Albedo Audio Speakers

 NZ Agent for :

"Albedo" is defined as the ratio of reflected light to incident light on an object, often a celestial body such as a planet or moon.

The higher the albedo - the brighter the object appears.

History

Albedo's design concepts for their products go back to the early Nineties. Their R&D department were considering the general issues regarding transmission line loudspeaker systems. They formulated for the first time, a rigorous mathematical model to describe this specific acoustic configuration. The first outcome of this research was the development of proprietary software, to model with great accuracy, the behaviour of any classical transmission line system. This work was very important, as it highlighted the limitations in other projects developed back then (and prior), of the inconsistency of several myths existing in the industry - with respect to the very concept of transmission lines.

An important acoustic solution was employed, namely the Helmholtz resonator. Albedo call their take on this - Helmholine.

The outcome of this volume of studies, gave birth in 1995 to the first 'Albedo', a two-way loudspeaker system equipped with a small 4" driver and an accompanying slim three way design - 'Albireo'. Both based on a Morel driver and introduced by "Apex Audio"

Apex Audio was later dissolved and the new company - Albedo Audio was formed in 2008, capturing the name of the original Speaker design.

 Later, following on from these designs, progress saw the HL1.2 and 2.2 models - appearing in 2009 and gaining praise from 6 Moons as ....

"World's most beautiful Speaker" ?

The new designs introduced a further distinguishing feature - the use of small Accuton ceramic drivers.

Ceramic drivers were developed in 1984 by Bernhard Thiel, an engineer at Backes & Müller in Germany. They are made with an extremely thin layer of hard material alumina, a crystalline form of aluminum oxide, which is found in nature as sapphire.

Both ceramic drivers and transmission line enclosures are difficult to control - without exceptional design ... but are favoured by many Class leading High End Speaker manufacturers.

Albedo Aptica and Metrum Hex Dac

Fast forward several years and "Aptica" captures Srajan Ebaen's imagination (and ears) at 6 Moons. They become one of his go-to Reference listening transducers - featuring in many of his Metrum Acoustic's Reviews.

   Today Albedo's range has progressed further. Joining Aptica, the new "Amira" Transmission line Speaker is currently under Review at 6 Moons.

The newly released Amira, offers similar design and construction to Aptica but utilises a Curv® soft-dome tweeter and woven mid/woofer in place of Aptica's ceramic drivers.

This enabling a more cost effective price point ... with

Axcentia and Alecta offer Range topping performance.

Further reading regarding Albedo's design philosophy can be found ... "here."

"Albedo Website"

TRANSMISSION LINE PRODUCT RANGE :

Transmission line speaker development became popular in the 1970’s with renowned pioneers Irving M. ("Bud") Fried and John Wright (of IMF and TDL fame) at the forefront. Whilst there are many variations of TL design, other High-End manufacturers such as B&W favoured this design concept in their Audio Speaker Statement 'Nautilus'.   

Essentially they are inverted Horns in principle, where in the case of a tapered tube variation, the transmission line enclosure utilises a terminus (opening/port) having a smaller area than the throat. Invariably they are big, heavy, hard to build/design and for all of those reasons, expensive.

Enter Amira : 

The Amira floorstander is Albedo’s latest creation … offering performance close to the ceramic driven Aptica but at a more affordable price point. It shares identical design construction, dimensions and weight at 19Kg.

Amira however substitutes the ceramic “Accuton” drivers used in Aptica, for a custom designed “CURV®” composite 5.5'' mid-woofer and 1'' silk dome tweeter.

It is a two-way design in a transmission line enclosure, with a Helmholtz resonator to linearise response. Acoustic resonators are employed inside the transmission line for cancellation of unwanted resonances and as acoustic impedance compensators. The line's walls are additionally lined with medium porosity polyurethane. Albedo calls this solution Helmholine.

A smaller variant of the Helmholtz resonator called "DSD" is mounted on both sides of the tweeter. This is designed for higher frequencies and used to suppress diffraction and reflections from the tweeter.

The floor facing transmission line exit is located at the rear. To keep the speaker at the right height above the floor and prevent it from tipping over, it is mounted to a heavy steel plinth. It sports four pretty top-adjustable spikes. Levelling the speakers is fairly easy thanks to large locking nuts and washers.

What can you expect ?

Obviously the immediate stand-out is stunning looks - that will enhance any listening/living space.

As with Aptica, Amira is very room friendly and allows good latitude for speaker placement. Capable of wide spacing to enable room filling sound images … even in large volume environments. Typical attributes are a ‘big’ sound, with clear definition of instruments and voices due to very good synergy of well-matched and properly crossed-over drivers.

Transmission designs are primarily known for bass definition when properly controlled.

A modern approach to speed, articulation and dynamics … compatible with today’s far more revealing Source electronics than yesteryear. Incredible smoothness and attention to detail with high resolution and large musical planes. An internally rich sound not lacking in amazing attack, which all adds up to a warm and realistic sound-stage presentation.

Price : $10,750

Colour and finish : Available with choice of Rosewood, Black Oak or Walnut 'dressing'.

Follow 6 Moons progress and evaluation of Amira “Flunkies & Floozies”

Amira > Aptica > Axcentia MkII > Alecta > Atesia

The Albedo range almost concludes with Alecta - successor to the original range topping Axcentia.

ALECTA

Standing tall at 1.7m in height and weighing in at 120Kg (each) ... Albedo Audio's Semi-Statement Loudspeakers

Auditorium Audio Reference Sound for $100K

"Albedo at Munich High End Audio Show 2016"

2017 is here .... and introducing at

 Munich High End

"ATESIA"

Stereo-Lithic Sound

On debut at Munich - the new Flagship Atesia.

A 3.5-way Tower-Block ... with Accuton Cell Concept drivers.

Includes a 1" pure-Diamond tweeter, two 5" Ceramic mids, and four 8" Ceramic woofers.

The 170kg behemoth speaker ... comes finished in leather cladding on the exterior and is priced at €118,000/pr.

Enquiry welcome - but not the lifting !