Displaying items by tag: ribbon - StereoLife Magazine

Piega is probably Switzerland's most famous loudspeaker manufacturer. Founded in 1986 by Leo Greiner and Kurt Scheuch, the company was initially a typical hobbyist, garage-based manufactory. Kurt concentrated on developing transducers, while Leo took on design matters and the company's finances. At some point, ribbon drivers became Piega's trademark and have remained so to this day. The cheapest models use drivers built with this technology to reproduce high frequencies, while the top-of-the-range speakers also use larger ribbon midrange panels. Because the designers allow them to play backward, the result is unique loudspeakers resembling electrostatic panels, supported by dynamic drivers only in the low frequency range. Piega's flagship designs demonstrate technical capabilities and audiophile splendor hidden under the guise of a minimalist design. During my test of the Coax 711 LTD speakers, their coaxial midrange/tweeter ribbons and aluminum enclosures fascinated me so much that I decided to find out more about them, which led to an interesting conversation with the brand's head of research and development, Roger Kessler.

Audiophiles interested in unconventional loudspeakers often turn their attention to Neat Acoustics - a company founded in 1989 by Bob Surgeoner, who has spent most of his life playing music in a variety of styles, such as blues, rock, jazz, folk, country, and bluegrass. Neat Acoustics has its own recording studio because the professional approach is also the benchmark for the sound of loudspeakers. Music lovers talk a lot about achieving the sound as close as possible to the original, but few equipment manufacturers can actually hear it when designing their gear. Meanwhile, a variety of musical instruments are on hand at the Neat Acoustics factory, including piano, string organ, harp, double bass, synthesizers, and a wide range of electric and acoustic guitars. High-resolution recordings can be played back instantly in the listening room. The speakers themselves are also quite remarkable. They feature various unusual technical solutions, such as speakers working in an isobaric system, cabinets made of glued birch plywood, or supertweeters mounted on the top panel to improve the surround experience.

The Swiss speaker specialist expands its successful Coax series with four brand new models and, at the same time, presents a technically refined limited edition of the already well-known Coax floor-standing and bookshelf speakers. "Noble aluminum enclosures and ribbon loudspeakers" would probably be the answer of most hi-fi fans if you were to ask them about the most important features of Piegaloudspeakers. The four brand-new models, Coax 811, 611, 411, and Center 211 feature these characteristics and offer numerous technical innovations that significantly enhance the sound quality of the quartet.

Once again, mastermind Kurt Scheuch's research and development team have succeeded in making the already very illustrious aluminum columns and bookshelf loudspeakers even more audiophile. A step forward has also been made in aesthetic terms. In order to refine the appearance, Swiss designer Stephan Hürlemann has fitted the front covers flush into the C-shaped cabinet profile, creating a formal harmony that fits perfectly into every room.