Напольная акустика — Popori Acoustics XR1

The XR1 is a multi-panel electrostatic loudspeaker from Popori Acoustics of Hungary, also listed as the XR1.23. Popori first played it for its trading partners at a meeting in Hungary in March 2023, where the company quoted a price of around EUR 180,000.

Key specs that matter

Popori specifies a response of 22 Hz to 21 kHz, 96 dB sensitivity and a maximum level of 110 dB, with distortion below 0.1%. Impedance does not fall below 3 ohm. The total foil area is 1.3 m2, and one channel measures 1793 x 1231 x 436 mm, the same height and depth as a single WR1 W.

Engineering and use context

Popori builds every channel as a three-piece unit, with two wide-range panels of the WR1 type standing side by side and a separate electrostatic column for the mid and high range. Otto Popori designed that column as an electrostatic tweeter about 1.8 m tall, which takes the place of the ribbon transducer used on the single-panel wide-range models, so the whole system uses no ribbon and no dynamic driver. A stereo pair therefore consists of six panels. Combining two bass-capable panels per side raises the radiating area, which puts its sensitivity at the top of the 85 to 96 dB span that Popori quotes for the range. The company points out that many electrostats present a load that swings from about 0.5 ohm in the bass to over 30 ohm in the treble, and it designs its panels to keep impedance under control across the band. Popori calls its current products the fourth or fifth generation of its panel designs, after more than two decades of development before the first working prototype. The company also states that it takes back a smaller Popori model at its full price when an owner moves up to a larger one.

Pairing

With this sensitivity the XR1 does not need a high-power amplifier, and the controlled impedance minimum suits both valve and solid-state designs. At early shows Popori demonstrated its speakers with its own Enceladus PX, a dual mono bridged power amplifier of 2 x 50 W.

Alternatives

The Popori WR1 W is the single-panel two-way model with a ribbon tweeter, rated at 90 dB and priced at EUR 60,000.