Audiophilepure

https://www.hifinews.com/content/canton-reference-7

The Reference 7 may ‘only’ be the smallest floorstander in Canton’s reinvigorated top-of-the-line range but it’s still a very solid performer that easily fills larger rooms. Introducing a radical but pleasing industrial design and embodying new ‘acoustic smarts’, the Reference 7 is a capable performer that, while extracting the finer points of recordings, really excels at communicating power, dynamics and thrills.

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1920-arendal-sound-1528-tower-8-loudspeaker-why-im-going-3500-miles-to-learn-how-it-happened

The speaker is made in China, mind you. But still, $9500 seemed like such a steal that, as I was reading Jan’s email, my eyebrows rose, my hands went down to the seat cushion on my chair, I propped myself up straight, and I realized that I might have to travel 3500 miles to Norway and visit this company so I could find out how they could possibly supply such a large, tech-heavy speaker for such a low price.

But I have a confession to make: I estimated the price based solely on what I was seeing—I hadn’t yet listened to the pair. Now that I have listened, I know my early reaction was on the right track—sonically, there’s much to admire here. However, not all my listening is done, so I’ll hold my thoughts on the Tower 8’s performance for my full review.

So, for a loudspeaker that does so many things well, are there any downsides to the F1-8S? Well, the Fyne is not a laid-back loudspeaker. Don’t get me wrong, the F1-8S is not forward or obstreperous in demeanor, but it made every musical performance an event, one that left me no option but to engage with the musical message. For those seeking a loudspeaker that blends into the background, the Fyne may be interpreted as being a little overly energetic. But, the F1-8S has a trick up its sleeve, namely those crossover Energy and Presence controls. With careful adjustment of one or both controls, the user can dial in the condign amount of soundstage perspective and/or treble vivacity. It’s this variability that affords the Fyne a level of flexibility not available with other loudspeakers.

Heroically constructed, with an exceptional fit-and-finish, the Fyne Audio F1-8S is a handcrafted masterpiece. More than that, the F1-8S is a sonic tour-de-force. With superior resolving powers, holographic imaging, and tonality that is spot-on neutral, the F1-8S disappears into the soundstage and brings music to life in a spellbinding manner, one that, once heard, is impossible to forget. The Fyne F1-8S is a music maker of the highest caliber, and in all my years as a reviewer, it’s the most accomplished loudspeaker I’ve experienced.