Sigberg Audio Saranna (fullrange, cardioid active floorstander) development thread

[sigbergaudio]

Indeed, the grey veneer contributes nicely to the Nordic design! Personally, I would prefer the horn of the Sica in black anodised – but that's just a minor detail.

The journey started in 2023 — so, what's next? An on-/ in-wall speaker?

Best regards

Thank you.

Yes, bringing a speaker from idea to production is a pretty lengthy process. The Sarannas still aren't generally available, sales will open July 19th if everything goes according to plan.

Next is focusing on selling the current product line.

 

[sigbergaudio]

The phase plug in the horn looks pretty badass too.

 

[hex168]

That's a very good-looking speaker!

 

[Matt_Holland]

The phase plug in the horn looks pretty badass too.

View attachment 456639

I had to zoom in before deciding that I agree

 

[sigbergaudio]

@Matt_Holland hehe.

 

[sigbergaudio]

There's recently been some discussions about the accuracy of bass measurements in anechoic chambers and/or the NFS, lastly in the review thread for the Grimm Audio speaker.

The final production model of the Saranna will be measured in the Seas Anechoic chamber within the next couple of weeks, but prototype measurements show that it will not properly represent the bass response, due to the nature of chambers like this + the fact that the speaker has to be upside down, so you will have one driver and the port point rearwards around 3 meters (9ft) from the floor.

A combination of groundplane measurements and simulations are perhaps the best we have at this point. VituixCAD has a good simulation for enclosures, and it says the following for the Saranna:

f3 28 Hz
f6 25 Hz
f10 22 Hz

This is probably not far off, and translates well to the experienced flat response to around 20hz in-room (due to room gain).

 

[sigbergaudio]

OK, some more data.

Bass response does not sum correctly / in a useful in the anechoic chamber at Seas since both bass drivers and port is at the back, but I've simulated the response by combining the 0 and 180 degrees in the lower frequencies, and also compensated below 50hz via calibration data on Seas chamber vs NFS.

That gives a -6dB at 28hz:

If I simulate the speaker enclousre with VituixCad as mentioned earlier, the F6 is 25hz. But somewhere around there then.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Horizontal polar map based on measurements from 0-180 (10 degree increments) in the Seas anechoic chamber:

Normalized:

 

[sigbergaudio]

Reference axis (10deg) (not accurate below 150-200hz)

 

[sigbergaudio]

THD@96dB.

A couple of things to note here: Data is not really accurate below 150-200hz, due to bass not summing properly during measurements. See second graph which is THD when measured with the rear facing the microphone, there we're at 1.1% all the way down at 60hz, but still not completely accurate.

Also note that the speaker has a slight lift in the midbass, so @200-400hz the level is really 98-99dB, not 96dB.

Red line is 1%.

Bass measured from the rear, 50-200hz (the Klippel at Seas won't measure THD lower than 60hz):

 

[sigbergaudio]

Full reference axis with simulated/combined response below 200hz will look something like this;

And for those who think it looks weird that it tapers off so early from 100-200hz, it actually translates to a pretty flat response in-room. But also note that there are tilt filters loaded to the presets of the amp, so by the press of a button it can be changed to something like this:

 

[sigbergaudio]

Some photos from the anechoic chamber.

 

[sigbergaudio]

10 deg alone 100-20khz:

20-20,000hz - 10 and 180 deg at the same time to see the cardioid effect better, and also allows you to imagine the summing of the bass with the front response:

 

[MKR]

Very cool @sigbergaudio ! Speakers looking great (cosmetically and measurement wise ) … well done sir

 

[sigbergaudio]

Very cool @sigbergaudio ! Speakers looking great (cosmetically and measurement wise ) … well done sir

Thank you! I'm a bit miffed that I can't get proper bass measurements in the anechoic chamber. If anyone wants to start a fundraiser to buy me a Klippel NFS, just say the word!

 

[MKR]

Thank you! I'm a bit miffed that I can't get proper bass measurements in the anechoic chamber. If anyone wants to start a fundraiser to buy me a Klippel NFS, just say the word!

Maybe try a Gofundme

 

[AudioJester]

I happen to know a couple of guys who can measure for you.......

 

[Matt_Holland]

I happen to know a couple of guys who can measure for you.......

Audio First in the UK also have one.

 

[sigbergaudio]

I happen to know a couple of guys who can measure for you.......

Whereabouts?

 

[sigbergaudio]

Audio First in the UK also have one.

Thanks, worth considering. I'm aware of a German company who offers measuring services as well. Ideally I'd like to find somewhere close enough to drive there and be there, not just send the speakers.