Напольная акустика — Popori Acoustics WR2

The WR2 is a wide-range electrostatic floorstanding loudspeaker from Popori Acoustics of Baja, Hungary, a company built around designer Otto Popori, who spent years repairing electrostatic panels from other makers before building his own. Its first public show appearance came in Warsaw in November 2022. According to the company, the WR2 came about when distributors asked for a model between its two existing designs, and Popori sketched it on a flight back from Norway. The model was shown in the US in 2025 at USD 38,000 per pair.

Key specs that matter

This is a two-way design, with one large electrostatic panel and a ribbon planar transducer for the top octaves, rated from 30 Hz to 22 kHz. Popori quotes 91 dB sensitivity, a maximum level of 105 dB, a lowest impedance of 2.5 ohm and distortion below 0.1%. The foil is 0.005 mm thick and covers 0.45 m2. Each speaker measures 1848 x 415 x 330 mm and weighs 37 kg, and a crate for shipping weighs 94 kg. The 2023 version was listed at 1660 mm tall with a 0.4 m2 foil, 90 dB and 35 kg, while the taller WR2 XL was introduced that June.

Engineering and use context

No dynamic drivers or subwoofers are used, so the main panel carries the bass and midrange on its own. Side wings next to the rectangular panel add radiating area to raise output and also damp the panel. Popori stretches the foil with its own string technique in both directions, so the whole surface including the corners moves. The panel radiates equally to the front and rear. A sealed black box between the steel legs holds the electronics and transformers that make the high polarising voltage from a 12 V DC supply, and each speaker gets its own short-circuit protected adaptor. There is no power switch, and a full charge of the foil takes about 60 to 90 minutes. A self-resetting overload protection circuit has an indicator LED. The steel frame is clad in Corian, and the maker states that spikes are not needed. Operating limits are +10 to +55 C and 5 to 65% humidity, and the product carries a five-year warranty once the card is returned.

Pairing

Popori recommends 50 to 70 W per channel and gives a 250 W maximum, with a nominal 4 ohm rating in company statements. Two terminal pairs, marked HIGH and LOW-MID, take a bi-wire cable or two amplifiers, one driving the ribbon and one the panel, once the jumper plates are removed.

Alternatives

The Popori WR1 W is the larger two-way model with a 0.6 m2 foil, a 26 Hz lower limit and a weight of 68 kg.