Loudspeakers - HiFi studio Brno

Lo u d s p e a kers
2
INTRODUCTION
The Opus2 loudspeaker system is
voice-coil for extended and precise
a premium quality, large format
high-frequency
loudspeaker designed for exceptional
contribute towards one of the finest
accuracy in the reproduction of
loudspeakers available today.
recorded music and film.
Build and finish is nothing short of
The
scale
of
presentation
response,
all
and
exceptional - something you would
dynamic range is beyond that
expect from a product of this quality -
possible from conventional high-
yet every detail has been addressed.
fidelity
primarily
The Opus2 series fit effortlessly into
because of the volume of air capable
the living environment with the
of being displaced from the drive
choice of piano or satin finishes, and
units; their speed of response and
a range of real wood veneers - not
agility under pressure.
reconstituted woods used on lesser
Numerous new technologies have
loudspeakers. Gold-plated terminals,
been applied throughout the range
cast alloy trim and accessories simply
to ensure that Opus is capable of
guild the real construction which
creating a lifelike listening experience
utilises variable-density multi-layer
akin to that of a live concert hall.
laminate MDF cabinets, sealed and
New Carbon-Fibre bass drivers, our
isolated mid-range compartment,
unique tri-laminate cone, three-inch
high-purity
dome mid-range and a lightweight
cables and a simple yet perfectly
‘copper-coated’ aluminium tweeter
executed crossover.
loudspeakers,
2
oxygen-free
copper
DESIGN TEC HN OLOGY
4
The Wharfedale design principle
relatively simple, phase linearity
has, since our foundation in 1932,
is preserved, meaning the drive
been one of simple execution and
units move in unison - a seamless
vertical component synergy. This
transition from one to the other
principle is manifest within Opus2.
without disconnect or interference.
Every component, sub-assembly,
Because each drive unit is operating
even the crossover elements are
so
manufactured entirely in-house to
specification, the presentation is
a
relaxed and confident; powerful
standard
commensurate
with
comfortably
within
its
own
the product and with regard to
and fulfilling.
every other component within the
Opus2 loudspeakers have a further
loudspeaker.
feature - usually found only in the
Through this vertical integration we
highest quality professional recording
are able to ensure the cabinets fit
studios - a dome mid-range driver
the drive units, that the operating
capable of reproducing the entire
spectrum of the drive units work
range of human vocal reproduction
with each other and that the whole
- with a dispersion characteristic
is much greater than the sum of the
which mimics the voice.
parts - perfect synergy.
Through
This all-embracing approach to design
achieves one of the most natural
pays dividends in performance.
presentations
Because
moving-coil loudspeaker.
the
crossover
can
be
this
synergy,
possible
Opus 2
from
a
6
A P P L I C AT I O N S
The most common criticism levelled at
Aligned vertically, their dispersion
hi-fi companies today is that systems
is uniform on the horizontal plane
are designed either for home cinema
with none of the ‘lobing’ that lesser
use, or to reproduce stereo music
centre channels can be prone to.
accurately. It is seemingly difficult
Tonally matched and perfectly
to find a system that combines
balanced to present vocals in a
the best of both worlds without
breath-takingly natural fashion, the
compromise to each other. Opus ,
Opus2 centre is the result of many
however, has been engineered as
years work in the field of home
a complete range with dedicated
cinema.
models available for use as centre
The tri-surround speakers within
channels and surround speakers.
the Opus2 range take the principle
Within film soundtracks, around
of tonal matching further still,
70% of the audio is usually directed
perfectly integrated with the rest
through the centre speaker. It is
of the series, yet with a full 180
essential therefore, that this speaker
degree dispersion aimed at fully
is not only of the very highest quality,
immersing the listener within a
but that it integrates seamlessly
complete soundfield.
with the front left and front right
The Opus 2 series also includes
speakers, presenting a cohesive front
the new ‘AVC’ models. These
soundstage.
are
The Opus centre channel speaker
be wall mounted for the least
utilises the same dome mid-range
intrusive installation, yet with the
and tweeter arrangement as in all the
same outstanding neutrality and
floorstand and stand-mount models.
cleanliness as the larger models.
2
2
specifically
engineered
to
I N T E G R AT E D D R I V E R D E S I G N
A new studio monitor quality large
rear cover which serves as a heat sink
dome mid-range drive unit is used
and breaks up internal resonances. A
over the crucial midband frequencies,
powerful high flux shielded magnet
700 Hz – 4 kHz. A key feature of this
provides ample reserves of motor
driver is exceptionally low distortion
force to the dome.
over its entire working range –
typically less than 1% at a Sound
The
Pressure Level of 100 db at 1 metre.
frequencies
The driver is mounted in a custom
handled
matched fascia plate which provides
soft
partial
horn
loading,
giving a broad angle
of dispersion at its
upper
crossover
highest
dome
Extensive
at
are
by
a
driver.
research
Wharfedale
has
established that properly
engineered soft domes are
point. The fascia
a better choice than metallic
plate
die
based domes, which add their
aluminium,
own typical character to the treble
designed to place
response. The new Opus² tweeter
the units as close as
has been re-engineered with a fine
cast
is
possible for optimum
gauge aluminium coil to reduce the
integration and to create a point
moving mass and extend response to
source effect.
beyond 45 kHz -far above audible
frequencies.
The dome is driven by a large 75 mm
8
voice coil based on a hard aluminium
Careful attention to detail has resulted
former to provide maximum rigidity
in wide dispersion with very low
and to maintain a cool coil operating
distortion again typically below 1%
temperature by maximising thermal
at an SPL of 100 db at 1 metre. The
radiation. The diaphragm supporting
unit uses a fully shielded high flux
ring is die cast aluminium to maintain
neodymium magnet, and produces a
perfect concentricity of the moving
typical SPL of 93 dB at 1 metre at an
parts during assembly. The dome
input of one Watt. Die cast aluminium
is pressure equalised by a closely
structural parts are used throughout
coupled underside perforated dome
and a rear cover isolates the tweeter
baffle and a rear chamber within an
dome from the pressure of other
extended die cast aluminium finned
speaker components.
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PERFORMANCE BASS
Opus ² bass units are of two main
Voice coils in high performance
types. The smallest cabinets use
loudspeakers have to withstand
a triple laminated cone of glass
extremes of mechanical stress and
/carbon/ glass. Smaller cabinets
heat. The lateral strength of Opus²
intensify reflections that can pass
voice coils is very high. We use a
back through the cone. The special
combination of half hard aluminium
“tri-lam” construction minimises these
and resin bonded glass fibre. The
reflections because of its extreme
ability of our voice coils to resist
rigidity. The larger cabinets use
deformation under extreme stress
larger drivers and here low cone
contributes towards some of the
mass is of crucial importance in
lowest distortion figures ever seen in
maintaining impulse response and
conventional drivers.
performance.
All Opus² large format speakers
Our latest cone designs for the
are
large format models utilise our own
with additional bucking magnets
bi-carbon weave and laminating
and steel covers on the bass
processes. Carbon fibre has
immense
longitudinal
fully
magnetically
shielded
driver magnets. You can
operate
an
Opus²
strength and is used in
speaker close to the
many structures where
most
high strength and
sensitive TV monitor
light weight are
key
requisites.
The
carbon
fibre
bundles
with no fears
over
In
resins
that
subsequently
some
loudspeakers,
impregnated with
bonding
screen
interference.
are woven and
special
magnetically
motional noise
can be a problem
are
especially
pressure
in
high
output bass systems. The Opus2s
formed and heat cured. The resulting
high pressure injection die- cast
material is exceptionally rigid and
aluminium chassis used on our bass
exhibits very low levels of internal
drivers feature an ‘open design’
resonance.
consequence,
where narrow legs maximise the
energy losses in the cone transfer
open areas of the frame to all but
mechanism are very low. Because
eliminate rear reflections. Trapped
our bass drivers are just that,
or compressed air within the driver
their cones maintain true pistonic
unit can easily move through vents
action over their entire designed
in the voice coil, through the magnet
low frequency range. The cone is
structure, through the spider, and
terminated with a large half roll of
from the underside of the central cap
synthetic butyl rubber with superb
both through holes in the cone and
damping qualities.
the magnet central core.
As
a
A PERFECT BAL ANCE
All models feature printed circuit
electrolytic
boards with large copper tracks
selected for their outstanding audio
to maximize signal transfer and
properties. These capacitors are
component
layouts
specially
designed
marked with the ‘Wharfedale super
to eliminate inference from any
audio capacitor’ logo. The internal
residual stray magnetic fields. The
cables used are specially made and
printed circuit boards are mounted
assembled in our factory: 4 multiple
on vibration free mountings. Most
strand oxygen-free copper wires are
models have two printed circuit
plaited into a single cable for all
boards to separate the bass inductors
internal loudspeaker connections.
from those coupling the midrange
and tweeter units.
The bass inductor has a large
magnetic
field
when
operating
which would otherwise modulate
the other inductors. All inductors
feature perfect layer winding and
large gauges of wire are used to
keep insertion loss to a minimum.
Capacitors in crossover networks
pose special problems. The Opus²
range features high grade low-loss,
low-ecr, polypropylene or reversible
12
capacitors
14
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
It is often said that a loudspeaker
in demonstration. Most notably
is the weakest point in any audio
though from the engineer’s point of
system and this is largely true. It
view, it hides many kinds of small
is the point at which the electrical
frequency response abhorrations.
signal is converted into compressions
Aside from not reproducing the
and rarefactions within the air that
original recording faithfully though,
our ears recognise as sound.
this
can
be
inclined
to
cause
longer-term listening fatigue.
A
The mechanics of this transfer of
cosy respnose is nowhere near as
energy and how accurately this
accurate, revealing, transparent or,
occurs is a constant battle for the
in the long term, enjoyable as a well-
loudspeaker engineer and one which
balanced flat response.
we, at Wharfedale, have lead the
field for over seventy-five years.
Even
small
abhorations
in
the
frequency response have a profound
The measured performance of our
effect on the overall loudspeaker
Opus system is a testament to this
balance. Peaks in the response
success. We have engineered a
spectrum can mask surrounding
loudspeaker system that is ruler-flat
frequencies leading to a loss of
across a wide band-width and yet
transparency and a ‘blurring’ of the
remains a relatively easy load for
soundstage. Because we engineer
any good amplifier system.
our own drive units and cabinets in
2
complete synergy to the rest of the
design process, we control every
a sound that could be described as
aspect of our drivers’ performance
‘cosy’. It is easy to listen to for short
and can get much closer to an ideal
periods and immediately impressive
performance.
Opus² - 3: Frequency Response
Many loudspeaker engineers aim for
M E A S U R E M E N T A N D A N A LY S I S :
Frequency response plots may tell
By analysing the ‘Polar Response’
you a lot about what you might hear
across a wide range of frequencies,
from a loudspeaker when you listen to
it’s possible to design a loudspeaker
a speaker ‘on-axis’ or straight in front
which not only has a text-book ‘on-
of the speaker, but do nothing to tell
axis’ response, but one which can
you how a loudspeaker will integrate
integrate superbly into the listening
into a real room environment.
environment. Whilst this is important to
Opus² -M1: Horizontal Directivity
the performance of a stereo speaker
16
Anomalies in the off-axis response
system, in multi-channel or home-
can cause reflections from side walls
cinema systems it is nothing short of
or room objects to create unpleasant
essential - yet so many manufacturers
interference effects
overlook this key design stage.
ENGINEERING PERFORMANCE
The overall measure of success of
arbiter though, the human ear, is
a high-end loudspeaker system is
the most important test of all - and
to design a loudspeaker that is
all Opus2 loudspeaker models have
both accurate and natural, very low
undergone a two-year long process
in distortion, which covers a wide
of listening and tweaking before
band-width of frequencies and can
final approval to refine and further
provide immense pleasure to the
refine their balance to the point
listener over long periods of time.
where the loudspeaker acoustically
‘vanishes’ – leaving just the music.
Many of these criteria can be
designed into a system through careful
Only when a loudspeaker truly
measurement and analysis, but the final
represents
factor - the ability to provide pleasure
integrity and clarity of the original
to the listener is a black art – a skill
performance, but also is so finely
developed by the master acoustician
balanced that it communicates the
over a lifetime of experience.
genuine passion and raw emotion
not
only
the
tonal
of the live performance, can we be
Opus loudspeakers meet all the pre-
satisfied that all the design objectives
requisites of performance – in fact
have been fulfilled.
2
in measured tests, they outperform
all their peers and many which
All Opus2 loudspeakers meet these
cost considerably more. The final
most stringent objectives.
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
Opus² - M1
Opus² - M2
Opus² - 1
Opus² - 2
Opus² - 3
Three
Three
Three
Four
Four
170mm
200mm
200mm
200mm x 2
250mm x 2
Soft Dome Mid-range
3” 75mm textile
3” 75mm textile
3” 75mm textile
3” 75mm textile
3” 75mm textile
Soft Dome Tweeter
1” 25mm textile
1” 25mm textile
1” 25mm textile
1” 25mm textile
1” 25mm textile
Nominal impedance
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
Impedance variation ohms
4.2 - 28
5.0 - 25
5.0 - 33
4.5 - 34
4.0 - 34
42Hz - 43kHz
40Hz - 43kHz
37Hz - 43kHz
35Hz - 43kHz
33Hz - 43kHz
38Hz
36Hz
28Hz
28Hz
27Hz
45kHz
45kHz
45kHz
45kHz
45kHz
Transducer complement
Bass Driver Cone
Frequency Response +/- 3dB
LF limit -10 dB
HF limit - 10 dB
Rec.rear to wall off- set
300mm
200mm
300mm
100mm
400mm
SPL (1w @ 1m)
87dB
88dB
89dB
90dB
91dB
Distortion 20 – 600Hz 100dB @1m
<3%
<3%
<3%
<3%
<3%
600 - 50KHz
<1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
75W
100W
150W
250W
300W
40 - 150W
50 - 200W
60 - 300W
100 - 500W
100 - 600W
106dB
108dB
109dB
115dB
116dB
Horizontal Coverage (nom.)
90º to 14kHz
90º to 14kHz
90º to 14kHz
90º to 14kHz
90º to 14kHz
Vertical Coverage (nom.)
70º to 12kHz
70º to 12kHz
70º to 12kHz
70º to 12kHz
70º to 12kHz
Enclosure type: Bass/Mid
Ported
Ported
Ported / Sealed
Ported / Sealed
Ported / Sealed
18L / NA
27L / NA
33L / 10L
30 / 14L
51 / 22L
40Hz
40Hz
35Hz
30Hz
30Hz
650Hz , 3kHz
700 Hz , 3kHz
650Hz , 3kHz
650Hz , 3kHz
650Hz , 3kHz
Construction Material
15 & 30mm MDF
18 & 33mm MDF
18 & 33mm MDF
18 & 33mm MDF
18 & 34mm MDF
Product Dimensions mm
510 X 230 X 360
505 X 255 X 450
1005 X 260 X 410
1140 X 260 X 410
1210 X 315 X 440
12.0kg
16.4kg
28.0kg
34.5kg
40.0kg
Power Handling
Continuous Programme
Recommended Amplifier Power
Max Peak SPL
Volume: Bass / Mid
System Fb
Crossover Frequencies
Nett Weight
18
Opus² - Tri-Centre
Opus² - AvS
Opus² - AvC
Opus² - Tri-Surround
Four
Three
Three
Five
170mm x 2
170mm
170mm
170mm
Soft Dome Mid-range
3” 75mm textile
3” 75mm textile
3” 75mm textile
3” 75 mm textile
Soft Dome Tweeter
1” 25mm textile
1” 25mm textile
1” 25mm textile
1” 25 mm textile
Nominal impedance
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
6 Ohms
Impedance variation ohms
4.5 - 24
4.0 - 18
4.0 - 18
4.0 - 12
75Hz - 43kHz
45Hz - 43kHz
45Hz - 43kHz
60hz - 43kHz
70Hz
40Hz
40Hz
50hz
45kHz
45kHz
45kHz
45Hz
100 - 400mm
0mm
0m
100mm
89dB
88dB
88dB
89dB
20-200 <5%
<3%
<3%
<3%
200-45k <1%
<1%
<1%
<1%
200W
100W
100W
100W
70 - 400W
40 - 200W
40 - 200W
40 - 200W
113dB
108dB
108dB
110dB
Horizontal Coverage (nom.)
80º to 12kHz
90º to 14kHz
90º to 14kHz
180º to 10kHz
Vertical Coverage (nom.)
30º to 12kHz
70º to 14kHz
70º to 14kHz
90º to 12 Hz
Enclosure type: Bass/Mid
sealed
sealed
ported
Ported / Sealed
25L / NA
9L / NA
12L / NA
30 / 14L
60Hz
70Hz
60Hz
30HZ
900Hz, 4kHz
700Hz, 4kHz
700 Hz, 3.5 kHz
650 Hz , 3 kHz
Construction Material
15 & 25mm MDF
15 & 25mm MDF
15mm MDF
18 & 33mm MDF
Product Dimensions mm
242 X 575 X 320
500 X 230 X 140
230 X 500 X 140
280 X 460 X 180
14.7kg
9.0kg
9.0kg
10.6kg
Transducer complement
Bass Driver Cone
Frequency Response +/- 3dB
LF limit -10 dB
HF limit - 10 dB
Rec.rear to wall off- set
SPL (1w @ 1m)
Distortion 20 – 600Hz 100dB @1m
600 - 50KHz
Power Handling
Continuous Programme
Recommended Amplifier Power
Max Peak SPL
Volume: Bass / Mid
System Fb
Crossover Frequencies
Nett Weight
Finishes (all models)
Piano / Satin Cherry
Piano / Satin Rosewood
Piano / Satin Birds Eye
Piano Black
IAG House, Sovereign Court
Ermine Business Park
Huntingdon, Cambs
PE29 6XU
Tel: +44 (0) 1480 447700
Fax: +44 (0) 1480 431767
O2WFD .07.2007
www.wharfedale.co.uk
The information in this brochure is subject to change without notice.
All rights to the mentioned trademarks reside with their respective companies.
All rights reserved. ©2007 Wharfedale International Ltd.
Wharfedale is a member of the International Audio Group.