First impressions can be deceiving. After one day, was ready to return them. By the third day, decided to keep them. Easy to play, both fingering and bowing. Having used Evah Pirazzi and EP Gold for the last 15 years, so far I'm enjoying the change. I sense a greater ability to shape phrases and vary colors. [Viola: Nicolas Augustin Chappuy 1760]

I was skeptical that these strings could outperform my trusty Evah Golds which I've used for 5+ years. I've seen the hype and patiently waited for the viola set to show up. Curiosity got the better of me, and because of Soundbox's $15 trial, I decided to satisfy it. I gotta say that I was pleasantly surprised! They seem just as warm (to my ears) as the Golds, but smoother. The C is deep and sonorous and the G the same. The D is magical, and the A just sings. No mixing and matching is needed for me. The strings seem to have a sort of "sparkle" that comes from the various colors of overtones they make. Also, I must say that these strings live up to their name: Dynamic. They get LOUD and they can be ssoofftt without losing clarity of tone or introducing distortion. They feel good under the fingers and aren't very high in tension either. The absolute best thing about the strings is that they somehow subdue "string chatter". A term I use to describe the inadvertent sounds you make when crossing strings or shifting. Maybe this is a technique issue, but for me it was like having someone in a production booth EQ out those extraneous sounds and just leave the pure tone. They need time to settle in. 24 hours before they start to sound like they should, and maybe another day before you can stop tuning them up. Keep in mind that I don't play-in new strings, but rather string them up and let them stretch naturally, tuning 3-4 times a day until they stop needing it. You might get faster results if you play on them for a few hours after installation.

These strings would do well for both a soloist and an ensemble player. I still like Evah Golds, and was very happy with PI's, but Dynamos are likely to be my forever strings.

Side note: Soundbox's trial service is a TREASURE. I have a $1000 box of barely-played strings I'll never use again to attest to this fact. Service was fast and returns were a breeze. Please tell your friends!