Gradient 1.4, wonderful new design by Jorma and Atte Salmi

Come to Jeff Stake Hi Fi to audition the wonderful GRADIENT 1.4 loudspeakers. Because of their special design that minimizes room reflections in the mids and highs, Gradient speakers allow you to hear more of the original recording venue acoustics than any other speakers I have heard. The listener’s sense of engagement in the performance is amazing. In addition, because of their design they are easy to place in your room, and can be used in small or large rooms. And they look very cool!

It was just 35 years ago when Gradient decided to go their own way, following no-one else, with one single goal: to design a loudspeaker that sounds excellent in all kinds of rooms. Now they have added another chapter to the legendary Gradient 1.x line. The spirit of the Gradient 1.x speakers combined with the inventions they have made during intervening years make the 1.4 a unique loudspeaker, destined to become a classic.

From the Gradient website:
COAXIAL DRIVER WITH NO COMPROMISES
The new Gradient 1.4 is the first speaker utilizing our latest coaxial technology made exclusively for Gradient in Norway. A 176mm pre-coated reed paper cone handles frequencies up to 2.5kHz. High frequencies from 2.5kHz to over 20kHz are reproduced by a 25mm Al /Mg-dome tweeter placed at the apex of the midrange cone. Such a point source is generally accepted as an ideal sound source for its excellent phase and amplitude response. The end result is an extremely accurate, stable and three dimensional soundstage.

SPHERICAL ACOUSTIC RESISTANCE ENCLOSURE
To minimize reflections from the speaker cabinet, the coaxial element is mounted in a spherical enclosure. The sphere is an ideal form with no structural interfaces and discontinuities. Still Gradient is not Gradient without something completely new and unique. From the very beginning it was clear that the Gradient 1.4 will utilize our acoustic resistance enclosure - technology, like used in many previous Gradient models. Now this is made as perfect as possible: Symmetric spherical housing leaks “anti sound” from the opening behind the sphere, cancelling backward radiation and early reflections from the surfaces behind the loudspeaker.
Thus from 200Hz up, the speaker radiates sound mainly in the forward direction. The rear radiation is effectively damped by having a power ratio of 100 to 1. Special attention has also been taken that the radiation patterns are consistent at all frequencies. In a nutshell, the room influence to the sound remains very small giving the Gradient 1.4 a very similar sound characteristic in many different rooms.

PRECISE AND DEEP BASS
Low frequencies below 200Hz are reproduced by a bass-reflex enclosure tuned at 27Hz. Large cross-section area of the reflex tunnel guarantees no breathing noise even at high sound levels. 220mm long throw woofer made by Seas in Norway is facing towards the floor. The woofer has an extremely stiff aluminium cone giving tremendous bass precision.

FUNCTIONAL DESIGN
Gradient 1.4 follows functionalism. Every aspect in the form has a meaning. Acoustic design and function determine the shape. There is nothing more to add - there is nothing left to take away.
The cabinet of the speaker is made of advanced technopolymer in Finland. Together with the ideal form of the speaker exceptional combination of stiffness and rigidness is obtained to eliminate cabinet vibrations. The finishing of the speaker cabinet, available in graphite black and white, is durable, providing easy to clean and long-lasting surface.

SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency response 27...20000Hz, 45...20000Hz +/-2dB Impedance 4 ohm Sensitivity 87dB/2,83V/1 m Recommended amplifier power  50...250W
Radiation patterns Bass: sphere, midrange & treble: cardioid
Drivers 176mm pre-coated reedpaper cone midrange, 25mm coaxial Al /Mg dome, 220mm long throw woofer.
Crossover frequencies 200Hz and 2500Hz
Connections Binding posts
Features Adjustable listening angle for midrange and treble. Controlled directivity to minimize room reflections.
Colours Graphite black or white
Dimensions (WHD)  32 x 88 x 32cm
Weight 15kg
Designer  Atte Salmi, Jorma Salmi
Made in Finland by Gradient Labs Ltd.

If you do not like them, you can return them within 14 days. If you return them in perfect condition with all packing materials, you will have a choice of a refund minus paypal fees and minus $500 to cover my shipping costs, or an exchange for another product of similar value. (My product lines are Gradient, Harbeth, Lyngdorf, and Parasound.) If the replacement product has a lower price, I will refund the difference.
At the moment, I am out of new stock and I am taking offers for new pair to be delivered to you in about three weeks after I order them from Finland. I would like a downpayment before I order because there are a number of configurations of this speaker. That customization to an owner's taste makes it impossible to keep all combinations in stock. Please make your offer with that in mind.