Floorstanding loudspeakers — Lawrence Audio DOVE

The DOVE comes from Lawrence Audio as a passive tower, the brand started by designer Lawrence Liao, and it takes the form of a narrow three-way column loaded by a bass reflex port. Its footprint of 22 cm in width and 35 cm in depth keeps the cabinet narrow, while the height of 106 cm gives it a compact tower profile. In the Lawrence Audio catalogue it sits below the PENGUIN, a taller model with a larger cabinet and more drive units.

Key specs that matter

Lawrence Audio rates the DOVE from 35 Hz to 40,000 Hz and gives a sensitivity of 91 dB. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm. The maker suggests amplification between 50 W as a minimum and 150 W as a maximum per channel. The signal is split into three bands, with crossover points at 250 Hz and 2,500 Hz, and the filter slopes are quoted at 24 dB per octave for the woofer filter and equally for the tweeter filter. The low and mid bands are handled by a pair of 7 inch ceramic cone drivers sourced from Accuton, the German maker of ceramic units.

Engineering and use context

Lawrence Audio builds the enclosure from 25 mm MDF, a thickness chosen to keep panel flex low in a tall and narrow box. A fourth order filter on each side of the crossover means the drivers leave their bands steeply, which limits the overlap between neighbouring units. Crossover parts are listed as MKP film capacitors, inductors wound with high purity oxygen free copper plus metal oxide film resistors that meet a military industrial grade. The reflex loading lets the relatively small bass drivers reach the stated bass extension without a much larger cabinet. With the port working in the low range, the tower needs some free space behind it, and a room of around 20 m2 suits its size.

Pairing

Given that sensitivity, a few tens of watts cover everyday volume, though the low impedance rating demands a current-capable amplifier. A solid state integrated or a push-pull valve amplifier with a matching output tap for such loads within the suggested power window is the logical match, while very small single-ended designs are less suited to this load. Heavier speaker cable helps keep resistance low when the impedance dips, and short runs between amplifier and speaker are preferable for the same reason. Owners with a smaller room can stay at the modest end of the maker's power window.

Alternatives

The Lawrence Audio PENGUIN is a larger floorstanding option with Accuton ceramic drivers, twin woofers and deeper rated bass extension.