The Dutch speaker manufacturer Driade is already well-known among frequent visitors of HIFI.NL. Their speaker models feature a unique design and sound characteristics, attracting an ever-growing group of music lovers. With the introduction of the new Driade Premium Model 9, the company reaches a new milestone – the first-ever Driade monitor speaker. Is this truly a Driade speaker, or does it merely carry the iconic Driade brand name?Â
Driade has become inseparable from the Dutch hi-fi landscape. Despite a management change in the distant past and the company’s disappearance from the market for several years, Driade is very much alive today. Around 2016, founder Arnold Heres took the reins again and began developing a new generation of Driade speakers, full of fresh ideas and insights. After the successful introduction of Models 1, 2, and 3, Heres shifted focus under the Driade brand to the cable market, where he achieved notable success, similar to his success with speakers.
By 2020, the production of cables developed by Heres was handed over to business partner Maarten Tjallingii. Arnold then concentrated mainly on driver development and the production of new Driade speakers within the Premium speaker line. Thus, Driade is not just a brand name—it represents the original company, including the essential musical Driade DNA.
When Maarten expressed his desire to develop a speaker two years ago, Arnold gave him free rein. The result is a monitor speaker based on the Premium Model 2S floorstanding speaker. For the past two years, Maarten has worked behind the scenes using modern modeling and simulation software to refine the crossover filter of the monitors, which were recently introduced as the Premium Model 9. The enclosures of these 36.6 cm tall, 20.6 cm wide, and 23 cm deep monitors have thankfully retained the characteristic ‘Heres’ design details and are mounted on a beautiful metal stand. Unlike the floorstanders that taper towards the back, the monitors, weighing 11 kilograms each, have a box that extends straight out from the back. This design is, of course, necessary for the required box volume. According to the specifications, the frequency response starts at 47 hertz and extends up to a solid 22 kilohertz (+/-3 dB). The impedance is more than 6 ohms, which means these speakers do not suffer from troublesome impedance dips, making them easy to drive with a wide range of amplifiers.
New blood, old soul
Under the watchful listening ear of Arnold Heres, the Model 9 speakers are equipped with new crossover filters developed by Maarten. These filters feature a new type of capacitor, allowing for even greater openness and detail in the music. The drivers are primarily derived from the Premium Model 2S, with the bass driver size adjusted for this monitor model. These drivers, originally from German company Eton, have undergone many upgrades since the first Driade models in the 1980s, and it seems that only the front plate of the tweeter still visually resembles the original. Virtually everything has been modified, from the motor system to the cone on the mid-bass driver and the dome of the tweeter. The internal wiring and layout of the speaker also follow the principles set by Heres.Â
I received the light oak version, a beautifully chosen color that blends well with most interior styles. The speakers come mounted on Solidsteel stands, where they are decoupled and screwed in place. The longer I look at this combination, the more I appreciate the shape, size, and color choices. Normally, I’m not fond of visible screws and prefer black or entirely hidden ones. However, these Model 9s feature shiny stainless-steel versions, which subtly match the glossy spheres between the base and legs of the matte black stands. The contrast between the light speaker enclosure, the black drivers, reflex port, and stand is just right. I also personally love the combination with the three-legged metal foot. Driade also offers a dark blue version of the Premium Model 9, complete with a polished metal foot. Here, the color of the weld seams on the foot matches the color of the speaker enclosure. It’s these subtle details that make this monitor, that is entirely manufactured in the EU, so visually stunning.
First impressions
At the time I receive the Premium Model 9 speakers, they have only played for about forty hours, and the suspension and motor system aren’t yet loose enough to deliver optimal sound and imaging. With high-quality drivers, it generally takes some time for them to break in. Initially, I notice a slightly too broad vocal presentation and the frequency response sounds extremely flat. When I measure it roughly with Sonic Tools, you can almost lay a ruler along the curve; it is clearly the straightest response I’ve encountered in a while. Regardless of the album or genre I play, everything still sounds a bit thin and artificial during the first few hours. The sense of cohesion between the tweeter and woofer is still a bit lacking. I expect that after a few more hours of break-in, these Model 9s will show better coherence and more weight in vocals and percussion.
The soundstage and depth are already excellent. The dispersion pattern of the Premium Model 9 is impressive right from the start, and even if I sit in a corner of the room, outside the sweet spot, I still experience a wonderfully spacious sound. Thanks to the wide sweet spot, this is an easy speaker to position, and once placed correctly, the imaging qualities only improve. It takes a bit of time to find the optimal placement and orientation, but once I do, I’m treated to a lovely spaciousness. This is not just due to the quality of the components in the filter or the soft dome tweeter alone. The 45-degree angles and the shape of the baffles also play a role in better controlling diffraction and ensuring that both drivers provide the best possible dispersion.
After a week of break-in, I notice a significant improvement in speed from the tweeter, which enhances transients from string and wind instruments, cymbals, and vocals, adding to the realism. The high frequencies extend a bit further, making the music sound faster and more lively. Over time, I also notice that the bass is reproduced with more ease and, wow, now these monitors sound incredibly transparent and detailed.
The tweeter truly performs like a dream. What strikes me most is the smoothness of the midrange, with no harshness whatsoever. The same goes for the mid-bass drivers. The motor system and rubber suspension still need a few more hours of break-in to fully loosen up. Once they’re properly loosened, these drivers deliver music with far more emotion and precision. When I measure the same track again with Sonic Tools, the curve shows a slight increase in the bass and lower midrange, as expected.
Review setup
Since Arnold still finds the speakers too dry-sounding after the break-in, he brings me a beautiful integrated amplifier that was also used to develop these speakers. It’s the Soulnote A-2 amplifier from Japan, which he also represents as a reseller. The amplifier’s appearance is something you need to get used to, but it’s solidly built from solid aluminum and crafted with great care, just like the Premium Model 9’s are built. I received the silver version, although there’s also an entirely black anodized version available which appears a bit more subdued.
The internal circuits of the A-2 are fully balanced and dual-mono designed. The unit’s PCB and cover are floating, a feature I recognize from high-end audio components like those from Esoteric. The power supply and power reserves are exemplary. At 8 ohms, the amplifier delivers 100 watts per channel, and at 4 ohms the output doubles, which is most impressive. The input selector and volume control turn with a satisfying mechanical click.
All inputs are relay-controlled, and the volumecontrol also uses relays in an R2R resistor network. The modest display shows the set volume on a clearly visible 7-segment display. Everything is very basic and, above all, does exactly what it’s supposed to do: play music. And what music it plays.
For the source, I’m using my trusty Denon DP47F turntable, equipped with a DL110 MC cartridge and a StackAudio Serene turntable mat. The choice of phono stage is the iPhono 2 from iFi Audio. It’s an older model, but still performs marvelously. I also use my Bryston BDA3 DAC and BDP3 streaming bridge. The interlinks and speaker cables come from the Flow Reference 808 series from Driade. These have been my reference for many years because the individual conductors are fully isolated, preventing corrosion and ensuring exceptional performance for years to come. The Flow Reference 808 speaker cables are new in this setup and are replacing my beloved Driade Flow 405 cables after many musical years. It’s bittersweet, as although the 808s do perform better, I’ve spent thousands of hours with the 405s and have grown fond of them over the years.
Listening session
The Soulnote A-2 integrated amplifier sounds great as I prepare for the listening session. Does it provide a different sound compared to my Bryston amps? In some ways, yes, but the dryer sound characteristics Arnold refers to has more to do with the space where I’m listening. I’m certainly no bass junkie and to my ears the Premium Model 9 sounds beautifully and well-balanced. Whether I play quietly or at higher volumes, it’s pleasing either way. I decide to continue the review with the Soulnote amplifier.
After the speakers have had a few more hours of background playtime, I sit down and listen to the album A Search For The Unexplored by A Forest Called Mulu, a wonderful blend of trip-hop, jungle, and ambient from 1997. This compact duo reproduces a beautifully transparent and well-controlled bass. These monitors add and remove nothing. They play exactly what’s there. Of course, I notice less bass between 47 hertz and the sub-bass regions, but the impact of the kick drum is high, and the bass guitar lines are effortlessly clear. Even the synth bass in this album is delivered with force, and I don’t miss any depth in its presentation.Â
Next, I stream When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go by Billie Eilish, from 2019. Despite I played this album too many times for my taste, when paired with the right system it’s presented spatially, with sounds, background lines, and details floating freely in the room. What strikes me immediately is the speed and raw reproduction of the distorted synth bass, which sends chills down my spine. The atmosphere these small giants create with the Soulnote A-2 in my living room is impressive. Vocals are displayed with excellent separation, authority, articulation and emotion. Piano and string instruments have the right weight to it and all their imperfections are perfectly captured. What a tremendously good performing pair of monitors.Â
When exploring new album releases on Qobuz, I get stuck on Under Tangled Silence by Djrum, from 2025. A mix of classical, electronic and ambient. The weight and impact of the piano in A Tune For Us sounds very special to my ears. Cymbals shimmer with a delightful warmth and openness. Strings sound fast and as dry as a bone. The resonances of the strings give me goosebumps. The bass provides a solid push in the mid-bass range and is perfectly controlled down to the lowest frequencies.
If you were to listen blindly to these Driade Premium Model 9s, you wouldn’t believe they’re just monitors. These 9s keep me endlessly captivated by the mesmerizing soundscapes on this album. No matter how complex the pieces get, the way these monitors reproduce music is simply stunning. So fast. So precise. So realistic. So spatially correct. At times, it’s like a tsunami crashing over me; other times, they gently rock me to sleep.
The reproduction qualities are highlighted in the final album of the listening session. I pull out the original vinyl of The Concert In Central Park by Simon and Garfunkel, a real classic. As I play it, something strange happens. I can’t quite place it, but every time the lowest toms and bass drum hit, I hear some sort of – how should I describe it? – humming sigh in the room. It seems to come from the right side of the soundstage. Is it a pressing fault? I then play the high-res streaming version from Qobuz. No difference. Still these humming sighs. Is this port noise? When I place my ear close to the ports, I determine that the sound isn’t coming from there. My eyes then fall on our German Shepherd, Bear, who happens to be sleeping in that corner. I mutter about his snoring and continue listening. After a while, I realize that he’s almost in tune with the music. When Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover comes on, it clicks. It wasn’t Bear at all. These Driade Model 9 speakers are revealing the reflective echoes of the percussion that resonate through Central Park, clearly audible in the right side of my living room. I later check this with other speakers, but the Driade monitors present this effect with more space and, above all, more realism.
Verdict
Let me start by offering a heartfelt compliment to Arnold Heres and Maarten Tjallingii. Maarten has developed an excellent first monitor speaker that perfectly aligns with Arnold Heres’ original design philosophy. The speakers are based on the Premium Model 2S, a floorstander that performs exceptionally well and has received almost exclusively positive feedback.
Aside from the logos stuck on the stands by the manufacturer Solidsteel, for the first time I actually have no criticism at all. These luxury stickers appear somewhat shy to do their job by lazily lying on their backs after I laid my ears to rest after the first night reciding at my place.
The evolution of the original Eton drivers over the past decades, combined with Tjallingii’s recent efforts, has brought the sound qualities of these speakers to an impressive level under Heres’ watchful eye. Thanks to the new crossover filter, the Premium Model 9 leaves an outstanding impression on me and promises exciting future product developments. A new product in line with Driade's philosophy, proving that Maarten and Arnold will continue to meet the needs of loyal Driade enthusiasts worldwide for many years to come.
ConclusionÂ
The Driade Premium Model 9 monitors performed excellently. They even surpass my expectations in this price range. Paired with the Soulnote A-2, the results are superb. The speed, transparency and tonal coherence with which this combination delivers music are of a high level, regardless of the music genre. Dance, trance, and electronic music are presented in magical sound quality and you might think this speaker was specifically designed for these genres. If you love these styles, these monitors are a must-have. Five out of five stars.
Driade Premium Model 9
€ 3,999 (per pair) | www.driadesystems.com
Stands: €600 (set of two) including Driade mounting plates
Rating: 5 / 5
