Полочная акустика — Analog Domain The Aura

The Aura is a compact two-way stand-mounted loudspeaker from Analog Domain, the company founded by designer Angel Despotov, whose catalogue was built around electronics before any speakers appeared. It was announced in October 2020, with the aim of bringing a studio monitor approach into a home setting. The maker intends it for rooms of 12 to 25 m2 and built it to be driven by its own M75 series amplifiers. No price was given at launch.

Key specs that matter

Its woofer is an 8-inch unit with a special paper cone, partnered by a 1-inch silk dome tweeter. Measured in a room, the frequency response runs from 30 Hz to 25 kHz within plus or minus 3 dB. Sensitivity is 91 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m on the tweeter axis. Nominal impedance is 8 ohm with a minimum of 6.5 ohm. Power handling is quoted as 150 W AES and 250 W peak. The cabinet measures 490 mm high, 272 mm wide and 330 mm deep and weighs 18 kg. Stands are supplied, taking the overall height to 1080 mm and the weight of each speaker with its stand to 25 kg. Two finishes are offered, Brushed Black and Brushed Titanium.

Engineering and use context

The tweeter is mounted in a custom conical waveguide, and driver placement plus the crossover layout were chosen for good time alignment and a wide, fairly even radiation pattern in both horizontal and vertical planes, so the listening seat is not tied to a narrow spot. Bass is reflex loaded through a flat slot port on the front baffle. According to Analog Domain, a flat port tolerates higher air velocity than a round one and so stays free of noise, even at high volume. A 5-position rotary switch on the rear panel changes the crossover and lets the owner adjust the frequency response to taste. The grille is an acoustically transparent black cloth held by magnets with no visible pegs, and further magnets in both side panels let a removed grille be parked on the cabinet side. The matching stands come with spikes and floor protector pucks, and their stems are hollow so speaker cables can be routed inside them.

Pairing

The impedance curve stays within a narrow range, which the maker describes as an easy load that lets an amplifier deliver its best performance. With its high sensitivity, a modest amplifier already produces usable levels, while the power handling leaves room for a considerably stronger amplifier.

Alternatives

Analog Domain makes no other standmount loudspeaker, as the only other speaker in its range is the Argus floorstander.