The Opal sat is the smallest box in the Opal range from Pylon Audio, a loudspeaker maker that has built its products since 2011 in a 3,300 m2 factory in Jarocin, western Poland. Pylon lists it as a satellite, a compact two-way model intended both for a small stereo system and for surround duty in a home cinema. It is sold per unit, at PLN 849 per speaker in Poland.
Key specs that matter
A single Pylon Audio PSW 11.8 CS mid/bass driver handles bass and midrange, while a Pylon Audio PST T-50/8 tweeter takes over at the top. The rated frequency range runs from 65 Hz to 20 kHz. Nominal impedance is 8 ohm, and the power handling figures are 40 W nominal and 60 W maximum. Efficiency is quoted at 85 dB. The cabinet measures 150 mm wide, 280 mm high and 220 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 3.8 kg.
Engineering and use context
Its mid/bass unit has a cellulose cone treated with a proprietary coating, the same family of paper diaphragms Pylon fits across the Opal series. The tweeter is a 25 mm silk dome driven by a neodymium magnet, which keeps the motor small enough for the narrow front panel. The enclosure is a simple rectangular box tuned as a bass-reflex design, with the port helping a small cabinet reach lower than its size would suggest. Buyers choose between three PVC-veneered finishes - wenge, walnut and black ash - and a magnetic grille covers the drivers when needed. Spikes, flat feet and spike pads are offered separately. Pylon designs the Opal sat for shelves, tables or dedicated stands, and in a multichannel layout it is meant to fill the side or rear positions of a 5.1 or 7.1 system next to the Opal Center and floorstanding Opal models. The warranty runs for 3 years, plus a fourth year once the product is registered with Pylon.
Pairing
The simple load is easy on almost any amplifier or AV receiver, but the low efficiency means a modest-power stereo integrated or a multichannel receiver will run closer to its limits than with more sensitive speakers. Keeping the amplifier within the maximum rating protects the small drivers, and the limited bass extension makes the Opal sub a logical addition when the satellites carry a home cinema or a desktop system on their own.
Alternatives
The Pylon Audio Opal Monitor is a larger two-way stand-mount with an 18 cm paper woofer, 86 dB sensitivity and a 45 Hz lower limit, sized for rooms of 12 to 20 m2.