Полочная акустика — Kroma Atelier Julieta

The Julieta is a two-way monitor on an integral base from Kroma Atelier, a loudspeaker maker in Andalucia in southern Spain, and belongs to the Classic Series alongside the Mimi, Thais, Stella and Elektra. Kroma groups its range into Classic, Signature and Reference series. The name comes from the heroine of Gounod's opera Romeo et Juliette, and the company links the model to themes of youthful idealism and love crossing social boundaries.

Key specs that matter

The current version uses an AMT tweeter and a 6.5 inch midwoofer with a paper fibre mix cone. Sensitivity is 90 dB, impedance is 4 ohm and the stated frequency response is 30 Hz to 30 kHz. Kroma recommends amplifier power from 30 to 300 W. Each speaker stands 106 cm tall, 29 cm wide and 43 cm deep, with the depth figure measured at the base, and weighs 50 kg. In the United States the price runs from USD 51,900 to USD 53,700 depending on finish.

Engineering and use context

Kroma builds the enclosure from Krion, a solid surface material from the Porcelanosa Group that is roughly two thirds natural minerals, chiefly aluminium trihydrate, bound with a small share of high-resistance resin. It is non-porous, non-conductive and non-magnetic, and it can be thermoformed, which lets Kroma shape the enclosure rather than assemble it from flat panels. Production combines CNC machining, thermoforming and hand finishing, and each unit is acoustically tested before leaving the workshop. Earlier versions of the Julieta had a full Krion cabinet with the crossover sealed off in its own chamber, and a passive network using Duelund and Mundorf parts together with selected NOS components. The standard finish is white Krion, with side panels available in carbon fibre, wood, titanium, champagne or aluminium, and automotive paint colours including Magnetic Silver, Magneto Bronze, Black, Supernova Red, Buckinghamshire Green and Seychelles Blue. Seven full-colour Krion versions - Midnight, Graphite, Lunar, Ocean, Sky, Ruby and Mocha - cost extra, and a 24 carat gold leaf option has been offered.

Pairing

A low impedance paired with high sensitivity means the Julieta does not require a very powerful amplifier, but the low impedance favours solid-state designs with stable current into low loads over output-transformer valve amplifiers. The wide recommended power window covers everything from modest integrated amplifiers to large power amplifiers. Because the base is part of the cabinet, no separate stand is needed.

Alternatives

Kroma Atelier's Macbeth from the Signature Series is a smaller stand-mount with an 8 inch aluminium woofer and a response to 25 Hz.