Specs -- Valentina P8
- Frequency response -- 30 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 3 dB on axis (in room)
- Sensitivity -- 87 dB/1W/1m minimum
- Power handling -- 40W - 400W RMS/ch/8 Ohm recommended; higher than 400W risks damage; 120W nominal for max steady state SPL; 240W for full headroom for transients
- Impedance -- 6 Ohms nominal, 4 Ohms minimum
- Peak SPL -- 108 dB (pair playing music at 4 m [13'] in mid-sized room -- 4.5 m x 7.3 m x 3.0 m (15' x 24' x 10')
- Fully enclosed, not dipoles, makes placement easy
- Listening area
- Full spectrum 2 m wide @ 4 m (6.5' wide @ 13')
- Very tight vertical dispersion and relatively narrow horizontal dispersion conserves recorded ambience, reduces interaction with the room, and sharpens the soundstage, yet is wide enough to avoid a headphone effect
- Crossover -- 1st order @ 500 Hz -- far below the disturbance-sensitive hearing region of 1 kHz - 3 kHz; entire midrange and treble carried by the electrostatic elements; minimum phase operation through crossover region
- Secondary partial crossover -- 1st order at 5 kHz -- limits upper treble from half width of ESL panel -- controls dispersion and flattens response without an electrical rolloff network
- airLayer rolls off 2nd order below 2 kHz, 1st order above 6 kHz
- 2.5 way, WTW (Woofer - Tweeter - Woofer) quasi-line configuration
- Woofers mounted above and below ESL array; ESL panels employ half-split-response (1.5 way ESL)
- Woofer radiation pattern mates better to ESL array
- Reduces room mode coupling and eases placement
- Excellent phase alignment for soundstage focus
- Vertical image stability
- Minimal floor bounce effect
- Image raised above speakers
- Woofer level -- three settings - autoformer maintains damping factor and cone control -- no resistive divider
- Intimate Mode -- on-axis seating
- Intimate A: +3 dB -- compensates for when speakers are placed far from front wall (or boosts bass near front wall)
- Intimate B: 0 dB -- for speaker placement near back wall or more relaxed bass response
- Audience Mode: -3 dB -- for off-axis listening; matches woofer level to room diffusion of highs
- Tweeter/midrange level setting from normal to -6 dB
- ESL panels
- Two identical panels in each speaker, mounted in a barometrically isolated sub-enclosure
- Vertical array; 18 cm wide x 40 cm high (7"W x 16"H)
- Protected by an integral barrier
- 520 square cm [80 square inch] forward radiating area per array
- Tough, stable, injection molded, ABS stator frames
- 66-element, parallel wire, stator electrodes (total of 132 electrode elements per panel)
- Unique panel construction and materials are immune to the effects of wide and rapid temperature and humidity swings
- Optimal sonic membrane material
- Thickness less than 1/15th of a sheet of 20 lb paper -- lighter than the air it is driving
- Acts as a virtual air driver with force applied evenly over its whole surface -- no breakup, no colroation
- Properly damped, unlike see-through electrostatics
- Introduces absolutely no midrange or treble coloration, and distortion is far below audibility
- Will not lose its tension or degrade over time
- 1.5 way tweeter/mid design controls horizontal dispersion and eliminates electrical EQ network
- Woofers
- Two identical, 22.5 cm [8"], low mass, alloy cone, extra low distortion, low inductance, high resolution drivers with dual short circuit paths and heavy cast aluminum basket
- Operate far below their breakup frequencies and their Xmax for practically no cone coloration
- Seamless acoustical integration with the ESL
- Strong, accurate bass, not boomy dance club bass
- Exceptionally low series resistance in crossover conserves damping factor and maximizes cone control
- Enclosure
- Sealed (acoustic suspension) for best woofer transient response, minimal group delay, and best integration with ESL array
- High mass, 25 mm [1”] thick, well damped, well braced walls for negligible enclosure radiation
- 63 mm [2.5"] thick, solid hardwood baffle is maximally stable and rigid, yet free of resonances
- Baffle step is reduced with front edge scoops, which are also visually interesting
- Modest backward tilt maintains time alignment between drivers and sharpens image
- Plinth
- 63 mm [2.5"] thick
- Solid hardwood standard
- Choice of high durometer rubber feet or carpet spikes
- Input
- Single pair of binding posts, not for bi-amping
- Bi-amping option available
- Rhodium plated, solid copper Cardas Patented binding posts for spades or bare wire with a convenient, single clamping knob
- 5-way post option available
- Diaphragm polarization supply
- Mains power -- 0.1 Watts to 1.0 Watts, depending on mains voltage -- very green
- Works from any mains worldwide without adjustment
- Built-in surge protection
- IEC cord inlet with power switch -- uses standard power cords worldwide
- No transformer or oscillator -- high reliability, and no radiated or conducted noise to affect your other components
- Weight -- 28 kg [62 lbs] each with standard plinth
- Dimensions
- Speaker enclosure -- 91 cm tall x 26 cm wide x 22.6 cm deep [35.9"H x 10.2"W x 8.9"D]
- Plinth -- 30 cm wide x 35 cm deep x 6 cm high [12"W x 14"D x 2.5"H]
- Heirloom quality materials and finishes used throughout for lifetime operation, yet all are recyclable
- Designed, engineered and made in the USA
- Warranty -- 5 years on all components against defects in materials and manufacturing
- Modular construction and simple disassembly for straightforward repairs, even in field
- Miscellaneous
- High grade polypropylene film caps
- High grade, low resistance inductors
- 10 mm [3/8"] thick, wool felt above and below electrostatic panels to suppress internal edge diffraction
- 63 mm [2.5"] thick, solid hardwood baffle and plinth
- Stainless steel rear panel, nameplate, and exterior hardware will never rust
- Appearance options available (custom finishes/paint, custom woods)