Wilson
A.C.T.One
One
Evolutionoudspeaker
Loudspeaker
Wilson Benesch
Benesch A.C.T.
Evolution
Author:
AndreasWenderoth
Wenderothhotography
Photography:
Winter
Author Andreas
olfRolf
Winter
The Complete Resolution
esolution
The
A.C.T. One
OneEvolution
Evolution
The A.C.T.
is ais a
later
descendantof perhaps
of perhaps
later descendant
the
the
longest
and most
sustained
longest
and most
sustained
design
inthe
thecompany
company
history
design in
history
of
of
Wilson
Benesch.
In 1994,
Wilson
Benesch.
In 1994,
the the
first
floorstandingloudspeaker
loudspeaker
first floorstanding
featuring
featuring the
the then
then completely
completely new
shell
construction
using
carbon
new shell
construction
using
fibres
caused
a
furor
in
the
market
carbon fibre caused a furore
in
-thewinning
countless
awards.
market - winning countless
Three
generations
awards.loudspeaker
Three loudspeaker
and
almost
a
quarter
of
generations and almost a century
later,
Wilson
Benesch
quarter
of a century
later,wants
Wilsonto
revive
thewants
market
with the
its new
Benesch
to revive
A.C.T.
marketOne
withEvolution.
its new A.C.T. One
Evolution.
I admit that I have slept on some developments at Wilson Benesch.
I still associate the British company from Sheffield, first of all,
with the cantilever turntable with the unconventional carbon fibre
tonearm, who, when placed in the hifi rack at a friends house,
made me angry - because it sounded much better than my then
LP12. At this point, noticed that somewhere in the product range,
at the other end of the chain, the company’s speakers emerged
(which also benefit from carbon fibre). However, “Tactic Drive
Unit” (which replaced the earlier Scanspeak chassis) and the
revolutionary Torus subwoofer system went smoothly past me.
So, with the A.C.T. One Evolution loudspeaker in my hands,
my view has widened considerably. It is a type of tutoring in all
things related to innovative speaker construction.
In order to better understand the genesis of the speaker, it helps
to go back to the beginnings of the company. In 1989 the current
owners Christina and Craig Milnes founded Wilson Benesch,
with a starting capital of only 10,000 English pounds. Had an
additional 25,000 pounds not been secured through the British
Governments Ministry of Industry as part of a research project,
Wilson Benesch might possibly have closed its doors rather
soon. Today, however, they jointly lead an extremely successful
high-end forge with 16 employees.
The background of the couple could not be more different:
Christina studied psychology, sociology and business
management with a focus on the development of the company.
As the Managing Director, she is responsible for strategic
development. Husband, Craig, is the Design Director at Wilson
Benesch, he learned his engineering craft at the British Steel
Corporation and graduated in Fine Art from Loughborough
University. When their first born daughter was three, Craig used
an Armstrong tube amplifier to partner with his first pair of home
built loudspeakers, bringing music into the family home. Beside
studying, Craig explored the high-end market and realised that
there was no company that worked with innovative materials.
Carbon fibre remained a relatively unknown material at the time,
1 1/2017
1
PDF image-hifi.com
image-hifi.com
but
was
onon
thethe
rise
butthe
theprofile
profileofofthe
thematerial
material
was
following
the transformation
of Formulaof 1
rise following
the transformation
motorsport
the incredible
success of
ormula 1 through
motorsport
after the incredible
the
McLaren
MP4/1
- the first
car no
to use
success
of the
c aren
4 F1
1, but
one a
carbon
fibre monocoque
chassis,
but nothe
one
had until
now thought
of using
had
until nowmaterial
thought of for
usingplayers
the high-tech
high-tech
or
material
for turntables or loudspeakers.
loudspeakers.
A.C.T.
of “Advanced
Composite
A.C.T.is an
is acronym
an acronym
of
Advanced
Technology”
and
means
exactly
this:
the use
Composite Technology
and means
of
fibrethe
composites.
The material
has
e carbon
actly this
use of carbon
fibres. The
amaterial
very high
damping
hasstiffness
a very and
highinternal
stiffness
and
and
is thus
ideal forand
reducing
resonance
and
internal
damping
are thus
ideal for
possible
discolouration
through
the
reducing sound
resonance
and possible
sound
loudspeaker
mass always
discolourationhousing.
through“More
the loudspeaker
lead
to the ore
problem
a lower
housing.
mass of
always
leadresonant
to the
frequency,”
Craigresonant
Milnes. If,frequency,
however, a
problem ofsays
a lower
low-mass
fibreainlow-mass
the A.C.T.
says Craigmaterial
ilnes. (carbon
If, however,
monocoques
andfibres
the top
components)
material carbon
in the
side framesis
combined
a materialis of
high tensile
and the topwith
components
combined
with
strength
(high-strength
or hybrid
joints
a material
of high steel
tensile
strength
of high-strength
aluminium and
steel
the front,
steel
or in
hybrid
ointsback
of
and
foot), the
exhibits
selfaluminium
andstructure
steel in the
front,mutual
back and
damping.
This structure
is preciselyethe
reason
for the
foot , the
hibits
mutual
layered
construction
of
the
loudspeaker.
Due
self-damping. This is precisely the reason
to
its
shell
construction,
the
entire
structure
for the layered construction of the
inloudspeaker.
the vertical axis,
theitslongest
length of the
ue to
shell construction,
loudspeaker,
is stiffer,
better
damped
and
the entire structure
in the
vertical
a is, the
resonance
canof be
better controlled,
i.e.,
longest length
the loudspeaker,
is stiffer,
avoided.
better damped and resonance can be
better controlled, i.e., avoided.
The A.C.T. One Evolution is the iterative
continued
of isthe
The A.C.T.development
One Evolution
theloudspeaker,
consistent
which
in 1994
as A.C.T.
One, a
furtherappeared
development
of the
loudspeaker,
design
that has continued
through
and
which appeared
in 1994 as
A.C.T. A.C.T.
One and
then
C60. “It’s
like a A.C.T.
Porscheand
911”then
says
had A.C.T.
continued
through
Craig
withahisorsche
nice comparison
A.C.T.Milnes
C . (and
It slike
911 says
Craig ilnes and with his nice comparison
comparison, he points to the league where he sees WB),
whose development no one would even think of changing
the basic form or the essential ingredients - but the technical
details and the current interpretation. Thus the exterior (not
the inner) of the loudspeaker developed in the 3D-CAD/CAM
still strongly leans on the original A.C.T. One (Then still made
in Greaves). However, many elements of the current flagship
series “Geometry” have also been incorporated, the latest
model of which is represented by: sculptural lines, a forwardly
sloping headboard (to increase the stage and presence), the
arched, elegantly rearward tapering body, each of which
helps reduce the incidence of standing waves.
One of the obvious differences of the Evolution from its
predecessors is the colour: carbon fibre has always been
black, in the A.C.T. One Evolution P1 version, colour
is introduced to the fibre for the first time: thanks to a
collaboration with Hypetex, a team of Formula 1 engineers
who have developed the process, in this sample, it is not
simply any colour, but a very strong one: “Enzo Red” - in
line with the famous red of the Enzo Ferrari. So the speed
and dynamics with which the box performs acoustically is
also expressed visually. And in fact she is real eye-candy.
An almost petite fine spirit, which emanates an extraordinary
quality.
In the foot of the loudspeaker is a comparatively rare triwiring terminal, which allows the owner a lot of connection
possibilities. The original silver bridges can optionally be
converted to bi-wiring or single-wiring. So that I do not have
to put the loudspeaker every time on the side, when I change
the speaker cable, the distribution had sent me a bridge made
by Phonosophie, with which the wiring can be done outside
the speaker base. I do not especially like the terminal-in-foot
solution, but this is not the manufacturer’s fault, looking at
the back of the speaker, apart from the two reflex ports for
the midrange driver units (the one for the woofer radiates
out of the foot down) there are no other elements and thus
this is a choice made on the basis of design aesthetics. Also,
because one assumes at Wilson Benesch reasons that the
owner of this loudspeaker will not be constantly changing the
cable back and forth.
Good reflexes: The two reflex openings for the mid-range speakers are
located in the upper part of the housing back. The large bass reflex opening
radiates downwards. The tri-wire terminal is also located in the base of the
loudspeaker - here with the original Bi-Wire-Silver bridges
However, one should connect pay close attention when
connecting the six cables of the terminal. I had swapped
between two different cable types, yet the acoustic result
was irritating and sobering: the sound produced by the
loudspeaker, was a bit flat, with practically no bass. When I
described to Michael Hannig of IBEX Audio, the importer of
1/2017 image-hifi.com PDF
Wilson Benesch A.C.T. One Evolution Loudspeaker
Wilson Benesch, how the loudspeaker sounds, he
says, no, he knows the A.C.T. One Evolution very
well, and my sound description certainly does not
describe it. When the connection error is identified,
the loudspeaker plays however it is still not quite
“free”. And now begins a little odyssey, in the search
for how the loudspeaker can elicit its quality (which
for the time being he does not share). Throw the
review because a completely satisfactory result
does not arrive at first? If I had followed this impulse,
I would have deprived myself of a great experience
- and would not have been fair to this wonderful
speaker! Instead an angel (in the form of Carsten
Thiele of local hifi-studio 10) hovered, with the
necessary calmness and experience - after all he
sells the loudspeaker - and helped with its unfolding.
By remote diagnostics, Michael Hannig had
previously insisted that the Grandinote amplifier
might not drive the loudspeaker sufficiently.
Although rated with an efficiency of 89 dB
combined with four to six ohms impedance is
not exactly a hard load to drive, but the speaker
does indeed benefit from slightly more power,
such as a 200 Watt full-gain amplifier (ModWright
KWI 200), with this the loudspeaker is dynamic,
full-bodied and fleet footed. I then looked at the
cabling again. After changing the power cables
feeding the preamp and power stage to PS-Audio
or Swisscables, the sound picture is even better,
with discernible gains in the low frequency and
imaging. Fine tuning. Now it becomes clear that
before me is no “plug and play loudspeaker”, but
one that is quite selective with regard to its partnered
equipment. But as with a real stage diva, you like
it, because it can do things, of which others only
dream. But more about that.
In order to get her full potential, Thiele brings – just
for fun - a CH Precision power amp ( of course other
amps a few steps below do also work). There was
a slight sense before that the bass was kicking and
slightly over zealous which has now completely
disappeared. Once again, the location of the
loudspeakers is fine tuned and some equipment
feet later (Thiele distributes extremely interesting
tuning products under the company name CT,
which certainly would be worth a story), the A.C.T.
Evolution One is now so that I have trouble leaving
the listening room at all. Now she literally grabbed
me.
A first rehearsal: electronic music is certainly not
my preferred style, but I like to make an exception
in the case of Trentemøller’s intelligent minimal
album ‘The Last Resort’ from 2006 (Poker Flat,
PFRLP 18, 2-LP). The reason why, among other
things, is that the loudspeaker can be put to work
immediately. First surprise: The bass goes very
low, which was not to be expected in the face of the
modest (though probably average) sized living room
dimensions. In addition to the clever reflex tuning,
this is attributable to the fact that the loudspeaker
can dispense entirely with internal bracing due to
its innovative design, which thus increases the
Previous Page: Everyone the Same - Bass and Center have
almost identical chassis made of isotactic polypropylene.
This page: The high-resolution hybrid tweeter has a membrane
of carbon and silk
polypropylene and,
to Wilsonthat
Benesch,
in
characteristics,
in a according
simplified manner,
is to say,
of stiffness
and damping
it more
has so-called
itterms
is possible
for the material
to absorb
resonant
"visco-elastic"
by virtuenatural
of its
energy.
This inabsorption
turn makesproperties
for an altogether
chemical presentation
characteristics,
in is
a simplified
manner, The
that
acoustic
that
free of sibilance.
is to say,
it is
possible for for
thethe
material
to absorb
lowest
driver
is responsible
lower bass
(up to
more
resonant
energy.
turn
makes
an
34
hertz!).
The two
othersThis
flankinthe
tweeter,
thefor
lower
altogether
natural for
acoustic
presentation
free
one
is responsible
the upper
midrange,that
theisupper
of sibilance.
lowest
driver is
for the
one
for the The
lower
midrange:
A responsible
so-called “Troika”
lower bass
(up tois34
hertz!).
twoCardinal)
others flank
structure
(which
also
usedThe
in the
andthe
its
tweeter, the lower
one is
responsible
for the upper
independent
chambers
within
the loudspeaker,
this
midrange,
the main
upperdifferences
one for thetolower
midrange:
A
is
one of the
any other
A.C.T.
so-called
structure (which is also used in
before
the"Troika"
Evolution.
the Cardinal) and its independent chambers within
the loudspeaker,
this is
of theII main
The
magnet driving
theone
Tactic
was differences
developed
to developed
any other A.C.T.
before the
The
in
in cooperation
withEvolution.
the physics
magnet driving
TacticUniversity.
II was developed
in
department
at thethe
Sheffield
The
developed in cooperation with the physics
department at the Sheffield University. The
Wilson
Benesch
not reveal
exactly
the small
patch
Wilson
Benesch
doesdoes
not reveal
exactly
whatwhat
the small
patch
on on
the back
of membrane
the membrane
does.
a multi-functional
the back
of the
does.
OnlyOnly
that that
it is ita is
multi-functional
visco-elastic
material
visco-elastic
material
internal air volume relative to other loudspeakers of a
the modest
average)
living
comparable
size(though
- and inprobably
this respect
there sized
is therefore
room
addition to the clever reflex tuning,
more
airdimensions.
for the bassInreflex.
this is attributable to the fact that the loudspeaker can
dispense
entirely
bracing
dueambient
to its
The
piece “Into
tthe with
trees”internal
traverses
between
innovative
design, which
increases
internal
air
and
techno; Refined
sound thus
layers
build up the
over
a driving
volume
relative
to other
loudspeakers
of a the
comparable
beat,
gently
building:
When
looking behind
chassis,
size - layers
and in of
thisinsulating
respect there
is therefore
air for
several
material
appear. more
The Wilson
the bassspeaker
reflex. is connected from top to bottom (a
Benesch
Theclear,
piecefree-playing
"Into the trees"
traverses
between
ambient
very
tweeter!)
putting
you directly
on
techno; with
Refined
soundforce
layers
build up over
a
theand
dancefloor
primordial
(I personally
always
beat,
gentlythe
building:
When
lookingmy
behind
the
satdriving
directly
between
speakers,
meaning
girlfriend
chassis,
layers
of insulating
had
to sufferseveral
an inferior
listening
position,material
but that appear.
may be
The Wilson
Benesch
is connected
top to
a different
story).
Very speaker
good focus,
explodingfrom
dynamics
bottom
clear, sound
free-playing
puttingtheir
you
and
mids,(a
allvery
elements
great tweeter!)
and natural.But
directlystrength
on the isdancefloor
force (I
greatest
that they with
haveprimordial
no one particular
personally
always sat
directly
between
the speakers,
strength,
it is therefore
in their
balance.
Perhaps
the most
meaning thing
my girlfriend
had to suffer
an the
inferior
listening
impressive
for me, however,
is how
loudspeaker
position, dissolves
but that may
bethe
a different
story).
practically
itself:
music does
notVery
play good
from
exploding
dynamicsit IS
and
mids,
all elements
thefocus,
housings
at any moment,
in the
room.
sound great and natural.But their greatest strength is
thatamazed
they have
onefarparticular
is therefore
I am
at no
how
you canstrength,
pull the itloudspeaker
in their
balance.
the mostcollapsing
impressive(my
thingown
for
apart
without
the Perhaps
sound imaging
me, however,
is do
how
theThe
loudspeaker
loudspeakers
do not
that).
A.C.T. Onepractically
Evolution
dissolves
itself:I have
the music
does
notlistening
play from
the
is the
best sound
achieved
in my
room.
housings at any moment, it IS in the room.
PDF image-hifi.com
1/2017
PDF
image-hifi.com
1/2017
Quite
open:
When
looking
behind
the chassis,
severalseveral
layers llayers of
Quite
open:
When
looking
behind
the chassis,
of insulating
insulating material
is is connected from
material appear.
appear. The
TheWilson
WilsonBenesch
Benesch
connected
from head to foot
head to foot
Normally, says Design Director Craig Milnes, different
usedfar in
drive
units in apart
the
I materials
am amazedare
at how
youdifferent
can pull the
loudspeaker
loudspeaker
chassis,
these
have
with
different
resonance
without the sound imaging collapsing (my own
characteristics,
damping
efficiency
andis
loudspeakers
do not
do that).properties,
The A.C.T. One
Evolution
linearity.
lead to distortions,
phase shifts
the
best These
sound materials
I have achieved
in my listening
room.
and a negative
influence
on the
impulse
behaviour.
Normally,
says Design
Director
Craig
Milnes,
different
Electrostatics
the different
problem, drive
but must
materials
are bypass
used in
unitsbeinquite
the
large to achieve
He solves
the
loudspeaker
chassis,reasonable
these haveoutput.
with different
resonance
problem, says damping
Milnes byproperties,
using oneefficiency
and the and
same
drive
characteristics,
linearity.
unit formaterials
quite different
tasks,
with the phase
exception
of and
smalla
These
lead to
distortions,
shifts
modifications
which
the purpose
of optimizing
the
negative
influence
on serve
the impulse
behaviour.
Electrostatics
frequency
bypass
the response.
problem, but must be quite large to achieve
reasonable output. He solves the problem, says Milnes by
Like the
the company,
the A.C.T.
using
oneflagship
and theofsame
drive unit the
for Cardinal,
quite different
tasks,
Onethe
Evolution
is aoftwo-and-a-half-way
but with
with
exception
small modificationsspeaker,
which serve
the
four chassis.
A new, relatively
large 25 response.
mm tweeterLike
withthe
a
purpose
of optimizing
the frequency
linear response
of up to 30 the
kHz Cardinal,
and a dropthe
of -6
dB upOne
to
flagship
of the company,
A.C.T.
35 kHz and
light hybrid membrane
made
carbon
Evolution
is aa very
two-and-a-half-way
speaker,
butofwith
four
and
silk,
with
the
speed
of
a
hard
dome
material
but
the
chassis. A new, relatively large 25 mm tweeter with a linear
tonal direction
broadband
of aofclassic,
rather
response
of up toand
30 kHz
and a drop
-6 dB up
to 35 soft
kHz
tweeter.
170 mm
Tactic II drive
madeand
of soand
a veryThree
light hybrid
membrane
madeunits
of carbon
silk,
called
(IPP),material
a polymer
with
theisotactic
speed polypropylene
of a hard dome
butdeveloped
the tonal
at the Leeds
University, is
times stiffer
direction
and broadband
offive
a classic,
ratherthan
softordinary
tweeter.
polypropylene
to Wilson
in
Three
170 mm and,
Tacticaccording
II drive units
made Benesch,
of so-called
terms ofpolypropylene
stiffness and (IPP),
damping
it has so-called
isotactic
a polymer
developed“viscoat the
elastic”
absorption
by virtue
its chemical
Leeds
University,
is properties
five times stiffer
thanofordinary
neodymium magnet motor
motor has
has been
been refined
refined to
to
increase and maximise
maximise the
the magnetic
magnetic flux
flux in
in the
the
driver. A
A polypropylene
polypropylene cone
cone in
in aa streamlined
streamlined
basket combines the
the requirements
requirements of
of the
the
lightweight construction with
with aa guaranteed
guaranteed high
high
stiffness. The two
two midrange
midrange drive
drive units
units can
can be
be
driven directly from
from the
the amplifier
amplifier without
without any
any
filters. As
As aa result,
result, particular
particular attention
attention has
has been
been
paid to
which
is intended
to
to the
thecritical
criticalmidrange
midrange
which
is intended
play
free
of ofphase
to play
free
phaseshifts,
shifts,extremely
extremelylinear
linear and
and
almost completely distortion-free
distortion-free and
and free
free from
from
dis-coloration.
discoloration.
xxx
Team Player
Player
Team
Record Player:
Player:Artemis
ArtemisSA-1
SA-1
Record
Tonearm:Schröder
SchröderNo.2
No.2Cartridges:
Cartridges:Lyra
LyraScala,
Scala,Soundsmith
Soundsmith
Tonearm:
„Hyperion“
„Hyperion“
Preamps:Funk
FunkMTX
MTXV3b,
V3b,Grandinote
GrandinoteProemio,
Proemio,CH
CHPrecision
PrecisionL1
Preamps:
L1
Poweramplifer:
Pass XA- 30.5, Grandinote Silva, CH Precision
Poweramplifer: Pass XA- 30.5, Grandinote Silva, CH Precision
A1
A1
Poweramplifier:
ModWright KWI 200 Phono-Pre: Tom Evans
Poweramplifier:
ModWright
KWI 200
„The
Groove Anniversary
MK2“
Phono-Pre:
Tom Evans
Evans The
„TheGroove
Groove20th
Anniversary
MK2“
PhonoPre: Tom
Anniversary
MK2
Phono- Pre: Tom
Evans
The Groove 20th Anniversary MK2
Loudspeaker:
Sehring
S902
Loudspeaker:
Sehring
S902
Cables:
HMS Gran
Finale,
Gran Finale Jubilee, HMS Suprema,
Cables:
Gran
Finale, Gran
Finale Jubilee,
HMS Suprema,
PS
AudioHMS
AC12,
Swisscables
Reference
Plus (Netzkabel),
PS Audio AC12,
Swisscables
Reference
Plus (Netzkabel),
Harmonic
Technology
Magic Link
3 (XLR-Kabel);
JPS Labs
Harmonic Technology
MagicGate
LinkAudio
3 (XLR-Kabel);
JPS Labs
Aluminata
(RCA); Heavens
Ultra Supreme,
Fast
Aluminata
(RCA);
Heavens
Gate Audio
Ultra Line
Supreme,
Audio
Black
Science,
MasterBuilt
Reference
Fast Audio Black Science, MasterBuilt Reference Line
(Lautsprecherkabel)
(Lautsprecherkabel)
Power
Strip: Iso- tek Orion
Power Strip: Phonosophie
Iso- tek OrionWandsteckdose und Sicherung,
Accessories:
Accessories:
Phonosophie
und Antispikes,
Sicherung, CT
TimeTable,
Time
Justin, TimeWandsteckdose
„T for 3“, Audioplan
TimeTable,
Time Justin, Time
„T for 3“,IAudioplan
Antispikes,
Audio Resonanztechnik
- Steppness
+ II, Doppelio;
Fast
CT Au-Absorber,
dio Resonanztechnik
- Steppness
I + II, Doppelio;
Audio
Acoustic System
Resonatoren,
Audiophil Fast
Audio Absorber,
Acoustic
System Resonatoren,
Audiophil
Schumann
Generator,
Nadelreiniger
Lyra SPT, Onzow
ZeroDust
Schumann Generator, Nadelreiniger Lyra SPT, Onzow ZeroDust
The high-quality spikes are comfortably adjustable and stand on specially
The high-quality spikes are comfortably adjustable and stand on specially
coupled steel balls held captive in Wilson Benesch’s supplied Kinematic Cups
coupled steel balls held captive in Wilson Benesch s supplied inematic Cups
This is clear from another example: Misty is an album that I
normally only pick when the system is well tuned (although
two midrange
drive units
be driven
directly
itstiffness.
actuallyThe
works
fantastic exactly
the can
opposite
way).
The
from the amplifier
any filters.
As isa in
result,
Yamamoto
Tsuyoshiwithout
Trio (TBM
30, LP)
this particular
excellent
attention from
has the
been
paid
to inthe
midrange
is
recording
year
1974
thecritical
Tokyo Aoi
studio - which
the best
intended to play
free ofOne
phase
shifts,isextremely
and
performance.
The A.C.T.
Evolution
happy withlinear
this “diet”
almost
completely
distortion-free
and
and
is setting
up a stage
that I have
notfree
yet from
hearddiscoloration.
so extensively
Thisplastically.
is clear from
another
example:
Misty
is an album
that I
and
To the
left is the
piano, with
chanting,
sometimes
normally
only
pick
when
the
system
is
well
tuned
(although
hard, and then almost caressing attacks, so eagerly lingering init
actually
works
exactly
opposite naturalness:
way). The
the
room as
if youfantastic
were there.
What athe
breathtaking
Yamamoto
Tsuyoshi
Trio
(TBM
30,
LP)
is
in
this
excellent
through the filter-liberated midrange drive units, the piano
does
recording
from like
the ayear
1974
the Tokyo
Aoi studio
- the
best
not
only sound
piano
but in
creates
an almost
perfect
illusion
performance.
Onethe
Evolution
happy
“diet"
of
a real piano.The
YouA.C.T.
can see
hand onisthe
keys,with
thethis
hammer
and is setting
up asteel
stagesides,
that I have
yet heard
so extensively
pressing
on the
the not
sound
that resonates
and
and plastically.
ToTo
thethe
leftright
is the
with chanting,
sometimes
enters
the room.
is piano,
the contrabassist,
who
reaches
hard, and
almost caressing
attacks, so eagerly
in
deeply
intothen
the strings,
and the percussionist,
whose lingering
jazz beads
thecasually
room as (and
if youyet
were
there. What
a breathtaking
so
precisely)
sweeps
across thenaturalness:
skins, as if
through
filter-liberated
midrange
drive units, the
piano
does
he
were the
reading
a newspaper.
The loudspeaker
makes
a great
not only sound like a piano, with chanting, sometimes hard, and
PDF
image-hifi.com
PDF image-hifi.com
1 1/2017
2017
then almost caressing attacks, so
eagerly lingering in the room as if you
were there. What a breathtaking
naturalness: through the filter-liberated
midrange drive units, the piano does not
only sound like a piano but creates an
almost perfect illusion of a real piano.
You can see the hand on the keys, the
hammer pressing on the steel sides, the
sound that resonates and enters the
room. To the right is the contrabassist,
who reaches deeply into the strings,
and the percussionist, whose jazzbeads
so casually (and yet precisely) sweeps
across the skins, as if he were reading a
newspaper. The loudspeaker makes a
great impression
at the
andgets
never
impression
at the top
andtop
never
tight
gets in
tight
in the low frequencies.
even
theeven
low frequencies.
Timeless and
Timeless dynamic
and extremely
extremely
- despite dynamic
its versatility,
its versatility,
a loudspeaker
adespite
loudspeaker
from a single
cask. “Dry
fromcultivated,
a single cask.
andgood
cultivated,
and
like a"Dry
really
martini,”
like a really
good
martini," which
I saywhich
in
which
I say in
an American
manner,
manner,
which
is a good
isanaAmerican
good thing.
In order
to remain
in the
thing. In of
order
toit also
remain
in lemony
the
comparison
spirits,
has the
comparison
spirits,
it alsosour”.
has the
freshness
of aofgood
“whiskey
lemony freshness of a good "whiskey
sour".
On
Fink’s superbly produced 2 LP live
On Fink's
superbly
produced
LP live
album
(Ninja
Tune, ZEN
201) 2from
2013,
album
(Ninja Tune, ZEN
from
the
singer-songwriter
kindly 201)
hands
over
2013,
singer-songwriter
kindly
the
last the
album
page to the previously
hands over theRoyal
last album
page
to the
accompanying
Concert
Orchestra,
previously
accompanying
Royalby
which
concludes
with a composition
Concert Ives
Orchestra,
which
concludes
Charles
From 1908:
“The
unfinished
with a composition
by around
CharlestheIves
question,”
which revolves
From 1908: "The unfinished question,"
which
revolves
around
the
“perpetual question
"perpetual
question of
of being”.
being". An
An
almost meditative
meditativestring
stringtheme,
theme,
almost
in
in whicha a glittering
glittering “questioning”
which
"questioning"
trumpet bumps
bumpsfrom
from
trumpet
the the
right,right,
and
and
as
a
disturbing
element
and aa
as a disturbing element and
reverberation a
a flute
reverberation
flute quartet,
quartet, which
which
moves
tonally
into
the
moves tonally into the quiet
quiet chords
chords
of the
the strings.
of
strings. The
The piece
piece presents
presents
some
acoustic
cliffs,
some acoustic cliffs, but
but the
the A.C.T.
A.C.T.
One Evolution
Evolution turns
One
turns them
them all
all in
in aa
sovereign manner.
sovereign
manner. Despite
Despite the
the
considerable aggressiveness
aggressiveness
considerable
of
of theflute,
flute,which
which represent
represent aa
the
challenge for
challenge
for each
each loudspeaker,
loudspeaker, itit
remains
tonally
undisturbed
remains tonally undisturbed in
in all
all
its
dynamic
presence.
The
stage
its dynamic presence. The stage is
is fluid,the
thespace
space impressive,
impressive, the
fluid,
the
musicians
close
to
touch.
The
musicians close to touch. The
detachment from the sense of their being a loudspeaker there
at all reaches a degree, which I know so of no other! At the end
of the last bar, you feel so drawn into the concert hall that you
are involuntarily exhorting yourself not to be the first to applaud
because you do not want to destroy the exciting reverberation of
the music and the wonderful moment. Bravo!
Wilson Benesch
Benesch A.C.T.
A.C.T. One
One Evolution
Evolution Loudspeakers
P1 Loudspeakers
Wilson
Type:2.
2.5-way
loudspeakerEfficiency:
Efficiency:
Nominal
Impedance:
Type:
-way loudspeaker
8989
dBdB
Nominal
Impedance:
nominal
6
Ohm,
minimum
4
Ohm
Frequency
Response:
nominal Ohm, minimum 4 Ohm Frequency Response: 34 z 34Hz
30kHz
features:
Hybrid
construction
30k
z Special
pecial features:
ybrid
construction
using using
carboncarbon
fiber fiber
monocoque,
chassis
forand
lowmidrange
and midrange
drivemade
unitsofmade of
shields,
samesame
chassis
for low
speakers
isotactic
polypropylene,
tweeter
with
carbon
/
silk
hybrid
membrane.
isotactic polypropylene, Tone with carbon silken membrane.
Finish:
Finish:
13
standard
colors
(plus
4
P1
collection
finishes,
extra
charge)
13 standard colors (plus 4 racing colors, extra charge 1990 Euro)
Dimensions:119
119x x22,
22,5x x40
40cm
cmWeight:
Weight:
Warranty:years
5 years
Dimensions:
4 46
kgkg
Warranty:
xxxx