Полочная акустика — VAF Research Signature i91 MKIII SE

The Signature i91 MKIII SE is the upgraded SE model of the third-generation i91 standmount monitor from VAF Research, the Adelaide loudspeaker firm started by Philip Vafiadis in 1978 and credited with more than 10,000 pairs sold internationally. VAF presents it as its most accomplished bookshelf speaker to date. The Australian price is AUD 5,999 per pair, and each pair is handbuilt to order in Adelaide with a lead time of about 12 weeks.

Key specs that matter

VAF rates the frequency range at 40 Hz to 25 kHz and the phase response at plus or minus 15 degrees from 100 Hz to 20 kHz. Nominal impedance is 6 ohms and sensitivity is 88 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m. Amplifiers of up to 150 W can be used, with 75 to 100 W described as typical. Continuous power handling is 110 W RMS at 8 ohms, with short peaks above 250 W, and 100 W yields 98 dB SPL at 3 m. The cabinet is 220 mm wide, 440 mm tall and 360 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 14 kg.

Engineering and use context

The central difference from the standard i91 MKIII is a proprietary coaxial drive unit developed with SEAS of Norway, using a white magnesium alloy tweeter dome and a woofer cone of the same material. The high frequency unit is housed within the motor structure of the bass cone, and copper shorting rings plus an oversized air-vented voice coil lower distortion while improving linear excursion. The crossover combines a second-order high-pass section with a first-order low-pass section and uses just two capacitors - one feeding the tweeter and one dealing with the woofer break-up region. For the SE, VAF fits French Solen capacitors and Analysis Plus Choc Oval internal cable, and the air-cored inductors are wound with 2 mm copper wire and adjusted by hand after winding. The front-ported enclosure uses 36 mm MDF with mitred joints and internal cross-bracing, and absorbent fibre treatments control dispersion. Finishes are American Cherry, Australian Jarrah, Black Oak, Black Gloss and Tasmanian Blackwood, and the warranty runs 10 years.

Pairing

Its load and efficiency figures put it within reach of mainstream solid-state integrated amplifiers, and the SPL figure shows that a moderately powered amplifier already reaches loud levels at a normal seating distance, so there is no need for very high power. Since the rated range already reaches into the low bass, many owners can run the SE without a subwoofer. A rigid stand that brings the coaxial driver to seated ear level suits the single-point layout.

Alternatives

The standard VAF Signature i91 MKIII uses the same cabinet at AUD 4,799 and is rated at 8 ohms with 86 dB sensitivity.