Напольная акустика — Pbn Audio MR!X

The MR!X is a large floorstanding loudspeaker from PBN Audio, the company founded by Danish-born engineer Peter Bichel Noerbaek, which makes amplifiers, preamplifiers and turntables as well as speakers. Noerbaek designed the MR!X to combine classic vintage driver components with contemporary parts in a horn-loaded system that has its own amplification built in. It is listed at USD 55,000 per pair, with shipping charged separately.

Key specs that matter

Only two drivers are used per side. A 2360 Bi-Radial horn is fitted with a 2452 SL-H compression driver whose diaphragm carries an Aquaplas coating, and an 18 inch 2268-H woofer handles the bass. The crossover point sits at 525 Hz. PBN rates sensitivity at 98 dB at 1 W and 1 m. Each cabinet measures 152 cm high, 79 cm wide and 89 cm deep, and weighs 118 kg.

Engineering and use context

The 2360 is a JBL professional horn from around 1983, specified for 500 Hz to 16 kHz with a coverage of 93 degrees horizontally and 46 degrees vertically, a 5 cm throat, a lower service limit of 300 Hz and a weight of 12.2 kg on its own. The horn body alone measures 795 mm wide, 795 mm high and 815 mm deep, which explains the width and depth of the MR!X. Placing the crossover there keeps the compression driver inside the range the horn was built for. The cabinets are asymmetrical hexagons made as mirrored left and right pairs, and each holds 170 litres of internal volume for the woofer, tuned to 35 Hz through large ports. Four braces lock the woofer in place. The horn is secured to the cabinet top with a solid steel brace that is bolted down and sprayed with Linex truck-bed liner for stability. PBN adds a built-in amplifier together with a precision-programmed electronic speaker management system that sets the division between the woofer and the horn.

Pairing

With such high sensitivity, high playback levels call for only modest amplifier power. PBN builds its own amplifiers and preamplifiers, so a complete system from one maker is possible. The weight and depth of each cabinet need planning for delivery and floor space.

Alternatives

The PBN Audio MR!777 is a larger floorstanding model with two 18 inch woofers, two 12 inch midrange drivers, a 6 inch ribbon and a 95 dB sensitivity rating.