How we test
To that point in time, I had a young band called „FREE HILLS“ in my recording studio. They trust me and gave me the recording and mix down of their latest album and a 26 member wind and brass orchestra (Wesslinger Blasorchester) they recorded a complete CD in my “Tonkueche”. I work with “FREE HILLS” since three weeks and their music becomes my second nature. The orchestra was recorded in my outpost in Haag. It’s totally raw and unprocessed. So let’s listen how this new material will sound on those little yelling birds.
All speakers were attached over my speaker matrix control unit Samson C-Control, the delivered excellent work for ages. It isn’t the most expensive control unit, but it sound neutral and noiseless. It’s one the few, affordable, control units that can control up to three pair of speakers and also allows alternate switching. This means i.e. switch from speaker A to B push the button once. I didn’t have switch off A and then switch on B. I just push A and B and it’s switched on or off. Just simple that is. Sounds naturally, but just a few control unit can do this.
First I placed all three side by side, to compare they sound to each other. Afterwards I placed them on top off my main control room speakers Yamaha HS8 and hear the competitors over and over for more details.
„Onkel“(Uncle) Sigis domain: The „Tonküche“ (Sound Kitchen) at Gauting
How the “Behritone” C50A sound?
To my ears the Behritones sounds tonal so-so. They excellent in reproduce human voices, they serve this job very well and compelling. Even bass line could be tracked well. The rest and “everything else” my ears noticed the “Behritone” as a better PC speaker. Drum sounds sticky, higher sound by trend calmer and less brilliant. Furthermore there isn’t a real harmony between vocals and the rest of the sound. And the Behritone sound one dimensional too. I wasn’t happy at all with them. After a short adaption phase it is possible to work proper with them. And the price, the Behringer way, is inexpensive and more speakers you can’t buy for that little money.
How the Avantone MixCubes Active sound?
The Avantone have a real heavy kick off and the can be “real loud”, the drums kick ass and we an overall good defined soundscape. But human voices sound out of the pothole and a little hollow, what brings you to process the voicing although they placed very well in the soundscape. The upper mid-range is a little overemphasized. The “normal” mid-range round the humane voice is a little underemphasized. It’s necessary that you work out and learn this sound. Otherwise the mix ends in the wrong way. And you will become unsure (in case of voice). But after a short training phase with the Avant one, you can work real well with them.
How the Auratone 5C sound?
If we switch to the Auratone, we have that light bulb moment. It is like someone drops the curtain from the soundscape. The Auratone had by far the best resolution and the most impressive overall sound. They don’t sound annoying in any frequency range and had a noticeable tonal balance. Although by concept they haven’t built as a sophisticated mind speaker, the deliver more than basic requirements. Spot on the fact, that I don’t need a training phase, the sound fits from the beginning.