Coincident Pure Reference Extreme Loudspeakers

Peter Breuninger has posted a review of the Coincident Pure Reference Extreme loudspeakers ($26,000/pair) at AV Guide. His conclusions:

I enjoy both high-power and low-power systems and I’m keenly aware of the differences between the two. I have to have two systems to fully exploit my wide range of musical interest. Simplifying it: It’s dynamics vs. realism. If you could take the realism of an SET amplifier and mate it with the dynamics that approach a super speaker such as the first-generation Infinity IRS or the MBLs and then toss in the naturalness and ultra-resolution of a Magico you could have the best of many worlds. Now you can. And surprise, it’s not going to cost you a vacation home mortgage.

The Coincident Pure Reference Extreme is priced at $26,000. That’s far below the price of many of the amplifiers I matched up to it. Remember earlier when I reported that Blume said the CPRE magnifies the sound of the amplifier? Now I really know that the $139,290 Lamm ML3 is Carnegie Hall, that the $39,500 Ayon Vulcan II is Verizon Hall, that the $4000 Sophia Electric Model 91-01 is the Village Vanguard. Let’s not forget Bob Carver’s new project, the Cheery Sevens (price fluctuates with the market on eBay). They are like Sting at the Wachovia Center. In other words, you can alter your listening experience with the CPRE by simply changing amplifiers. I’ve been at this game awhile and I’ve never experienced such profound differences between amplifiers. The speaker is a virtual chameleon.

Think about it. A faster speaker, with better imaging, and close to zero colorations that sounds as realistic as a Magico and can be driven with 8 watts per channel. That is exactly what we have here. Israel Blume’s Coincident Pure Reference Extreme is an extraordinary achievement.

You can read the full review here.