Gershman Acoustics Grand Studio II Loudspeaker

Gershman Acoustics Grand Studio II Loudspeaker

Unusual, if not distinctive – does this Canadian firm’s concept of stacking two audio system for every channel pay sonic dividends?

The concept of stacked audio system is nothing new: SME founder Alastair Robertson-Aikman was famed for utilizing double-decker Quad ELS57 electrostatics [HFN Sep ’77 & Dec ’01] and the thought was even endorsed by the speaker firm which offered directions to realize the identical factor, with the higher speaker mounted in a body the other way up above the decrease. Even the late model ambassador, Ken Ishiwata, was for some time demonstrating his Marantz electronics with stacked pairs of Mordaunt-Short Performance 6 audio system mounted in frames he’d spec’d and had custom-made.

The similar pondering informs these £16,836-a-pair Grand Studio II floorstanders from Ontario-based Gershman Acoustics, an organization based by designer Eli Gershman 30 years in the past, that birthday just lately being marked with the sculptural thirtieth Anniversary Grand Avant Garde speaker.

Double Decker

The ‘II’ within the mannequin title signifies not a second-generation design, however that every channel makes use of two of the corporate’s Grand Studio audio system, every a comparatively standard sealed-box standmount, with the higher enclosure ‘flown’ upside-down above the decrease in a body manufactured from chrome steel. This exo-skeleton creates a effective hole that forestalls mechanical interference between the 2 cupboards whereas minimising, so far as attainable, the gap between the 2 25mm soft-dome tweeters.

The body helps a development some 117cm tall and weighing a considerable 73.5kg. It’s not precisely fairly however it’s placing. The firm explains that the stand ‘introduces a distinct materials and resonance frequency in comparison with the HDF wooden enclosure, contributing to a decrease, tighter, and extra exact bass response’. It additionally claims this two-speaker configuration ‘not solely enhances the soundstage but additionally gives improved dispersion traits, making certain a extra constant listening expertise all through a room’. If this appears to fly within the face of obtained knowledge about audio system utilizing twin tweeters, Gershman counters that this ‘has been fastidiously addressed to keep away from any interference or part points’.

Jump To It

Hooking up the audio system is comparatively standard, regardless of that ‘two enclosures per aspect’ configuration. The cables out of your amplifier hook up with the decrease loudspeaker, from which equipped jumper cables run to the higher enclosure, thus wiring the 2 sections in parallel. And setup is equally undemanding, past a requirement that the audio system must be no less than 1.6 instances as removed from aspect partitions as they’re from the wall behind them. They can then be toed-in barely in direction of the listening place, the precise diploma determined by listening for what the corporate describes because the ‘candy spot the place the music locks into place making a pure and unimaginable 3D soundstage’.

And there you’ve got it: two 200mm, long-throw alloy-coned bass/mid drivers and a pair of 25mm soft-dome tweeters level at you from every set of high-gloss black speaker arrays – different finishes can be found to order at a £600 premium – clamped within the embrace of a matt metal body. There’s no denying the standard of the workmanship and end right here, the sealed-box audio system nonetheless being handbuilt in Canada. Even the crossover is assembled by hand with point-to-point wiring utilizing {custom} oxygen-free copper cable.

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March 2, 2024 at 01:31AM