Piega Premium 801

For the first time in the series Piega has combined its in house magnetostatic ribbon technology with a carefully tuned horn attachment. This high frequency system is designed to unite the low distortion resolution and delicacy associated with ribbons with the higher efficiency, dynamic headroom and immediacy of horn loading. The horn geometry has been refined so that it controls dispersion and aligns the acoustic centre of the tweeter with that of the midrange driver, which is intended to improve spatial imaging and coherence. The crossover point between the drivers has been lowered compared to previous Premium models, from around 3.5 kHz to approximately 2.7 kHz, in order to bring more presence, detail and clarity to the crucial upper midrange and treble.

The Premium 801 is built as a full three way system with a dedicated midrange unit and four bass drivers per cabinet. Both the midrange and bass sections use newly developed drivers featuring Piega's FSD technology, which keeps the voice coil movement symmetrical within the magnetic field to reduce distortion and promote linear excursion. The four bass units provide a significantly higher sound pressure capability than earlier designs and are specified to deliver deep, controlled low frequencies with an increased maximum output. Vocals are handled by the new midrange driver, which has been voiced for natural tone and a strong sense of presence, while the ribbon horn is responsible for the highest octaves and the overall sense of speed and air. The crossover network and impedance response have been engineered to present a stable, amplifier friendly load that suits a wide variety of electronics, including tube amplifiers and modern Class D designs, and bi amping is possible via a terminal layout derived from the Coax series.

Cabinet construction draws inspiration from the Coax 611, with the Premium 801 adopting the largest and most acoustically sophisticated enclosure yet seen in the Premium line. Inside, newly developed wooden matrix bracing works together with targeted damping materials to create a low resonance structure that supports the drivers without adding its own signature. Externally the loudspeaker follows a restrained, contemporary design language with clean lines, balanced proportions and seamlessly integrated screwless drivers. It is offered in three sandblasted aluminium finishes, each supplied with a matching grille, and can be specified with one of three stand solutions, from a curved standard round base through a more substantial cross frame LTD base with height adjustable spikes to a discreet version with furniture gliders. The cabinet architecture has been tuned so that the Premium 801 can be placed relatively close to a wall where necessary, which helps with real world integration in rooms where space is at a premium. 

Piega is a Swiss loudspeaker manufacturer based near Lake Zurich, where it develops and builds its products in house. Known for its use of aluminium cabinets and proprietary ribbon drivers, the company has long focused on combining advanced acoustic engineering with refined industrial design so that its loudspeakers perform to a high standard while fitting comfortably into contemporary interiors. The Piega Premium 801 is available through authorised dealers, with pricing starting at CHF 4,450 or €4,950 per piece. Info and photos by Piega.