Test & Technology Active Streaming Loudspeakers

rametric equalizing lters precisely with just the right which, due to their layout in The new dome tweeter amount of energy, but without FIR technology, also work in a overemphasising the transients. Like all ceramic drivers from time-correct manner and wit- Accuton, the 30 mm inverse This was also true of recor- hout phase errors. dome is originally made from dings which sometimes do not This is particularly important aluminium, which is sound like high-end such as in the transitional zone to the transformed fully and Marillion’s “Made Again“: the Best of homogeneously by a sub-low range which is repro- driving rhythms with a punchy, patented anodic duced by one 10“ aluminium musically involved low bass oxidation into amor- driver on the back of each sculp- phous, ultra rigid laid out the basis for a live-like, ture. At approximately 80 Hz aluminium oxide (Al2O3) lush, yet never annoying per- the signals are passed on to the and then turned through formance. One could literally Both Worlds rear; phase shift and time skew heat into a durable feel the vibes in the audience are compensated completely structure. The white with lots of sparklers, cigarette diaphragm can only be cut digitally. Together with the lighters and applause without Now this is supposed by means of laser, otherwise it sealed enclosure design and the would break. the Lyravox employing its re- to be a complete cabinet detached from the mid- solution skills for anatomising streaming system? Yes! high block, this is to provide a the recording. he rst two stereo active speakers Ceramic in duplicate strikingly accurate bass respon- Instead it used its ceramic Lyravox does not only Tfrom Lyravox caused a big sensation For the mid and high range a combinati- se. Despite its light-weight alu- Magic in the room come along – devised a little drivers to optimise the musical combine the set in a at the HIGH END 2018. The Hamburg on of a 7“ cone driver and a 1.25“ dome minium diaphragm, the Scans- Already the rst measure of antidote in the shape of a mini- lucidity! Whatever the testers based factory, usually better known for tweeter is used, which both sit in the peak cone driver is capable of Bruckner’s 8th symphony (un- mal correction at 2.6 kHz and threw at it, there was hardly a modern style, but also their high-priced on-wall systems in a detached upper cabinet compartment, executing those long splutter- der the baton of Young) got the a hint of fundamental tone recording that denied the magic employs the noble kind of exaggerated retro design, merged splitting the signals at 2200 Hz with a free strokes as they are crucial testers awestruck. So impressi- warmth. of the combination. Miles Da- in Karl and Karlotta the bene ts of digi- rather high edge steepness. As opposed for sealed enclosures. vely staggered in depth, three- What followed was a lecture vis’ “Some Day my Prince“, ceramic drivers. tal active technology with integrated stre- to the concept of Karl and Karlotta, this dimensional and with most in correct and at the same time still recorded in ping-pong aming capabilities and the ceramic drivers results in a wider radiation angle on ave- Chain inside delicate nuances did the orches- vivid reproduction: Sara K‘s mode, unleashed a literally bl- from Accuton for the high-mid range, rage and is to score bonus points espe- Shielded by a copper sheet and tra ll the room that one had marvellously breathed cover inding energy in the trumpet which for many years have been consi- cially in not too large, normally dampened located on the rear of the right rather thought to be at the version of “A Whiter Shade of entries and yet, in spite of all dered by high-end lovers to rank among rooms. speaker, the electronic block Elbphilharmonie than in Pale“ was standing in the room the radiance, it never sounded the nest there are on the OEM market. The big all-ceramic diaphragm is a holds the six power ampli er stereoplay’s compact listening with a dense atmosphere and an over-the-top, but blended in Goetz von Laffert and his team also custom-built construction by Accuton. channels of the Pascal s-pro2 room. irresistibly beautiful voice, with the accompaniment’s deep followed Karl’s nomenclature with their Loudspeaker specialists might be worried type to process the signals for Only a small overdose in the while the Karlina proved to be acoustic fundament. Finally it newly launched smaller version: Karlina about the large, ultra hard inverted dome the individual drivers after their brilliance of the brass section frugal in terms of listening di- was the rare entity of utmost is the name of the leaner three-way spea- to cause signi cant bundling effects in active separation. The unamp- didn’t quite match the super stance and placement and dis- resolution and natural transpa- ker which is equipped with similarly pre- the topmost frequency range and thus a li ed left speaker is driven in a velvety, transparent character played a threedimensional ma- rency which made the Karlina cious components, but at 17,800 euros lack of treble sparkle. Like in the Karlot- fully active mode via custom so that the stereoplay crew – gic also in the near eld. Attack one of the most audiophile ac- for the entire package it is way more ta this is countered by an indirect-radia- multicore cables and Speakon together with Lyravox designer notes like the plucked guitar tive speakers ever. affordable and, under design aspects, the ting tweeter unit which, however, does connectors (bottom right). Jens Wietschorke, who had also strings were reproduced Malte Ruhnke ■ creation by Lyravox that’s best approp- not radiate backward here – which would riate for the living space. require a minimum wall clearance –, but upward in the form of a single AMT.

Adaptable all around Those who have remaining concerns that such a combo might be dif cult to tune to one’s own room, can breathe a sigh of relief: the fully digital three-way cross- over allows to use a large number of pa- The 10“ driver with alu cone comes from Scanspeak and, The diffuse sound AMT sits on top owing to its rear ventilation of the loudspeaker and slowly fi lls design, can perform long up the indirect sound in the room strokes even in a sealed only above 5 kHz. This will also enclosure. work close to a wall.

06/18 stereoplay.de 06/18 stereoplay.de 06/18 stereoplay.de Test & Technology Active Streaming Loudspeakers + + SPECIAL: 68 pages attraction of HIGH END 2018 MUSIK-

Lyravox CD Deutschland 6,90 € Die technische Dimension von HiFi www.stereoplay.de The control centre in the righthand speaker Karlina HIGH END AUDIO The entire electronic unit in- 17,800 euros cluding crossovers, ampli- Distribution: Lyravox IN FULL CONSEQUENCE Phone: +49 (0) 40 / 320897980 fi ers, streamer and input ma- www.lyravox.de Dimensions (W × H × D): 36 × 108 × 34 cm nagement sits in a coated (14.2 x 42.5 x 13.4 in.) sheet copper unit in the right Weight: 29.5 kg (65.1 lbs) speaker. Measured values

Lyravox Karlina Frequenzgang 100 dB The little one’s talents axial 10*V 30*H 90*V Österreich: 7,60 € / Schweiz: 13,70 Sfr / BeNeLux: 8,05 € 90 dB Italien: 8,95 € / Spanien: 8,95 € / Slowenien: 8,95 € / Slowakei: 8,95 € Finnland: 10,15 € / Dänemark: 80,00 DKK / Griechenland: 10,35 € 6 | 2018 With one analogue and one 80 dB

digital input via RCA the Kar- 70 dB lina isn’t equipped in an over- 60 dB 50 dB ly versatile, yet practice-rele- 10 Hz 100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 40 kHz Frequency response vant manner. Signals from a Rather deep, perfectly neutral, unsteady turntable or tape machine are bundling, diffuse radiator sets in above 5K

digitised at 96 kHz, the si- Lyravox Karlina Pegel- & Klirrverlauf 110 dB 85 dB 90 dB 95 dB 100 dB gnals can also be slaved 100 dB YEARS through in each case. Most 90 dB 80 dB often the user will stream di- 70 dB rectly via the integrated and 60 dB 50 dB 20 Hz 50 Hz 100 Hz 200 Hz 500 Hz 1 kHz 2 kHz 5 kHz very dependable streaming Level & distortion charts 85-100 dB SPL module anyway. This can be continuously low distortions, only rising in the „...put the listener in a veritable trance.“ Malte Ruhnke, Stereoplay (Karlotta) sub low range with limiter kicking in optionally controlled by the „I really came to love her sound.“ Philipp Schneckenburger, Hifi EinsNull (Karlotta) Lower limit frequency -3/-6 dB 54/46 Hz display remote which, ho- Maximum SPL 101 dB „One of the most audiophile speakers overall.“ Malte Ruhnke, Stereoplay (Karlina) wever, only shows a limited puter in a wired network is from a harddisk or the net- Power consumption (standby/on) 5.3/27 W Wireless system Bluetooth „Can easily keep up with the world´s best.“ Hans v. Draminski, Fidelity (Karl) overview on the display, but just as well possible as work, FLAC and AIFF data are Coding APT-X (BT), 24/192 (coax) „This speaker makes you want to listen to music without end.“ Thomas Schmidt, Hifi EinsNull (Karlos) is required with certain setup through a directly pluggable sent straight to the DSP at Equalizer 5 fully parametric fi lters Inputs analog RCA/XLR •/– functions. USB mass storage device. A 192/24 max. and even gap- Inputs USB/coax./opt. •(Speicher)/•/– Clearly more convenient in full access to internet radio less without problems. Apart Remote control/app •/• KARL REPRINT everyday use is controlling stations and the hiqh-quality from the cover (see screens- KARLOTTA Practice and compatibility via the app (Android and iOS) streaming services Tidal and hot top center) the very lucid KARLINA KARLOS which, owing to a long deve- Qobuz is also possible, which app shows all meta data and Room acoustics and placement STEREOPLAY 6-2018 lopment timeframe, runs very in practical use will probably technical information about Flexible in placement and adjustment, larger listening distances only in dampened rooms stable and reliable. Music be the main source for the the track in play (top center/ Listening distance1 m ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 5 m playback from NAS or com- integrated system. Coming right). Wall clearance 0 m ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 1.5 m 0.2 s ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 0.8 s

Evaluation Naturalness 15 Price/Value: Outstanding Price/Value: Outstanding ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Fine details 15 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ High-level dynamics 10 BEST OF ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bass quality 10 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ This is the future of the loudspeaker: Imaging 14 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A lossless symbiosis of perfect mechanics, BOTH WORLDS A unique design which combines the ultimate clarity of the ceramic drivers with active masterful acoustics, integrated signal processing, and precision. Fascinatingly holographic spatiality, Expo-News and all the Highlights of High End Show acoustically easy to adapt and with a logical operating concept – everything fi ts the bill if directly coupled amplification. the room is not too big. Measured values Field test Value For sound quality gains in every dimension, 8 9 8 test verdict ideal room adaptation and classy interior aesthetics. Sound absolute top class 64

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Overall score 89 points Price/performance outstanding B&M • Brinkmann • Canton • Cayin • Clearaudio • CocktailAudio lyravox.com 06/18 stereoplay.de ELAC • Genelec • Lyravox • Musical Fidelity • Symphonic Line etc.

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