Полочная акустика — VAF Research Signature i90

The Signature i90 is a bookshelf speaker from VAF Research, built with a proprietary Magnesium Alloy coaxial drive unit - the only design of its kind in the world. VAF describes this as the most impressive stand-mount speaker made to date, hand-built to order in the brand's own Adelaide manufacturing facility with each unit beginning its approximately 12-week build process only once ordered.

Key specs that matter

The coaxial driver was developed jointly with Norwegian company SEAS (Scandinavian Electro Acoustic Systems), mounting a high-frequency driver directly into the magnet assembly of an advanced long-throw mid/low-frequency unit - the same proprietary dual concentric driver technology found in VAF's legendary flagship Signature i91. The Magnesium Alloy construction is highly rigid with special damping properties, enabling extremely fine detail reproduction at realistic volume levels alongside perfect time alignment between frequencies. A critically aligned first-order 6dB-per-octave crossover creates genuine point-source radiation, with all sound appearing to emanate from the tweeter with incredible phase coherence. Twin layers of VAF's proprietary Hypersoft diffraction control material, accurately placed within the cabinet, effectively stop destructive baffle-edge reflections before they occur and attenuate internal standing waves. Finishes are Textured Decor Black or White.

Sound and use context

Expect a huge, lifelike soundstage with pinpoint imaging delivering a convincing illusion of three-dimensional sound floating before the listener - unlike other small loudspeakers, VAF states the i90 can fill even large rooms with clear, loud sound without needing a subwoofer, though pairing it with one or a spaced pair transforms performance again into a category of power, detail and capability described as truly unbelievable for the speaker's size.

Pairing

Used as a group of five, seven or more in a surround sound configuration, VAF describes performance as truly breathtaking, and the Signature i90 pairs naturally with VAF's larger Signature i91 for a multichannel system using i90s specifically as rear or surround channels.

Alternatives

VAF Research's flagship Signature i91 sits above this model sharing the same core proprietary driver technology at a larger scale with deeper bass extension, worth the further investment if this i90's already impressive room-filling capability still leaves ambitions for VAF's most accomplished current bookshelf design.