special finish Driade Premium Model 9? I am very curious how it looks.
The performance of this monitor seems very good indeed. The rather strange situation is that we will have to spend an almost insane amount of money on an amplifier that will show all its virtues. Where is the €4000 amp that does it almost all for this speaker?
You and me both! 🙂 But I do not have them yet.
Indeed, the quality of these speakers at such a relatively low price point has posed an interesting dilemma. Of course, you don’t HAVE to use a CH A1.5 amplifier. The speakers already convinced me when they played with a mid-class SoulNote amplifier at the show. But, as I found, they can deliver even more, given an even better amplifier.
There are a few very good amplifiers under or around the 4000 euro mark, such as the SoulNote mentioned above, but also the NuPrime AMG series, Lejonklou, and Kora. I’m sure there will be more, but these are just the ones I reviewed.
Hi Christiaan!
I think you should take soul note A-2 And A-3 into review?
The reason i’m interested is that i own myself A-2 and i really like that amplifier, it has natural tube like flow and gorgeous sound.
This hobby being what it is, i am interested in trying the next step A-3 at some point, but i’m starting to think they might be actually completely different amplifiers..
Every time i have heard A-2 on exhibits, i have always liked the sound on different systems, but A-3 has never been able to sway me..
I feel that it has been tuned too neutral for me, going away from rich sound of A-2..
Anyway, if you tested both of them, it would be interesting to read how they differ or are similar to each other.
Take care!
Best
Jarkko
Hi Jarkko, I agree these are interesting amplifiers. But, so far, no reviews for SoulNote have been planned so far, and I am fully booked for the next months. Nevertheless, when they approach me for a review, I will not say no!
Regarding the differences you heard, perhaps this has to do with the amplification principle. Purely deducting from the specs, the A1 and A2 seem to run in Class-A, while the A3 uses much less power in idle, while offering a higher output. Hence, I suspect this amp may be in Class A/B. But perhaps best to double-check this with the manufacturer.