Loudspeakers

The average seated listening height will, typically, place you on the Accordo Unica’s mid driver axis where it shows a generally flat response – errors are just ±2.5dB and ±3.0dB, respectively – albeit with a likely cone mistermination at 1.09kHz that results in a step [see Graph 1] and associated resonance that’s also visible on the CSD waterfall [see Graph 2]. Heard ±15° off-axis [blue trace] the mistermination is unchanged but the response from 1.3kHz-16kHz is now flat to within ±1.3dB, with the HF rolling off thereafter – subtle changes in toe-in will clearly allow for fine-tuning of the speaker’s brilliance. The grille, such as it is, is not entirely ‘transparent’ but brings a maximum ±0.4dB further disruption between 2.5-6kHz [grey trace]. Pair matching is a tight 0.65dB up to 12kHz above which one of our pair was 1.5dB ‘brighter’ than the other.

The rated 89dB sensitivity underestimates the high 91dB achieved here (all 1kHz/2.83V/1m) but the Accordo Unica is still tough on your amp with its 3.1ohm/83Hz minimum and big –69°/58Hz swing in impedance phase driving the EPDR down to 1.1ohm/71Hz. Bass is very clean with distortion just 0.05% (re. 90dB SPL/1m), though THD builds through the midband where 2nd/3rd harmonics dominate. The bass drivers peak at 83Hz with steep roll-offs while the ports, by contrast, offer a broad 15Hz-92Hz (–6dB) ‘tuning’ with only a minor (500Hz/–14dB) spurious resonance by way of ‘colour’. The upshot is a diffraction-corrected bass extension of just 44Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz) though bass ‘weight’ may be increased by siting near the rear wall. The long spikes are vital in keeping the ports well clear of carpets. PM