Floorstanding loudspeakers — Alare Labs REMIGA 1 BE

The Remiga 1 Be is a passive tower in a three-way layout from Alare Labs, an Italian loudspeaker maker founded by engineers who previously worked at Audia Flight. It belongs to the Remiga 1 range, the smaller of the brand's two Remiga series, and the Be suffix identifies the variant with a beryllium tweeter, while the Remiga 1 Dia uses a diamond dome in the same enclosure. Alare describes it as directly derived from the larger Remiga 2, using the same design principles in a more compact format, and grants a three-year guarantee for materials and workmanship of the product.

Key specs that matter

There are four drivers in each cabinet. Low frequencies are shared between a 200 mm and a 170 mm woofer, both with polypropylene cones, the midrange is a 125 mm Accuton unit with a pure ceramic membrane, and treble comes from a 25 mm beryllium dome. Alare rates the response from 35 Hz to 30 kHz within 0 to -3 dB and the sensitivity at 87 dB for 2.83 V at 1 m. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm, with the lowest point stated as 3.3 ohm. The enclosure measures 130 x 30 x 58 cm (height, width, depth), and one speaker weighs 100 kg without crating.

Engineering and use context

Bass loading is by a tapered transmission line, not a sealed box or a front or rear reflex port. The walls are laminated from alternating wood species joined by layers of special damping glue, so the panels work as constrained layer damping, and a frame of steel rods inside the enclosure braces the structure against vibration. The ceramic midrange is taken from the Cell line of the German driver specialist Accuton. In the crossover the parts are mounted on a non-conductive board and linked by point to point wiring in silver-plated solid copper instead of printed circuit tracks. The midrange works in an enclosed space stuffed with aramid fibre wool to control its rear radiation. Alare chose beryllium for the tweeter because the metal is extremely light and stiff, and the maker states that it copes with high power and disperses more widely than titanium or aluminium domes. Alare offers eight finishes - lacquers in gloss red, brown, gray, white and black, plus Amara ebony, optical black and California burl veneer.

Pairing

With a dip below the nominal rating and moderate efficiency, the Remiga 1 Be calls for a solid-state partner whose output stage copes easily with current demands in the dip.

Alternatives

The Alare Labs Remiga 2 Be is the larger floorstander in the brand's catalogue, with larger carbon sandwich woofers, a larger Accuton midrange and a bigger beryllium tweeter in a heavier cabinet.