Actually, it makes perfect sense
Living Voice fits in with my own approach to audio. Anyone who knows me a bit, or has visited Highender regularly, knows that I’m not particularly interested in equipment for its own sake. Of course, I can appreciate superb engineering, exceptional materials and beautifully crafted components. But ultimately, it all has to do just one thing: convey music. And that’s precisely where I find Living Voice special. A good Living Voice system doesn’t constantly try to impress you. It’s not about the deepest bass, the most spectacular treble or picking out every detail from the recording with a magnifying glass.
It’s about coherence. Timing. Colour. Dynamics. And above all, that elusive feeling where, after a few tracks, you’re no longer listening to an audio system, but simply playing music. That might sound simple. It isn’t.
Living Voice and Kondo
One of the reasons why Living Voice has come to occupy such an important place within Highender is its special pairing with Kondo. These two brands understand each other. Kevin Scott of Living Voice has been working with Kondo electronics for a very long time, and when you hear the products together, you understand why. They seem to have been developed from the same philosophy: not striving for technical perfection as an end in itself, but trying to preserve as much of the expression and emotion of the music as possible. We hear this for ourselves time and time again, for example, whenever we pair a Living Voice with a Kondo Overture, Ongaku or one of the larger Kondo pre-amp and power-amp combinations.
Something natural emerges. And that is ultimately exactly what I’m looking for.
From the Auditorium to the R80 and Vox
What I also love about Living Voice is that this philosophy remains recognisable throughout the entire range. From the Auditorium and Avatar, through the IBX and OBX, to the impressive R80: these are different speakers for different systems and rooms, but you recognise the same DNA every time. And at the very other end of the spectrum, of course, are the extraordinary Vox systems. Products in which Kevin Scott has cast aside virtually every practical constraint to explore just how far music reproduction can ultimately go. That’s what I love about a manufacturer. Not developing models simply because there happens to be a price point in the catalogue that needs filling, but driven by a clear conviction.
Thanks to Wim
For many years, Living Voice was represented in the Netherlands by Wim van Kraanen of Analogue Audio Products. I’ve known Wim for a long time, of course, through our dealership, and I have great respect for the way he has represented Living Voice in the Netherlands – with expertise, dedication and, above all, a genuine love of music and fine equipment. That’s why it feels so special that we are now able to take over that responsibility from him.
Wim, thank you for your trust and for everything you have built up for Living Voice in the Netherlands. We look forward to building on that with great enthusiasm.
And now, moving forward
For existing customers, very little will actually change. Living Voice remains Living Voice, and the speakers will, of course, still be available for extensive listening at Highender Audio in Doetinchem. Behind the scenes, of course, there will be some changes for us. We are now taking on responsibility for Living Voice throughout the Netherlands and will be looking in the coming period at how we can help the brand grow further. But there’s one thing I particularly want to preserve: the way we’ve always worked with Living Voice. Listen at your own pace. Try out different amplifiers. Bring along music you know well. And, above all, don’t decide what you think of them after just three minutes.
Because, in my view, Living Voice isn’t the sort of loudspeaker you should judge using a checklist. You have to play music through it. And then the rest usually happens naturally.
Menno Highender Audio
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