Напольная акустика — Børresen Acoustics Børresen Z5 Cryo Edition

The Z5 Cryo Edition is described by Børresen Acoustics as the top model of its Z-series. The Danish tower uses seven drivers and arrives with the brand's cryogenic treatment applied to all its metal components. A pair is listed in the UK at GBP 49,999 and is painted in satin black or satin white. The Z-series was developed to bring parts first engineered for the more expensive 0-series down to a lower price level, and the Z5 shows how far that approach scales.

Key specs that matter

Its seven drivers are a single planar ribbon tweeter, two 4.5 inch midrange and bass units, and four 8 inch bass units. Børresen quotes a response from 25 Hz to 50 kHz, a sensitivity of 90 dB for 1 W, and an impedance of 4 ohm, and recommends an amplifier with more than 50 W. The cabinet measures 151 cm in height, 23 cm in width and 70.0 cm from front to back, and one cabinet tips the scale at 75 kg, more than twice the Z3.

Engineering and use context

Four large woofers are placed closer to the floor, which the maker says gives better acoustic integration with the room, and their combined area explains the deeper bass extension and higher efficiency. The ribbon crosses in at around 2.5 kHz, has 94 dB of its own efficiency and moves only 0.01 grams of mass. All six cones share a 5.5 gram diaphragm with thin carbon faces bonded to a 4 mm Nomex honeycomb core, driven by motors with an 8 mm coil whose inductance is only 0.06 mH obtained through a linearised magnetic field, which the maker says makes the drivers easier for an amplifier to control. The crossover uses a parallel arrangement from exclusive 0-series parts for mechanical stability and minimal resonance. Cryogenic processing takes the metal parts to -196 degrees Celsius over three days and raises their conductivity by 6 to 8 percent according to Børresen. Adjustable feet are designed to rest on Ansuz Darkz resonance control with titanium ball separation.

Pairing

With the highest sensitivity in the series the Z5 Cryo is the easiest Z-series model to drive, but its low load and seven drivers still call for a sturdy solid-state amplifier. The deep cabinet and heavy weight need a large room and a floor that can take the mass.

Alternatives

The Børresen Z3 Cryo Edition is the smaller treated tower of the series, with two woofers in a 102.5 cm cabinet rated to 35 Hz.