Напольная акустика — Audes Llc. M2

Audes of Johvi, Estonia, builds the M2 as the two-way floorstander in its M line. The series currently consists of three models - the compact M1, the M2 and the larger three-way M5. Audes describes the project as the result of years of work in which every part of the cabinet was checked so that it would not interfere with reproduction, and the enclosure uses a plain square cross-section as its basic form.

Key specs that matter

A 6.5 inch paper cone woofer, designed and built by Audes, is joined to a 1 inch fabric dome tweeter at 1,100 Hz. The rated range runs from 55 Hz to 30,000 Hz within plus or minus 2 dB. Sensitivity is 81 dB for 2.83 V at 1 m and the nominal impedance is 8 ohm. Audes lists 50 W as the maximum long-term power and 110 W as the short-term maximum. Height is 1,105 mm, width 252 mm and depth 290 mm, with spikes and terminals included in these figures, and one speaker weighs 20 kg. The M1 uses the same drivers, crossover point and electrical ratings in a 403 mm tall box of 14 kg.

Engineering and use context

A square box encourages standing waves, so Audes added angled internal walls that cut down the number of parallel surfaces inside. The main section is made from a solid surface material, composed mainly of aluminium trihydrate, which the maker chose for its higher density and tensile strength compared with wood-based boards and for the low level of panel vibration that follows. This main section sits on an MDF stand, and the stand rests on a plinth of the same mineral material. The reflex port is placed under the front wall and fires downward, and it is divided into several separate channels to control the airflow. According to Audes, this port position makes the speaker behave more predictably in different rooms, allows a smaller cabinet and reduces the amount of internal reflections leaving through the vent. A dedicated compartment keeps the crossover apart from mechanical disturbance, and single crystal copper wire is used for the internal wiring. The woofer was tuned specifically for the M series, and the silk dome tweeter was chosen because it can work down to a relatively low crossover frequency.

Pairing

Being less sensitive than the M5, the M2 needs a stronger amplifier for equal loudness, while its higher nominal impedance avoids the lower load of its larger sibling. The modest long-term power rating should guide the choice of amplifier output and volume.

Alternatives

The Audes M5 is the larger three-way floorstander in this series, with a 10 inch woofer, two 5.25 inch mid-woofers and a 4 ohm load.