Bookshelf Speakers — VAF Research Signature i90 SE

The Signature i90 SE is a Special Edition variant of the i90 compact bookshelf speaker from VAF Research, the Australian company established in Adelaide in 1978 by Philip Vafiadis, which has sold over 10,000 pairs of speakers abroad and at home. In the Signature Series it sits between the standard i90 and the much larger i91 MKIII, and it is priced at AUD 1,649 per speaker, sold singly. The main change from the i90 is its drive unit - a proprietary coaxial driver with magnesium alloy parts, developed together with the Norwegian driver maker SEAS.

Key specs that matter

VAF quotes a range of 65 Hz to 20 kHz held within plus or minus 2.5 dB, with the bass reaching its -3 dB point at 64 Hz. Phase deviation is given as plus or minus 40 degrees between 100 Hz and 7 kHz. Nominal impedance is 6 ohms, lower than the 8 ohm rating of the standard i90. The cabinet is 200 mm wide, 200 mm tall and 212 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 3.6 kg. Finishes are textured Decor Black or Decor White. VAF does not publish sensitivity or a power rating for this model.

Engineering and use context

In the dual concentric driver, the high frequency unit is fitted straight into the magnet system of the cone unit below it, so both sections share one acoustic centre. Copper shorting rings and oversized air-vented voice coils are used to cut distortion, while an extended roll surround and a double-folded rear suspension give the cone room for long excursion despite its small size. VAF lists time-aligned drivers, shaped vertical and horizontal power response, stored energy damping, optimum Q filters, double-layer diffraction control absorbers and Hypersoft damping material among the design principles of the i90 family, and it documents a critically aligned first-order crossover with a 6 dB per octave slope for the i90 platform. Each speaker is handmade in Adelaide after the order is placed, which takes around 12 weeks, and the warranty period is 10 years, with a 30-day home trial on top.

Pairing

Given its bass limit, the i90 SE can run full range in a small room or hand the lowest octave to a subwoofer, and VAF also positions the i90 platform for surround layouts with five, seven or more channels. Its nominal load is easy for most integrated amplifiers and AV receivers. Stands, flush mount kits and wall brackets are offered as separate accessories, so the speaker can go on furniture, on a wall or into a cavity.

Alternatives

The standard VAF Signature i90 shares the same cabinet at AUD 1,249 per speaker and is rated at 8 ohms nominal.