Loudspeakers

Honestly rated at 88dB, the FR30's sensitivity is also influenced by the Near/Far setting of the two 64mm planar tweeters. Set to 'Far' the sensitivity reaches 88.2dB/1kHz and 88.5dB (500Hz-8kHz), enhanced by the presence band boost of the tweeters [see Graph 1], prior to their peak at 17.2kHz and swift HF roll-off to 32kHz (–6dB re. 10kHz). Set to 'Near', this treble-forward trend is lifted [grey trace, Graph 1], the 200Hz-20kHz response error increasing from ±4.3dB (and ±3.8dB) to ±4.8dB, traded for a boost in sensitivity to 90.1dB/1kHz (and 89.7dB/500Hz-8kHz). Pair matching remains consistent at 1.4dB as this presence/treble peak was diminished on one of our pair. Distortion from the 255mm planar magnetic midrange is very low at ~<0.1% (re. 90dB SPL) and neither planar driver shows any significant breakup modes on the CSD waterfall [Graph 2] – a very fine result. Also, the lifted HF is partially ameliorated at distance, toed-out and/or with the grilles in place [blue trace, Graph 1].

Nearfield analysis reveals the four woofers' 44Hz-410Hz bandwidth (–6dB), PS Audio specifying a 400Hz low-pass crossover, while the ABRs peak at 25Hz [green shaded area, Graph 1], albeit with mild resonances at 72Hz, 107Hz, 185Hz and 365Hz. In tandem, the eight drivers deliver an impressive diffraction-corrected bass extension of 24Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz). The modest –36°/+32° swings in phase angle occur at the freq. extremes (24Hz/20kHz) and while the impedance is kept to tight 3.6-9.5ohm limits through the audio range (or just 3.6-5.8ohm from 30Hz-20kHz) the EPDR is <5ohm with a tough minimum of 2.0ohm/26Hz (and just 1.1ohm at an ultrasonic 26.4kHz). PM