KUDOS Audio Titan 808 Review @ hi-fi+

[Audio Magic AU]

After being impressed by the pair of the Kudos Titan 707 that he had in his system for a review some time ago, Steve Dickinson from hi-fi+ had his listening room enriched with the masterpiece from Kudos Audio top of the range model Titan 808!

 

"The Titan 808 is a four-box, two-and-a-half-way design, differing from all the other models. A substantial upper cabinet houses the bespoke Crescendo tweeter and a 220mm mid-bass unit, while the lower, bass-only, cabinet features a pair of 220mm units configured isobarically - back-to-back with a sealed chamber between them; one front-facing driver and an identical unit mounted internally, connected out of phase so as one 'pushes' the other 'pulls' and the volume of air between them remains constant. "

 

"The 'mid hall' acoustic presentation I noted in the 707s is not there; fi your favourite seats are front row centre, the Titan 808s can oblige. But what is still very much present is that rich tonal palette which impressed me in the 707s. The 808s make every instrument sound like a better version of itself."

 

"Plucked double bass has depth, but also body and a woody sonority that some loudspeakers can only hint at; an acoustic piano is another: solid, fully fleshed- out bass notes give a real sense of the size and scale of the instrument. "

 

"The piano has absolute power, the bass playing natural body and depth, and both exhibit a tunefulness that speaks to an accurate rendition of the complete note envelope, from fundamental to the higher harmonics."

"This makes acoustic and orchestral recordings a real treat, and vocals a joy and is, I think, where the Titan 808 excels; the class of the Titan's bespoke Kudos/ SEAS drivers is very evident, and the work in minimising cabinet coloration has paid dividends."

 

"... getting a loudspeaker like the Kudos Titan 808 to work in a small room like mine is a sign of sophisticated engineering and design skills at work."

 

"The RPO playing Sibelius, Karelia Suite (Tring) had a gloriously rich and suitably raucous brass tone with just enough 'edge' but never straying into sourness; propulsive, pacey, and persuasive, the contrast between brass and strings creating layers of tonal colour you feel you can wade through."

 

 

Read the full review in the September 2023 issue of hi-fi+

Find out more about KUDOS Audio Titan 808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Audio Magic AU]

The amazing KUDOS Titan 808 loudspeakers can now be heard and enjoyed in their full glory at Krispy Audio showroom !

 

Krispy Audio website and contact:

https://krispyaudio.com.au

 

Few photos of the KUDOS Titan 808 in Krispy Audio showroom!

 

 

 

 

[Mitch92]

Listened to the 505 and 606 at Stereonet 2024 and I was honestly blown away, what an absolute masterpiece. By far best speakers from the show. 

[David A]

On 12/10/2024 at 8:50 PM, Mitch92 said:

Listened to the 505 and 606 at Stereonet 2024 and I was honestly blown away, what an absolute masterpiece. By far best speakers from the show. 

 

Yeah I was impressed with the 505's on the Copland CTA407 integrated. I spent a good bit of time in that room today. That pairing had good synergy and were very natural sounding. I'd rate the much more expensive Marten Mingus Septet Statement Edition speakers as the best sounding speakers I heard at the show. But the Kudos Audio speakers were a revelation to me at their price point, and impressed with their excellent build quality. And Copland have always been known for being good value.

[Mitch92]

Maybe I was just expecting a lot more from the Marten Mingus, could have been the room. They sound better on the CH Precision than they did with the Gryphon. I gave them a fair chance going back multiple times to use them a reference for the day but I was never sitting there excited to listen to the next song. 

[David A]

10 hours ago, Mitch92 said:

Maybe I was just expecting a lot more from the Marten Mingus, could have been the room. They sound better on the CH Precision than they did with the Gryphon. I gave them a fair chance going back multiple times to use them a reference for the day but I was never sitting there excited to listen to the next song. 

 

Was definitely the room. I spoke to John Ong who said that, whilst he was able to partially address some room issues with acoustic panels, the ceiling was causing some nasty room nodes. So he had to make the best of it. I also noticed the volt meter on the Gigawatt conditioner was showing mains power sagging into the low 220's.

I've heard those speakers at Sound Gallery with the big Karan Master Series mono's, and they sounded so much better. I'd still rate them as the best sounding speakers I heard at the show. Though they didn't move me emotionally in that setup/room like they did in John's showroom (see pic below).
 

 

Edited October 14, 2024 by David A
typo

[sir sanders zingmore]

1 hour ago, David A said:

I also noticed the volt meter on the Gigawatt conditioner was showing mains power sagging into the low 120's.

Really? That’s really insanely low

 

EDIT: if you mean low 220s then that’s comfortably in the “normal” Aussie voltage range

[David A]

47 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

Really? That’s really insanely low

 

EDIT: if you mean low 220s then that’s comfortably in the “normal” Aussie voltage range

Yes sorry I meant low 220's. I've now edited my post to fix the typo. That's low compared to what I get in my apartment according to my Gigawatt (currently 235w), but within the normal range as you noted.

[tripitaka]

On 13/10/2024 at 10:55 PM, David A said:

 

Yeah I was impressed with the 505's on the Copland CTA407 integrated. I spent a good bit of time in that room today. That pairing had good synergy and were very natural sounding. I'd rate the much more expensive Marten Mingus Septet Statement Edition speakers as the best sounding speakers I heard at the show. But the Kudos Audio speakers were a revelation to me at their price point, and impressed with their excellent build quality. And Copland have always been known for being good value.

 

Agree the kudos sounded very nice in that room and very well priced.