Loudspeakers

The substantial black-anodised baffle is also angled to optimise the speaker's 'impulse alignment', while the curvaceous cabinet tapers down towards the rear, in what has now become an almost commonplace 'lute' or 'hull' style, reinforced here by a thick alloy spine that hosts three bass reflex ports.

Also fully integrated into the speaker's exoskeleton is a solid alloy base with outrigger feet already attached, which is handy when one considers the logistics of upending a 45kg speaker to fit them. The feet themselves are of an extremely neat design – ceramic balls provide internal decoupling, and there's none of that fiddling about with a spanner as you simply turn the uppermost disc on each foot to level the speaker.

A Relaxed Ribbon
Raidho is no less particular about the placement of its floorstanders than sister brand Scansonic, writes Editor PM, although it recommends the TD series speakers are located further away from side walls, and with a greater degree of toe-out, than you might anticipate. I duly capitulated, although I also discovered the TD2.2s were mercifully tolerant of being parked fairly close to the rear wall.

Auditioned with appropriately costly and very capable Constellation Inspiration monos [HFN Oct '19], these pre-run-in TD2.2s very rapidly came on song to deliver a robust but exquisitely composed sound. The pseudo-ribbon tweeter, in particular, which in the past had a tendency to sing out with a 'look at me' pizzaz was now seamlessly integrated with the new 'stiffer' bass and midbass units. Whether Raidho's recent updates have resulted in a slightly sweeter, smoother-sounding ribbon or faster cones with a better sense of subjective snap, the end result is a more joined-up performance where a firm and extended bass meets an insightful midrange and deliciously creamy, airy treble.

Spin up Gerry Rafferty's evergreen 'Night Owl' [Sleepwalking; EMI Gold 0724357608923] to hear this unification in action as his voice and guitar fill out the mid and presence, the harmonies segueing perfectly into Raphael Ravenscroft's Lyricon solo some few minutes into the track. As the sound of this early, breath-controlled synthesiser fills the room, the pin-point patter of percussion proves the perfect counterpoint – a blend of sweet and citrous that's entirely complementary.

And bass? Neither the cabinet volume nor drivers are especially capacious but the TD2.2 still digs impressively deep while very rarely biting off more than it can chew. The signature drum programming that powers Gorillaz' 'Dracula' [G Sides; Parlophone, 44.1kHz/24-bit] takes these Raidhos as far as they will comfortably go, while the opening of 'Faust' moves them just a little bit further still – no overt bloom or boom here but there is some loss of rhythmic composure. Time to back off the volume control.

The TD2.2s seem otherwise quite at home penetrating and untangling the densest of mixes. Their ability to convey energy without chaos was ideally suited to a session listening to Jimmy Page's latter-day remastering of Led Zeppelin's Presence, the band's seventh album also produced by Page back in 1975-76 [Warner Music 0081227955724; 96kHz/24-bit]. The album, free of keyboards, still sounds raw but the multiple, over-dubbed guitars have a greater clarity in this 96kHz rendering – a quality not lost on the TD2.2s.

Labour Of Love
Once again, the speakers delivered a very complete and continuous picture of the musical event as their blend of moving-coil and 'ribbon' drivers joined in a partnership as convincing as the performers on stage (and basement studio).

It seems very clear from their sophisticated and informative sound that the TD2.2s are, indeed, the product of much development and, I suspect, even more listening tests. It would be interesting to learn what partnering equipment was used during this period, though I remember they sounded especially fine at our UK Hi-Fi Show Live 2019 with amplification from both Esoteric and Audio Analogue.

Hi-Fi News Verdict
Raidho takes its name from Norse mythology and the 'journey of life', and in the right system these TD2.2 floorstanders have every chance of completing your path to the ultimate hi-fi experience. There are caveats, however, not

least in the costly toll taken by its enhanced in-house engineering, exotic driver materials, Nordost internal wiring and extruded alloy cabinet parts. An extended personal audition is a must.