Soundkraft Enigma BT Speaker Review

[amirm]

@amirm Wow how come you never talk about woodworking. I am a kindred spirit in that regard including a early attempt at some speakers with KEF drivers in the early 80's. My brother has them and they still sound good thanks to KEF. Large scale steam bending has been a recent challenge for me. What are you working on?

Nothing . We moved to our new home a few years ago and woodworking gear is still not setup. Just no time. Last project was to make textured CNC pattern in MDF for a theater we were working on at Madrona:

 

[amirm]

Being a spherical shape, is there a "baffle-step" effect to take into consideration in the near-field measurement interpretation?

My near-field response are quickie data and have no compensation of any sorts.

 

[amirm]

@amirm :
After watching your explanatory video, I finally understood the superiority of listening to a mono configuration vs. the usual stereo configuration when subjectively assesing/reviewing a speaker.
But I still have a question: do you use only the corresponding L or R signal for that speaker or do you use the sum of the two signals combined înto one mono signal ?

I started by creating mono tracks but it made no difference to testing one channel of stereo (and can cause cancellations at times). In 1960s we had heavily panned music but today, so much is shared in both channels. As long as I use the same content and channel all the time, then the data remains valid. By not messing with the music, I can listen to anything in my library.

 

[amirm]

@amirm - I went to the site to try to purchase a pair but the web does not allow you to purchase outside Singapore.
Where did you find a $365 a pair?

It was on etsy as someone pointed out earlier. The project started on kickstarter and I only see three sites listed by the company.

 

[amirm]

So, just to verify - at 4kHz the deviation is 2% and moves up from that point forward (due to the complexity of the sound field introduces by the rear tweeter).

That's correct. I will dig up the plot later if there is interest but eventually the error rises to 100%.

The error can be reduced by measuring a lot more points as stated. As is though, the measurement time is close to 3 hours. The NFS system is mechanical so wear and tear on it is an important thing. Increasing the measurement time to 7 to 10 hours just doesn't make sense in the context of what we are trying to see.

As I noted, since the rear tweeter is directly opposed, it didn't impact on-axis response (confirmed by NFS). So that data is accurate regardless.

 

[Timcognito]

Nothing . We moved to our new home a few years ago and woodworking gear is still not setup. Just no time. Last project was to make textured CNC pattern in MDF for a theater we were working on at Madrona:

View attachment 217833

That's cool. I'm more old school about wood even though I have expertise in Solidworks CAD as a mechanical engineer. I did like look of the Emigma's. Thanks for the quick reply. Keep testing if that's what you love. I know most here a very thankful for you sharing your work, expertise and your diligence. The wood will wait.

 

[testp]

aarrghh, so it's football size, so you can't put it in your pants pocket without looking like an odd-ball..

but nice!

 

[KxDx]

According to amir, it comes in textured finishes. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend or two.

Only slightly more seriously, some people do anthropomorphise audio, which I find rather worrying, whether balloon-like speakers or giant attenuating knobs, or things having personalities. There may be some transference going on, which would explain a lot go bling hifi. To me audio is the opposite of children, or at least as they used to be described, best heard and not seen. With respect to your ex, these giant globes are making a very in-your-face statement, not to my personal liking, but a good effort and eco-friendly. At least, according to amir, when provoked, they don't squeak.

Wilson Benesch says hi.

 

[AndreaT]

Great Review! Stunning finishes on the web site, they make the pair tested look like a beta version. The manufacturer mentions DSP as well.
while I do not have a use for them, they are a fair value in spite of their less than stellar performance. The French Cabasse had something similar a decade ago at a much, much higher price.

The Enigma: Handcrafted Bluetooth Speaker

Redefining a Hifi Audio experience that marries artisan craftmanship with the best in technology | Check out 'The Enigma: Handcrafted Bluetooth Speaker' on Indiegogo.

www.indiegogo.com

 

[Ilkless]

(also, note to GR Research: this is how a wideband driver can be used decently well)

Personally I would ditch the rear facing tweeter and go with a Scanspeak 10F widebander. But SB is much closer to Singapore, where assembly happens - plus there is a local SB distributor while SS doesn't have one now.

 

[stevenswall]

Guessing by HiFi Amir means actual high fidelity, not the "U shaped curve" many seem to think of when they use "HiFi" as a disparaging remark.

Speaker that I think would compete, albeit at a much higher price (though with higher SPL and lower bass extension) is the Devialet Phantom Reactor. I loved those. Hated the app (on Android at least.)

 

[don'ttrustauthority]

So the measurements do not tell the story? Seems to be the conclusion here.

 

[JimmyBuckets]

If you buy them on Etsy, then you can buy some blind folds at the same time, so you don't have to look at the graphs @amirm is producing

 

[Jake Cushing]

Great product, would be interested in a stereo pair listening test to see what imaging sounds like with the rear-tweeters.

Nice looks too, especially that oak version. But... weird 'eye-ball' design objects never do the trick for me. Nothing beats a pair of beautifully proportioned, beautifully veneered bookshelf sized rectangular speaker boxes, with nice grills. Just fits in with any decor.

 

[Spkrdctr]

Don't forget, for that bright high end you can and probably should just put a few thicknesses of Duck Tape over that rear tweeter. I would not buy them as I am too old school but if you want to buy them, I would try them with the tweeter in the rear covered.

 

[375HP2482]

Hi Tim. I am not sure of your distinction. The Klippel NFS deviation from actual response is what I stated. If you have 10% error in 86 dB response, then you could be off by 8.6 dB so quite large. Standard target is 1% which would be less than 1 dB.

Not sure how you can apply an arithmetic percentage (10%) to a logarithmic quantity (86 dB).

Using -10% as an example gives 90% of the "true value" of sound pressure level. 10*Log(90/100) = 10*Log(0.9)=10*(-0.0457)=-0.457 dB

 

[Timcognito]

The Enigma has some competition now.

Sound of The Earth: Chapter 3

soundoftheearth.org

 

[Xyrium]

I always want these egg, oval, or round-shaped speakers to do well. They're so odd, yet I have a strange fascination with them.

The directivity looks terrible unless I'm reading this wrong. Distortion barely looks ok, I wonder if the chip amps could be replaced with something more substantial, and perhaps distortion would be better.

The overall FR is frighteningly bad to me. Everything above 1k says ear bleed. Even the in room response is barely flat.

Still, the price....though I can't recall what else is similar in this price range.

 

[zoink]

@Xyrium I have the same aesthetic response to spherical speakers. Something about the form is just visually pleasing, and of course one likes to imagine the theoretical value of doing way with hard baffle edges.

As someone currently running some Gallo Nucleus on my desk as nearfield speakers, I can attest that there is serious beaming going on with a full range driver though. This rear facing tweeter seems like an interesting attempt to try to "flll in" the treble sound field. Seems like you might want the rear wall to be somewhat absorptive to keep the hot tweeter from being overwhelming.

Regarding the various issues that the grilles seem to be producing: can they be removed? It would be interesting to see how that impacts things if so.