Полочная акустика — Legacy Audio Calibre

The Calibre is the passive standard version of a compact three-way monitor from Legacy Audio of Springfield, Illinois, designed by founder and chief designer Bill Dudleston with the stated aim of building the highest resolution compact speaker available. Legacy documents it in one owner's manual alongside the Calibre XD and states that the XD, which adds 500 W of internal power, is not a replacement for the Calibre but an internally amplified version of the same design, while the fully passive model keeps its place in the line-up.

Key specs that matter

A 4 inch AMT ribbon handles the treble, a 7.5 inch accordion edge midrange with a 2.7 kg magnetic structure covers the middle band, and an 8 inch extended throw woofer handles the bass, joined by two 8 inch mass-loaded pneumatic radiators in a 6th order low frequency alignment. Crossover points sit at 200 Hz and 2.5 kHz. Legacy quotes 38 Hz to 30 kHz within 2 dB, 4 ohm nominal impedance and 90.5 dB sensitivity, with 45 to 400 W as the recommended amplifier power. The cabinet measures 413 x 254 x 387 mm (height, width, depth), with a net weight of 22.7 kg, or 25.4 kg shipped.

Engineering and use context

The midrange and midbass unit is a precision custom driver made in Spain, and the bass driver has 25 mm of displacement capability. The designer notes that the Calibre is about 8 cm taller than the Studio HD. Using passive radiators instead of a port is intended to avoid port noise. The MDF enclosure uses interlocking joinery, polyester fiberfill for internal damping, and select veneers on every exposed surface, hand-rubbed several times. Mounting is on a stand or shelf, and the manual gives 76 cm as the recommended stand height. Legacy lists eight veneer and paint options, from natural oak, black oak and the two satin colours to walnut, rosewood and white or black high gloss. The cabinet and drivers carry a seven-year warranty.

Pairing

Two pairs of jumpered binding posts on the rear accept a single amplifier channel, bi-wire runs or passive bi-amping once the jumper strips are removed. Legacy offers several upgrade paths for owners of the passive model - adding a Powerbloc2 or iV2 amplifier to the bass section while an external amplifier drives the upper range, powering both sections from the four-channel Powerbloc4 or iV4, or bi-amping actively through the Wavelet or Wavelaunch processors after a factory authorised modification.

Alternatives

The Legacy Studio HD is a smaller two-way bookshelf monitor from the same maker, built around an 8 inch Silver/Graphite midwoofer and a 1 inch AMT tweeter.