Floorstanding loudspeakers — Blumenhofer Acoustics Tempesta 17

The Tempesta 17 is the shorter and lighter one of the two Tempesta floorstanders from Blumenhofer Acoustics, and Blumenhofer calls it the entry point of its range. Tempesta is the Italian word for storm, and Blumenhofer explains that the series was originally conceived for home cinema before being tailored to stereo use as well. The range also contains the larger Tempesta 20 and the Tempesta Bookshelf. Like the rest of the line, the 17 pairs a ground-ported bass reflex enclosure with a horn-loaded compression driver that covers everything above the woofer.

Key specs that matter

A 170 mm woofer handles the lower band up to 1,800 Hz, where the crossover passes the signal on to a compression driver using a 1 inch throat and a 35 mm Mylar membrane. The stated frequency range extends from 45 Hz to 20 kHz within plus or minus 2 dB, an efficiency of 90 dB and an 8 ohm impedance, with 100 W RMS as the maximum power input. The cabinet is 950 mm tall, 270 mm wide and 248 mm deep, and it weighs 16 kg. Two speakers are packed together in one carton of 105 x 60 x 38 cm with a total weight of 35 kg.

Engineering and use context

For the woofer Blumenhofer chose a P2C sandwich membrane built from two sheets of Victrex Peek with a carbon inlay between them, a structure intended for high stiffness and for keeping resonances out of the working band. Blumenhofer also applies a treatment of its own to the compression driver, which is loaded by a horn with a wooden front. The enclosure is 19 mm MDF without internal bracing, and the crossover sits in a dedicated chamber of its own. Bass is vented through a hybrid bass reflex tunnel that exits toward the floor, and the speaker rests on adjustable spikes. Unlike the Tempesta 20, the 17 has no impedance linearisation network and a single-wiring connection panel with gold-plated tellurium copper posts, which rules out splitting the woofer and horn feeds. Finishes listed for the model are White Opaque, Walnut, Dark Walnut and Makassar, with a warranty term of five years.

Pairing

Blumenhofer describes the Tempesta 17 as tube friendly, which puts valve amplifiers on the list of partners the company supports. Because the series started out as a home cinema line, the maker offers centre speakers for it, listing the Center 17 and Center 15 as matching units for a surround setup built around a pair of Tempesta 17.

Alternatives

The Blumenhofer Tempesta 20 sits above it in the series, using a 200 mm woofer, 92 dB efficiency, bi-wiring terminals and a 1165 mm tall cabinet.