Because editor Jim Austin praised the Audiovector R 8 loudspeaker so highly, I was eager to hear its new, larger sibling. So when the Danish company debuted its R 10 Arreté flagship ($165,000/pair) at High End Munich, I arranged an audition—and a meeting with CEO and owner Mads Klifoth.
Manufactured in Denmark, each five‑way R 10 Arreté uses 13 drivers, eight of them rear‑firing bass units. Its dual AMT tweeter array includes a zero‑compression tweeter covering 3kHz–53kHz and a dedicated hypertweeter that activates at 20kHz. The company says that the Accelerated Force Concept (AFC) bass/midrange structure accelerates and decelerates the drivers with exceptional "precision and control."
The eight rear long‑throw drivers have a combined surface area similar to that of a 15" woofer, but with "greater speed and precision," Audiovector claims. Bass output extends to 2kHz with a tapered response. The cabinet is built from premium high‑density wood and offered in walnut burl, mahogany, and birdseye maple finishes.
Klifoth, I learned, is responsible for industrial design and strategy, while Mathias Ribe handles R&D. The company skews young, with most employees under the age of 40. Klifoth is 39.
"The two‑tweeter array assures linearity in phase," he said. "We also have a new midrange, developed specifically for the R 10. An internal Freedom ground box further improves the sound, and a damping‑factor adjustment on the rear [better matches] the speaker with the amplifier at hand."
Via a Naim ND 555 streamer, a Brinkmann Balance turntable and RöNt PSU, a Soulution 727 preamp, 711 power amp, and 760 DAC, and prototype Audiovector Harlequin Concept cables—all supported by a Bassocontinuo Aeon rack—the sound was gorgeous. "An intriguing combination of brilliance and softness," I scribbled in my notebook.
Klifoth demoed the system with grounding switched on and off. Activating it produced more saturated colors, a quieter background, and more believable presence. When we played "Crooked" by Smilk, I especially noticed the wonderful smoothness at the top of the range.
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