New Richter Speakers

[Andre281503560612]

Popped by Instyle hi-fi today and they have the new Richter Wizards and Dragons on display. These models are not even on the Richter site yet. They look very nice indeed, with a curved shape, quite different from the mark III. i didnt have a listen, but if i ever get the chance to upgrade my mains both of these models will get a look in (along with the Krix phoenix).

[Guest]

I use the MKIII Wizards at home in my theatre. Ive listened to the new 3.5 models and they sound pretty much the same. I do like the new look though. Stay tuned for ribbon-tweeter-based versions later in the year.

[Andre281503560612]

how does the center speaker stack up?

[Guest]

how does the center speaker stack up?

The same as the last one !(i.e. the weak link if there is one in the range) .Hence why I run it in tandem with a REL T3 sub, gives it much more scale.

[woodvaliens]

The same as the last one !(i.e. the weak link if there is one in the range) .Hence why I run it in tandem with a REL T3 sub, gives it much more scale.

I have upgraded my old surround sound setup from NAD AV716 receiver with Richter Excalibur mains, Richter Unicorn centre and Richter Hydra dipole surrounds and B&W ASW1000 active SUB with the following:

Yamaha RX-V3800 receiver, Richter Legend 3.5 series Dragon mains, Legend 3.5 series Dragon sorround left/ right, Legend 3.5 series Dragon rear surround left/ rights and Legend 3.5 series centre, Thor IV sub woofer. I have placed my older B&W sub in series with my centre for added kick to provide uniformity with the Dragons. This has worked quite well. The Unicorm was much larger than the Legend centre, but the legend centre is much brighter in its top end.

This system may not suite someone limited to room space, but it certainly provides a great sound stage. I had been scared of moving away from my older Richter Excaliburs (they are the old Richter flagship loudspeakers from the late 90's), I really wanted to buy Australian, and for the receiver I had no choice but to buy something manufactured overseas, but for loudspeakers, I am happy to say that Richter have now produced something worthy of replacing my Excaliburs (which are like a part of my family, I had not seen anything worthy of spending money on changing from my old "Excals" until now, without winning Lotto of course). For those of you that know what I am talking about, they hade a huge sound stage and a look which set them apart from the "ho-hum" of the rest of the louspeaker pack. Now the Dragons, which do not resemble the Dragons of the 90's, (The Dragons of the 90's now would be called Wizards, have a beautiful design with Aussie timber veneer, with a sound stage which sounds like it should be coming from an enclosure much larger than it does. I fell in love with the product on my first audition. Yes the centre is lacking the "um, for some reason Richter dropped the product called Excalibur and moved all their range down a notch in their old names, so the spec for an Excal became the Dragon, and the Dragon bacame the Wizard, if that makes any sense at all), but there are few manufacturers out there with a centre product which would have the same capacity/ abilty as the Dragons. I had thought on purchasing a single Dragon and placing it on it's side in place of using the Legend centre, but having the tweeter off centre would probably have caused more spatial issues.

All up, I would recommend this setup for anyone wanting an "Aussie" icon theatre setup, at a reasonable price, they should take the time to look at the new Richter lineup. I am surprised that Richter have not updated their website as yet, they are still advertising the old legend 3 series. Anyone interested in taking a look at the 3.5's can send an email to me ("takethispartout-woodvaliens@iinet.net.au-takethispartout") and I will reply with some pictures of my setup. My selection was for the new units in black Tasmian Oak (they only used to come in Queensland cherry), they do look very "spiffy" but sound equally good too. I think that the Legend centre sound clearer than the old Unicorn, and many would be very happy without adding a sub in series, but aeeing as I went for full size all round (Dragons all round instead of lesser speakers for the surrounds as is the norm) then the extra kick for the lower end was needed to help out the Legend centre where it can't live up to the Dragons. My wife thinks that having two subs (the old B&W ASW1000 to help out the Legend centre and the Thor IV sub to supply the .1 from my 7.1 system) is just her husband going through a mid life crisis, or being a magpie who finds an excuse not to let go of parts of my old syetem. I think it just makes sense.

Give the Aussies speakers a fair go. I do not think you will be dissapointed.

Good hunting to all (sorry for going on so long, but I really think that you guys should give them an audition and consider going for their flagship loudspeakers all round, they make movies come to life like you would never had heard before).

Mark (woodvaliens)

[mazman1503559902]

Mark,

Thanks for the review of the new richters.

I myself love my richters, and because of that i do not want to move onto anything different as i am happy with them, they are the old predatore series( sabre mains, odin sub etc).

What i would like to ask you is about the rear speakers, legend, since i own a similar amp( yammy rxv1800), i am thinking of getting the legend rears as my back surrounds( to make it 7.1), would like any comments you would have with these speakers and how you think it would match up to my older series richters surrounds? id like to stay in the same family(shame they are not black tho).

cheers.

These are the ones im thinking.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Richter-Legend-rear...1QQcmdZViewItem

Edited September 15, 2008 by mazman

[woodvaliens]

Mark,

Thanks for the review of the new richters.

I myself love my richters, and because of that i do not want to move onto anything different as i am happy with them, they are the old predatore series( sabre mains, odin sub etc).

What i would like to ask you is about the rear speakers, legend, since i own a similar amp( yammy rxv1800), i am thinking of getting the legend rears as my back surrounds( to make it 7.1), would like any comments you would have with these speakers and how you think it would match up to my older series richters surrounds? id like to stay in the same family(shame they are not black tho).

cheers.

These are the ones im thinking.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Richter-Legend-rear...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hello Mazman

The "surrounds" you are looking at are from their old series 3, this has been replaced by series 3.5. You can now get them in Queensland Cherry (as per the EBay link) and also in WA Jarrah and now Black Tasmanian Oak. So the black is what you are wanting. And for sound. I originally purchased one pair of Dragons (series 3.5) to go with my Excalibur/ Unicorn and Hydras. IMHO the sound produced in the new still has the "Richetr" sound, so yes I think you would be happy. The series 3's only came in Cherry wood, so your not going to get them black from this dealer that keeps advertising that same set over and over. The other point is that these set on EBay have be re advertside about three times, that I have seen. So the store is not serious about clearing their old stock. The only thing I would say is that you can't expect a small enclosure, without a low end base driver, and cibic capacity, to truly match a floor standing pair. But if you have to compromise for space or price then going for the small surrounds will be a good match for what you have already. Richter have tried to keep their "signature" sound, but you will notice more clarity in the rears that you get from your old mains.

I am sorry if that is only confusing you. But a simple answer is: Go for the Richter 3.5 surrounds in Black Tasmanian Oak. They look the part for your old Richters and will not sound out of place. But ideally getting a set with matching drivers will sound that bit sweeter. The amp you have is similar to my 3800, so it will drive whatever you put on it without working up a sweat. And if you want to find someone selling the new Richters here in WA, I think you will need to go to "Sound Advice" in the City here. I purchased mine over east before anyone here was selling them (I can't wait once I hear a good thing). I think that Sound Advice will give you some help, and certainly you should be able to see their (Richter) new Black wood veneer products too.

Best of Luck in your search.

Mark

Woodvale

WA

[mazman1503559902]

Thanks Mark.

As i said, im more then happy with the sabre mains and not needing an upgrade, but wanted the same family to match my surrounds( predators dipolar type ) so something very similar in sound quality would be perfect.

I am in Sydney btw, and just need to find some local retailers now...

Thanks for all the info.

I am sorry if that is only confusing you. But a simple answer is: Go for the Richter 3.5 surrounds in Black Tasmanian Oak. They look the part for your old Richters and will not sound out of place.

Mark

Woodvale

WA

[Andre281503560612]

Len Wallis and Instlye hi-fi have richter. I know Instlye have the new model, and i think Len Wallis is trying to offload the series 3 before stocking up on the 3.5. Mark says they sound very similar, perhaps the reason that they are a Mk 3.5 and not a Mk4 is that the drivers etc are still the same, and just the looks have changed? Thats just a guess anywho.

[woodvaliens]

Len Wallis and Instlye hi-fi have richter. I know Instlye have the new model, and i think Len Wallis is trying to offload the series 3 before stocking up on the 3.5. Mark says they sound very similar, perhaps the reason that they are a Mk 3.5 and not a Mk4 is that the drivers etc are still the same, and just the looks have changed? Thats just a guess anywho.

Andre28

I agree with you there. The sound from the series 3 Dragon (as that is the only one that interested me for my surround system) does sound "similar" to the new 3.5. Though the 3's I heard had been well and truly run in at the shop. The 3.5's had just come out of the box. So sounding similar may end up with the new unit producing a little more base (the jury is out on that though). The drivers do appear to be exactly the same. The finish of the 3.5 enclosures however is superior on the new 3.5 (IMHO). I already had Richters, so I was biased already I guess, and only wanted to add larger surrounds, but after getting one pair of Dragons, then wanting another pair, before the month was out I had a new 7.1 set. You either love em or hate em I guess. I never "took" to the series 3 (to be honest this was more about the look and the single available finish. I prefer black woodgrain to cherry wood) and so kept with my old Excalibur/ Unicorn/ Hydra setup. The new series 3.5 did get the old Richters out of my theatre room, but not out of the house (much to the annoyance of my wife. I just can't let my babies go).

It makes sense for stores to try and clear off their series 3 (if they have any) before bringing out the new. Who would want to pay RRP for a product no longer made when you can get the new model with the plus of being able to get other speakers from that same range if you want to upgrade/ add to your system.

I would have thought that a series 4 would be some way off the horizon, the 3.5's I think should bring in more interest from the look of the units alone, and "I" think that they sound like a speaker from a higher price point than they sell at, so that is a bonus.

[mazman1503559902]

Thanks Andrea28,

Looks like i'll have to go visit them this saturday ( not sure if instyle open on weekends tho).

Just visited richter site and looked up dealers, theres one at : Audio Video Digital Technologies, Parramatta, close to me so i'll give them a ring too.

Doing a search reveals nothing about the 3.5 richters, no pictures, no prices ... got any pictures of yours Mark? price range? Are they bipolars? or do they have forward firing bookshelf/rear speakers?

Edited September 16, 2008 by mazman

[Jody]

Thanks Andrea28,

Looks like i'll have to go visit them this saturday ( not sure if instyle open on weekends tho).

Just visited richter site and looked up dealers, theres one at : Audio Video Digital Technologies, Parramatta, close to me so i'll give them a ring too.

Doing a search reveals nothing about the 3.5 richters, no pictures, no prices ... got any pictures of yours Mark? price range? Are they bipolars? or do they have forward firing bookshelf/rear speakers?

How did you go did you get them?????????? and how is the centre good enough or get something else material?

I am looking at a set of Dragon 3.5 mains, legend centre, thor on the .1 and Niles 750fx in the rear (ceiling mount due to theatre room complications in design) I have heard the mains on there own on a Integra 7.8 amp and they sounded awesome! However I am interested in peoples views on this setup including the amp considering I have %k to spend and need ceiling speakers!

Any thoghts or ideas welcome.

PS I am going in for another listen this weekend however there will be no niles being demo'ed :-(

[blakey1772]

Richter now is not the same Richter as it was in the late 80's early 90's.The company was sold off in the mid/late 90's when the wife/husband owners devorced. As a result workers and designers also went and new people were brought in making the product a little less desirable as it used to be. The owner and a few of the designers started a new Aussie company called SubSonic which continue to make an exceptional lineup of loudspeakers. www.subsonic.com.au