Virtual HiFi Supernova – Dipole Speakers with Dual 15-Inch Woofers

Polish company Virtual HiFi has introduced the Supernova, a fully passive three-way floorstanding loudspeaker with an open-baffle dipole design. The model was developed by Grzegorz Rulka, who has previously worked on projects for Cube Audio and Qualio. Supernova is the latest addition to the young brand’s range, following the earlier Viper model.

The design combines large-format drivers with an open baffle rather than a conventional loudspeaker enclosure. Low frequencies are handled by two 15-inch SB Audience woofers, while the midrange is reproduced by a 7.5-inch SB Acoustics Satori driver with a TeXtreme diaphragm. High frequencies are assigned to a custom-made Mundorf AMT tweeter. The supporting baffle uses a constrained-layer damping construction, with a 2 mm elastomer layer sandwiched between two 3 mm steel plates to help suppress mechanical resonances.

Supernova was conceived as an attempt to combine the scale, weight and physical impact of a large loudspeaker with the speed and spatial openness associated with dipole designs. According to Rulka, the project was originally created for his own audio system, with the open-baffle architecture chosen to minimise enclosure influence, improve resolution and produce a more convincing stereo image. Frequency division is handled by a passive crossover using components from Mundorf, Jantzen, Duelund and Clarity Cap, meaning the speakers require external amplification.

The Virtual HiFi Supernova is specified to cover a frequency range of 25 Hz to 22 kHz, with a sensitivity of 90 dB and a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. The loudspeakers are made to order in Poland. European pricing is set at €20,000 per pair, including delivery.