System Context
The review system consists of the Pink Faun 2.16 Music Server, Chord Dave DAC, and Modus Audio SPR01 Pre-amplifier and SPA01 Power Amplifier. At the time of listening, the cables were a mix of AudioQuest (FireBird between DAC and preamp) and Ikigai (Sugure between pre- and power amp) while the speaker cables were Ikigai Kinzan and the power cables were AudioQuest Dragon and Firebird.
Modus Audio SPR01 Pre-amplifier and SPA01 Power Amplifier
With respect to the finish and materials of the Modus Audio components’ enclosure, the buyer has complete freedom. Would you like a wood finish in a certain color, or do you want an exotic type of wood, metal, or other material? Or any combination thereof? Anything is possible.
Chord Dave DAC
Pink Faun 2.16 Music Server
AudioQuest Niagara Power Conditioner
AudioQuest Fog Lifter speaker cable lifters
Listening
At the moment of listening, the speakers had been used for a few days but they were likely not yet fully run in. Nevertheless, they sounded captivating right from the start. Well, maybe not the first minutes as it took some adjusting from the previous situation with the Clarisys Audio Minuet speakers. It was interesting to note that while these two speakers use entirely different mechanisms that understandably produce rather noteworthy differences in their respective presentations, they also share some important similarities.
First and foremost, whereas the Minuets produce sound in a wave-like manner filling the room with lushness and flow, the Tethys speakers produce sound in a highly energetic, fast, clean, tight, extremely stable, and well-focused manner. With such a marked difference in the overall presentation, it took me a song or two to get accustomed. But when I did, I grew ever fonder of their utter neutrality, purity, transparency, and precision. Oh, and the bass… Oh boy, it was ever so tight and articulate. These may be bass-reflex designs but they truly offer all the advantages of closed cabinets. The bass went deep but was never boomy or thick while the speakers were never lacking punch, propulsion, or drive. Rather the inverse! There is no rounding and transient attack is instant. These speakers are highly nimble and fast and deceptively expressive and dynamic!
On that note, the treble could at times be a little bitey but I attribute that to the speakers needing more running in. By the way, I’d rather have the sound be a little over-enthusiastic than the other way around. While the tweeter is “merely” a soft dome design, it shows absolutely no signs of being rolled off or soft, and more importantly, it blends so well with the other drivers that there was never a moment where I could tell how many drivers are in the system. In the best sense of the word, these speakers sound as if they contain only a single driver.
Unlike some designs that always sound large, the Tethys sound principally compact right until the recording demands them to branch out which they do with absolutely zero hesitation! With this, we already have three personal audiophile boxes ticked for yours truly: superb articulation, fantastic transparency and linearity, and transient attack like there is no tomorrow.
Their neutrality, purity, and transparency mean that there is no additional color or body. Don’t mistake this for the speakers sounding lean or devoid of saturation. Depending on what is the personal reference, it may appear that way because some speakers have a lot of personality such as a wooden tonality, extra-rich bass, or a velvety warmth. But if you ask me, many speakers have a fuller and warmer sound than I feel is strictly neutral or natural. On the other hand, all Goldmund products are equally neutral as they are natural, and coming from an active Goldmund design, the Tethys are very easy to switch to. The Tethys sure can sound smooth or warm, but only when the recording contains these sonic traits.
Throughout my listening session, I had the feeling that I was now hearing more air, higher resolution and more refinement than during demos of the brand’s bigger active systems. This may well tie in with the amplification and cables used, but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of reaping the benefits of staying in the analog domain.
Loudness is also not a problem. These speakers will play very loudly without compressing, and more impressively, without ever allowing the mix to become messy or clumped together. No matter the volume level, all the individual instruments are crisp and focused and their place within the soundstage is rock-solid. When playing very softly, the clarity is all there, and it remains that way no matter how loudly you play.
Orchestral registrations are also special, for starters, thanks to the superlatively nimble bass that is perfectly crossed over to the pure and clean midrange, and secondarily, thanks to the high resolution and transparency, and the speakers’ true to the source timbre that leaves all instruments be their self, rather than an interpretation. I don’t know how Goldmund managed it, but these drivers simply do not overlay any character of their own.
Having listened to the Tethys for these 3.5 hours and when Robert confirmed that Coherence was a key aspect of the Tethys’ design brief, it finally dawned on me what was meant by them being modeled after the work done for the Gaïa. I’ve been told that Dr. Véronique Adam, head of the Goldmund R&D team, is one of the very best in the field of crossover design. That cannot be a coincidence.
These speakers may cost serious money but what they offer is the rare trait of combining Magnetostatic-like purity and transparency with incisive and lightning-fast bass and exquisite dynamic behavior.
Of the 94 pairs produced at this moment, PUUR hifidelity has 1 pair available for demo and two pairs reserved for immediate delivery.
Some More PUUR
Here are some pictures showcasing other systems in the PUUR hifidelity listening rooms.
PUUR hifidelity – Daan Vreeswijk & Robert Brijde
PUUR hifidelity Website: puurhifidelity
Manufacturer’s Website: Goldmund
Email: info@puuravd.com
Phone: +31 (0)30 307 84 77
Slotlaan 306
3701 GX Zeist
Nederland
Looking forward GM690
Hi Christiaan,
You mentioned in the Goldmund review that the system will have a very big impact on the sound coming from the Tethys. I have Esoteric N-01xd, C-02x, Grandioso S-1. Using Elrod Master Diamond speaker cables.
How would this work? Source is Antipodes Kala.
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff, I meant that in a generic manner. These speakers are very revealing, and given that they are passive, the rest of the system will have a larger influence than with Goldmund’s active digital speakers. Alas, I have no experience with Esoteric amplification, and cannot predict how that would pair with these speakers.
One other question:
Can you compare the Tethys with the Magico S series sound please?
They are very different sounding brands. The Tethys is very clean, tight, crisp, and direct, with an expressive and forward nature, whereas the Magico S series is smoother, sweeter, and more relaxed. Both are well-detailed and revealing, but in very different ways.