Songer Audio S2 Field Coil Loudspeakers | REVIEW

On the ultimate day of the 2023 Pacific Audio Fest, I discovered myself wandering the halls seeking to see if I missed something worthwhile. I found an exhibit room I hadn’t but seen: Songer Audio and Whammerdyne. When I first noticed the phrase Songer I assumed it was a typo for Sonner Audio, however I used to be improper–this was a new speaker firm from a designer named Ken Songer. This can also be the purpose the place I admit that “Whammerdyne” was the phrase that lastly lured me in–I’m a little bit of a Thomas Pynchon fan.

When I noticed the system within the room, I used to be shocked and delighted. The room featured a reasonably easy set-up that was centered on a large 2A3 amp (Whammerdyne), and a few pairs of full-range high-efficiency audio system with whizzer cones (Songer). A low-powered SET with high-efficiency audio system? It’d been some time since I’ve spent severe seat time with such a system.

When I see/hear such a system, I normally have expectations. I do know that the midrange can be beautiful and sensible, however I additionally put together myself for limitations on the frequency extremes. In addition, there’s that “beamy” high quality full-range drivers have, which frequently interprets right into a microscopic candy spot mixed with a scarcity of off-axis coherence. But the Songer Audio and Whammerdyne system exhibited none of these shortcomings. Even with simply 4.3 watts per channel, the Songer Audio S2 audio system ($49,000/pair USD with exterior energy provides) had loads of deep, satisfying bass and loads of element, and so they may go fairly loud.

Yes, I requested “Chocolate Chip Trip,” and sure, it sounded fairly wonderful.

Before I left the room, Ken Songer approached me and we had a dialogue in regards to the Songer Audio speaker line. (The Songer Audio S1, which isn’t an open baffle design just like the S2, is $37,000/pair.) He defined that his audio system aren’t simply the same old high-efficiency designs–the key to the S2’s stupendous musical supply is discipline coil know-how. As Ken later advised me, “discipline coil know-how is the most effective platform I’ve used for speaker design.”

I’ve heard discipline coil audio system up to now–the Shindo Labs Latour fashions and people large horn audio system from Classic Audio come to thoughts–and I’m all the time impressed. But the Songer Audio S2 loudspeakers appeared to go far past what I anticipated from a high-efficiency loudspeaker. There was loads of bass. There was no beaminess. They sounded nice from completely different vantage factors within the room. Plus, these are simply one of the crucial lovely audio system I’ve seen. I by no means imagined having them in for evaluate, however Ken Songer additionally lives in Oregon and he volunteered to drop them off and set them up for me. I enthusiastically agreed, and we spent an exquisite day with him and his spouse Kimberly.

The previous few months with the Songer Audio S2 discipline coil loudspeakers has been a pleasure, particularly with the Allnic Audio T-1500 Mk 2 built-in amplifier–which makes use of 300Bs and presents 10wpc. I usually discuss “getting off the merry-go-round” in high-end audio, which refers to discovering gear that makes you so comfortable that you just’ll by no means learn one other evaluate. For me, proudly owning the Songer Audio and Allnic Audio system would suffice.

Inside the Songer Audio S2

I suppose the primary query is, “What is a discipline coil?” Don’t be embarrassed about not understanding–I needed to inform Ken Songer that I wasn’t that educated about this know-how, both, and I wanted a refresher. Ken replied, “Oh, I may write a guide about discipline coil know-how.”

In the only phrases, a discipline coil makes use of a motor that creates a magnetic discipline. Most audio system use everlasting magnets within the drivers–“everlasting” means the magnetic discipline is all the time there, put in by nature. With a discipline coil design, nonetheless, the magnetic discipline is created by the motor. By utilizing a motor, you’ll be able to management the magnetic discipline and tailor it to the loudspeaker design. On the Songer Audio S2, the sector coil is mounted inside a shiny steel enclosure hooked up to the primary driver and powered by two small energy provides that plug into the wall. The energy provides additionally permit you to alter the voltage going to the audio system, which impacts the sound. As Ken defined the day after he dropped off the audio system:

“A great way of fascinated about discipline coils, and one which cuts by way of a lot of what I used to be saying yesterday, is that it’s extremely self-damping – lots of if not 1000’s of occasions extra so than even sturdy everlasting magnets. The money worth of that’s extraordinarily correct modulation of the voice coil and cones – a lot larger than any everlasting magnet is able to. Next, the power to regulate the voltage to the sector coil magnet alters the T/S parameters of the driving force. Lower voltage, let’s say 10 volts, will produce a hotter, fuller sound.  At 12 volts you’ll get a extra rapid and ahead presentation within the midrange and treble, and should sharpen up the imaging just a little as effectively.”

That explains the usage of discipline coil know-how within the Songer Audio S2 as a “platform.” But as that means, Ken Songer had loads of different concepts whereas designing these audio system, reminiscent of the selection to go open baffle:

“The different essential factor with the S2 is the again wave, as it’s with any dipole. The distance from the entrance wall is essential as a result of it determines the wavelengths which are strengthened within the room, so that you’ll need to mess around with that, for positive. The different essential consideration is the reflectivity of the entrance wall floor behind the speaker. I seen you had some sound absorbing panels resting towards the wall – it could be worthwhile to experiment with that as effectively. Removing them ought to ship a brighter presentation, whereas including extra absorption will heat up the sound, after all.  It’s that rear firing whizzer that’s most in play, there – it likes reflective surfaces, which permit it to convey extra treble vitality into the room.”

Technically, the Songer Audio S2 is endlessly intriguing. Aesthetically, it’s a knockout. Ken makes use of thick kiln-dried hardwoods for the baffles–I nearly stated “enclosures” however that might be inaccurate. The S2s, at 150 kilos every, are heavier than they appear, principally due to that stunning wooden. Again, I’ll let Ken elaborate:

“The building high quality and supplies of the S2 are with out compromise. The entrance baffles are constructed of 1.7 inch thick strong hardwood. To additional remove distortion and resonance, the sector coil driver is “magnet mounted” through the electromagnet housing to a 2.5 inch thick hardwood and glass-filled nylon assist. This permits it to be all however totally suspended in area, the place it can’t switch vibration to the entrance baffle.

“The discipline coil driver has been modified for this design, leveraging the acoustic transparency of the driving force suspension. It incorporates a novel, rear-firing whizzer which contributes to very good general tonal stability and vitality. As merely one other a part of the purpose supply driver, the rear whizzer doesn’t undergo from multi-way part or timing points. That profit interprets into an exquisite sense of dwell musical efficiency, with excellent imaging and soundstage depth.

“Below 130Hz, the Type D discipline coil is assisted by an Acoustic Elegance LO15 woofer for very correct general bass response. It is “port constrained” within the entrance, and employs an open, folded baffle design within the again. These design options decrease free resonance, improve effectivity, and scale back wave cancellations for wealthy general bass efficiency. Dual binding posts supply the choice to run bridged passively, or to bi-amp for big listening areas.”

The Songer Audio S2 is high-efficiency, after all, however it’s not a type of horn audio system with effectivity rankings within the triple digit vary. 93dB works with a 2A3 DHT, as I heard with the Whammerdyne, however I’m not so positive with my outdated 2wpc Yamamoto Sound Craft A-08 45 energy amplifier. (It appeared to crave a speaker with a 96-98 dB sensitivity ranking on the very least.) With the 300B tubes on the Allnic Audio T-1500, nonetheless, I had loads of bass, energy, and dynamics.

The PS1 energy provides are made for Songer Audio by Whammerdyne. They are properly completed–they appear similar to little energy amplifiers from another high-end audio producer. They plug straight into the wall, so you’ll be able to experiment with high-end energy cords in case you so need. The umbilical between the PS1 and the audio system come as customary–they’re six ft in size and are terminated with XLRs.

“The PS1 is a really tightly regulated, very low impedance energy provide. It is particularly designed as a excessive noise rejection sort, such that AC line noise and harmonic noise just isn’t transferred to the DC regulated output powering the sector coil. This distinctive function damps any induced motor voice coil modulated sign from the sector coil, shunting this AC induced audio sign on the energy provide. The result’s “locked down” pure DC energy to the driving force, with no overlying AC audio sign.”

You can alter the voltage for the PS1s from 9 to 12.5 volts. Yes, this does change the sound of the Songer Audio S2s, principally within the measurement and form of the soundstage. While I discovered the S2s comparatively simple to put in my room–stunning as a result of all the variables concerned–however I wound up settling round 12 volts at some stage in their keep. But I really feel the attract of having the ability to customise the sound of the Songers over time–who wants one other pair of audio system when you might have this a lot flexibility?

Set-Up

Here’s how I do know the Songer Audio S2 loudspeakers had been an unimaginable match with the Allnic Audio T-1500 built-in amplifier. Once we had the audio system in place and music was flowing into the room, Ken sat down within the listening chair to take a hear. He immediately uttered “oh,” as if completely shocked by the synergy. I sat down and immediately thought, “This evaluate goes to be a lot enjoyable.”

I do know I’m happening and on in regards to the synergy between the 2 parts, however maybe that is the purpose the place I point out that the Allnic sounded wonderful with different audio system (such because the Alexandria Audio The Monitors), and the Songer Audio S2s sounded sensible with my Pureaudio Duo2 energy amplifier, set in pure class A operation with 25 wpc. But Songer + Allnic? It took me fairly some time to quiet down for some severe, goal listening, however after I did I used to be swept off my ft. The sound of those two parts working collectively was magical, which is notable for somebody like me who’s so vital of magical considering.

As far as speaker cables go, I used to be torn between my two present favorites–the Ansuz D2s and the ArgentPurs. While I detected slight variations between the 2–they each nonetheless appeared like nothing in any respect– the charming personalities of the Allnic and the Songer appeared to win out with every selection. With an amp/speaker combo like this, you don’t need to select a cable that has editorial aspirations.

Songer Audio S2 Sound

I do know, I’ve already stated loads in regards to the sound of the Songer Audio S2. It’s seductive, bewitching and mesmerizing, which normally suggests a euphonic tilt to the proceedings. The S2s had been certainly heat, as I prefer it, and but they nonetheless preserved the element within the recordings, which I additionally like. When I first began exploring SETs and high-efficiency audio system round twenty years in the past, I needed to decide in regards to the sound I really needed from my hi-fi. Was I prepared to surrender musical data on the frequency extremes to be able to delight in that glow, that immediacy, within the midrange? When you’ve spent too a few years in small residences in large cities, you’ll be able to simply take care of a bass-shy sound so long as all the pieces else is there.

When I began listening deeply to the Songer Audio S2 loudspeakers, I instantly seen the sturdy, full and textured bass within the lowest octaves. The S2 specs state the frequency response at 30Hz-20kHz, plus or minus 6dB. This is normally the purpose the place I say one thing like, “it appeared like much more,” however that was reserved for the times again in that Portland house after I may actually use the wall boundaries to enhance the bass efficiency. In my new digs, the room is big. I normally pull the audio system out from the again wall (which is roofed with home windows) to the purpose the place the room quietly exits from the equation. So I can’t increase the bass as I used to–audio system should be extra sincere earlier than I rejoice their extensive frequency ranges.

I’m not saying that the Songer Audio S2s appeared like they might go all the way down to 20Hz, however I actually didn’t care. The S2s had been seamless from high to backside, which shouldn’t be a shock for full vary drivers–apart from one factor. The distance from high to backside was a lot additional than I anticipated, which additionally contributed to a really dynamic presentation.

That strengthened my first impression of the Songer Audio S2 loudspeakers again in Seattle final summer time. All of the idiosyncrasies of high-efficiency designs had merely vanished. They carried out at a stage of another extremely hi-fi speaker at its worth level, irrespective of the design. They was just one clue that the S2s had been unusual of their strategy–the candy spot itself.

I discussed that Ken Songer was actually shocked at how his audio system and the Allnic amp sounded in my listening room. I figured it out after I took a seat proper after him. The dispersion traits of those audio system aren’t that uncommon–the audio system sounded very good from wherever within the room. But once you sit down and take a hear, you’re instantly amazed on the distinction. It’s a brief distance from “these sound very nice” to “holy crap!” Everything snaps into focus. Everything I needed to listen to, I did. It nearly appeared secondary to me that I used to be getting that large, soothing heat I want. It was there, however I heard a lot greater than a lovely tonality.

Listening Sessions

When I see these phrases above, “listening classes,” I can’t assist however smile. My listening classes with the Songer Audio S2 discipline coil loudspeakers had been as satisfying and rewarding as with all transducer I’ve heard, irrespective of the design and the tech behind it. Have you ever discovered a seasoning for meals that’s so scrumptious that you just begin including it to all the pieces? That’s the underlying feeling I had whereas listening to the Songer Audio S2 loudspeakers.

Once the Songer Audio S2 and the Allnic Audio T-1500 Mk. II settled in, I used to be compelled to go looking out all of my favourite recordings–which jogged my memory that I actually haven’t correctly organized my music assortment after my transfer final summer time. One of my favourite LPs from the previous couple of years is Nina Simone’s Little Girl Blue, the Analogue Productions 45rpm reissue, however it does current a sure problem to my mind. The sound high quality is beautiful and captures the sincere and distinctive presence of her voice higher than the rest I’ve heard, however I’m all the time barely perplexed by the immense area between her voice and her piano, as if another person is enjoying for her. Some audio system make this idiosyncrasy insufferable, whereas others make me overlook.

With the Songer Audio S2 and the Allnic Audio T-1500, her voice and her piano change into a part of the identical natural area, introduced collectively by an analogous tone and supply that eliminates the sense of two completely different recordings pushed collectively as one. I’ve by no means heard Little Girl Blue sound extra pretty and united.

Lately I’ve been obsessive about the unique soundtrack to Oppenheimer by Ludwig Göransson. It’s each enormous and minimalist–the primary theme revolves round three notes that merely change in key. This music is supposed to echo the primary element of quantum concept described within the movie, that matter is most crammed with empty areas. The Songer Audio S2 was nearly didactic on this respect–it defined quantum mechanics to me by way of music, by drawing out all of the dynamic contrasts and the way they replenish these empty areas. There’s a feverish tone to this lovely music as effectively, a constructing of rigidity that tracks the progress of The Manhattan Project and leaves behind a haunting residue that claims, “What have we completed? What will we do now?”

I’ve stated this earlier than, however nice music and an amazing audio system will immediate you to consider stuff you haven’t considered earlier than. Your thoughts floats for some time after which, out of nowhere, you begin to assemble concepts which are purely within the second, concepts that would not be realized with out the musical inspiration. I had these experiences repeatedly with the Songer Audio S2s, and I’m grateful they came visiting after they did.

Songer Audio S2 Conclusions

I don’t have very many criticisms of the Songer Audio S2 discipline coil loudspeakers. Perhaps there’s the problem of worth, that these are costly transducers that I in all probability gained’t have the ability to afford any time quickly. That’s just a little irritating for the reason that different piece of this puzzle, the $9,600 Allnic Audio T-1500 Mk. II built-in, is completely inside my attain.

But my new home and my bigger listening room have lastly given me the chance to evaluate the large stuff, the glamorous stuff, and I’m positive this gained’t be the primary time I lament the shortcoming to ship somebody like Ken Songer a examine in order that I can proceed to bask on this form of sound high quality. There’s all the time that a part of me that consistently thinks about getting off the musical merry-go-round, and if I wasn’t a reviewer that is the way in which I might go. I do not forget that Yamamoto Sound Craft A-08 45 amplifier with the 2wpc, and the way I bought it as a result of I wouldn’t have the ability to evaluate a variety of audio system with it. That was a mistake, after all.

The coronary heart needs what the center needs, I suppose. In the previous couple of weeks I’ve had quite a few folks within the trade ask me in regards to the Songer Audio S2s, telling me how they heard them as soon as and thought they had been stupendously good. I used to be as soon as considered one of them, questioning, and now I do know the reply to the query: are they any good?

That sure, after all, could be an amazing understatement. Highly, extremely really useful.