Børresen Acoustics X3 – Premium vinyl record cleaners

Børresen Acoustics X3

Take a take a look at this speaker, take into account its Danish origin, and have a go at guessing the value. Børresen Acoustics makes a variety of loudspeakers with probably the most formidable coming in at half 1,000,000 euros. The X3 is from the opposite finish of the size. It’s the least costly floorstander within the catalogue and prices £11,000. This isn’t a small quantity, however put this speaker subsequent to opponents with equally excessive finish ambitions and it appears to be like like remarkably good worth. You most likely can’t inform how large it’s from the images however at practically 1.3m (4’ 3”) it’s taller than a variety of equally priced merchandise from main gamers, which, mixed with excellent construct high quality and end add to the sturdy first impression.

The Børresen X3 is considered one of two X collection fashions launched this 12 months each of which function distinctive ‘spread-tow’ carbon fibre mid and bass drivers. These are additionally seen within the model’s flagship M-series fashions, which might counsel that this know-how represents the longer term for Børresen loudspeakers. The precise nature of those drivers differs between the 2 ranges however this function is clearly a big issue. I reviewed some Perlisten floorstanders lately that use the identical materials. The distinctive chequerboard weave permits the usage of skinny weave carbon fibre that’s lighter and thus theoretically simpler to manage than typical woven cones. There’s extra to those drivers than the weave nevertheless, they’ve sandwich cones with an aramid honeycomb filler between two carbon fibre skins so are each gentle and stiff.

Børresen Acoustics X3 tweeter

The X3 is a three-way, the topmost 4.5 inch woofer is a midrange and the pair beneath the tweeter produce bass. These drivers have double copper caps on the pole items in an effort to extend flux and cut back inductance, I’ve seen single copper caps in a wide range of drivers however not two. The good thing about decrease inductance is a smoother impedance which makes the amplifier’s life simpler and will lead to a smoother acoustic response. The distinctive ribbon tweeter is a excessive effectivity design derived from the examples discovered on Børresen’s eye wateringly costly M-series vary. This one has a decrease magnet and iron mass to maintain prices down however claims 90dB sensitivity which could be very excessive for a ribbon. It operates from 2.5kHz to 50kHz which is a formidable vary for any driver. The ribbon itself has an unfeasibly low 0.01 gram mass but can deal with “very excessive transients”. It’s aided on this respect by a wave information that acts like a shallow horn and helps with energy dealing with however doesn’t appear to undermine dispersion.

Resonance management

The crossover is outwardly constructed with the identical parts present in Børresen’s Z collection, which is the following vary up. They are mentioned to be mechanically steady with minimal “self resonance”. Børresen is a part of Audio Group Denmark, a gaggle which incorporates Aavik and Axxess electronics, and Ansuz who make cables and resonance management units. It subsequently follows that Børresen merchandise take vibration very critically; a speaker wouldn’t make sound with out it however likewise it’s very straightforward to color that sound with undesirable vibration. The X3 cupboard is product of a closely braced wooden composite materials and formed in order that there are not any parallel surfaces. It is strengthened with carbon fibre on the highest and entrance of the baffle and completed in excessive gloss black or white.

In profile, the cupboard is wedge formed with fairly an excessive curved taper from a 22cm extensive entrance baffle to 6cm at its backbone, and even that’s curved. The latter options no fewer than six steel reflex ports. A cutaway picture exhibits that the small one connects on to the enclosure for the tweeter and the highest two are tuned for the midrange, the remaining 4 cater to the bass system.

Børresen Acoustics X3 base

The base is wider than the cupboard as a way to present stability and consists of a sandwich of steel plates with a wooden composite center that’s supported by Ansuz toes. The latter look a bit like draughts items beneath as a result of they’re designed for use with Ansuz Darkz resonance management toes which are available all kinds of varieties and supplies together with some very unique (learn: expensive) examples. You don’t have to make use of Darkz because the X3s sit fortunately on the bottom as they’re, nevertheless it’s an improve choice that warrants consideration.

Room to breathe

The Børresen X3s could also be svelte in look and this clearly helps when it comes to imaging and backbone however what actually struck me was the facility of bass that they’ll reproduce. As a rule I put loudspeakers pretty near the wall behind them, round a foot (30cm), with these I needed to maintain inching them into the room as a way to take away the bloom related to an excessive amount of boundary reinforcement. It took a number of goes earlier than there was a spot of 45cm between the slender backbone of the X3s and the wall. My room is pretty bass gentle so that is additional out than standard nevertheless it labored a deal with, this distance is probably going a results of the 4 bass ports behind the rear baffle and their shut proximity to the ground. When I visited AGD final 12 months I famous that there was round a few metres behind the audio system of their dem rooms, so area might be a necessity for finest outcomes.

I used the Moor Amps Angel 6 energy amplifier to drive them, which does have a hotter steadiness than the Class D amplifiers that sister model Aavik make so this may also be an element. It proved a successful mixture, the low noise ground of the audio system permitting oodles of element to circulate via in a coherent and fascinating style. The higher the recording the higher the outcomes and for that matter the higher the ancillaries. The X3s made it very straightforward to listen to what numerous filters and cables have been doing within the streaming system, however in addition they made The God in Hackney’s The World in Air Quotes sounds magnificent. Room filling scale, highly effective dynamics and delicate timing cues have been all in proof alongside the majesty of tracks like ‘Bardo!’.

Wind it up

That slimline baffle permits these Børresens to vanish into the soundscape, shut your eyes and you’ll’t pinpoint the place the audio system are, but the facility behind the open, exact imaging means that they’re actually doing what’s wanted. Like another designs the X3s sound their finest at larger ranges, the dynamics actually come alive with the amount wound as much as ‘entertaining’. The absence of perceived colorations encourages excessive stage listening so this isn’t precisely an issue except you’ve got neighbours close by. I acquired a bit carried away with Keith Jarrett’s Carnegie Hall Concert (ECM) which is a wonderful recording and thus could be performed at ranges approaching the real looking with out discomfort when the audio system are of this calibre. ‘Part V’ of this efficiency is a magnificence that actually shone via these audio system, the taking part in is positively radiant and Jarrett’s timing couldn’t be higher.

Børresen Acoustics X3 rear port array

With extra complicated items you get an actual sense of having the ability to hear via the combination, this was obvious with Patricia Barber’s ‘Post Modern Blues’ which might appear barely thick and opaque with some loudspeakers, as if it has been blended to sound plush on brighter methods. Here you get strong exact double bass and drums alongside the vitality and energy of the piano, the entire unit is as sharp as a knife however there may be depth of tone and physique to the sound. It’s an exciting mixture particularly when the bass goes up to now down, the double bass particularly being extraordinarily articulate and quick.

Peel away

Someone as soon as coined the time period inky black to explain quiet backgrounds and it appears significantly apt right here. The design and building of the cupboard and drivers on this loudspeaker mix to take away any sense of overhang or ringing, fairly effectively all you get is clear sound. The greater Børresens peel away extra veils to disclose finer particulars little doubt however you get a reasonably good perception into any recording with the X3. And that’s earlier than you add Darkz toes, I did that with the S2T Darkz and acquired a really worthwhile uplift in bass tightness and low stage decision, eight S2Ts will set you again a reasonably penny (€5,120) however loads lower than the value of a greater loudspeaker. Standing on their very own 4 toes the Børresen X3s signify glorious worth each when it comes to sound and construct high quality, which given the place they’re made is kind of an achievement.

Technical specs

Type 3-way, four-driver, floorstanding speaker with reflex loaded enclosure
Driver complement One 70 × 28mm ribbon tweeter; one 4.5inch carbon fibre cone midrange; two 4.5inch carbon fibre cone bass drivers
Crossover frequencies Not specified
Frequency response 35Hz–50kHz
Impedance 4 Ohms
Sensitivity 88dB/W/m
Dimensions (H×W×D) 1290 × 345 × 607mm together with base
Weight 55kg/every
Finishes High gloss black, excessive gloss white.
Price £11,000/pair

Manufacturer

Børresen Acoustics ApS

www.audiogroupdenmark.com