Raidho X2.6 Review
Raidho – the ancient Germanic name means “ride”. Whether the X2.6 floor-standing speaker from the Danish manufacturer gallops past its competition will be clarified in our test.
A publicly listed company in the HiFi sector is not very common, and even less so when it isn’t a large corporation well-known in HiFi circles. Raidho’s parent company, Dantax, founded in 1969, has kept a low profile but has introduced three brands—Raidho, Scansonic, and Gamut—to captivate music lovers worldwide.
Raidho speakers play a significant role here, with four series covering a price range from about $5,000 to well over $200,000. In this context, the compact 2.5-way speaker X2.6, with a pair price of $21,000, seems almost affordable, though an average earner with high sound standards would still need to take a deep breath and save for some time to get close to that amount as a cushion in the bank.
Savings are necessary but absolutely worth it
The question then arises: what value does a product offer that is designed and manufactured in a high-wage country like Denmark? The X2.6, let’s reveal upfront, follows the best Danish traditions into the listening room. Visually elegant and slim, just over a meter tall, and meticulously crafted in every detail, it scores points right from the start, followed by a technical surprise: instead of the usual bass reflex opening that ends in a round port, we find a series of eight small chambers at the back, which can be closed with the included foam plugs. The clever part is that these plugs lower the bass not just “somehow” but by a precise measure of three or six decibels, depending on whether you close four or all eight chambers.
Even in our roughly 40 square meter listening room, we didn’t feel that the bass sounded thin when all plugs were in use. This says a lot about the potential understatement of this delicate-looking speaker. For the high frequencies, a ribbon tweeter is used. There are plenty of these on the market, and each manufacturer has developed their own formula to maximize resolution and impulse speed while minimizing distortion.
Raidho has incorporated a slightly scaled-down version of the tweeter from their top models in the X-series. With a foil weight of just 20 milligrams, it not only meets these requirements but also offers a resonance frequency exceeding 80 kHz, promising high dynamic qualities. This should ensure fatigue-free listening for long sessions.
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Exquisite components
In the midrange and bass, two drivers are employed that at first seem unremarkable. The upper driver handles both bass and midrange, while the lower driver is dedicated to bass only.
The membrane material is aluminum, known for being light yet stiff. However, aluminum naturally has a characteristic sound and resonates within the driver’s operational range. By applying a thin layer of ceramic that bonds with the aluminum through a physical-chemical process, the resulting aluminum oxide ceramic membrane increases damping and solves the resonance problem.
The point where the membrane produces unwanted movements and resonance has been shifted far above the membrane’s operational range, defined by the crossover at 3.5 kHz, to 12.5 kHz. But the real highlight of the driver remains hidden: instead of a standard magnet, a whole array of neodymium magnets surrounds the voice coil. The Danish designers claim reduced distortion and improved dynamics through less heat generation and maximum control of the titanium voice coil’s movement.
Given the sensitivity of these membranes to touch, it’s essential to handle them carefully. While they’re not affected by sight, physical contact should be avoided. It’s somewhat surprising that there is no cover provided, especially since children and pets are often around. Perhaps the Danes will consider adding a cover option, even if at an additional cost.
The crossover, a crucial part of the speaker, features high-quality components and point-to-point wiring with the extremely costly cables from Nordost’s “Valhalla” series. As with the tweeter, the crossover is also assembled entirely by hand and undergoes thorough testing to ensure it meets the specified standards.
The so-called “minor details”
Raidho has chosen not to include a bi-wiring terminal, which we find acceptable as it avoids the issues typically associated with using a single cable to drive a bi-wiring setup. Like many other Danish speakers, it instead offers a discreet but high-quality single-wire connection panel suitable for both banana plugs and spade connectors—although achieving maximum contact pressure with spade connectors was a bit challenging due to the small and less-grippy screw terminals.
Also notable is the absence of spikes. While many manufacturers use heavy spikes to demonstrate solidity, Raidho opts for a decoupling method that rests the speakers on metal balls, which, as our listening tests confirmed, is just as effective in ensuring clean bass without any muddiness. Additionally, this approach is gentle on the floor, be it parquet or a valuable carpet, causing no damage.
Before seriously listening to the speakers, we positioned them with a slightly more direct focus on the listening spot. Our measurements and tests showed that the ribbon tweeter’s upper highs drop off noticeably off-axis, so proper alignment is crucial.
Despite the speaker’s high efficiency and benign impedance curve, we recommend using powerful yet fast amplifiers for best results, as we found during our tests with a variety of music genres.
“Highly musical” tuning
The Raidho X2.6 subtly restrains its energy in the lower treble range, giving it a touch of nobility without ever sounding harsh or too muted.
This refined clarity was evident even in dark, richly colored tracks like Maria Pihl’s “Malvina,” highlighting the exemplary spatial imaging of the Danish speaker. We rarely experience sound so detached from the speaker cabinets, standing tall and deep in the room, creating a three-dimensional image.
Precision, combined with its “musical” tuning, resulted in a natural and balanced performance, never overly technical. It maintained a balance between accuracy and fullness, creating richly structured orchestral works that flowed gracefully.
Listening to Cyndee Peters’ “House Of The Rising Sun,” the bells were sharp and clear, while the saxophone stood out with its warm tone, contrasting nicely with the delicate finesse of the music.
The more you listen, the more you appreciate Raidho’s X2.6. It’s truly a speaker for connoisseurs and music lovers!
Specs
| Product Type / Price Range | Floor-standing speaker (Passive) / Over $20,000 |
| Website | www.raidho.dk |
| Price in USD | $21,000 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) in cm | 30 x 106.5 x 49 |
| Weight in kg | 25 kg |
| Design Principle | Dynamic, 2.5-way, bass reflex |
| Terminal | Single-Wire |
| Recommended Placement | At least 30 cm from side walls, around 1 meter from back wall |
Verdict
Sound Quality: 6/10
- Sound Characteristics: Very spacious imaging with natural voice reproduction, smooth, finely resolving high-frequency range, and strong bass.
Measured Values: 6/10
- Frequency Response: Uneven
- Sound Pressure Level (in Decibels): Good (88)
- Impulse Response: Satisfactory
- Minimal Impedance: Unproblematic
- Distortion Percentage at 63Hz/3kHz/10kHz: High (0.53/0.51/0.19)
- Compatibility: Easy
Features: 6/10
- Setup: Somewhat complicated
- Manual Quality: Very good
- Initial Setup: Easy
- Sound Adjustment Options: Yes
- Available Finishes: Piano Black, Birdseye Maple, or other colors upon request
- Included Accessories: Ball-bearing feet, foam plugs
- Build Quality / Finish: Very good
Service & Environment: 3/10
- Warranty in Years: Good (5 years)
- Packaging: Flight case and plastic
- Upgradeable: No
New Raidho X2.6 loudspeakers - Munich High End Show 2024
The brand new Raidho X2.6 loudspeakers. A quick talk with Morten about Raidho and the brand new model from Raidho: X2.6.
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