Bookshelf Speakers — Boenicke Audio W5

The W5 is a miniature stand-mount loudspeaker from Boenicke Audio, the company of Sven Boenicke in Basel, Switzerland. It is sold in Standard, SE and SE+ versions, and the current version is the MK2 generation. Boenicke's current range lists the W11, W13, W22, Center and Woods models.

Key specs that matter

Sensitivity is 83 to 86 dB per watt at 1 m depending on frequency, and nominal impedance is 4 ohm. Each speaker weighs 3.5 kg and measures 106 mm wide, 293 mm high and 231 mm deep, with an internal volume of 2.8 litres, and the total height on the matching stands is 75 cm. A 5 inch long-throw bass driver, tuned to 50 Hz, runs without any crossover, a 3 inch wide-band driver with a phase plug covers the midrange and treble through a first-order high-pass filter with a KZK capacitor, and a rear-firing ambient tweeter supports the off-axis response. The related W8 model has 84 to 88 dB sensitivity and the same 4 ohm load. Wood options are walnut, four types of oak, ash, core ash and cherry.

Engineering and use context

The bass driver has a linear excursion of up to 18.5 mm, very long for a driver of this size, which allows it to move enough air for bass from a 2.8 litre cabinet. Leaving it without a crossover means no filter components sit between the amplifier and the bass driver, and the wide-band driver takes over through a single capacitor. The rear ambient tweeter adds energy behind and to the sides of the speaker. The Standard version has a 2 cm parallel resonator, silk-wrapped litz wiring and KLEI Naked Harmony binding posts with a wooden clamping nut. The SE adds resonators on the bass driver and on both magnets, a Mundorf Silver-Gold-Oil capacitor bypassed by a Duelund 0.01 µF capacitor and KLEI Classic Harmony Silver posts. The SE+ further adds series and parallel straight resonators, an 18.5 cm spiral EMF coil, Harmonix RF-5700 bases and a phase linearisation network. Boenicke's resonators are small tuned mechanical devices attached to the cabinet and drivers to control vibration.

Pairing

With its modest sensitivity and low impedance, the W5 needs an amplifier with ample power into 4 ohm, and Boenicke's own P1 amplifier is used with it. It suits small rooms and desks, where its narrow cabinet takes little space.

Alternatives

The Boenicke W11 is the larger current model with 10 inch, 6 inch and 3 inch drivers and 86 to 89 dB sensitivity.