Characteristics and sound properties

The ARIA 2 MHT CENTER is equipped with the popular combination of drivers consisting of the TI 100 8 Ohm and the MHT 12 8 Ohm. As a result of this choice of drivers and the linear frequency response, it is ideally suited as a complementary centre speaker in conjunction with the VOX 253 MTI or TOPAS, for example, to produce a high-end home theatre system. As already seen in the ARIA 2, the magnetostat is positioned in the middle of the slim-line baffle and is flanked by the two titanium mid-bass units.

In contrast to centre speakers featuring a genuine D'Appolito arrangement, the ARIA 2 MHT CENTER is well suited to horizontal positioning e.g. above or below the television set, because it does not have anything like the same beaming effect. The sophisticated 2.5-band crossover circuitry is responsible for this feature. The crossover separates one of the two mid-bass units at 1800 Hz while the second is not separated until 4500 Hz is reached, to leave the higher frequencies to the magnetostat.
This deliberate individual treatment of the two TI 100 8 Ohm prevents noticeable directivity which, in a vertically placed D'Appolito arrangement, would be intentional but in a horizontally placed centre speaker must be avoided at all costs to ensure that all the seating positions in the home theatre are treated to the same volume levels.

Characteristics and sound properties

The ARIA MHT is a variant of the popular smaller ARIA shelf-top speaker. Instead of being fitted with a fabric dome driver, the ARIA MHT has the excellent MHT 12 8 Ohm magnetostat. As a result, the crossover had to be tuned exactly to match the two drivers. Since magnetostats should not be separated at too low a frequency, the transfer frequency was set at 5000 Hz. This results in extremely clear high-frequency output even at high volumes. Getting the crossover to the right level to allow the TI 100 8 Ohm to operate up to 5000 Hz took some effort. This high-end mid-bass unit can produce unusually long cone excursion due to its long voice coil, which means it can generate a bass output level that is surprising considering the compact size. Thanks to the extremely rigid titanium diaphragm, the TI 100 8 Ohm stands out in the mid-range due to excellent overall presence and vocal clarity. In conjunction with the silky smooth treble range for which magnetostats are famous, this combination is a clear contender for the premium high-end loudspeaker league. Although the ARIA MHT produces powerful bass when used as a shelf speaker, it makes sense to add an active subwoofer if you need to emphasise the lowest frequencies.

Characteristics and sound properties

The BIJOU is a compact shelf-top speaker with high-end drivers. The AL 130 8 Ohm, which is responsible for the lower mid-range in the compact, 10-litre cabinet, together with the large bass reflex vent at the front generate powerful, deep bass reproduction. This is magnified still more if the speakers are positioned near a wall.

In the BIJOU speakers, the tweeter is the KE 25 SC 8 Ohm ceramic dome driver which cuts in at 2000 Hz. Due to its low resonant frequency, this driver is ideal for full-range use.

Thanks to its high level-accuracy, this driver produces crystal-clear, distortion free treble whatever the volume level.

It is in part thanks to these high-quality drivers that the sophisticated crossover, which uses only very few components, produces a virtually linear frequency response from this classic 2-band combination. The result is a compact loudspeaker whose balanced and yet fully-developed overall sound quality is totally convincing.

Characteristics and sound properties

Visaton's CLASSIC 200 GF offers an interesting way to enter the world of high-end music pleasure. The high-quality components have been selected with an eye on optimising value-for-money but without losing sight (or rather, sound) of the key quality requirements.

Supported by the front bass reflex vent, the GF 200 2 x 4 Ohm generates low-frequency sound in a classic 3-band combination. Thanks to the extremely rigid fibre-glass diaphragm and long cone-displacement properties, level accuracy is perfectly maintained even when cone excursion is considerable.

In the mid-range, the TI 100 8 Ohm, one of the best Visaton drivers available, takes control. This very light, rigid titanium driver has become a reference point in terms of distortion free, well-detailed music reproduction.

Above 2200 Hz, the G 20 SC 8 Ohm fabric dome driver cuts in and does not stop until well above the frequencies considered to be audible (30 kHz).

The overall result is a very high-quality, perfectly balanced speaker whose moderate size makes it an excellent candidate for enjoying high-end music in the sitting-room.

Characteristics and sound properties

The CLOU is a slim-line 2-band column speaker offering real value-for-money as a key feature, as shown in the choice of two WS 17 E 8 Ohm for the low-to-medium frequencies and the SC 10 N 8 Ohm for the higher frequency range. To guarantee balanced overall sound quality using these less-expensive drivers, the two mid-bass units are physically separated from each other and each has its own enclosure. The lower WS 17 E 8 Ohm is mounted in a 36-litre compartment. This produces a uniform increase in the frequency response from 60 Hz up to 600 Hz. The upper WS 17 E 8 Ohm, on the other hand, is mounted in a smaller 16-litre compartment, which causes a slight increase in the range of frequencies between 60 Hz and 150 Hz. However, taken jointly, the two mid-bass units create a harmonious bass foundation which deliberately emphasises the frequencies between 60 Hz and 130 Hz. To ensure a seamless transition between the tweeter and the bass drivers, you need a properly balanced damping circuit to cut out any unwanted peaks and resonance.

The result of this unusual combination of drivers and cabinet is a column speaker that has to be seen and heard to be believed and one which produces a sound quality well above its moderate price range.

Characteristics and sound properties

With its CONGA Visaton has produced a "big brother" to accompany the classic 3-band combinations such as the CLASSIC 200 or CLASSIC 200 GF. With a cabinet volume of 85 litres and the 25-cm subwoofer drivers mounted on the front, this column speaker is an impressive eye-catcher.

The external appearance is underlined by the solid bass foundations provided by the TIW 250 XS 8 OHM. This high-end woofer masters the art of powerful, responsive surges of bass just as efficiently as more restrained and subtle bass accompaniment.

The AL 130 M 8 OHM, the specially modified version of the popular AL 130 8 OHM designed to produce higher sensitivity in the mid-range, continues the virtually linear frequency response seamlessly at a high level.

The KE 25 SC 8 OHM tweeter, which cuts in at 3500 Hz, has no difficulty at all producing brilliant, crystal clear treble, even at high volume levels, which is why this ceramic dome driver is so ideally suited to rounding off the upper end of this powerful 3-band combination.

Well aware that the following statement may polarise opinions: the CONGA speakers are real men's speakers.

Characteristics and sound properties

A compact subwoofer is usually a compromise between keeping the outer dimensions to a minimum and producing adequate bass sound. To ensure that the tidy size for use in the living-room does not impair one's listening pleasure, a certain minimum cabinet volume is essential. The 15 litres available in the MINI SUB 170 have been realised in a cabinet that is only 20 cm wide. With its depth of 39 cm and a height of 30 cm, the MINI SUB 170 will easily find a space beside, on or even under any piece of furniture of standard dimensions.

The long-excursion aluminium AL 170 8 Ohm woofer generates no less than 85 dB (at a distance of 1 metre) in conjunction with the front bass reflex vent at one watt and from 65 Hz. Within the range from 40 Hz to 70 Hz, the series-connected 800-µF capacitor raises the output level by a further 2 dB. As a result, this small-sized speaker cabinet sounds far more grown-up than its physical size would suggest.

The MINI SUB 170 is a perfect complement to a compact satellite system (stereo and home theatre) or PC speakers which are often sadly lacking in the bass department. In other words, it will always be suitable where a chunky subwoofer monster will either not fit or is not desirable but you do not want to do without a solid low-frequency musical foundation.