Me wants ITDX! Great review Randy. It’s always nice to see you glow with these types of reviews.

Easily the most comprehensive and natural review I’ve heard. I good reviewer must be perceived to be honest. At truly great reviewer is considered honest. That’s the impression I got from your break down. Your review is fair and articulate in all of your evaluations. It was fluid and very easy to both listen to and understand. You kept me into the review.

I love coming home after a hard day of work and binge watching Randy.... Just the best!

Thanks, great review. You are really making some great videos now Randy, thanks for your effort, much appreciated from an audiophile in Australia 🍻cheers

Randy, I just found your channel and have been binging for a week. I love your style and your no-nonsense reviews. I’ll keep searching, but I’d like to see reviews of subwoofers you continually refer to, and reviews of Tekton and Zu speakers. I think their reputed value would fit your theme.

Love all your vids my man. Keep up the good work

Just finished building one. Have to say I am mighty impressed

Very interesting company..Love your reviews! Thank you for your service as well.

I bought a tin of Chicken Falcon Hawks Plutonium 24,000 years ago. When I opened it yesterday it was half empty😮

love the t-shirt, randy! great vid as always!

I’m actually saving for these because of your reviews.

I "liked" your video as soon as you finished your add! Probably my favorite part of your channel

Good and intelligent review. You know what you are hearing, and why it sounds like that. ...Nice job, I'll consider building a pair!

That is a tasty speaker right there! Thanks for the great review of an endgame speaker!

I finally bought this kit with the good crossover! I’m in the building phase right now. Got the enclosures and crossovers done. Now time for rosewood veneer! Can’t wait to hear these things.

Great review, really thorough and objective with just enough subjectivity to be fun. These are locked in as my next speakers. The benefits of building something (very good by all accounts) yourself and the sense of pride and ownership experience that creates, far out ways the risks of not being able to audition. Also, it becomes a project, and turns an ultimately passive hobby into a slightly more active one. Thanks randy

Great video, Randy! I want those ready-made for $900! They look fantastic, and I believe the fact that they sound the same. I'm not the handiest guy with wood, clamps, glue, etc........ Don't forget those Moukey 3-way passive speakers......................you have to hear them. BTW......if you want check bass, try Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Not Fragile"; the opening bass line is great.

Thanks for the analysis of these speakers. I built a DIY set of similar sized speakers a long time ago and I'm still listening to them as my main speakers in my home theater. Definitely tempted to tackle another DIY speaker project. Also, nice shirt man!

Love the reviews and that Bill Murray style of dry humour, fantastic!

my dad worked in the nuclear control room on the U.S.S Enterprise. he said they used to take bong hits, blow them into trash bags and then throw them overboard. those crossovers are behemoths. i think i need these loudspeakers in my life.

I had the Atomic Energy Kit as a kid. Brought back flash back, of my cousin Kevin and I playing mad scientists trying to make mutant gerbils.

That ad was hilarious. Keep em coming. The 1TD-X looks like a nice kit. Although I'd pass on the $350 crossover upgrade.

I just completed the CSS Torri a couple weeks ago. They are spooky good. I’ve never heard anything like them and they are a $275 kit! I now have to know what the Criton 1TDX sounds like. I just hope my 60 watt Emotiva integrated is up to the task.

Just joined and love when you mentioned Nina Simone - Sinnerman - the treble is indeed difficult to handle .. thank you and greeting from Indonesia

What did you go and do that for?! I want these now! Great video buddy. Best wishes from across the pond

Sounds like these speakers could Be the ones! Great Review👍👍👍

Thanks for the review, are you thinking of reviewing the CSS Criton 2TD-X Tower Kit

I bow down to my 2TDXs often.. or more sit up at ear level. Fantastic speaker. I often stay up too late because I can't pull away from listening to them.

I built the 1TD-X a month ago, standard crossover but switched out the sand cast resistors with Mills. OMG these are amazing. The bass has a bit less texture and tone VS the Encores which I also own. Treble is better on these. I'll have more to say when I post my build. I also own the new Unifi 52 so I'll be comparing these as well.

They look a lot like a pair of Boston Acoustics A-60’s I had back in the early 80’s. They too were an awesome listen.

CSS now sells completed 1TD and 1TDX for $1749 and $1999, respectively. Add $350 for the enhanced crossover. Are they worth it? I'd say so. I bought a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 20s on an open box for $1600. These are $2200 speakers. I like the Critons, the 1TD version with upgraded crossover, better than the Evokes. I'm in the process of upgrading to the X version now. I have a 15 x17 room and have to have the speakers close to the wall, Foam plugs in the ports help with bass issues. I sit low compared to the speakers so I tried them upside down. Again the bass bloom was helped. Love these speakers. You don't have to go crazy, just start out with the base models and you will have a fine speaker. Sand them, seal them and spray paint semi gloss or matte black, if you don't want deal with veneer. A friend built a kit speaker and had a local auto body shop prime and paint his speakers for a couple hundred dollars.

I am going to start a savings account until I can afford to build these.

Alanis was my first concert ever. Crash Test Dummies opened and sang Hit Me Baby One More Time. Good first show.

I have a pair of the CSS Criton 2TDX tower speaker components with superior crossovers on the way (just shipped). I didn't order the flat pack. I am building the cabinets from 3/4" Red Oak instead. I am currently building the Elekit TU-8600S 300B tube amplifier with Lundahl output transformers I recently bought to pair with the speakers. I am waiting for the upgraded resisters and coupling capacitors I ordered to finish it. I ordered a iFi Zen One Signature DAC based on your review of it. I hope you didn't lead me astray! Now all I need is a pre-amp...Thanks for the video! : )

I see what you're saying, if you can eliminate the distribution channels and easily convert any of your free time into money, or your time is limited. But for me without a side gig, my non-work time costs me nothing. The fact that I'm having fun building the speaker is like saving more money (as opposed to paying to be entertained for that period of time). Also, I cannot buy most speakers without the distribution channels. As I only have a limited budget + free time to end up with a speaker, it comes down the the maximum speaker I can get for that (and where my free time is worthless when buying a pre-made speaker). I can definitely compare a kit to a pre-made speaker dollar for dollar or bang-for-buck. If 1TD-X sonically compares to a much more expensive pre-made speaker which is outside my budget, I can really only buy the kit (which I will likely do!) or settle for a not nearly as well performing speaker. For others, their time is very limited and have access to a larger budget, this comparison may not work.

Just ordered the upgraded kit hope they pair well with the Audiolab 6000a play.

Great Speakers Randy

Sounds like good bass extension there ☺

I love the USSCS Nostromo t shirt!

They look very similar to my Evox EV-1 (Danish rebuild of Heybrook HB1) and the way you describe them are remarkably similar to what I hear coming out of them. I wonder if you know about those semi-vintage speakers? I have heard - not many - other speakers but so far I haven't heard anything that come close to Evox EV-1. They are around 1000$ and they are magnificent.

There's actually 12 options, theres the 1td(x), But theres alsp the 2td(x) MTM which is sold as either pair or as a single unit (intended for use as a centre channel) and there's also tower/floor standing speakers criton 2td(x) tower. All 3 variants are available as td and td-x as well as the upgraded crossover

You need a sweep audio generator to make sure the bass frequency is as you state. really good speakers hit a measurable useable low frequency bottom of 20 hz. without a separate sub woofer. And yes , they do exist .

Hey Cheapaudioman, Criton 1TDX or 2TDX? What might be the reasons for going with one or the other? Is the 2TDX going to give a better sound? Or is it just more volume? Thanks

I keep watching this review. I wonder about these quality components and how people buy speakers by name and not the guts of the speaker. As we learn about these comparisons between “true guts” in build and brand name, I wonder about the components used in other more popular speakers. Your review of this speaker is just flat out accurate. I am on the fence with the Tekton Lore reference. What might your thoughts be.

I always use Tin Hifi cases for my radioisotopes. Only the lead-lined Pro version, though.

I have bought dindinmodern speakers, affordable, and the bass is great. Limited budget can go to consider this speaker

22:22 A perfect speaker for RIMsky-Korsakov. 😉 -✌🏼

Chicken Falcon Hawk is my go to company for all my Radioactive needs. Buddy when will you do a review on the Hivi (Swan) 3.1's? I'm waiting for your review so I can buy the kit and build my own.

I agree on the sweat equity on kit speakers. However, you can't beat the pride in workmanship when you get it done. My last kit has mahogany veneer with tung oil stain finish. It took a while to finish but it looks like a million bucks :).

I'd be interested in your opinion on the Wharfedale Denton 85 compared to the Elac's.

Thank you for Serving Shipmate! Semper Fi and Can Do OORAH

Impressions after 1 month I bought them with the upgraded cross over. I also added layer of industrial tile to the inside. Very heavy speaker. At first I was not very impressed. Sound was not bad but seemed 2 dimesional. Bass was just Ok. My previous kit Swans 3.1 was more engaging, deeper base and more open sound. One month later everything changed. Now that they have broken in, the base is much better and the sound stage and higher frequencies are now much cleaner and 3 dimesional. The swans are tilted forward in the higher frequencies and do amazing job with acustic gutiars but can become too much of a good thing with the wrong music. The CSS Criton's are over all a better speaker. If you get them just be patient and give sometime before you judge them.

@Cheapaudioman How does it sound in a small room with the reflex ports at the back plugged so that the bass is not overwhelming?

Hi Randy. New to your site. I am considering the CSS Criton 1TDX speaker kit for my rear speakers in my home theater system. I have built the XLS-Encores for my surround speakers, X-voice center channel from grr. I have the Spatial Audio Sapphire M-3's from Clayton Shaw for l/r front, SVS Pro 2000 sub set at 30hrz. These speakers all blend together beautifully for Hi Res music and movies. Do you think the CSS Criton 1TDX speakers will fit in for the rear speakers? Love you video on these, tedjen

Hi, thx for sharing your thoughts on this speaker. What do you consider small vs large room? Mine is 13’x19’x8’ Thanks!

Another good bass song for consideration. Alison Krauss and Union Station Live: Forget about it starting at 1:11. It is an electric upright bass.

Dynamic realism is a real thing!! If it’s impactful and dynamic your a long way there! Horns and high efficiency designs do that well as so active designs , all things considered. Been curious how dynamically transparent these are on their own

Perfect for side of TV with a small 60watt NAD amp and can party great 😂😂

@cheapaudioman How would these stand up to Yamaha HS8 monitors? I would love to see you do a review of the Yamaha's too :D

Price comparison might not seem “fair”, but it would be helpful to compare the sound to something available commercially so we could attempt to hear why one would pay so much or invest so much time. I would be happy to perform the electrical if a good woodworker could finish the cabinet.

The GR Research NX Studio kit is going to be a step up from these in every way but the bass extension (design choices) IMO. The open baffle upper frequencies will give you more depth to the image and the voices will sort of come alive… highly recommended, but you will need subs. This is an interesting kit, though. It bothers me that production companies can’t build similar quality speakers under $2,000 regularly. There are some, but this is a $750 kit. Mass produce this and build it out… there has to be a way to sell it at a price that gets attention. Bookshelf cabinets aren’t that expensive to have built in China.

Thanks for the review. Got one after 2 years of contemplating, just waiting for it to cross the border. Now, decision on the amplifier to match is confusing for a normal humans like me.

I love that your reviews use regular people music and not 'weird audiophile music': You= Metallica Others= This recording is the lead symbolist from the Washington Philharmonic playing a 1960 Camaro hubcap with a stick he found hiking in the grand Tetons recorded on an 1894 Altec microphone from 11.3 feet away... I'd love for you to review some wilson tune tots and compare them to 'cheapaudioman' speakers.

For general info, CSS speaker with all upgrades is $1300, GR Encore with all upgrades and flatpack is $850.

I'd like to hear a direct comparison with the Elac UBR62's. I think that is reasonable to ask. Apples to apples.

The veneer you put on these looks better than most speakers and sounds like they are worth every penny. Effortless sound stage with detail is an end game speaker. Can't wait for these to show up on my door step 😉😉

What do you think about getting them in the TMM floorstanding model? I'm about to buy a pair and any thoughts would help. I can veneer these easily and have clamps and router and all I need to build them.

You could still compare it to similarly priced finished speakers considering the costs you mentioned. Can you please compare it to SVS Ultra bookshelves for example?

Ok OK!! I want em

I made Paul Carmody's CARRERA. Price of the drivers is the same, but I finished my project for $1000 with expensive XO parts.

Great T-shirt ;)

What kind of stands did you put these on and how did you attach them considering there aren't screw anchors on the bottom?

You said CSS put a lot of time and effort into designing the woofers ? Is that the same for the tweeters?

how do you think the css criton 2td-x would compare to the klh model 5. I'm trying to decide for my cottage. have done diy lots in the past with great results but wondering if one is better than the other

Curious how some old Advent/1s fair to these really nice speakers?

Thanks for the heads up about CSS., I wasn't familiar with this company and they look like they produce some very nice speaker kits. I was originally planning on building a pair of the Parts Express Solstice MLTL reference tower speakers this winter @ $1200.00 for a pair. I built a pair of their "passive/aggressive speakers last winter to replace my crappy computer speakers and I have been very happy with them. After looking at the CSS site I am seriously considering their Criton 2TD-X tower speaker kit. With the flat pack and the upgraded crossover that's going to run about $1824.00 about 1/3 more than the Solstice MLTL's. I would be interested on what your opinion is. $1800.00 is pushing my budget a bit do you think there is going to be significant difference in how these two speakers sound? Oh subscribed and liked! Thanks for the video! : )

Off topic, but picked up a kguss dac-k3. Opinion?

What affordable amp would you suggest to drive these? I would want audiophile(ish) sound

Please do the 3 way bass modules please please please

Due to my living room space, I can’t pull the speakers further than 5-7 inches away from the wall. What speakers would you recommend

PART ONE AND PART TWO. A few people have presented what they think is a valid and clever counterpoint to what I previously said. The whole point I was making is that if someone can't identify or even know some great recordings, how can we trust them on evaluating audio equipment? It's the same exact thing, if you think about it. As far as the expression "trained ears" goes, it's not like book learning or school learning. Audiophiles like myself who have the means to significantly upgrade often and upgrade to worthwhile equipment, our ears become trained by the improvements our upgrades make. Any instrument, a flute a saxophone, a piano; if you thought they sounded clean before your upgrade, you can really hear what clean & pristine sounds like now, if your upgrade is a good one. Generally as your sound gets cleaner, instruments sound less weird and more genuine. You can hear the electronic signature from the electronics much less and if you get to the point where some of us get to, the only sounds coming out of your stereo are the sounds that acoustical instruments really make in real life; Nothing More! Like you were listening to a bunch of dudes playing guitar on their lawn without amplification. Of course electric instruments like electric guitar are supposed to sound electric and they do, but with a purity of tone that really draws the ear and keeps it drawn. Of course if you play musical instruments like I do, you know exactly how instruments should sound beforehand. It's "perceptual" learning, and yes, we can easily tell and hear big differences where the untrained can't. Someone else proposed that if it isn't heavy metal or whatever you would call Alice In Chains or Marilyn M, that it doesn't do them any good if they use other music to evaluate. That may be so, but I bet some people on here would like to know how a speaker sounds on brass or strings or piano. How can you can tell someone how well equipment conveys tonal colors, when you are only using grunge guitar records? Both type of listeners could easily be accommodated. Also I am not sure the term transient response is ever mentioned. An important performance category as SAE pointed out back in the 1970's as music is mostly "percussive". Even an electric guitar playing at breakneck speed is playing in a percussive way, even if its not considered a percussion instrument. Try to audition for yourself what you are thinking of buying is the "smart thing" always. You may be living with your purchase for many years, and nowadays audio things are not as easy to sell as they once were. PART 2. HOW RISKY: BUYING USED? In nearly 10 years I have bought at least a hundred pieces of audio gear (mostly on ebay). All but two things were as described. I do read a sellers feedback even if they have 100% positive. They could have neutral marks even if no negatives. Also they often have comments where the buyer was nice not to leave them a negative. I would say that's a pretty good percentage; only 2 bad out of a hundred plus. I do only deal with sellers where I don't smell anything bad. In addition to components and speakers, I buy a lot of speaker drivers for DIY and experimentation. Don't let the few percent who have been displeased deter you. The vast majority who are satisfied do not write in and write all about it.

Hi Randy have you reviewed q acoustic towers they have a good range of tower and book shelf from cheep to let’s say a bit expensive I am running an older pair of 2050i floor standers I have had them from new and am still very happy with them they where about £600.00 a pair when new

Hey Randy, are CSS and GRR the only DIY kits worth building? Are any Parts Express kits worthwhile? Not sure I need such superior quality. My system wouldn't do them justice anyway. Thanks!

How do these speakers compare to the elac unifi 2.0 Ub52 speakers. Or is this not a fair comparison.

For a second I thought you were talking about a CIS "Criton"...some obscure decommissioned boat's remnant found by some unsuspecting audiophile while roaming along the shores of the Kara Sea.

Maybe stupid question: can you mix on these? Any audio engineers have an opinion in terms of freq bias and whatnot?

These speakers wont work for me because I'm running a 2.3 watt tube amp from Decware. Is there a high efficiency speaker you recommend that won't break the bank?

My reference bass recording: Ray Brown's SOULAR ENERGY!

??? If my 50+ yr old OEM organic audio intake devices.....my ears......don't hear the way-up-there high freq., would you recommend just sticking to the non "X" version? Thanks you once again! Bert

Hey! Quick question, when you say three feet out, are you talking speaker to wall or the distance from center? Thanks 😊

yoo randy im old sub guy uss von steuben ssbn 632 out of holy locks Scotland love your vids

I'm Not sure why maybe you referenced in the past but I've always knew deep down your were not only a Navy Nuke but a bubblehead to boot. What boat/boats were you on?

Dear Randy, I am appreciated by your very open, honest review but I, personally, was looking for the exact comparison between a decent speaker from a well known manufacturer vs these. You don't want to do that as there are not the same things but just image that you labour is free (weekends, some hours in the evenings and enjoying the build) .. and you can handle an average finishing on these. Considering that these are not "cheap" kits by any means and costs a lot to shipping abroad (ie 200 usd for Netherlands). You will end up a considerable invoice. You can get a pair of decent (not entry for sure) speakers from very well known manufacturers (like MA, Focal, B&W .. etc.. ) with that amount.. What do you think about this... would you mind to compare these (just kit costs and average veneering material if you wish) with similarly priced factory speakers?

I think you’ve sold me. I’ve been going back and forth on the kits for a few months now. I may just pull the trigger. Plus I think CSS is like an hour from me so it’s kind of supporting a local business.

how would these compare to the TANNOY AUTOGRAPH MINI LOUDSPEAKER?

Just pulled the trigger on the 1TD-X kit. Standard cross-over. I decided the upgraded tweeter was probably worth the extra couple hundred, but the $400 cross-over upgrade was not. Hopefully I don't regret skipping the upgraded cross-over. Now to decide if I veneer or spray auto paint. Never done either before. Upgrading from the ELAC Debut B6 (which have served me very well).

I have the Klipsch RP600M and I love how dynamic and detailed they are but want a little more quality in the midrange. Do you think these would be a step back in dynamics and detail or will the overall increase in sound quality outshine the Klipsch? Thanks!

??? In addition to my reply to the comment from a year ago asking about hard rock/metal through these. 2 things: -When you say "away from the wall" how far are you meaning? And is this distance the same if in a corner of the room? -Also, small room? Is there a standard size range for a "small" ( also medium and large) room when talking in the audio realm? And if not, could you give an approx. sq. footage of what you are meaning? Thanks very much! I'm enjoying your reviews. I haven't a big budget but I have a wood shop and am comfortable building cab's. The electronics are a bit much for my very dyslexic brain to muscle through, but if given the right visuals and instructions, the hand skills aren't an issue. Best regards, Bert

wonder if three of them would be good for LRC

Did you try these with Rotel a11?