Полочная акустика — Audes Llc. M1

The M1 is the stand-mounted two-way member of the M series from Audes, the Estonian loudspeaker maker whose roots go back to the RET radio factory licensed in Tallinn on 30 March 1935. Products from that factory carried the Estonia trademark from 1955, the name was changed to Audes - short for Audio from Estonia - in 1992, and the first loudspeaker under the new name, the 130AC, followed in 1993. Within the M series the M1 sits below the floorstanding M2 and M5.

Key specs that matter

Audes fits a 6.5-inch paper cone woofer that Audes designs and builds itself, and a 1-inch fabric dome tweeter. They cross over at 1,100 Hz. Audes gives the frequency range as 55 Hz to 30,000 Hz held within 2 dB either way, and sensitivity as 81 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m. Nominal impedance is 8 ohm. Maximum long-term power is 50 W and maximum short-term power is 110 W. Including spikes and terminals, the M1 stands 403 mm high, 252 mm wide and 290 mm deep, and it weighs 14 kg.

Engineering and use context

The cabinet follows a square cross-section. Because square boxes are prone to standing waves, Audes added angled walls inside the enclosure to reduce the number of parallel internal surfaces. The main section is not made of wood but of a solid surface material consisting mainly of aluminium trihydrate, whose higher density and tensile strength than wood-based boards give a stiff shell with little vibration. This section rests on an MDF stand, which in turn sits on a plinth of the same solid surface material. The crossover is housed in its own compartment to keep it away from mechanical influences, and single crystal copper wire runs through the whole system. Like every model in the series, the M1 is ported, and its reflex opening sits beneath the front wall and points at the floor, which Audes chose for more predictable behaviour in different rooms and a smaller form factor. The port shape also makes it harder for stray waves inside the cabinet to escape, and it is split into several separate channels to control airflow. The woofer was tuned specifically for this series, and the silk dome tweeter allowed a relatively low crossover point.

Pairing

The M1 is 5 dB less sensitive than the Maestro 106 and 7 dB less than the M5. Its nominal load matches the floorstanding M2, which shares the woofer, tweeter and power ratings. The Estonian company's electronics range, sold under the same name, covers tube amplification and mains conditioning units.

Alternatives

In the Maestro line, Audes offers the 106, a two-way bookshelf with a 6.5-inch Audes woofer, 86 dB sensitivity and a 45 Hz to 20,000 Hz range.