The MODEL ONE is a compact two-way reference monitor made by Evolution Acoustics, a loudspeaker maker based in San Diego, California, and designed there under Kevin Malmgren. It opens the brand's MODEL Series, which sits below the SYSTEM Two and SYSTEM Three, and the company states that technology developed over ten years for the SYSTEM line was carried over to its custom components. No off-the-shelf parts are used, from the drivers to the crossover parts and binding posts. The launch price was USD 3,780 per pair.
Key specs that matter
A proprietary 2 inch soft-pleat Air Motion Transformer tweeter works with a custom tooled 5.5 inch long throw ceramic matrix mid-woofer, crossed over at 1.7 kHz. The Gen II AMT uses a pleated diaphragm with about 129 cm2 of surface area and a thickness of about 0.013 mm, and the woofer allows 32 mm of linear travel. Evolution Acoustics lists a frequency response of 35 Hz to 45 kHz at minus 3 dB, a sensitivity of 85 dB and a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Recommended amplifier power runs from 50 W minimum to 500 W maximum, and maximum output is rated at 110 dB. The cabinet measures about 292 mm high, 191 mm wide and 292 mm deep, while the mass per cabinet is about 11.3 kg. Distortion is quoted at less than 5% across the whole bandwidth.
Engineering and use context
Its crossover follows the EXACT constant voltage series topology, with the drivers connected directly to the amplifier outputs. Its parts include film and foil capacitors, high purity copper air core inductors, copper-nickel wire wound resistors and foamed dielectric solid core copper wiring, hand matched and soldered on anti-vibration multi-tiered circuit boards. The CAMDAL enclosure is made of multiple layers of high-density fibre bonded by adhesive, coupled to carbon fibre panels over an anti-vibration substrate and capped with aircraft grade aluminium plates, giving up to eight constrained damping layers. The finish combines black vegan leather, matte black powder coated aluminium and high gloss carbon fibre, and the maker states the design targets time and phase alignment.
Pairing
A low nominal load plus modest efficiency point to transistor amplification able to supply ample current, and the high power ceiling leaves room for large amplifiers. The compact box works on stands or on a shelf.
Alternatives
The Evolution Acoustics MiniOne is a discontinued two-way bookshelf model built around a transmission line enclosure and a matching segmented stand.