Полочная акустика — Unison Research MAX MINI

The MAX MINI is the smallest model in the MAX loudspeaker range from Unison Research, the Italian company better known for its valve amplifiers. The range also includes the MAX 1 and MAX 2 floorstanders, and the MAX MINI brings the same pairing of a large cone woofer and a horn-loaded compression driver to a stand-mounted cabinet. Unison Research states that its products are made entirely in Italy, built to order and tested before shipping. The price is EUR 1,579 per unit, with the speaker supplied in pairs.

Key specs that matter

The MAX MINI works as a two-way reflex-loaded box pairing an 8 inch woofer with a 1 inch compression driver fitted with a titanium diaphragm. Both crossover slopes are 12 dB per octave, with the handover set between 1 and 1.5 kHz. Rated response is 40 Hz to 20 kHz. Sensitivity is 93 dB measured at 2.83 V and 1 m, nominal impedance is 8 ohm with a minimum of 6 ohm, and power handling is 100 W RMS. Each cabinet stands 49.5 cm high, 28.5 cm wide and 36 cm deep, and weighs 15 kg. Lacquered cherry, walnut and mahogany finishes are offered.

Engineering and use context

Unison Research designed the MAX MINI to be driven by its own tube amplifiers and tuned both the sensitivity and the impedance curve around their output behaviour. A load curve that never dips far below its nominal value keeps the demand on an output transformer modest, and the efficiency lets a small valve amplifier reach useful levels. The compression driver sits in a large flared horn, which controls dispersion above the crossover and lets the woofer hand over at a relatively low frequency for a cone of that size. Two reflex ports on the front baffle vent the enclosure, so the cabinet does not rely on free space behind it for the port to work and can sit closer to a rear wall than a rear-ported box. A single pair of gold-plated terminals accepts 4 mm plugs, spade lugs or stripped cable, and there is no bi-wire provision. The grille is removable. Given the cabinet mass, mounting on floor stands is recommended rather than a shelf or furniture top.

Pairing

This easy load suits low-power valve amplifiers such as the Unison Research integrated models, while the power handling rating is the ceiling to respect with larger transistor amplifiers. Because the ports face forward, the pair was intended for placement near the rear wall of small and medium rooms.

Alternatives

Unison Research offers no other bookshelf loudspeaker, as the other MAX models are floorstanders.