Floorstanding loudspeakers — Lowther AudioVector

The AudioVector is a large horn-loaded floorstanding loudspeaker from Lowther, the British maker that has built handmade full-range horn speakers one at a time since 1934. The design goes back to the late 1950s - a 1958 listing gives a cabinet price of GBP 48 before the drive unit was added. The current version is Lowther's first return to cabinet making since the 1980s and was redeveloped by its craftsmen from original drawings of the 1970s. It is a limited edition made by commission only, with each speaker carrying a certificate of authenticity and a serial plate.

Key specs that matter

Two 8 inch Lowther drive units are fitted, one firing upward from the top of the cabinet and one facing the listener, and Lowther suggests a PM4A for the top position and a PM2A for the front. Frequency response is 35 Hz to 20 kHz. Sensitivity is 98 to 105 dB depending on the room, and Lowther states that system efficiency typically exceeds 100 dB. Nominal impedance is 8 or 15 ohm. The cabinet measures 950 mm high, 685 mm wide and 600 mm deep, rising to 1380 mm once the top reflector is fitted, and each speaker weighs 120 kg.

Engineering and use context

Loading follows the Voigt horn principle, with a top dispersal horn working alongside the front-firing driver. The original model sent the mid and high frequencies upward and used a folded bass horn about 3.4 m long that opened toward the listener at floor level. On the new cabinet the reflector above the upward driver can be adjusted, and the speaker can also rely on reflections from the ceiling. Lowther describes the AudioVector as a speaker for large rooms with high ceilings, and aims it at collectors who want reproduction on a big scale. The enclosure is built from high-grade Baltic birch plywood and finished in real wood or specialist book-matched veneers, with every unit handcrafted to order in Lowther's Northampton workshop. Buyers can order a single monophonic unit or a stereo pair. Lowther notes that a running-in period of more than 1,000 hours is normal for its drivers before they reach their final behaviour.

Pairing

The 1958 cabinet was specified for Lowther PM4 or PM6 drive units, while the current model is offered with the PM4A on top and the PM2A in front. The speaker is fully passive and needs no mains power of its own.

Alternatives

Lowther's Acousta 117 is a smaller back-loaded Voigt horn floorstander with a single 8 inch drive unit and a weight of 27 kg.