Raidho D4.1 vs TD4.2 review part one

I’ve been using Raidho D4.1 as my main reference loudspeakers for the past year and they’ve proven continuously in various setups to be one of the true standouts when it comes to the upper echelon dynamic speakers. 

When Raidho introduced the all-new TD4.2 speakers that build upon the success of the D4.1 many of you asked me about what are the real-world advancement of TD series. So, in a few days, the D4.1 are heading back to the Raidho headquarters for the TD4.2 exchange/upgrade. 

Raidho’s chief-designer Benno Baun Meldgaard and his team have pushed the limits in refining the D4.1 and TD4.2 speakers are bringing a lot of technological advancements. New Tantalum-Diamond-drivers are certainly highly interesting addition and I’m looking forward to hear the all-new and updated ribbon-tweeter, that was already a highly potent performer. 
Raidho D4.1 speakers have repeatedly exhibited one of the best disappearing acts and most unique sonic holography, that is not easy to achieve. These Danish beauties surely need proper matching power amplifiers to exhibit their true qualities, but when locked and loaded they surely can sing beyond ordinary.

SUM UP

Raidho D4.1s are not only looking way different than other speakers, but they also sound very different. It’s always a matter of a system synergy to get the best out of any loudspeakers, but the speed, translucency, impressive horizontal and vertical presentation were never stranger to Raidhos.  
D4.1 speakers do call for a bit forte positioning in the room and from what the Raidho is saying the TD4.2’s new drivers with stronger magnets addresses a bit more complex room setup of the D4.1 that needs an optimum room placement and a very potent power amplifier to achieve the proper lower energy foundation. But once these attributes are taken into consideration, I’m still amazed how much of the sound the Raidho D4.1’s stylish and sleek enclosure can project. Over a year I’ve had quite a few guests and manufacturers visiting my reference listening room and they’ve all complimented the D4.1 room-filling ability as well as their impressive speed and dynamics, as well as balanced sound across the complete frequency spectrum. 
Raidho initial idea with the D4.1 was to trickle the D-5 high-tech and sound in a smaller package and for the D4.1s’ given size, I do believe they succeeded. While D4.1 need a thoughtful placement the can work both in smaller and bigger environments (again when driven properly) they are also easy to install and move around with their 66kgs.  
Proprietary drivers were always one of the key points of Raidho and what made them so special and different and new motor drivers tend to bring a substantial update. I’m looking forward to hearing and write about the new TD4.2 improvements and advancements. 
So, the TD4.2 introduces a lot of new features and upgrades and I’ll hand on compared the differences, qualities and performance shifts between D4.1 and the latest successor. From what I’ve been told the lower register performance is drastically improved and this might open up many new possibilities with the system matching and easier paring with the amps.  
While I can understand some of the reservations and comments about the D4.1s bass performance, I’m certain that in most of the cases D4.1 speakers were not driven by the properly matched power amplifier(s). The difference between an average and ultimate power handling results in performance shift that far from calling it subtle by any means.  
So it will be interesting and educational to see how the D4.1 vs TD4.2 story unveils.
Stay tuned… 
Matej Isak

Technical information


TD4.2

Size (WxHxD): 200 x 1550 x 600 mm (440 x 1580 x 600 mm incl. feets)
Weight: 65 Kg
Freq. reponse 25 Hz – 50 KHz
Impendance: >6 ohm
Sensitivity: 89 dB 2.828 V/m
Crossover: 2.5 kHz; Stepped slope, phase and impulse linear
Enclosure: Ported
Drive units: 1 x Sealed TD Ribbon tweeter
2 x 110 mm Tantalum-Diamond mid-range drivers
4 x 115 mm Tantalum-Diamond bass drivers
Finish: Black piano; All possible paint colors; Walnut burl veneer
Amplification: >20 W (Though we have seen excellent results with small tube amplifiers)
D4.1
Size (WxHxD): 200 x 1550 x 600 mm (440 x 1580 x 600 mm incl. feets)
Weight: 64 Kg
Freq. reponse 25 Hz – 50 KHz
Impendance: >6 ohm
Sensitivity: 89 dB 2.83 V/m
Crossover: 3 kHz 2. and 4 order
Enclosure: Vented design Port in rear panel
Drive units: 1 sealed ribbon tweeter. 2 100 mm diamond mid-range drivers. 4 115 mm diamond bass drivers
Finish: Black piano. All possible paint colors Walnut burl veneer
Amplification: >50 W (Though we have seen excellent results with small tube amplifiers)

CONTACT

Raidho Acoustics
co/ Dantax Radio A/S
Bransagervej 15
9490 Pandrup
Denmark
Phone: +45 98 24 76 77