Annie’s Audio Adventures: Chario Academy Sovran Speakers
You see, when I think about Italian design, I see a red Ferrari, some old stone columns, white Carrera marble, and Alessi kitchen gadgets. However, the Chario Academy Sovrans are none of the above. They are walnut speakers!
Good points: they look good, rich in colour, and smooth in finish. It does help a bit that walnut is one of my favourite woods, along with cherry and maple. We’re off to a good start! Another positive: the top third of the speaker separates and makes it easier to carry around and set up. These can also live on their own as a mini monitor. However, in the name of honesty, I must admit that I’m not crazy about seeing a horizontal line all the time. But then again, I don’t like lines on tables that extend to big ovals or rectangles! I’m also not sure about the side looking a bit like wood floor. But then again, I usually have my eyes closed when I listen critically, so who cares about the looks, right?! I think they do look good in the living room, however, and they bring warmth and they have a rich furniture-like appearance to them. The person in your life who hates slick, shinny black equipment will be more than pleased! So, good marks for the overall looks.
Now, on to the sound. A very dear friend of mine asked me to review them without comparing them to other speakers. Not an easy task when you’ve been teaching for 19 years, and comparing new materials and concepts with what the students already know has become second nature! But I shall try very hard!
The Chario has a very clear, crisp, and detailed sound. It is warm, although a bit shy in the mid range for my taste. The voices are clear and quick, the bass has a full presence. Brass instruments are clear and precise, while cellos and pianos are smooth, round and warm. One thing I really enjoy about these speakers is that they really disappear and let the music fill the room. I think it is always a good thing when the equipment disappears and the musical instruments come to life on their own. Well, maybe with a little help from my friends! The Charios are a very happy match to the Marantz (Yep! Still babysitting!), although I must admit that I didn’t really have the chance to critically listen to them with any other equipment yet. That will be your homework! It would be very interesting to listen to them on an analogue system! You will have to play around with the placement too, as they seem to have a specific sweet spot. So, good marks for the sound too!
When I review any piece of equipment, I make a point of never asking how much it is worth before I have formed my own opinion. Why? Well, I don’t want to be influenced, of course! So here is where the biggest issue arose for me: their price. Yes, I do understand that something made in Italy is bound to cost a lot more than the same object made in China. However, I’m having a difficult time justifying such a jump for the Charios. I promised I would not compare, but please let me say this: if you’re lucky enough to be playing in the $20,000 range, you might want to explore your options. There are many great speakers out there in that price range. There are other speakers that are still manufactured in countries where workers make a decent wage, like France, England, and even in North America that would compete very strongly with the Charios. Don’t worry: I’m not flipping out over the price: my favourite speakers are worth $90,000! Unfortunately, they are not living with me yet! I would definitely need a big inheritance or a big lottery win for those French babies! (Oops! Was that too big of a hint?) But, like I always say, it all depends on what your own preferences are, what equipment you are using with them, and how your room works.
The verdict? I like the Charios, like the looks and the sound, but I still have a hard time wanting to pay that much without comparing them to other speakers in the same price range.
Happy listening!