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

[sigbergaudio]

Great deep textured bass, but I could not tell the difference, in loudness levels, between the 80dB and 108dB test tracks, which doesn't make sense. Am I doing something wrong? In my setup, I actually preferred hearing through my Kali pro studio desktop speakers and SVS SB4000 sub than my headphones.

It is normalized on purpose, so that you can see if you notice any compression. So it is recorded at 80dB and 108dB, and then adjusted to the same level during playback. If it sounds mostly the same, this means the speakers are able to play back the track just as clean at 108dB as 80dB.

The Sarannas can on average go even louder than this of course, but this is a very bass heavy track, so it's probably being limited by the amps.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Stjernholm reviews on Youtube who currently has both the Saranna and Manta on loan has started dripfeeding excerpts from the review. Here is an interesting one where you can hear recordings at a moderately loud level, and quite loud level on a pretty bass heavy track, to see if you hear any compression. Recorded with stereo microphones at the listening position (a bit over 3 meters I think).

Great test.
There is very little difference, if any, that I could hear from one listen.
At the higher SPL is the room’s effect coming into play more? I find room effect is not linear and there is a point where reverberation and standing waves become annoying.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Great test.
There is very little difference, if any, that I could hear from one listen.
At the higher SPL is the room’s effect coming into play more? I find room effect is not linear and there is a point where reverberation and standing waves become annoying.

Yes, I haven't listened very deeply myself, but the most apparent difference to me was that perhaps the bass overpowered the room a bit more at 108dB. So a change likely due to the room as much as the speakers.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Yes, I haven't listened very deeply myself, but the most apparent difference to me was that perhaps the bass overpowered the room a bit more at 108dB. So a change likely due to the room as much as the speakers.

And of course cardioid emission will help in the regard anyway.

You can tell how smooth and clean the speakers sound too.

 

[Matt_Holland]

@sigbergaudio
For the next audio comparison try this album if you like electronic with deep bass and lots of detail to retrieve including real instructs such as piano, violin, double bass:

 

[sigbergaudio]

@Matt_Holland Cool, will check it out! To be clear the aforementioned video wasn't made by me, but by Stjernholm Reviews in Denmark who currently has both the Sarannas and Mantas on loan. So I was not present for this test and did not choose the track.

 

[sigbergaudio]

​

There’s some serious production work going on over at Stjernholm Reviews in Denmark. He currently has both the Sigberg Audio Saranna and the Sigberg Audio MANTA on loan, and while we wait for the full reviews, he has published an excerpt of our talks, edited together into a presentation of the Saranna.

In the video, I go through not only the practical/technical aspects—but perhaps just as importantly, I share the thinking behind this speaker, the choice to connect it with rock/metal, and how it brings to life strong emotions tied to music and musical experiences!

Click the video above to watch the roughly 5-minute interview!

 

[sigbergaudio]

Trailer for the Stjernholm reviews ..review is out. The full review is coming soon!

Not sure I knew exactly what I got myself into when giving this guy speakers (he has both the Sarannas and a Manta system). They are certainly very thorough, and are not afraid to push the speakers to the max. He even made me cry during the interview. I think this review will be one to watch!

 

[sigbergaudio]

The Saranna video review from Stjernholm reviews premieres in a little over 2 hours, click in and get notified!

 

[sigbergaudio]

Premieres now!

 

[sigbergaudio]

What do you guys think of this type of review?

It's obviously subjective, not a measurement in sight. But at the same time it's not just some old geezer talking for 25 minutes, you hear from different perspectives (different people listening), you can see what music they listen to, they test dynamics, spend some time on the story and ideas behind it, etc.

 

[Fledermaus]

Rather cool and fun to watch, those guys seem to enjoy what they're doing and don't take it all too seriously. Not that much objective information to be gained from an ASR user's POV, but it's good to see others sharing their interest for the hobby and experiencing with it, especially in a format pretty much free of cringe subjectivist BS.

 

[IngMishael]

What do you guys think of this type of review?

It's obviously subjective, not a measurement in sight. But at the same time it's not just some old geezer talking for 25 minutes, you hear from different perspectives (different people listening), you can see what music they listen to, they test dynamics, spend some time on the story and ideas behind it, etc.

I love Stjernholm channel. His reviews are what I use to balance Erin's reviews.

Just good old music enjoyment

 

[sigbergaudio]

If you want to SERIOUSLY deep dive and also understand how Stjernholm works and thinks during his subjective listening session, here is almost 1.5 hours of his initial listening session with Saranna.

 

[sigbergaudio]

New review, this time in The-Ear.net. Thank you to @Purité Audio for lending out his demo set almost immediately after receiving them - I hope the separation anxiety wasn't too painful.

Thorbjorn Sigberg may well be a metal fan, but he’s crafted a speaker that can handle all genres of music.

"This is a loudspeaker system which is superbly engineered, has astonishing dynamics, taut bass, reference standard temporal accuracy and presents music in a near holographic soundstage. For the price its levels of transparency and detail are exceptional and it can certainly punch hard and dig deep."​

Can The Sigberg Audio Saranna Create Live Sound In The Home? | The Ear

The Saranna loudspeakers are imposing and heavy three-way active floorstanders measuring over a meter high and weighing 44Kg per cabinet. The drive units

the-ear.net

 

[Purité Audio]

I am really pleased they are back!
They imho have everything, clarity, huge dynamics, full range bass with real weight.
And a real pleasure to listen to, the Pixies ( for example) have never sounded better, they rock.
Keith

 

[Jazigo]

What do you guys think of this type of review?

It's obviously subjective, not a measurement in sight. But at the same time it's not just some old geezer talking for 25 minutes, you hear from different perspectives (different people listening), you can see what music they listen to, they test dynamics, spend some time on the story and ideas behind it, etc.

I actually enjoys Stjernholms. The only subjective channel I regulatory check in on. They usually refer to ASR or other site that does measurements. They simply value the experience first and foremost and in the end, that is what a stereo is all about (even dough I am just as happy nerding about the technical stuff).

Btw, loved your presence there @sigbergaudio. The Saranna speaker have me intrigued. The side channels (I dont recall what they are called techinically) on a coaxial element. Would something like that work on smaller bookshelf?

 

[sigbergaudio]

I actually enjoys Stjernholms. The only subjective channel I regulatory check in on. They usually refer to ASR or other site that does measurements. They simply value the experience first and foremost and in the end, that is what a stereo is all about (even dough I am just as happy nerding about the technical stuff).

Btw, loved your presence there @sigbergaudio. The Saranna speaker have me intrigued. The side channels (I dont recall what they are called techinically) on a coaxial element. Would something like that work on smaller bookshelf?

Happy that you liked the review! Do you mean the side ports? Yes, it would work on a smaller speaker, check out the Dutch&Dutch 8C and the upcoming 6C (which is even smaller).

 

[Jazigo]

Do you mean the side ports?

Yes, the sideports. As I currently understands them, they fixes the SBIR by canceling out the the backwash(?). Are there any downsides to using sideports? I was thinking that one coaxial element with sideports would be close to the perfect living room bookshelf, but it would be strange if the KEF guys haven't given it a thought.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Yes, the sideports. As I currently understands them, they fixes the SBIR by canceling out the the backwash(?). Are there any downsides to using sideports? I was thinking that one coaxial element with sideports would be close to the perfect living room bookshelf, but it would be strange if the KEF guys haven't given it a thought.

They don't fix SBIR completely, but they reduce the effects of SBIR by reducing the amount of energy that is sent to the sides and rear (90-180 degrees).

The main "downside" is that they obviously puncture the enclosure, so a driver in such an enclosure will lack any real efficiency or energy in the bottom end (below 100hz or so). So you can't have just one coaxial in such an enclosure, as it will play no bass. So you either need to handle that separately with subwoofers (as with the Sigberg Audio MANTA system), or with a separate enclosure in the same box and separate bass drivers (as with the Saranna or the Dutch&Dutch speakers).