Sigberg Audio @ Purité Audio London

[Purité Audio]

The ‘Mantas’ manual is here, three built in presets, and nine filter options, auto -detect ( if you choose) the subs come pre-configured so you literally plug and play.


I have been asked about their sound and how they compare and to be honest I haven’t had the chance yet to move speakers around and compare but I will, re their sound their timbre/tone is just like the 8Cs/LS60s but there is something about their sound, without becoming all subjective they have a very ‘natural’ sound not sure why but I like it.
Keith

 

[sigbergaudio]

@Purité Audio It's an interesting observation and I'm happy to hear that you experience them that way, as it was certainly intended.

They have a tonality that is tuned to be both rich and natural in-room, but perhaps even more importantly is two other facts: The inherent quality and smoothness of the frequency response of the drivers, combined with the fact that the applied DSP is also smooth (very low Q filters). This means there are no sudden shifts in the response (or phase), resulting in a very natural and effortless sound

 

[sigbergaudio]

Low distortion is another thing that can give this impression.

You have four 10" bass drivers, two 12" midbass drivers, high power midrange drivers and waveguided tweeters.
Driving it is eight (8) Hypex modules with a total power of 2200W.

While Manta isn't small by any means and may look a bit menacing, the setup is still relatively compact all things considered, so the above is easy to forget.

 

[MKR]

Low distortion is another thing that can give this impression.

You have four 10" bass drivers, two 12" midbass drivers, high power midrange drivers and waveguided tweeters.
Driving it is eight (8) Hypex modules with a total power of 2200W.

While Manta isn't small by any means and may look a bit menacing, the setup is still relatively compact all things considered, so the above is easy to forget.

@sigbergaudio So you have 2x 10” and 1x 12” per speaker? Do I have that correct? The cardioid is done by which drivers? And how? What is config of 12”? Sealed, cardioid, dipole, etc? What is the cardioid low cutoff? Freq coverage of each driver?

Sorry for all the questions, I know you have explained some of this in previous posts, but not fully following the explanations (certainly my fault, not yours … you may need to dumb it down for me )

And sorry, not being snarky, a serious question … why did you just not go with full range tower design? Pros/cons?

 

[Purité Audio]

Low distortion is another thing that can give this impression.

You have four 10" bass drivers, two 12" midbass drivers, high power midrange drivers and waveguided tweeters.
Driving it is eight (8) Hypex modules with a total power of 2200W.

While Manta isn't small by any means and may look a bit menacing, the setup is still relatively compact all things considered, so the above is easy to forget.

I realise that now after actually carrying them!
27kg per sub!
I am really extremely pleased with them, and Thorbjørn has been absolutely top notch in terms of professionalism, set-up advice ( which I needn’t have asked if I had only read the manual).
I wish Sigberg Audio every success for the future.
Keith

 

[sigbergaudio]

@sigbergaudio So you have 2x 10” and 1x 12” per speaker? Do I have that correct? The cardioid is done by which drivers? And how? What is config of 12”? Sealed, cardioid, dipole, etc? What is the cardioid low cutoff? Freq coverage of each driver?

Sorry for all the questions, I know you have explained some of this in previous posts, but not fully following the explanations (certainly my fault, not yours … you may need to dumb it down for me )

And sorry, not being snarky, a serious question … why did you just not go with full range tower design? Pros/cons?

Yes all the details are in the main development thread (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...active-speakers-prototype-build-thread.28255/), and most is covered on the product page as well: https://www.sigbergaudio.no/products/sigberg-audio-manta-1-active-speakers

I will however of course be happy to try to write quick summary in context of your questions!

"You have 2x 10” and 1x 12” per speaker? Do I have that correct?"
Essentially yes. This is a 4-way speaker system where the 4th way (low end) is covered by subwoofers. The power and capacity of this 4th way is then by design somewhat up to the customer (depending on which of our subwoofers are chosen, and how many). Our subwoofers are delivered with a crossover that is designed to match our speakers perfectly. So all @Purité Audio had to was basically plug it all in, and they're good to go. No messing around with crossovers and phase.

To truly match the Manta's maximum capacity, you will require four 10D subwoofers. @Purité Audio has two 10D subwoofers (which is plenty for almost any domestic situation), so this is where you will find the four 10" drivers, as each 10D subwoofer has dual 10" drivers.

"The cardioid is done by which drivers? And how?" / What is config of 12”? "Sealed, cardioid, dipole, etc?" / "Cardioid low cutoff" / "Freq coverage of each driver?"
The speakers have dual cardioid systems, and they are both passive (the cardioid pattern is created by acoustic vents, not by active drivers).
The lower cardioid system is covered by the 12" driver, which covers 90-600hz.
The upper cardiooid system is covered by the coax driver, which covers 600-20,000hz (crossover between midrange and tweeter is ~2,500hz).

"why did you just not go with full range tower design? Pros/cons?"
We already had the SBS.1 which is by design built to play with subwoofers, and this has proven to be a very successful design. So the speakers don't have bass drivers. Instead we can select drivers with less mass, different suspension and higher sensitivity, specifically designed for midbass duty and with extreme dynamic capacity. This is why both the SBS.1 and the Manta can play insanely loud (translating to inaudible compression and distortion at any reasonable level) despite the modest size.

In short: This system approach enables us to create 4-way speakers with dedicated midbass drivers and very high dynamic capacity.

 

[MKR]

Yes all the details are in the main development thread (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...active-speakers-prototype-build-thread.28255/), and most is covered on the product page as well: https://www.sigbergaudio.no/products/sigberg-audio-manta-1-active-speakers

I will however of course be happy to try to write quick summary in context of your questions!

"You have 2x 10” and 1x 12” per speaker? Do I have that correct?"
Essentially yes. This is a 4-way speaker system where the 4th way (low end) is covered by subwoofers. The power and capacity of this 4th way is then by design somewhat up to the customer (depending on which of our subwoofers are chosen, and how many). Our subwoofers are delivered with a crossover that is designed to match our speakers perfectly. So all @Purité Audio had to was basically plug it all in, and they're good to go. No messing around with crossovers and phase.

To truly match the Manta's maximum capacity, you will require four 10D subwoofers. @Purité Audio has two 10D subwoofers (which is plenty for almost any domestic situation), so this is where you will find the four 10" drivers, as each 10D subwoofer has dual 10" drivers.

"The cardioid is done by which drivers? And how?" / What is config of 12”? "Sealed, cardioid, dipole, etc?" / "Cardioid low cutoff" / "Freq coverage of each driver?"
The speakers have dual cardioid systems, and they are both passive (the cardioid pattern is created by acoustic vents, not by active drivers).
The lower cardioid system is covered by the 12" driver, which covers 90-600hz.
The upper cardiooid system is covered by the coax driver, which covers 600-20,000hz (crossover between midrange and tweeter is ~2,500hz).

"why did you just not go with full range tower design? Pros/cons?"
We already had the SBS.1 which is by design built to play with subwoofers, and this has proven to be a very successful design. So the speakers don't have bass drivers. Instead we can select drivers with less mass, different suspension and higher sensitivity, specifically designed for midbass duty and with extreme dynamic capacity. This is why both the SBS.1 and the Manta can play insanely loud (translating to inaudible compression and distortion at any reasonable level) despite the modest size.

In short: This system approach enables us to create 4-way speakers with dedicated midbass drivers and very high dynamic capacity.

Thank you @sigbergaudio ! Really appreciate the clear and concise write up and sorry for making you repeat yourself. Your reasoning makes sense, but I still prefer a floorstander with the subs integrated

Anyway, an excellent design and I look forward to hearing them someday.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Thank you @sigbergaudio ! Really appreciate the clear and concise write up and sorry for making you repeat yourself. Your reasoning makes sense, but I still prefer a floorstander with the subs integrated

Anyway, an excellent design and I look forward to hearing them someday.

Preferring floorstanders is fair of course, and I won't rule out that we will make that at some point as well. But for now this is approach is both pretty unique and also comes with many benefits.

 

[AlmaAtaKZ]

Very interesting system. Any plans for appearances at any shows? Any in UK?

 

[Purité Audio]

They really are superb, within the next week or so I will re-arrange everything so that the Mantas and 8Cs are in the same room and we can switch instantly.
U.K. shows do they still exist?
Keith

 

[Purité Audio]

I thought it was time for a Sigberg Audio ‘Manta’ update, I have moved them into our main demonstration room, ( as the 8Cs are enjoying a spell in trendy Camden Mews) set up is as before, analogue from the super Eversolo DMP into the Mantas and then through to two Sigberg 10 D subwoofers.
I have been comparing them to the LS60s ( plus 2x KC62 subs) and well just wow the Mantas rock!
They are really dynamic, bold palpable really wide imaging , tone and timbre are as you would expect from a transparent design, there appears to be no limit to how loudly they will play, there isn’t a hint of compression or distortion, I imagine the dual-cardioid and dedicated midrange driver really count.
I am extremely pleased with them, delighted in fact, I would urge anyone looking for a really fine pair of loudspeakers that will play anything at any volume check out the Mantas.
You will not be disappointed.



Keith

 

[Purité Audio]

Keith

 

[Soria Moria]

Sigberg and Arendal are the only speaker manefacturers I know from my country. Would love to own a pair but they are crazy expensive!!
Beautiful though and I'm sure they sound excellent.

 

[Purité Audio]

They aren’t cheap but when you consider what you get in terms of sound quality compared to the ‘high end’ then they become something of a bargain.
Keith

 

[Doodski]

The specs are not only good but have some very interesting numbers for some interesting stuff.

 

[Purité Audio]

I was hoping they would be an 8C ‘plus’ for listeners that needed to sit further away /play more loudly and they are, when the 8Cs return I will run a head to head comparison.
Keith

 

[Emlin]

The specs are not only good but have some very interesting numbers for some interesting stuff.
View attachment 311807

Which in particular, do you think?

 

[Matias]

Sigberg and Arendal are the only speaker manefacturers I know from my country. Would love to own a pair but they are crazy expensive!!
Beautiful though and I'm sure they sound excellent.

Electrocompaniet and Hegel are also from Norway.

 

[Doodski]

Which in particular, do you think?

The Recommended listening distance: 1.5-8 meters (5-26 feet) is intriguing. As is the Maximum SPL@1m (weighted pink noise): 122dB (per speaker). They are a 12" midd-bass/woofer and apparently play plenty loud.

 

[Soria Moria]

Electrocompaniet and Hegel are also from Norway.

They only make amplifiers and DACs from what I know. The Hegel amplifiers I have seen tested perform poorly. Haven’t seen any from Electrocompaniet but there’s this red flag on their Wikipedia page: ‘Their philosophy of the perfect sound has been controversial over their 40 years of history. They base their ideal sound not on technical measurements and theory but rather on getting a sound most true to the live listening experience.’