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Ø Audio Ymir
Ø Audio has introduced the Ymir, a new reference floorstanding loudspeaker that marks a decisive shift in the company's design direction and stands apart from earlier models such as the Icon 12 and Verdande. Described by the manufacturer as a clean-sheet development rather than an evolution of existing platforms, the Ymir combines a large-format compression-driver architecture with a newly engineered bass system and an unusually rigid cabinet structure intended to deliver high sensitivity and controlled directivity in real-world listening rooms rather than only optimized demonstration environments.
Named after the primordial giant of Norse mythology, the Ymir reflects Ø Audio's ambition to move beyond its earlier hybrid high-efficiency designs toward a fully integrated statement platform. While the speaker retains the company's recognizable visual identity, its structural execution introduces several new elements, most notably a 10 mm stainless-steel front baffle designed to provide a mechanically inert mounting surface for the drivers. According to the manufacturer, this construction reduces stored energy and cabinet-induced coloration while improving transient precision and microdynamic articulation.
Low-frequency reproduction is handled by a newly developed 12-inch carbon-fiber composite woofer incorporating extended linear excursion geometry and a damping core intended to maintain stability across a wide dynamic range. Rather than pursuing maximum extension through complex multi-driver arrays, Ø Audio has chosen a single large-format bass driver optimized for speed and control, aligning the Ymir more closely with high-efficiency reference systems than with conventional multi-way floorstanders in the same price class.
High-frequency and upper-midrange reproduction is provided by a 76 mm carbon-diaphragm compression driver coupled to the company's proprietary Quad Vertex Soundfield Technology waveguide. This system is designed to maintain controlled dispersion and consistent tonal balance across a broad listening area while preserving the dynamic headroom associated with compression-driver topologies. The approach reflects Ø Audio's long-standing interest in combining horn-loaded efficiency with domestic-room usability rather than pursuing strictly studio-style constant-directivity behavior.
Signal distribution between the drivers is handled by what the manufacturer describes as an assisted first-order crossover network using custom copper-foil capacitors and resin-cast inductors. By minimizing component count in the signal path, the design aims to preserve phase coherence and transient integrity while maintaining stable driver integration across the operating bandwidth.
The published specifications underline the speaker's hybrid reference, high-efficiency positioning. Frequency response is rated at 26 Hz to 22 kHz, with sensitivity specified at 93.5 dB and nominal impedance at 8 ohms. This combination suggests compatibility with a wide range of amplifiers, including moderate-power tube designs, while still supporting high-output performance in large listening spaces.
Cabinet construction plays a central role in the Ymir concept. The enclosure features a tapered rear profile intended to reduce internal reflections and standing-wave formation, while three mirror-symmetrical bass-reflex ports per speaker allow flexible interaction with room boundaries during placement. Each loudspeaker measures 114.5 x 38.2 x 52.9 cm and weighs approximately 120 kg, placing the model firmly in the category of large-scale reference floorstanding systems.
Mechanical grounding is handled by stainless-steel outriggers combined with height-adjustable feet incorporating a two-stage tungsten-ball decoupling system. This arrangement is intended to minimize energy transfer into the floor structure and improve bass articulation, spatial precision, and overall image stability. Additional attention has been paid to connection hardware, with proprietary binding posts featuring an integrated torque-limiting mechanism designed to ensure consistent clamping pressure without overtightening.
Based in Norway, Ø Audio is known for high-sensitivity loudspeakers that combine compression-driver technology with modern cabinet engineering intended for domestic listening environments. The Ymir represents the company's most ambitious loudspeaker platform to date and signals a clear step toward the global reference-class segment of the high-end loudspeaker market. The Ymir will be offered in two finishes and shipped in dedicated protective transport cases, reinforcing its positioning as a statement-level product within Ø Audio's lineup. Although final retail pricing has not yet been officially confirmed, early indications suggest a target price in the region of $65,000 per pair, placing the model in the upper tier of contemporary high-end loudspeaker design. Info and photos by Ø Audio.
