Netherlands based Sun Audio has been working on a loudspeaker systems to be used with an external crossover and power amplifiers, as any hifi audio enthusiast likes to be able to do. Although ‘all-in-one box’ active loudspeakers are cost effective and now available in fully optimized efective designs, putting all electronics and software in one box can be a compromise when the goal is to enable maximum performance in a determined listening room.
Sun Audio understands this market and designs speakers that intentionally leave out the conventional crossover network. Instead the company provides its customers with a reference design crossover and full measurement data set. With this premise, the new Purified 4 modular speaker concept is fully Made in The Netherlands, except for the actual drivers.
Keeping power supplies, amplifiers, DSP, DRC, DAC/ADC, streamers outboard has several advantages compared to an all-in-one 'box' speaker solution - avoiding dramatic obsolescence being the most obvious one. Another core advantage is that users can tweak the system as they prefer, which for many audio enthusiasts is a way to reach high end nirvana within a reasonable cost, or a way to pay more for choices. In any case, a modular design is always more future proof and therefore durable.
Another advantage, says Sun Audio is that the more ventilated and less resonant environment of the dedicated external enclosures reduces the mechanical wear of the electronics. The chance of failure will be smaller, and if it happens, it will be easier and faster to get a system playing again. This is certainly true if designing a compact spherical speaker with not much internal space for electronics - as is the case.
The Purified 4 speakers are available in several variants with Purifi Audio 4” woofers and BlieSMa 25mm or 34mm tweeters, and every variant does include a crossover profile tuned for optimal performance in the listening window and estimated in-room response.
As an example of measurements provided for a Purified 4 speaker using a Purifi PTT4.0X04-NLC-02 woofer and a BlieSMa T25A-6 tweeter, the filer type and crossover frequencies would be BW12 @1495Hz for the woofer and BW18 @2201Hz for the tweeter. Sun Audio says that this crossover has been optimized for a listening window comprising a spatial average of nine magnitude responses in the ±10º vertical and ±30º horizontal angular range, while the system will deliver 80 degrees horizontal directivity and 30 degrees vertical. The image above is an estimated response for that configuration.
The measurement data sets will be included for each speaker, which offers the advanced user the possibility to simulate and fine tune the crossover and PEQ to their own specific requirements.
The spherical Purified 4 enclosures are also available with two finishes - Studio Black and Bloodwood - designed for minimum diffraction and a smooth radiation pattern. A full aluminum enclosure ensures resonances are kept to an absolute minimum, and a dedicated steel tripod loudspeaker stand is included with the Purified 4 speakers, which are sold in pairs.
www.sunaudio.com
