Floorstanding loudspeakers — Brodmann JB 175

The JB 175 belongs to the Joseph Brodmann series, the top line of the Viennese maker Brodmann Acoustics, which draws on the family's piano-making history of more than 220 years and on some 40 years of work by acoustic designer Hans Deutsch. Brodmann describes it as the successor to the VC 7, which had been its reference speaker for about a decade. The model made its consumer debut on 27 October 2016 at a private event in Jupiter, Florida, priced at USD 50,900 per pair in black and USD 59,700 with handcrafted veneers.

Key specs that matter

Brodmann quotes a frequency range of 20 Hz to 29,000 Hz within plus or minus 3 dB. According to the maker, 1.05 W produces 91 dB, and the nominal impedance is 4 ohm. Nominal load is 200 W with a music load of 400 W. The enclosure stands 1420 mm tall, 230 mm wide and 480 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 50 kg.

Engineering and use context

The JB series uses the patented Acoustic Active Principle, a soundboard approach derived from the horn resonator concept. Low frequencies leave the enclosure through an acoustic filter that rolls off from 130 Hz at 4.5 dB per octave, so the bass below that point is shaped by the cabinet rather than by electrical components in the crossover. The electrical crossover divides at 1.6 kHz with a slope of 5.7 dB per octave, keeping the network close to first order. There is no internal damping material in the enclosure, and Brodmann designs and manufactures all of its drivers in-house. Cabinets carry piano-grade finishes, and buyers can order custom veneers, colours and designs, with special editions produced in woods such as Makassar with brass inlays. The absence of damping is intended to avoid internal bass resonances that stuffing would otherwise shape, and the maker states that the bass below 130 Hz stays linear without cabinet distortion.

Pairing

The JB 175 therefore favours transistor amplification with ample current and firm control of a low-impedance speaker. The high efficiency means the demand on voltage swing is moderate, so the load behaviour rather than raw power is the main selection criterion. Such a large cabinet is intended for spaces well beyond 20 m2.

Alternatives

The Brodmann JB 205 sits alongside the JB 175 as the second floorstander of the Joseph Brodmann range and shares its acoustic active bass principle.