Loudspeakers

While the midrange FR20 model [HFN Apr '23] is not unlike a scaled-back FR30 [HFN Jun '22] in design and performance, the new FR10 is very much 'its own man'. For example, while the FR20/30 crossovers are engineered to achieve a 'flat, nominal 4ohm impedance curve', the FR10's load shows a more obvious swing in impedance of 30ohm/5.8kHz and phase (±51o) as the 64mm planar tweeter gets into its stride. The toughest, though not especially 'tough', load is still in the bass where the minimum 3.45ohm/165Hz is joined by +33/–49° swings in phase to deliver a perfectly 'driveable' min. EPDR of 1.7ohm at 88Hz and 365Hz.

The PM tweeter is obliged to work to a lower 1.75kHz in the FR10 – it rolls in at 2.5kHz in the FR20 – and this extended 34kHz bandwidth (–6dB re. 10kHz) spans the mid/treble where the largest ±4.4dB and ±4.6dB response errors, respectively, occur and where some minor bass/mid driver modes carry through [see CSD waterfall, Graph 2]. Pair matching is a superb 0.8dB (re. 200Hz-20kHz), however. The response is smoother with the grilles in place [blue trace, Graph 1] while the 4-5dB step at 15kHz is softened by toeing the speakers in (or out) or by making adjustments to your seated height. Sensitivity meets PS Audio's 86.5dB/1kHz spec. and while this is modest for the cabinet size it has – wisely – been traded for a bass extension of 38Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz), courtesy of two 165mm woofers being supplemented by three rear-facing ABRs – tuned to 35Hz – and offering 2.5x the radiating area. While bass THD is a moderate ~0.8% (re. 90dB/1m), nearfield analysis also shows the LF to be clear of cabinet modes or other obvious standing waves. PM