Напольная акустика — Blumenhofer Acoustics Fun 17

The Fun 17 heads the current Fun series from Blumenhofer Acoustics, the German horn loudspeaker brand whose workshop lies in a natural park not far from Munich. Like the Fun 13 and the Fun 10, it loads its woofer with a quarter wavelength bass horn and uses a silk dome for the treble. Blumenhofer presents the Fun 17 as the most that can be achieved with the quarter wavelength principle in a speaker that still fits into a normal living room, and it describes the series as a simplified structure in a compact form. The current catalogue lists it next to the smaller Fun 13 MK 2.

Key specs that matter

The Fun 17 is a two-driver, two-way speaker. A 170 mm (6.5 inch) woofer with a paper cone covers bass and midrange up to 3000 Hz, where a 19 mm (0.75 inch) silk dome tweeter takes over. Frequency range is 45 Hz to 20 kHz within plus or minus 2 dB. The cabinet measures 1260 x 370 x 332 mm, and weighs 20 kg. Each speaker is packed in its own carton of 140 x 50 x 50 cm with a shipping weight of 25 kg.

Engineering and use context

The bass horn is built into a 19 mm MDF enclosure with complex internal bracing, and Blumenhofer says the horn path is optimised for resonance and airflow. Its mouth opens towards the floor. The company lists the advantages it sees in the quarter wavelength horn as a simple construction, higher efficiency than other bass loadings, a faster impulse response and higher dynamic ability, and it names the Fun 10, Fun 13, Fun 13 MK 2 and Fun 17 as the models that use it. The two-way layout follows the same thinking, since Blumenhofer argues that two drivers need only one crossover frequency, a simpler filter and less overlap between drivers. Unlike the Genuin and Gioia models, the Fun 17 has no impedance linearisation circuit. Finishes are white opaque, black opaque, walnut, dark walnut and cherry, and the workshop can also supply other true-wood veneers. Adjustable spikes are included, and Blumenhofer backs the Fun 17 with a three-year warranty.

Pairing

With 92 dB efficiency and an 8 ohm rating, the Fun 17 accepts up to 80 W RMS, and Blumenhofer labels it tube friendly. A single pair of gold-plated tellurium copper terminals takes one cable per speaker, so bi-wiring is not possible.

Alternatives

The Blumenhofer Fun 13 MK 2 is the smaller quarter wavelength floorstander of the series, with a 130 mm Peek-Carbon P2C woofer, a 28 mm silk dome, 90 dB efficiency and a height of 1110 mm.