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Acoustics of Finland AF-2/AE-2X
Acoustic Electronics
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Acoustics of Finland

AF-1 and AF-2 Hi-Fi Loudspeakers

(Warning! Varoitus!)

The AF-2 is the AE-2X in 'new clothes.'

Suomalaisten insinöörien suunnittelema kaiutin jossa äänentoisto on täysin puhdasta aina erittäin alhaisesta 36 herzistä (-6dB) kristallinkirkkaisiin ylätaajuuksiin.

Kaiuttimen mittasuhteet ovat ns. "Kultaisen leikkauksen" mukaiset, eli 1:1.62. Tämä mittasuhde on tutkitusti silmälle miellyttävin, ja akustisesti lyömätön. Kaiuttimessa on ainutlaatuinen ovaali viistoon suuntautuva refleksiputki joka mahdollistaa kaiuttimen sijoittamisen lähelle seinää, ilman bassotaajuuksien jumputusta tai kuminaa.

Kaiuttimessa on laadukkaat SEAS:in elementit ja kullatut johtoliitännät. Kaiuttimen bassotoisto ulottuu niin matalalle että sitä ei tässä koko- tai hintaluokassa ole aikaisemmin kuultu!

Acoustic Electronics

The same same technical design has been retained - the cosmetic differences are:

1. Now also available in White - in addition to Black

2. The front panel - of MDF - is painted in a matt finish - black or white.

3. The rear panel has the same finish as sides and top/bottom

4. Heavy-duty gold-plated speaker terminals have been used - accepting 'banana' plugs, etc.

5. The only technical change that has been made is to add cross-bracing - side-to-side - and top-to-bottom - using pieces of MDF. This was done ONLY as a theoretical improvement - the size of the AF-2 and AF-1 is not conducive to causing audible vibrations in the sides - but as 'cross-bracing' now seems to be the 'fashion' we thought we would include it in case any potential buyer had been told a speaker 'has' to have cross-bracing.

Some comments from a customer

Here are a few pictures (click on image for larger version):

 

  The AF-1 is a revival of the popular AE-1X - again same technical characteristics.

So the information for the AE-2X is applicable to the AF-2:

The only 'full-range' 5-star loudspeaker on the Finnish market (Tekniikan Maailma comparison tests 1987-2010)

Tekniikan Maailma 5/88

  

VTT Measurements - Frequency Response and Power Curves (Click on image to enlarge)

"Acoustics of Finland AE-2x on uudempi painos kahden vuoden takaisessa testissämme menestyneestä AE-2:sta. Myös uuden mallin bassotoisto on tasapainoinen ja se ulottuu riittävän alas. Koko matalan äänialueen voimakkuus on laskettu seinän viereen sijoittamista varten oikealle tasolle. Silloin kaiuttimen ääni ei jumputa eikä kumise

"Merkitävin ero edelliseen malliin verrattuna on korkeiden äänien toistossa. Ne, joiden mielestä AE-2:n sointi oli aavistuksen liian kirkas, pitävät varmasti AE-2x:n rauhallisesta diskantista. Vaikka muutos on selvästi kuultavissa, se on kuitenkin äänitteiden diskantti toiston eroihin verrattuna pieni."

"Taajuusvasteista näkee saman minkä korva kuulee: toistossa ei ole värittymiä ja taajuusalueiden tasapaino on hyvä. Matalat äänet eivät jumputa tai kumise ja toisto ulttuu riittävän alas.Vahvistimelle AE-2x on helppo kuorma. Sen impedanssion pienimmilläänkin vajaat kuusi ohmia".

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High fidelity speakers are meant to be just that - high fidelity - that is, they are NOT supposed to be instruments nor part of the 'recording process' - they are to REPRODUCE the sound ORIGINALLY recorded. No bass boost, no dips and peaks to create 'warm,' 'soft,' 'vibrant' sounds. An excellent recording is to be heard as an excellent recording - it is not the place of the loudspeaker to mess around with the sound. If it is a lousy recording - then it should come through as a lousy recording - NO loudspeaker can correct a bad recording - nor should it even try! Please have a look at frequency response data for speakers on the market - in almost ALL cases you will find a 'bass boost' 80-100 Hz so that the salesman can show 'bass response' with almost all material. (This 'extra bass' will not only give you a headache but will camouflage other higher frequencies and muddy the definition.) But you will rarely find REAL low bass - please note - the AF/AE 2 speaker goes to 36 Hz (- 6 dB) - a VERY low response - and rarely found for ANY speaker!

Frequency response curve Power curves

Wood finish: Black Matte (Painted) /White Matte (Painted)

2 way balanced reflex/8 ohm

Sensitivity: 90 dB à 1 W, 1 kHz

Bass response: -6 dB, 36 Hz

Weight: 9 kg

Dimensions: 47 x 29 x 20 (H x W x D)

(The speaker may be placed vertically OR horizontally)

Recommended placement: wall, bookshelf or pedestal

+++

The dimensions of the AF-1:

34 x 21 x 20 (H x W x D)

(The speaker may be placed vertically OR horizontally)

Tekniikan Maailma-magazine (Finland) 5/88

"Acoustics of Finland AE-2x is the new version of the AE-2 speaker which we tested with successful results 2 years ago. The bass response of this new model is also well balanced and sufficiently deep. The response is calculated to be at its best when the speaker is placed close to a back wall - there is no annoying bass boost and boom."

"The most significant difference with the previous model is the high-frequency response. Those, who may have thought the AE-2 to be a bit too on the high side, will appreciate the AE-2x's more subdued high-frequency response. Although the change is clearly audible, the overall difference is small when taking into account the full range of high frequency reproduction."

"The frequency response curve shows just what the ear hears - no coloration and frequency balance is good. Bass reproduction doesn't have annoying boost and boom. The AE-2x is an easy load for an amplifier - at it's lowest the impedance is a bit less than 6 ohms."

 

Speaker Cables - Big Hoax?

(see the New York Times Article)

Sound Center

Yrjönkatu 8, Helsinki (09) 441901

Map/Kartta

info@soundcenter.fi

 

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