Floorstanding loudspeakers — Voxativ 9.88 SYSTEM

The 9.88 SYSTEM is a three-module floorstanding loudspeaker from Voxativ GmbH of Zossen, Germany, and its name comes from a small formula printed by the maker, pi times pi plus .01 equals 9.88. It grew out of the earlier 9.87 system and stays fully backward compatible with it, so an owner of the older model can slot the new .01 Mid-Module between the existing housings and end up with a 9.88. Voxativ gives an approximate price of EUR 75,000, and the US price is USD 79,900 for a pair.

Key specs that matter

Frequency response is stated as 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Voxativ gives an efficiency of 98 or 102 dB at 1 W and 1 m, depending on whether the AC-4nP or the AC-4F Gold wideband driver is fitted, and a maximum level of 110 dB. Power capacity is 50 W sine. Each stacked tower measures 40 cm wide, 140 cm high and 40 cm deep and weighs 87 kg. The cabinets come in white or black piano finish. The AC-4nP driver and the .01 Mid-Module are also sold separately, each at USD 17,900.

Engineering and use context

The top Pi monitor is a back-loaded horn enclosure holding the AC-4nP full-range unit. Compared with earlier Voxativ wideband drivers, its basket is CNC-milled rather than diecast, and it gets a revised suspension, an improved paper cone and a gold-plated magnet system taken from the AC-4F Gold. On request the factory installs field coil drivers in this position instead. The middle module adds an 8 inch neodymium driver for the low midrange, and the listener can choose among three response curves for that band. At the base sits the Pi-Bass, an active Ripol subwoofer in which two neodymium woofers face each other and are driven by a 250 W class AB plate amplifier. Voxativ states that this module stays linear to the bottom of the stated range, and its crossover, phase and gain controls are all reached from the rear panel. Every enclosure in the stack uses the brand's Acoustic Stealth Technology, a housing layout meant to damp unwanted internal reflections. Because the system is modular, the three boxes can also be arranged as separate cabinets instead of one column.

Pairing

The wideband top section keeps the efficiency of a Voxativ single-driver speaker, so an SET valve amplifier with little power is enough for it, while the lowest octaves come from the built-in amplifier of the Pi-Bass rather than from the main amplifier.

Alternatives

The Voxativ ALBERICH² is the smaller active hybrid, putting a HAGEN² Monitor on a Ripol bass module in a 20.5 cm wide column.