Source: Coincident Speaker Technology
Price: $1,995.00, $1,595.00 U.S.
Rating:

In our last issue, we introduced our readers to this Canadian manufacturer of loudspeakers with the model Triumph-an outstanding pair of small enclosures designed by Israel Blume. Blume established Coincident Technology in 1993 and began manufacturing his designs after having spent over twenty years in and out of the audio business. Over the past few years Blume devoted considerable time and money researching synergistic elements in loudspeaker components. He concluded that all of a loudspeaker's components function as one entity and must therefore be considered as a system whereby no emphasis must be accorded to any one part. Thus Blume developed his loudspeakers, adhering to this formula. The Conquests are the latest models and have their origin in the previously reviewed Triumphs.

Appearance:
The Conquests are much larger enclosures than the Triumphs, making them floor-standing designs. They stand 38 inches high with a footprint of 10.5 x 11.5 (w X D) and weigh in at 55 pounds. The cabinets are finished in black ash veneer, a couple of binding posts on the rear and spikes make up the rather familiar design of loudspeaker enclosures.

Technology:
Well, we actually gave it away at the beginning of the report. The Conquests were designed as a logical extension of the Triumph models with similar sonic characteristics-similar, but with added full-range performance parameters. The bass response has been lowered to 32Hz, while the upper frequency extension has been maintained to 35kHz. In addition, the system employs a special mineral-filled 8-inch polypropylene woofer which has been optimized for bass reflex enclosures. The cone's suspension arrangement has been designed to act in accordance to the system and offers progressive excursion restrictions when moved to reproduce ultra-low frequencies. The voice-coil is equipped with an oversized magnet which yields a long throw pattern. The tweeter is a ferrofluid damped silk-dome driver. Polypropylene capacitors and air-core inductors are used in the first-order crossover. The enclosures are made from MDF and are braced internally to retain a fundamental resonance frequency at 350Hz. The internal volume is 45 liters, the system efficiency is two decibels higher than that of the Triumphs-92 dB.

The Sound:
In many ways the Conquests reminded us of the sonic characteristics of high-end loudspeakers at twice their price. The designs do everything right. There is tremendous well-resolved bass, succinct midrange information, accurate tonal equilibrium and outstanding imaging. Fact is, there is nothing to pick nits with. The Conquests are truly full-range speakers with only one fault-they sound a bit hard throughout the audible spectrum. The best match to achieve a warmer sound is with single-ended vacuum tube amplifiers. Surprisingly, the Bryston 3B-ST sounded rather rich and mellowed the sound somewhat. An OCM 88 sounded more on the accurate side and introduced a full-bodied bass to the system, but the rich, mellow-sounding bottom-end character didn't reach the upper frequencies. An AMC amplifier/preamplifier combination (vacuum-tube designs CTV2100A/CTV1030) matched up wonderfully with the Coincident speakers and came in as a relatively inexpensive, but utterly musical system. When we connected the Conquests with our in-house Topaz amplifier, driven with the Blue Circle BC-3 preamplifier, the Classé Cd transport and DAC, the results were astonishing. There must be a hundred, or so great potential system configurations with which the Conquests match and there isn't a chance for us to explore the possibilities. An educated guess on our part is that the speakers will match well with vacuum-tube devises and other low-powered amplifiers and the end-results will depend primarily on the choice of components. When a proficiently matched system is assembled, expect to hear the Conquests perform at their best capacity. They offer a wide, deep and well-edged sound stage, solid, beautifully resolved bass, clear midrange information as well as sparkling highs.

Synopsis Commentary:
Coincident Speaker Technology's design goal was to extend the parameters of the Triumphs and to build a floor-standing version. Also, they wanted to extend the bass response by 10 Hz, eliminate speaker stands and increase the system's sensitivity so that single-ended triode amps can be used with no compromise in areas of weight and dynamics.

Blume came up with an excellent design which in its price range outperform most loudspeakers of which we know. The Conquests perform well throughout the entire frequency spectrum without emphasizing or diminishing any one performance realm. The design accomplishes well all technical aspects with a careful eye on the musical perspective. As with the Conquests' smaller siblings, The Triumphs, proper engineering, carefully chosen materials and components as well as common sense are the highlights of this design. Blume's theory that no single component is consequential works well. He states that "the enclosure, the drivers and the crossover, even the grilles must interact and yield one united assembly". In light of the Conquest's performance, we must agree with him and add that the speakers provide another important function, namely the one which is known to us as music.

Reprinted With The Permission Of The Inner Ear Report.