Floorstanding loudspeakers — Kaiser Acoustics Minal

The Minal is a four-driver, three-way tower in the Kawero! range of Kaiser Acoustics, the German company that also works in room acoustics. The Kawero! range includes the Classic, Vivace, Chiara, Grande, Furioso mini and Colibri models, and the Minal is one of its large floorstanders. Three of its drivers come from the German driver maker Audiotechnology.

Key specs that matter

The lower woofer is a 12 inch Audiotechnology unit in a ported enclosure, the upper woofer a 10 inch Audiotechnology unit in a closed box, and the midrange a 6.5 inch Audiotechnology driver in its own closed chamber. High frequencies come from a proprietary ribbon tweeter with a silver transformer from Ypsilon Electronics, mounted in a waveguide designed with finite element analysis. Frequency response is 30 Hz to 30 kHz, nominal impedance is 4 ohm and sensitivity is about 93 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m. The speaker measures 528 mm wide, 1413 mm high and 740 mm deep and weighs 177 kg. Finishes are a standard veneer or silk-matte lacquer, with an optional contrasting side panel.

Engineering and use context

Splitting the bass between two woofers in separate enclosures lets each work in its own acoustic environment. The larger driver in the ported section reaches the lowest frequencies, while the smaller unit in a closed box covers the upper bass without port effects, and the midrange sits in a closed chamber isolated from the pressure of both woofers. A ribbon tweeter has a very light diaphragm, and the Ypsilon silver transformer matches its very low impedance to the amplifier. The waveguide controls the ribbon's dispersion, and designing it with finite element analysis allowed its shape to be optimised by simulation. The cabinet is built from Panzerholz, a very dense compressed wood, in a proprietary sandwich with constrained-layer damping provided by a heavy foil, which converts panel vibration into heat. The crossover follows a flat design aimed at correct behaviour in both the time and frequency domains, and it uses Duelund CAST copper parts. The high weight reflects the dense Panzerholz construction.

Pairing

With its high sensitivity, the Minal reaches high levels from moderate amplifier power, while its low nominal impedance needs a stable, current-capable amplifier. Its size suits large listening rooms.

Alternatives

The Kawero! Chiara is another floorstanding model in the same Kaiser Acoustics range.