Red Rose Music Spirit Amplifier and Speakers (Complete System, French Sycamore)

by Red Rose Music

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22 x 17.8 x 25 inches
• Shipping Weight: 78 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000068V2C
• Item model number: Spirit CS FS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #434,035 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Red Rose Music's elegant Spirit system produces luscious, authoritative sound from simple and compact components, giving you the Spirit studio monitors, Spirit 336-30 speaker cables, and the Spirit integrated amplifier at a significant savings over their equivalent per-item prices.

Designed for high-bandwidth, high-resolution digital and analog stereo source components like SACD players, DVD players, and turntables, as well as traditional CD players, the Spirit system (also available in rosewood) is nothing short of stunning in its ability to render detailed, dynamic, and ultimately effortless music in the space between and beyond its speakers.

Quality and simplicity are clearly the name of the game here. In our testing, setup was a breeze, and we found that operation couldn't be simpler: on, off, volume, go.

At just 4.5 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 8.25 inches high, the amplifier is actually smaller than it looks in its picture--but its sound is world-class. Rated at a mere 35 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms (from 20 to 20,000 Hz with less than .25 percent distortion; 60 watts RMS into 4 ohms), it drives the sensitive Spirit speakers with graceful ease, supporting everything from the dynamic snaps of snare drums to the resonant thunder of acoustic bass.

The Spirit studio monitor is all about smoothness and detail, muscularity as well as sensitivity. In our listening, it showed itself capable of being nearly all things to all music, as the music and our recordings required. Its appreciable bass output extends below 50 Hz, and--largely because of the speaker's uncanny way with sound--we found that only large rooms and the most bass-intensive music demanded a bigger speaker.

Key to the speaker's success is its tweeter, a hand-formed aluminum ribbon rather than the traditional small fabric dome. Voices and acoustic instruments sound downright holographic, their natural harmonics both present and balanced, owing as much to the high quality of the crossover (which splits the incoming signal between the 5-inch woofer and the tweeter) as to the speaker's impressive high-frequency extension.

If the tweeter sounds delicate, know that it is--you won't want to blow on it or place the speaker where it will be in danger of being bumped or jostled. Red Rose makes short, custom speaker stands for the Spirit in French sycamore, rosewood, and transparent Plexiglas, though they also sound great on sturdy ear-level stands.

The system overall sounds its best in small to midsize rooms (bedrooms, dens, confined living rooms), but will likely amaze you in any near-field listening spot. A position 5 to 8 feet from the speakers was choice in our listening.

Is the package a little pricey? By most standards, yes. But in its sonic and supremely musical abilities, the Spirit system outshines many high-end systems commanding several times its price. If you're saving up for something special, the Spirit is an unqualified bargain. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Extremely detailed and natural sound
• Holographic stereo "imaging"
• Tremendous dynamic kick
• Superb speaker drivers
• Simple setup
• Premium-quality cosmetics and construction

Cons:

• Slightly limited bass output
• Not suited to large rooms

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Audio System, February 13, 2003

By 

Matthew A. Soldo (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Red Rose Music Spirit Amplifier and Speakers (Complete System, French Sycamore) (Electronics)

This is an incredible stereo system. While some people may balk at the lack of wiz-bang features like surround sound, once your here this you won't care. I've auditioned systems that cost 10 times as much and don't sound nearly as good. Don't worry about this like the lack of wattage or a subwoofer. This system sounds great, that's the important thing.

The best part about this system is that it was designed as a system. Many audio buffs spend way to much time finding components that sound good with one another. Red Rose has already done this for you.

Be sure to get two things along with this. First, good speaker stands (the ones they sell here on amazon.com are a compromise, get Red Rose's Rosebud stands, they'll elevate the speaker to your ear height, which is extemely important to get the most out of the system). Second, a half descent SACD player. This system was made for the hi-fidelity sound of SACDs. Even a low end SACD player will sound better than a several thousand dollar CD player.

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