BR 6.8

Just because your sitting-room isn't large enough for big speakers, doesn't mean you have to do without high-quality sound. The VISATON subwoofer satellite system, ALTO GENESIS provides excellent listening pleasure in a very small space.

Separating the subwoofer into two cabinets - left and right channels - means that the assignment to the corresponding satellite speaker is hidden. On the other hand, the two subwoofers can also be placed together as mono subwoofers. The bandpass subwoofer cabinet contains the 13 cm long-stroke woofer W 130 S - 8 Ohm. The well-balanced driver, cabinet and frequency parameters enable the subwoofer to be separated off at 110 Hz with a slope rate of 30 dB/octave. That is a level seldom achieved even by active subwoofers. The satellite speakers are also steeply cut off towards the bottom end by means of an optimised crossover unit. This optimised coupling technique means the position of the subwoofer is in reality not determinable.

The small shelf-mounted satellite speakers produce the lively high frequencies and a balanced mid-range and provide the overall spatial qualities required. The tuning frequency cuts in at 110 Hz.

The ALTO I is a 2-way shelf-mounted speaker with a cabinet volume of 13 litres. Apart from the 20 mm tweeter cone, the cabinet contains a 17 cm diameter mid-bass cone.

The sound qualities of the ALTO I are "warm" but with crisp, high-range reproduction.

This kit is ideally suited to replacing the more basic speakers often supplied as standard with low-priced hi-fi systems and thus improving the overall standard of the system.

Since the bass ports are at the front, the ALTO I can be hung on the wall or placed in bookshelves, facilitating good bass response even in rooms with difficult acoustics.

Characteristics and sound properties

The ARIA is a small-sized 2-band shelf-top speaker system that uses the TI 100 8 Ohm high-end mid-bass unit and the G 20 SC 8 Ohm dome tweeter. The unit is equally well suited to life as a satellite in a straightforward stereo system or for use in a multichannel set-up. It can be combined with larger speakers such as the VOX 200 where it takes over the centre or effect role or a full set of them can be used to cover all channels. The lower limiting frequency is at 75 Hz, i.e. deep-bass should be left to an active subwoofer and the satellites will need protecting with a high-pass section or, in multichannel systems, they should be run in small mode.

If the speakers are positioned right by the wall or in a shelving unit, the bass reflex tube will be partly damped or completely stifled, which can compensate for excessively boosted bass.

The ARIA 2 is a small-sized 2-band shelf-top speaker system that uses two TI 100 - 8 Ohm high-end mid-bass units and the G 20 SC - 8 Ohmdome tweeter. The unit is equally well suited to life as a satellite in a straightforward stereo system or for use in a multichannel set-up. It can be combined with larger speakers such as the VOX 200 where it takes over the centre or effect role or a full set of them can be used to cover all channels. The lower limiting frequency is at 75 Hz, i.e. deep-bass should be left to an active subwoofer and the satellites will need protecting with a high-pass section or, in multichannel systems, they should be run in small mode.

If the speakers are positioned right by the wall or in a shelving unit, the bass reflex tube will be partly damped or completely stifled, which can compensate for excessively boosted bass.

This variant of the ARIA 2 has been fitted out with the KE 25 SC - 8 Ohmas an alternative and the crossover adapted accordingly.

A complete kit for this suggestion is available via www.vc-mailorderservice.de.

The ARIA 2 LIGHT is a small-sized 2-band shelf-top speaker system that uses two W 100 S - 8 OHM mid-bass units and one G 20 SC - 8 OHMdome tweeter. In smaller rooms and if used as a shelf-mounted unit, the system has a considerable bass foundation which means that a separate subwoofer is not required. However, if coupled with a good powered subwoofer, the range of tonality of far larger hi-fi speakers is achieved.

The larger cabinet and the D'Appolito arrangement in the ARIA 2 LIGHTprovide a far greater maximum sound pressure in comparison with the smaller ARIA LIGHT.

The ARIA 2 MHT CENTER is equipped with the popular combination of drivers consisting of the TI 100 - 8 Ohm and the MHT 12 - 8 Ohm. As a result of this choice of drivers and the linear frequency response, it is ideally suited as a complementary centre speaker in conjunction with the VOX 253 MTI or TOPAS, for example, to produce a high-end home theatre system. As already seen in the ARIA 2, the magnetostat is positioned in the middle of the slim-line baffle and is flanked by the two titanium mid-bass units.

In contrast to centre speakers featuring a genuine D'Appolito arrangement, the ARIA 2 MHT CENTER is well suited to horizontal positioning e.g. above or below the television set, because it does not have anything like the same beaming effect. The sophisticated 2.5-band crossover circuitry is responsible for this feature. The crossover separates one of the two mid-bass units at 1800 Hz while the second is not separated until 4500 Hz is reached, to leave the higher frequencies to the magnetostat.
This deliberate individual treatment of the two TI 100 - 8 Ohm prevents noticeable directivity which, in a vertically placed D'Appolito arrangement, would be intentional but in a horizontally placed centre speaker must be avoided at all costs to ensure that all the seating positions in the home theatre are treated to the same volume levels.

The ARIA DIPOL 1 is intended specifically as an effect speaker for the rear channels in multichannel systems. It unites two concepts: It can be used in both dipole and direct modes. By activating the two outer tweeters, something approaching the dipole effect is achieved, i.e. a diffused sound field. At the same time, the centre tweeter is deactivated. This solution cannot achieve the perfect diffused field of a full dipole set-up, which uses twin cones in the bass department as well, but it does represent a good, value-for-money compromise.
ARIA DIPOL 1 speakers can be combined wither with the other members of the ARIA family or with larger speakers such as the VOX 200.

This variant of the ARIA has been fitted out with the KE 25 SC - 8 Ohm as an alternative and the crossover adapted accordingly.

A complete kit for this suggestion is available via www.vc-mailorderservice.de.

The ARIA LIGHT is a small-sized 2-band shelf-top speaker system that uses the W 100 S - 8 OHM mid-bass unit and the G 20 SC - 8 OHM dome tweeter. In smaller rooms and if used as a shelf-mounted unit, the system has a considerable bass foundation which means that a separate subwoofer is not required. However, if coupled with a good powered subwoofer, the range of tonality of far larger hi-fi speakers is achieved.

The ARIA MHT is a variant of the popular smaller ARIA shelf-top speaker. Instead of being fitted with a fabric dome driver, the ARIA MHT has the excellent MHT 12 - 8 Ohm magnetostat. As a result, the crossover had to be tuned exactly to match the two drivers. Since magnetostats should not be separated at too low a frequency, the transfer frequency was set at 5000 Hz. This results in extremely clear high-frequency output even at high volumes. Getting the crossover to the right level to allow the TI 100 - 8 Ohm to operate up to 5000 Hz took some effort. This high-end mid-bass unit can produce unusually long cone excursion due to its long voice coil, which means it can generate a bass output level that is surprising considering the compact size. Thanks to the extremely rigid titanium diaphragm, the TI 100 - 8 Ohm stands out in the mid-range due to excellent overall presence and vocal clarity. In conjunction with the silky smooth treble range for which magnetostats are famous, this combination is a clear contender for the premium high-end loudspeaker league. Although the ARIA MHT produces powerful bass when used as a shelf speaker, it makes sense to add an active subwoofer if you need to emphasise the lowest frequencies.

There are plenty of transmission line fans among the speaker-building fraternity. HOBBY HiFi recently developed a super-slim speaker with a folded transmission line (TML). The VIB 130 TL cabinet suggestion is based on that idea and uses an AL 130 - 8 Ohm and a G 20 SC - 8 Ohm.

This speaker cabinet works on the basis of an organ pipe. At one end is the driver while the other end is open. Certain frequencies generate resonance which causes particularly powerful sound reproduction at the open end. The longer this tunnel, the lower the frequency.

In order to make use of this principle for low frequencies, a length of several metres would be necessary which is only possible by "folding" the transmission line tunnel twice within the cabinet to achieve convenient dimensions, as integrated in the VIB 130 TL. Apart from the intentional low frequency resonance, TML's also generate interference resonance at higher frequencies. It is only by damping the space very carefully that the desired results can be achieved.

Two internal Helmholtz resonators are in use directly behind the woofer as sound absorbers and, in conjunction with the extremely carefully positioned damping material, will ensure that the frequency response is kept beautifully smooth.

VIB 130 TL solves the problem of reproducing low-frequency bass in small rooms where the speakers have to be positioned close to walls. A distance of 10 cm is perfectly adequate.

Real deep bass is not to be confused with disco bass, which one tends to feel through the stomach rather than hear. Deep bass is soft, smooth yet powerful. However, in order to produce such power with small speakers, there has to be a trade-off with the sound pressure. As a result, the efficiency of the VIB 130 TL is relatively low but still well able to cope with normal conditions. This is counterbalanced to a large extent by the extensive frequency response. The cleanliness of the sound picture produced is remarkable with well-placed spatial locations, especially when positioned near a wall. The 20 mm G 20 SC - 8 Ohm tweeter guarantees crystal-clear, lively high-frequency reproduction and provides a smooth upper end to the range.