 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
| [ Asylum Support ] [ Rules ] |
| Model: | CAT LEB 404 |
| Category: | Speakers |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $419 |
| Description: | Full Range 3-way speakers |
| Manufacturer URL: | LOGICOM |
| Model Picture: | View |
| Review by 51derrill (A) on August 17, 2006 at 18:19:14 IP Address: 207.200.116.66 | Add Your Review for the CAT LEB 404 |
A friend of mine recently asked me to audition some new loudspeakers he had found. They are the CAT 404 towers from German audio designer, Logicom. They arrived at my door two days later, packaged side by side in a colorful box. After removing them, I placed them in front of my listening room in place of my B & W- 804s. Due to their relatively small stature I really didn't expect much in the way of sonic excellence, specifically in the bass area. I was in for a very pleasant surprise! The CAT's utilizes a silk tweeter and 3.1/2 midrange in the front and two long throw 6 1/2in woofers. One is in the front and one side firing. The elegant cabinet is internally braced to eliminate resonance and are solid and compact, A rap on the side will result in a dense "Thud" and bruised knuckles. I was using a Parasound JC-1 400 watt Amps with a seperate Cary Cinema-8 Pre-Pro. The transport was a Marantz DV 9600. All interconnects are by Tekline and Nordost speaker cables. The power cords are the "Lab" models from PS Audio.I started with my favorite form of music, jazz. With Sonny Rollins "Way Out West" the midrange was clear and crisp, with startling bass extension. The midrange was golden, I don't think I have heard Sonny's Sax sound more velvety. The highs were sweet with absolutely no hint of grain or listener fatigue. I was truly impressed with the imaging and immense sound stage. The presentation was truly holographic. I could easily identify the musicians and their placement on the stage. Even when I played them quite loud, I could detect no de fraction or chuffing. Later with Nora Jones, her vocals were warm and her position on the stage was easily identifiable.
Next, I tried another CD that I use to really work out my Parasound JC-1 Behemoths and tested my new speakers. A classic example of musical excellence by the thrilling Utah Symphony Orchestra, is their rendition of Gustav Mahler's First Symphony, Titan. Even with this densely complicated piece, my little Cat-404s performed admirably. Once again the sound stage was immense and the presentation fulfilling and involving. The jaw dropping magic of a full orchestra under the direction of Maurice Abravanel filled the room. Of course I have heard this disc dozens of times before, however this was the first time I played it on such small loudspeakers. I thought that I had stumbled on to an amazing bargain. Later, I put on "Planets" by Holst where Zubin Metha directing Los Angeles symphonic orchestra, a masterpiece of orchestral excellence! The complexity of symphonic music is one of the most difficult venues for any loudspeaker system to reproduce. Once again the sound stage seemed to have no boundaries and the presentation was involving and emotional. The triangles rang with sweetness and decay that seemed to hang in space at the upper left of the stage. The bass lines were far deeper than I would expect from two small woofers.
I also tried them in my home theater. We put on my favorite move "Private Ryan" and set down to enjoy it. Something unexpected happened during the beach landing sequence! It soon became obvious that something interesting was happening in the room. I was hearing substantial bass notes and a clarity that had not been present the night before.
Overall these loudspeakers are a tremendous bargain. I believe that the CAT-LEB-404s may just be the best loudspeaker out there for outright sonic excellence of anything I have reviewed for under $1500. I am buying two more as a gift to my father-in-law, he will be very pleased Indeed.
| Product Weakness: | None That I Found |
| Product Strengths: | Quality Drivers and Build Quality Huge Sound Stage, with Pinpoint Imaging Excellent Bass A Great Bargin |
| Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
| Amplifier: | Parasound JC-1 |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Cary Cinema-8 |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Marantz DV-9600 |
| Speakers: | Cat-404s |
| Cables/Interconnects: | All Tekline ICs |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Jazz and Classical |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 15Ft x 18Ft x 9Ft |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | Corner Bass Traps |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | Two Days |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Monater 7000 & 2000 |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Home Audition |
| Your System (if other than home audition): | Home |
Follow Ups:
Whats next KLH?
I find it interesting that 51derrill has only one other post, and the URL on this one doesn't match. I found another review that just parrots the ads on Audiogon/Videogon, not much else.Even so, I wonder how these compare to an Infinity Primus 360. The drivers on these are from China, naturally, I found the supplier on Google. The woofers look a lot like the passive radiator on my Polk Model 10.
My take is that these are a little better than White Van, and they are sold at more realistic prices. Come to think of it, you could make the same comments when comparing Logicom to Bose!
http://www.overstock.com/sm-cat-sdat-leb-404-hi-fi-floor-standing-speaker-pair--pg-proframe_pi-738472_ti-82124.html#reviews
NT
.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
