Loudspeakers have the most influence in sound in any system and given a heterogeneous in how the loudspeakers sound far more than any electronics, it is wiser to build your system around the loudspeakers.
In my opinion, loudspeakers can be loosely classified to two families namely, highly revealing loudspeakers and musical loudspeakers. The former is right up to technology aspired while the latter is music lovers' obvious choice.
Put it blatantly, horn is not my type of loudspeaker. Colorations and shouty characters have long given horn a bad name. The shout and in your face sound bother me.
A new kid on the block in a crowded market, I came to know Ø Audio through Facebook feed months ago. I was pleasantly surprised to find that A&L Audio Station have them in store on my CD hunt in Amcorp Mall. My CD hunting activity is rare these days as I go online. Thick skinned, I asked if I could have a listen to them. Frigg 02s and Icon 12s sang, I left with good impression and couldn't hold my enthusiasm to share my experience with my friend. Weeks later, me and my friend revisited Frigg 02s and Icon 12s. We listened to for two hours on that afternoon and neither one of us are a horn lover.
Ø Audio Icon 12s
My friend was fresh from the recent Jacky Cheung concert, I played a Jacky's number to see if it connects. "This incredibly resembling the sound of a concert!" my intuition spoke to me. What taken me by surprise is the midband magic, an uncommon trait from horn design loudspeakers. My friend commented the sound was big and lively with effortless dynamism. Icon 12s threw a spooky room filling sound unlike any loudspeaker. Jacky Chueng's voice came through a palpable image, with a believable ambiance, cheering, coughing and crowd interactions. In your face effect was evident with nearfield, on axis listening or both. The sound was laid upon a healthy bass foundation. I have fallen to its bass, apart from the coherency. I'm critical of the natural midband, Icon 12s demonstrated a relax midrange as opposed to the tight midrange of 6.5" midwoofer driver.
Moving on to Rebecca Pidgeon's Spanish Harlem, her voice through Icon 12s was articulate, not as delineated as its cousin, Frigg 02s. Icon 12s' highs were not as silky and airy comparably. Not as etched or refined. The midband magic reappeared again. Icon 12s are kind of like Vincent Van Gogh broader stroke of painting, carefree and lifelikeness. The marry between the compression tweeter-midwoofer was admirable.
Next up, big Chinese orchestral pieces. This is where 12" woofer prowess came to life. The drums were well extended, these woofers get a lot of air moving. The music flows naturally. We hit the volume that shook the entire showroom glasses. Holy mackerel! Icon 12s present a relatively small package to me belie what they were capable of. They were well engineered. Listening is believing. I'd be happy to bring them home if I have the room for them and live happily ever after.
On a last note, I'd say these are not for the audio enthusiasts who want highly revealing transducers. On the contrary, forget about audio mumbo jumbo they are made for the music lover. I'm a new convert.
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