Floorstanding loudspeakers — Kharma Elegance DB7(-S)

The Elegance dB7 is a two-way tower speaker built by the Dutch maker Kharma, available as the standard dB7 or as the dB7-S with Signature treatment, under type codes EL-dB7-1.1 and EL-dB7-1.1-S. Kharma presents it as the successor of the Ceramique 3.2 FE, a model first introduced in 1998, reworked in its drivers, connectors and internal cabling. Within the Elegance collection it sits above the S7 and below the three-way dB9-S and dB11-S, and alongside the S7 it is one of only two Elegance models still sold without the Signature upgrade.

Key specs that matter

Two 7-inch mid/bass drivers work below a 1-inch True Beryllium tweeter. The standard model uses Kharma Composite Driver units, while the -S model fits Kharma Omega-7 drivers. Rated power handling is 150 W RMS and 300 W program, the frequency range extends from 29 Hz to 30 kHz, and efficiency is 88 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m, with a 110 dB SPL maximum. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm. Including its stand, each cabinet measures 1011 mm high, 358 mm wide and 586 mm deep.

Engineering and use context

The Composite Driver cone is formed from fibres based on Formula 1 materials, and its profile was refined with finite element analysis. Its magnet-motor management system is intended to keep the midrange free of distortion when large currents pass through the voice coil at high power. The Omega-7 cone of the Signature version is based on Ultra High Modulus carbon fibre, and this driver swap is the only Signature change that can be seen from outside. Inside, the -S cabinet gets more acoustic damping, internal wire of greater cross-section and a vibration-damping compound applied to the crossover and the port tube on the back plate. For the tweeter, Kharma chose beryllium as the stiffest material after diamond and specifies output well above 30,000 Hz. The cabinet is 35 mm high density MDF in a polygonal shape. A grille held by embedded magnets can be removed, and the SDSS stand of black composite with a chrome disc and top cover is designed to absorb resonance and ground the speaker mechanically.

Pairing

Because its load draws more current than the S7, the partnering amplifier should be able to deliver plenty of current. Kharma treats 50 W as the usual lower limit and would rather see a high-power amplifier than one pushed into clipping. It suggests its own KLC silver-gold loudspeaker cable, of equal type and length on both channels. Each crate contains the speaker, grille and four spike discs, and a burn-in CD shortens running-in to about 50 hours.

Alternatives

The Kharma Elegance S7 is the smaller two-way Elegance floorstander with one 7-inch mid/bass driver and an 8 ohm load.