{"product_id":"albedo-apticamkii","title":"Albedo Aptica MKII SE (Pair)","description":"\n\u003cp\u003eNew for 2022.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Aptica MKII SE is the result of years of research in the field of transmission line systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a powerful 6.25\" midbass driver and the innovative tweeter diffraction trap DSD system, the Aptica MKII SE affirms its elegant and unique design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe external appearance, which is dictated by the basic principles of acoustics and enriched by a precious finish, hides a highly innovative project, capable of making the daily listening experience unique and enjoyable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not one of the usual odd shaped speakers that invade the space of your home and are tolerated only because of the function they perform, but rather a contributor to make your home space more warm, cosy and suited to your lifestyle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAptica introduces a new 6.25\" Accuton ceramic main driver, in a two-way pair-matched configuration with improvements made to it's sturdy base plinth. The front baffle also inherits from 3-way Axcentia treatment, whose sculpted surface is designed to defray reflections. The floor facing transmission-line terminus remains unchanged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eCeramic Drivers\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCeramic drivers were developed in 1984 by Bernhard Thiel, an engineer at Backes \u0026amp; Müller in Germany. They are made with an extremely thin layer of hard material alumina, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide, which is found in nature as sapphire. Consequently they are expensive and also very difficult to control. The Absolute Sound's 'Illustrated History of High-End Audio' devotes an entire chapter to them ... and why the World's leading loudspeaker manufacturers employ their use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eAdvantages of ceramics :\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e High efficiency\u003cbr\u003e Very thin form factor\u003cbr\u003e Tight manufacturing tolerances\u003cbr\u003e Smaller acoustic cavity required\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAptica employs an Accuton 6.25\" mid\/woofer and 1\" tweeter with \"DSD\" (Diffraction Shaping Device) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare and attention has been paid to cross-over design. Driver performance paired with the benefits of a properly designed TL enclosure, explain why this model has gained so much acclaim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhat can you expect ?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndependent opinion is always best. The comments (below) derive from Reviews and those that have auditioned Aptica.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt this level of performance a quality Source is essential - they are in fact used at 6 Moons to evaluate Digital and Amplification equipment performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoom considerations are less important - even a sizeable room with 5m x 11.5m x 2.6m dimensions ... did not 'phase' them in Review. Aptica is small in size and stature but even though a TL ... bass does not dominate. Smaller rooms therefore are accommodated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003ePerformance :\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn short ... \"To say that the Albedo Aptica is a masterpiece of acoustics, is not an exaggeration nor rhetoric, but a simple observation.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAudio Review Italia by Mauro Neri, translated from Italian.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Aptica Wins a Red Fingerprint Award !!\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I will be brief - I have not heard anything like that from the speakers in this price range for a long time, and I have never heard anything like that from the speakers of such small dimensions, ever\".\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eTake One\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlthough I was forewarned that the Albedo speakers deliver \"big\" sound, hooking them up to my system brought a pleasant surprise  I cannot explain such a large soundstage and so good volume of instruments other than by a very good synergy of well-matched and properly crossed over drivers with the transmission line and Helmholtz resonator.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAt the same time, the Aptica showed the same combination of incredible smoothness and attention to detail that I'd previously heard from other good speakers equipped with this type of drivers, like the Avalon Transcendent and the Isophon Berlina RC7.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI would even say that in terms of conveying transient attacks without sound compression they are better than my Harbeths. I am mainly thinking treble here. Their pitch differentiation in this range is much better than that of my M40.1 . if someone does not particularly like the appearance of the Harbeth M30.1 or M40.1 and wants similar quality.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt is a very similar way of building up the sound that has the same texture, with great soundstaging and momentum, realistically sized instruments, and the same outstanding resolution executed by a very precise attack. And it's all smooth, silky and soft. You want detail without harshness or brightening ? Here you are, the Italian speakers are the champions in this respect.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Apticas sound in a way that clearly refers to a particular system of values, needs and aesthetics. They are fantastic in that. Large phantom images, absolute smoothness and incredible sensitivity to individual sounds and their attack result in something ... \"Truly Unique\"\u003c\/em\u003e   Wojciech Pacua - Positive Feedback\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eTake Two\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"For audiophile appeal there's the Accuton angle. It's long served as Kharma's and Mårten Design's trump card. There prices skyrocket quickly.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHere was highly crystallized clarity like a cut glass decanter. The Aptica was a whisperer par excellence. This went back to vertical transients and concomitant super intelligibility. Check the step response of complex multi-way speakers. They tend to be very confused in the time domain. Here single-driver widebanders ... have quite an advantage. But not exclusively so. Time-domain accuracy isn't inextricably linked to high efficiency after all. It would seem more associated with design simplicity.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eExtension and speed embrace techno and electronica but raw shove - where a Zu Druid V for example collects stars - falls a bit short and the extra wallop from ported alignments is absent too. Considering just how compact the non-vented Aptica is, that's no surprise but bloody impressive. As such it is quite the surprise, simply of a different sort.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhilst I didn't find the Accuton as gossamer airy as my favored Raal ribbons in hosted Soundkaos and Aries Cerat speakers, it plainly was ideal here for perfect integration with the main driver which isn't softer paper. The hard convex dome's leading-edge reaction seemed superior to fabric domes.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePerhaps because they focus brilliantly as time-coherent minimum-phase designs, the Apticas could play the edges of the (sound) field for Cinerama panorama ...\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis latest Albedo thus seriously impressed us and a number of visitors. That such an \"Ultra High-Performance\" device could look this good, be this compact and wide bandwidth were the cherry and cream on top. Italians own style. It's so cliché but true here and with a vengeance\"\u003c\/em\u003e.   Srajan Ebaen - 6 Moons\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eTake Three\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSummary translation from Italian Audio Review by Mauro Neri.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A Masterpiece of acoustics and design\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eTake Four\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Another remarkable feature is the good propensity to disappear in the listening environment, to give space to a precise reconstruction of the acoustic scene. The sealed in power and the consequent great sensation of Dynamics, make the Aptica an immersive Speaker, despite their not very high sensitivity (85dB)\".\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A little bit of Magic\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eAvailability\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAptica comes in 4 flavours - Black Oak, Makassar Ebony, Glossy Graphite Ebony and Glossy Black lacquer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eTECHNICAL DATA\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSystem \u0026gt; floor standing two way, linear phase\u003cbr\u003eLoading \u0026gt; transmission line filtered by resonator (Helmholine System)\u003cbr\u003eDrivers \u0026gt; 6.25 ceramic mid-woofer, 1 ceramic tweeter with DSD acoustic trap\u003cbr\u003eCrossover \u0026gt; acoustic first order\u003cbr\u003eSensitivity \u0026gt; 85 dB (2.83V 1m)\u003cbr\u003eNominal impedance \u0026gt; 8 ohm\u003cbr\u003eFrequency response \u0026gt; 45 - 32.000 Hz\u003cbr\u003eDimensions \u0026gt; 26 x 19 x 101 cm\u003cbr\u003eWeight \u0026gt; 19 kg net each\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Albedo","offers":[{"title":"Black Oak","offer_id":52740308140298,"sku":"ALBEDO-7250","price":10290.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Makassar Ebony","offer_id":52740308173066,"sku":"ALBEDO-7251","price":10990.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Glossy Laquered Graphite Ebony","offer_id":52740308205834,"sku":"ALBEDO-7252","price":12590.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Glossy Laquered Piano Black","offer_id":52740308238602,"sku":"ALBEDO-7253","price":12590.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0917\/3283\/6618\/files\/albedo-aptica-mkii-se-pair--32442-p.png?v=1773934866","url":"https:\/\/audioemotion.co.uk\/products\/albedo-apticamkii","provider":"Audio Emotion Limited","version":"1.0","type":"link"}