CSS Audio Criton 1TDX

Trumpton Riots

Wammer
Wammer
Jul 13, 2022
458
1,396
113
Stoke on Trent
AKA
Dave
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
The Back Story:

I've had budget HiFi gear since leaving school. Mostly Cambridge Audio stuff from a shop owned by Mr Richer, and budget speakers that weren't paired well with what I had. They played music, not brilliantly, but they did the job for me, for many years.

I turned the big five-oh this year, and I promised myself some 'decent' (for me) equipment. I'd saved up a bit of cash, and had a budget of £4k-ish for a new solid state amp (know nothing about tube equipment), CD transport / player & speakers.

So, fairly quickly, in came a Music Fidelity M5si & Rotel CD11 Tribute, followed by a SMSL DAC & Wiim MIni hooked up to my existing Monitor Audio Bronze 3 speakers.

I was impressed with what the new kit did for the sound. I was quite impressed with what was coming out of the Bronze 3's. They were making sounds I'd never heard before from music I know well. All good, then.

But I still had budget left for new speakers.

So, after much research, I was torn between a pair of Sonus Faber Sonnetto ii's or the Criton's.

Enter the Critons:

So, after much Youtube watching I thought the Sonnetto's might be a tad warm for my taste, I decided to give the Critons a go. Obviously no audition beforehand, so was a bit of a gamble.

The guys at CSS were extremely helpful, replying to my emails (it would have been 4 in the morning over there) almost immediately. They're does appear to be a German supplier of the kits, but they appear expensive compared to the manufacturers in the US - the guys in the States were happy to ship to me, even with a European supplier available, VAT is payable on import from either destination, anyway. I plumbed for the upgraded crossover - in for a penny....etc.

A week later a vey heavy box arrived:

1.JPEG

Extremely well packed. Everything appears intact. I was impressed with the flatpack cabinets. They are machined really well & slotted together beautifully. All corners are nice & sharp.

2.JPEG

Glued & clamped, 1 day later ( I was excited)

7.JPEG

Some further research, I had discovered, local to me, a veneering company, run by a chap who used to veneer for Bentley cars. Price & timeframe agreed (3 week turnaround) I dropped them around to his workshop.

4 months later they were ready. Much to my frustration. However, I didn't want him to rush them out the door - so I had to be patient.

They came back looking like this:

21.jpg

26.jpg

Time to start soldering crossovers! Basically, very easy with this kit - its the equivalent of painting by numbers. This was my first build, so took my time with everything, checked & double checked - but was very do-able. Build time from with the cabinets completed was a day & a half.

30.JPEG


Crossover fills the bottom of the cabinet
31.JPEG

Rear port, terminals fitted.

32.JPEG

Drivers fitted and screwed in very carefully. Not the time for a screwdriver to be slipping & piecing a cone!.

Finished

33.JPEG

35.JPEG

Thats just great, Dave. But how do they sound?

I dont have much to compare them to, having had few other pairs beforehand.

I'm about 10 hours of listening in, at this point, & I'm in love with them

The much talked about bass is there & its as good as the Youtube reviewers suggest. They are clear, but not fatiguing. Male & female voices are just lovely. I now understand what is implied when reviewers talk about speakers 'getting out of the way' of the sound. Imaging is great.

The kit I bought with the upgraded crossovers & cabinet flatpack including shipping & VAT cost £1,400. Obviously the veneering cost extra, but could be finished much cheaper. I think you would be hard pressed to better them for the money.

Let me know if you have any questions - I am more than happy to help if I can.
 

justinhd

Newbie
Wammer
Aug 25, 2016
93
118
38
London
AKA
Justin
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
The Back Story:

I've had budget HiFi gear since leaving school. Mostly Cambridge Audio stuff from a shop owned by Mr Richer, and budget speakers that weren't paired well with what I had. They played music, not brilliantly, but they did the job for me, for many years.

I turned the big five-oh this year, and I promised myself some 'decent' (for me) equipment. I'd saved up a bit of cash, and had a budget of £4k-ish for a new solid state amp (know nothing about tube equipment), CD transport / player & speakers.

So, fairly quickly, in came a Music Fidelity M5si & Rotel CD11 Tribute, followed by a SMSL DAC & Wiim MIni hooked up to my existing Monitor Audio Bronze 3 speakers.

I was impressed with what the new kit did for the sound. I was quite impressed with what was coming out of the Bronze 3's. They were making sounds I'd never heard before from music I know well. All good, then.

But I still had budget left for new speakers.

So, after much research, I was torn between a pair of Sonus Faber Sonnetto ii's or the Criton's.

Enter the Critons:

So, after much Youtube watching I thought the Sonnetto's might be a tad warm for my taste, I decided to give the Critons a go. Obviously no audition beforehand, so was a bit of a gamble.

The guys at CSS were extremely helpful, replying to my emails (it would have been 4 in the morning over there) almost immediately. They're does appear to be a German supplier of the kits, but they appear expensive compared to the manufacturers in the US - the guys in the States were happy to ship to me, even with a European supplier available, VAT is payable on import from either destination, anyway. I plumbed for the upgraded crossover - in for a penny....etc.

A week later a vey heavy box arrived:

1.JPEG

Extremely well packed. Everything appears intact. I was impressed with the flatpack cabinets. They are machined really well & slotted together beautifully. All corners are nice & sharp.

2.JPEG

Glued & clamped, 1 day later ( I was excited)

7.JPEG

Some further research, I had discovered, local to me, a veneering company, run by a chap who used to veneer for Bentley cars. Price & timeframe agreed (3 week turnaround) I dropped them around to his workshop.

4 months later they were ready. Much to my frustration. However, I didn't want him to rush them out the door - so I had to be patient.

They came back looking like this:

21.jpg

26.jpg

Time to start soldering crossovers! Basically, very easy with this kit - its the equivalent of painting by numbers. This was my first build, so took my time with everything, checked & double checked - but was very do-able. Build time from with the cabinets completed was a day & a half.

30.JPEG


Crossover fills the bottom of the cabinet
31.JPEG

Rear port, terminals fitted.

32.JPEG

Drivers fitted and screwed in very carefully. Not the time for a screwdriver to be slipping & piecing a cone!.

Finished

33.JPEG

35.JPEG

Thats just great, Dave. But how do they sound?

I dont have much to compare them to, having had few other pairs beforehand.

I'm about 10 hours of listening in, at this point, & I'm in love with them

The much talked about bass is there & its as good as the Youtube reviewers suggest. They are clear, but not fatiguing. Male & female voices are just lovely. I now understand what is implied when reviewers talk about speakers 'getting out of the way' of the sound. Imaging is great.

The kit I bought with the upgraded crossovers & cabinet flatpack including shipping & VAT cost £1,400. Obviously the veneering cost extra, but could be finished much cheaper. I think you would be hard pressed to better them for the money.

Let me know if you have any questions - I am more than happy to help if I can.
A great build and glad that you are so happy with them. Thanks also for the post. It helps others thinking of taking the DIY route.
 
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rabski

Everything in moderation
Staff member
Dec 2, 2006
32,873
1
26,119
173
Kettering
AKA
Richard
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I was a little worried it might be too much. :oops:
Not to my eys. Subtle is fine as well, but with standmounts, a really 'serious' grain just looks stunning. Most speakers are on prominent display in a room, so there's nothing wrong with treating them like a piece of superb art or furniture.
 
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MF 1000

Extreme Full Range 😱
Wammer Plus
Apr 5, 2011
6,172
4,732
193
Caego
AKA
Keith
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I bet the veneering was at least 50% of the kit cost …..looks amazing though
 
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Trumpton Riots

Wammer
Wammer
Jul 13, 2022
458
1,396
113
Stoke on Trent
AKA
Dave
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I bet the veneering was at least 50% of the kit cost …..looks amazing though
You're not far off - but a little less.

Lots of man hours involved, 2 coats of primer & 3 top coat + finishing buff.

As Rabski said - they are on show all the time & needed to look good & be acceptable to Mrs B.

Plus, I'm a bit of a nightmare myself. If I'd had done it, and messed up even the smallest area - thats the bit I would see each time I wlaked pass them :cry:
 
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Trumpton Riots

Wammer
Wammer
Jul 13, 2022
458
1,396
113
Stoke on Trent
AKA
Dave
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Well, I think he likes them.

Wouldn't disagree with any of this, pretty spot on TBH.

You'll be able to judge for yourself in October (y)

 

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