Advertised as the 3-way loudspeaker system using 2 drivers, the Reynaud Twin MKIII’s have become the speaker of choice in my home. I recently purchased a pair of these from BrianB of Venus Hi-Fi for use in a new tube system that he helped me put together.

I had the opportunity to try these speakers on several new and vintage solid-state systems while waiting on the new ASL tube amplifier to arrive. The Twins sounded different on each system, but always very musical, warm and detailed. Listening to them on the completed system (Antique Sound Lab AQ1001 DT Integrated Tube Amp and Jolida JD 100A Tube CDP) was a real eye (ear?) opener. Connected to the ASL the Twins really came alive. Very open, warm, detailed – hands down the best mini-monitor that I have ever heard.

Now of course the Twins are not made for a heavy metal, rock the house type of environment. But, for the music that I primarily listen to (roots, folk, blues, jazz), they come closer to bringing the characteristics of live sound into your living room better than any that I’ve heard. They have that rare ability to simply disappear, leaving you and the music all alone in the room. That’s not to say the Twins cannot get down and nasty, because they can certainly do that as well.

Placement of the Reynaud Twin MkIII’s has been very easy; fact is its difficult to find a place where they sound bad. The best positioning so far has been about 2ft. from any side walls, 6 to 9 inches from the rear wall and as Brian suggested, about 28 inches off the floor with a slight toe in. I now have them positioned in this way permanently (had to some serious room rearranging) and the depth and width of the soundstage is immense.

For my serious listening evaluation I picked a number of folk, blues and jazz CD’s that I’m very familiar with. The synergy of the complete system is simply breathtaking. The Twins absolutely shine on acoustic material, have no problem keeping up with a lively jazz session and reproduce a rock-n-roll beat with gusto. Vocals, especially female, leap out into the room with a sense of realism that’s almost spooky. The bottom end is solid and very well defined. Percussion is tight and exciting. Some would probably want to enlist the aid of a good sub to add a bit more low frequency sound. I occasionally power up my Infinity HPS 250 12” down firing sub just to let the neighbors know I’m still here. The high end is simply wonderful; crisp, detailed, airy, and yes – alive!

The Twin MKIII’s are a winner in every category IMO - Design/engineering, build/component quality, finish and sound. You’ll have to look long and hard to find anything better – and spend a lot more money as well.

System:
Antique Sound Lab AQ1001 DT Integrated Tube Amp
Jolida JD 100A Tube CDP
Jean-Marie Reynaud Twin MKIII Loudspeakers

Cables:
Speaker: Monster XP Clear, tinned ends, un-terminated
Interconnects: Dayton Audio Analogue RCA, 1.5m
Power Cables: Stock

Note: Just recently added a Blue Circle BC86 MKIII Powerline Power Filter. Check out my review of this device http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11325


CD’s used for evaluation (all redbook):
Patti Austin “For Ella”
Diana Krall “Live In Paris”
Sara McLachlan “Mirrorball”
John Hiatt “Slow Turning”
Robben Ford “Robben Ford And The Blue Line”
Steely Dan “Aja”
Alison Krauss “Forget About It”
Elvis Costello “My Aim Is True”
Bob Dylan “Blonde on Blonde”

Links to other threads where this system has been discussed:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9823&perpage=40&pagenumber=1
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10875

Specifications:
WOOFER: Diameter 6.7", double magnet, double moving coil, flat, ventilated spider. 1.1" moving coil on a high temperature support, positive half-roll peripheral surround in natural rubber, paper cone in filmed short fibers with PVC film. Soft, decompressed central dust-cap.
TWEETER: 1.2" impregnated fabric dome. Central neodymium/boron magnet. Horn front frame and front wave guide for minimum lateral directivity and perfect conservation of energy at a distance of several meters
CROSSOVER: 3-way electric. Slopes 6 and 12 dB/octave, serial configuration for medium/treble. Crossover frequencies at 1400 and 4500 Hz.
LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM: Tuned triangular transmission line with slim anti-noise event port. Machining in 0.75" MEDITE double face beech veneer. Rounded front edges to eliminate edge effects.
POWER HANDLING CAPACITY: 60 watts
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 50 – 20,000 Hz
PEAK POWER: 140w
IMPEDANCE: 4 ohm
SENSITIVITY : 91dB (2.83 volts)
DISTORTION: less than 0.8% (level 84 dB)

Jean Marie Reynaud
web address: http://jm-reynaud.com
Venus Hi-Fi: http://www.venushifi.com/

Watch for individual reviews of the Antique Sound Lab AQ1001 DT Integrated Tube Amp and Jolida JD 100A Tube CDP coming soon.

Check out the “Members Gallery” for additional photos.

Hi Dave,

Once again, you've really hit the nail on the head! The little Reynauds manage to pull off the seemingly impossible feat of sounding both lively AND warm at the same time - a combination of traits that virtually ensures prolonged listening sessions. And while I can name a few other speakers that manage this balancing act just as skillfully, none approach the affordablility of the Twins...

Cheers,
Brian

Forgot to mention that I have the Twin MKIII's sitting on Atlantis SB stands. Floor spiked with sand filled 28” columns.

-Dave

:banana: :grnbounce :banana:

Just received my second set of Jean-Marie Reynaud Twin MKIII Loudspeakers. Yes, they are that good - besides Dr. Evil made me an offer I just couldn't refuse :D

I honestly believe that the Twin MKIII's are hands down the best bookshelf speakers that I have ever heard, and I've listened to, and owned, a number of different ones - all top quality. Driven by tubes, including small SET amps like the Almarro A205A, the sound is just incredible. These are my reference speakers, what I measure all others against, and now I have a pair for my primary and secondary systems!

I'm in heaven! :angel:

Thanks again BrianB, your the best!

-Dave

Hi Dave,

You know, I've had lots of repeat business from a lot of customers since I first opened shop in 2001, but I think that you're the first to actually buy the same component TWICE from me (cables and accessories aside).

And do you know what? I don't think that you're the least bit crazy! No, strike that - I think that you're TOTALLY crazy, but that you also have a very good set of ears...

Cheers,
Brian

Dave just as a point of reference what do these normally sell for? I won't ask you what you paid that would be gauche.


Mike

Mike, I believe full retail is around, or just under $1000.00 a pair. I'm not sure what Brian normally sells them for.

-Dave

I would absolutely LOVE to compare these to the Totem Sttaf's...

Great write up as usual, Dave.

Please start another thread to make comparisons, this is a Review thread and can't go OT.

Thanks, and ditto on the great write up! Keep them coming.

Originally posted by Thatch_Ear
Please start another thread to make comparisons, this is a Review thread and can't go OT.

Fair enough, Thatch - but only so long as you promise to stop pushing hockey pucks in every review of high-end isolation devices and other audiophile "tweaks"! ;)

Originally posted by BrianB
Fair enough, Thatch - but only so long as you promise to stop pushing hockey pucks in every review of high-end isolation devices and other audiophile "tweaks"! ;)

Ouch

Fantastic review Dave :thmbsp:

John

Originally posted by opt80
Ouch

Now, now - I was just having a bit of fun! :D

Originally posted by BrianB
Fair enough, Thatch - but only so long as you promise to stop pushing hockey pucks in every review of high-end isolation devices and other audiophile "tweaks"! ;)


Fair enough. My 1st post on hockey pucks was a comparision and in review of what I had posted prompted me to make a definition between Reviews and Opinions and how they can be responded to etc. All the better for you Dr. Evil.
If the not too subtle gouge was about my last comment about the use of them with Isopods you might read it again and take note that I brought it up as way to use them in conjuntion with and as a platform for the Isopods.
As I now seem to have followed you into OT in a Review thread if you wish to pursue this further, please start another thread about it.
Any furthur comments not directly related to and asking specific questions about the speakers being reviewed will be deleted without comment.

Hi Thatch,

Please see my response in the Off Topic forum.

Thanks,
Brian

Hey Dave,

Given that your second pair of Twin MKIIIs is the new biwirable version, have you played around with biwiring them? Just curious...

Cheers,
Brian

Not yet Brian, but I'm sure I will at some point.

-Dave

Nice review, Dave. You captured the essence of ther Twin. I was one of the first dealers to carry the JMR line when OS Audio was first importing them (my part-time shop closed when my day job got too busy). The Twin MkII (the version at the time) were simply astounding at their price point. IMO, they also worked equally well with tubes and solid-state and offered sheer musicality. I sold a lot of them and none were returned.

About the only criticism I could level at the MkII was they became a bit congested when played at VERY loud volume. It was never a problem for me, I understand that issue has been addressed. The rest of the JMR line is excellent too, but there's alot of competition at their price points- Audio Note, Spendor, Harbeth to name a few.

Thanks And Welcome to AK Sndsrtaud!

Yeah, in case you couldn't tell - I really love my Twins. :D

-Dave

Originally posted by Sndsrtaud
Nice review, Dave. You captured the essence of ther Twin. I was one of the first dealers to carry the JMR line when OS Audio was first importing them (my part-time shop closed when my day job got too busy). The Twin MkII (the version at the time) were simply astounding at their price point. IMO, they also worked equally well with tubes and solid-state and offered sheer musicality. I sold a lot of them and none were returned.

Hey, is that you, Mike? If so, I am VERY happy that you're now a member of AK! You are among the very few dealers I've known whose ears are truly golden - and whose heart is in the right place. And your exceptional skills as an audio reviewer will be most welcome here.

Glad to have you aboard! :)

Hi Brian:

Yup. It's me. I find the folks here less "contentious" than those at Audio Asylum.

As Brian mentioned in an earlier post, my latest set of Twin MKIII speakers are bi-wireable. So of course I have to buy a set of bi-wire cables to play with right? Right! :p:

Yeah you guessed it; I have opened my wallet up to Dr. Evil once again. Brian, maybe it would be simpler if I just set up a direct deposit account with you :D

Anyway, a pair of Chord Carnival Bi-Wire cables just arrived from Brian and I'm giving them a go as I write this. Not the top of the Chord speaker cable line up, but they are a very nice looking quality cable (got them at a great price too :cool: ). Construction quality is excellent and very obvious from end-to-end. I've only listened for about 45 minutes to an hour now, but I can hear a noticeable difference in the high-end. Quicker with a bit more detail.

Yep, definitely worth it to bi-wire the Twins. a noticeable difference it does make and a bigger smile it does put on my face. It just gets better and better :thmbsp:

Brian, is there anyway to retrofit my other Twins with bi-wire capability?

-Dave

Hi Dave,

Glad to hear that you like your new cables - and yes, I too think that bi-wiring Reynaud speakers results in a noticeable sonic improvement.

Bi-wiring only recently became an option for Reynaud's entry-level speakers - due mostly to demands from the Asian audiophile market - and, as far as I know, the manufacturer does not offer any sort of bi-wire upgrade for earlier versions of the Twin.

Cheers,
Brian