Raidho X2.6 Loudspeaker Review: Exceptional 2.5-Way Floorstander Performance

Experience the magic of the Raidho X2.6 loudspeaker, blending precision, rich bass, and airy treble in a striking 2.5-way design.

Introduction: A New Standard in Loudspeaker Magic

When it comes to loudspeakers, my heart often leans toward two-way compact models. My daily companions, the ATC SCM20Ps, showcase the unique “magic” that defines this category—such as pinpoint coherence, vivid midrange immediacy, and razor-sharp image placement. Two-way speakers particularly shine when it comes to vocals, a personal favorite.

However, two-ways come with trade-offs: limited deep bass and dynamic range. Enter the Raidho X2.6, a $22,800 beast of a 2.5-way floorstanding speaker in a bass-reflex cabinet. Though it’s miles away from the compact world, it channels much of that two-way magic, with an added layer of enchantment all its own.

Elegant and narrow, the Raidho X2.6 is a 42-inch tall audiophile dream.

Design and Build: Precision Crafted in Denmark

The X2.6 is the newest addition to Raidho’s eXtreme performance X-series, first unveiled at the High-End Munich Show. Crafted entirely in-house in Denmark, every driver is handmade with meticulous precision. The tall, slender tower stands 42 inches high, featuring a heavy aluminum front baffle and curvy MDF side panels that converge at the rear. There, two sets of aluminum-framed bass-reflex ports deliver deep, controlled bass.

High-quality single-wire speaker terminals are conveniently placed below these ports. Interestingly, Raidho is part of Dantax, which also owns Scansonic HD, ensuring a legacy of sound excellence.

Transducers: Cutting-Edge Technology and Materials

The treble range is handled by a planar-magnetic tweeter, also designed and made in Denmark. This tweeter’s foil is a featherweight 11 microns thick—50 times lighter than a traditional dome tweeter. With its ultra-low mass voice coil embedded in the foil, it pushes breakup frequencies way out to 82kHz, well beyond the reach of human hearing.

The two 6.5-inch woofers show off Raidho’s signature Ceramix technology: an aluminum cone skin transformed into aluminum-oxide ceramic through a unique liquid plasma process. This complex, time-intensive technique results in cones that are stiff, self-damping, and incredibly responsive. Their first breakup mode happens at a stunning 12.5kHz.

Ceramix cones combine stiffness and damping for precise midbass.

The motor system is equally innovative, employing neodymium magnets laid out like daisy petals to allow ventilation and cooling, reducing distortion common in traditional designs.

Crossover and Stability Features

The X2.6’s crossover is a 2.5-way setup: the lower midbass driver crosses over at 140Hz, while the secondary midbass driver softly rolls off at 6dB per octave. Meanwhile, the tweeter kicks in fully at 3.5kHz—a different approach from a pure three-way system, which uses dedicated midrange drivers and electronic filters.

All internal wiring is hand-done with top-tier Nordost cables, ensuring stability and minimal signal loss.

To stabilize the narrow enclosure, Raidho uses aluminum “outrigger” brackets attached from underneath. These sit on ceramic balls housed in hemispherical footers, decoupling the cabinet from the floor and reducing vibrations. The outriggers are not just functional but beautifully integrated into the speaker’s design.

Sound Personality: Versatile and Expressive

Great speakers have multiple personalities, and the Raidho X2.6 is no exception. It’s a shapeshifter that adapts effortlessly:

• Intimacy: Captures delicate details in acapella vocals, solo classical guitar, or a jazz trio.
• Power: Swells up to full orchestral grandeur with confidence and clarity.

Tonally, it’s largely neutral—no artificial highs or softened edges. The planar-magnetic tweeter offers near state-of-the-art transparency, harmonic richness, and remarkable speed. Strings are beautifully layered; cellos resonate darkly and expressively; brass and winds retain their sharp attack yet bloom with openness.

“The power and stridency of its full-tilt blasts struck me as musically truthful, and just as if he was playing in a small club, it’ll clean your ears out.”

— on Lew Soloff’s trumpet solo in “Autumn Leaves”

Dynamic Range and Midrange Vitality

The X2.6 shines in dynamic range, delivering pants-flapping sound pressure without losing composure or tonal balance. Whether it’s Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” or Metallica’s “Sad But True”, the speaker stays rock solid and distortion-free.

Its midrange is lively, forward when needed, yet balanced and controlled. Unlike some two-ways that emphasize treble transient details, the X2.6 has a “bottom-up” character—darker, heavier, and deeply satisfying in reproducing pipe organs, piano resonances, and bass violins. You can almost feel the weight and tug of its rich lower mid and upper bass frequencies.

Bass Extension and Room Considerations

Bass dives deep, hitting as low as 30Hz or even lower, clearly noticeable in most rooms. My smaller room with wooden floors initially caused some excessive bass bloom, especially in lower strings and percussion. Raidho offers foam plugs for the bass ports, which can reduce output by 3dB or 6dB, depending on your room acoustics.

After tweaking placement and port usage, the bass balanced out nicely, though the X2.6 seems happiest in slightly larger rooms where its full bass potential can shine without bloom.

Vocal Reproduction: Natural and Physical

One standout trait of the X2.6 is its vocal performance—not just clarity, but a physical presence. From deep baritones like Bryn Terfel to the ethereal sopranos of Renée Fleming, voices emerge as full-bodied, resonant entities. Choirs reveal every individual voice within the collective harmony.

Sensitive tracks like Michael Jackson’s rehearsal version of “She’s Out of My Life” reveal a tender intimacy, while Melody Gardot’s “Who Will Comfort Me” showcases a darker, throatier vocal texture balanced perfectly by a tuneful bassline.

Orchestral Soundstage and Imaging

The orchestral soundstage is lavish—dimensional, layered, and realistic. Unlike some speakers that create shallow or “manufactured” depth, the X2.6 offers true scale and presence.

During Vaughan Williams’ The Wasps Overture, each orchestra section came alive with crisp low-level details, airy upper octaves, and harmonic sweetness. Even delicate instruments like the concert harp were precisely placed and unwavering.

Comparison and Final Thoughts

While the X2.6 excels as a 2.5-way floorstander, three-way designs like Raidho’s TD3.2 still offer advantages in immediacy and presence with dedicated midrange drivers.

That said, in a world of endless tweaks and upgrades, the X2.6 stands out as a “buy and hold” speaker—one with broad appeal, exceptional musicality, and superior build quality. It’s a loudspeaker truly worth celebrating.

Specifications and Pricing

• Type: 2.5-way, bass-reflex floorstander with rear ports
• Drivers: One planar-magnetic tweeter; two 6.5″ mid/bass
• Frequency Response: 32Hz–50kHz
• Crossover: 140Hz / 3.5kHz
• Nominal Impedance: Greater than 6 ohms
• Sensitivity: 87dB
• Weight: 66 lbs (30 kg)
• Dimensions: 14.2″ W x 42″ H x 16.1″ D
• Power Requirements: Greater than 100W
• Price: $22,800 per pair

Conclusion

The Raidho X2.6 is more than just a powerful floorstander—it's a versatile sonic companion capable of intimate storytelling and large-scale orchestral drama alike. If you value impeccable build quality, precise imaging, and a rich, physical soundstage, could this be your next long-term audio investment?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What type of tweeter does the Raidho X2.6 use?
  It uses a planar-magnetic tweeter designed and handcrafted in Denmark, known for its extremely low mass and extended frequency response up to 82kHz.
• How does the 2.5-way crossover work in the X2.6?
  The lower midbass driver crosses over at 140Hz, the secondary midbass rolls off acoustically at 6dB/octave, and the tweeter engages fully at 3.5kHz, providing a smooth and coherent sound.
• Is the bass output adjustable?
  Yes, the speaker features dual bass-reflex ports that can be plugged with foam plugs to reduce bass output by 3dB or 6dB, depending on your room acoustics.
• What kind of amplifier power is recommended?
  The X2.6 requires an amplifier capable of delivering over 100 watts to perform optimally.
• How stable are the speakers on the floor?
  The X2.6 uses aluminum outrigger brackets with ceramic ball footers to isolate vibrations and ensure stability, even at high volumes.

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