Audiophilepure

The In-room average response measurements are derived from an 18-point spatial average taken from around the listening position (11 ft away), with the microphone capsule placed at ear level. The overall in-room response was measured with a Bass Boost setting of +3 and a Tilt setting of +2.

Caveats: Unlike measurements taken outdoors or in an anechoic chamber that measures a speaker in isolation, in-room measurements give a sense of how a speaker behaves in the actual environment in which it’s used. Both types of measurements are valuable (make no mistake, a properly designed speaker in an anechoic environment will hold up much better in an average listening space), I just find in-room measurements interesting as they help shed light on what I am hearing and why. Note that no in-room measurement will ever match an anechoic measurement, and a measurement taken in my room won’t necessarily match a similarly done measurement taken in your room. But, after measuring dozens of speakers here, I’ve acquired a good understanding of how this space interacts with the speakers under test, and some general performance observations can always be drawn.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/volti-audio-lucera-loudspeaker

The Luceras responded well to precise placement. They preferred being situated away from the front wall, but placing them farther apart (hence closer to the sidewalls) expanded the soundstage, with no apparent downside. They liked to be toed in to point almost at the listening seat. Reducing the toe-in slightly also expanded the soundstage; moving past that point sacrificed focus.At first, I dismissed Roberts’s insistence on biwiring via the Lucera’s robust binding posts. When I eventually gave in, running Danacable to the bottom and AudioQuest William Tell to the top, the speakers shed any constraints. The soundstage bloomed, and all the most important sonic elements improved: treble clarity, definition, visceral impact. Biwiring the speakers released a level of fidelity that surpassed my original, single-run configuration.Roberts offers a one-year warranty on his speakers, when many manufacturers offer two or even more. His explanation is an affirmation of his commitment to his brand and his customers. “One year is the warranty in writing,” he explained over text. “However, at my discretion, I will replace or repair any components or crossovers on any of my speakers regardless of who owns them, with no time limit. Easy to do, because in the 15 years I’ve been in business, I’ve never had to replace anything. Volti Audio speakers are not poofy high-end box speakers where if you just look at them the wrong way you blow a tweeter. They are extremely durable and will last for many decades.”

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1025/Voxativ_Hagen2_Tower_Loudspeaker_Review.htm

Then why aren’t there more single-driver speakers out there? Because they are hard to make. One can create a speaker that produces a flat frequency response, but how will it sound? Inès Marie Adler is not only a talented engineer, but she can also hear the changes in tone as she perfects her creations. Every choice she makes is to serve the music. That’s where the engineering stops and alchemy begins. When I listen to music with the Hagen2 Towers, I hear the passion and care she put into them.

The Hagen2 Towers are special. The big sound they produce belies their small stature. That first watt is their best friend. They are mind-meltingly fast and responsive. While they are incredibly resolving, they never sound harsh or bright. To sum it up, they are magical, wonderfully musical speakers. I congratulate Inès on her amazing accomplishment. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to the Hagen2 Towers or any of her other creations, please do so. You will be amazed.

So you’re trying to build a time machine out of a 1973 AMC Pacer. You want to time travel back to the mid-70s to hear the glorious midrange sound of an original pair of Quad ESL-57 loudspeakers. I hear ya. I get it. I have audiophile dreams like this too.

Then again, maybe you don’t need to risk life, limb, and a whole lot of 88 mile-per-hour speeding tickets to get that midrange sound quality? Today, in the summer of 2025, a current-production bookshelf monitor exists that sounds remarkably similar to a vintage pair of ESL-57s. With decent tube amps driving them, Charisma Audio’s Caprisse bookshelf speakers can deliver the same sonic quality and breathtaking midrange purity as Quad’s legendary electrostats.

Down through the last 40 years, I’ve owned two pairs of Quad ESL-57s and three pairs of ESL-63s. The Caprisse reminds me—fondly—of a vintage pair of ESL-57s. It has lightning-fast transients, lifelike PRaT, and magic in the midrange. The genius of the Caprisse is that it doesn’t need a large room to create the jaw-dropping sound quality of an old-school electrostatic floorstander.

If your listening room is small to mid-sized, do yourself a real favour and audition these speakers. It’s far easier than trying to get a vintage Delorean up to 88 miles an hour.