Voxativ Revisits its Roots mit dem Ampeggio

You may have now read as much German as I dare put into print, but you'll likely read far more about Voxativ's revamp of its first loudspeaker, the formerly discontinued, single 8" driver Ampeggio loudspeaker (€25,900/pair), in the coming months.

"People kept asking for it," Voxativ owner Inès Adler told me. "We've learned a lot in the 20 years since it was first issued, and have been able to optimize and specially tune the design. Yet we've managed to keep it at the same price it was two decades ago."

In an all-Voxativ system that also included Voxativ's network streamer with prototype DAC (€20,000) and T805 SET Vollvestarker 30Wpc amplifier (€35,900), the Ampeggio distinguished itself, on a track by German vocalist Judith Holofernes, with its beautiful and warm midrange and surprisingly deep reach. The system's marvelous mellow core was equally seductive and lovely.

Voxativ is developing a field-coil driver speaker whose "warm driver" is expected to have, in Adler's words, "a very special sound." Given the special qualities of Voxativ's old-is-new sound, I look forward to making the new speaker's acquaintance.

COMMENTS
Auditor's picture

Is "mid Der Ampeggio" the German you're mentioning in your post? If it is, it should be "mit dem Ampeggio".

mit freundlichen Grüßen ;-)

John Atkinson's picture
Fixed. Thanks on behalf of Jason for the correction.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile

Jason Victor Serinus's picture

I actually knew that the word was "mit," but auto-correct, which just tried changing it to "met," pulled a fast switch on my. As for dem or der, guilty as charged.

Aren't you happy that I promised no other attempts to write things in German? After this fiasco, I certainly am.

Thanks so much for the corrections.

jason

Auditor's picture

I understand. German isn't my mother-tongue. Case and gender were a long struggle. I still often hesitate.

But don't give up on German!

Schiele's picture

That is correct but there is a complication. According to the rules of German grammatical gender an Italian foreign loan word would be assigned the neuter gender thus das Ampeggio in the nominative case and dem in the dative. (mit dem Ampeggio) . If you go to the Voxativ website however they refer to the speaker as die Ampeggio. I have no idea why.

Auditor's picture

It could also have been masculine because "der Lautsprecher" is masculine. But you're right, the company has decided it's a she. Your comment piqued my curiosity and I had a look around the Internet. Some Germans make it neuter, as one would expect.

It's a linguistic mystery. Now, back to hifi!

kai's picture

„ ... bringen wir die Voxativ Ampeggio [Lautsprecher] wieder in die Serienproduktion. ...“.

“ ... we are bringing the Ampeggio [speakers] back into serial production ...”

Opposed to the English translation, in the German version the female “die” refers to the plural, where in German it’s always “die”.

Don’t give up on German, it’s a real easy language, very little children learn it :)

Schiele's picture

All who are interested in this question should read the entire webpage at the Voxativ website. https://voxativ.berlin/ampeggio-2023-de
It is clear from the use of the singular verb forms when Ampeggio is the subject that Voxativ is treating it as a feminine noun. For example:
"Die Ampeggio 2023 ist mechanisch mit AST® abgestimmt"
"DIE AMPEGGIO SPIELT LIVE IN Bristol 2023 UND MÜNCHEN 2023"

kai's picture

I checked with a German linguist and she confirmed the principal I mentioned above.
It’s used same way with other speakers too, e.g. (in German) „die Genelec [...] , die JBL [...], die Tannoy [Lautsprecher]“.
Lautsprecher (plural), or even „Box“ (female in German) is conceptually, quietly added.

Ampeggio itself is an artificial word or name, but as it‘s Italian-sounding (Arpeggio) the “o”-ending would make it male.

Of course, it’s possible Voxativ might just simply have this part wrong, from a linguistic point of view.

Anton's picture

Thanks!

Sal1950's picture

I have to tip my hat to Voxativ for being able to keep this speaker with just a single 8" driver a side at "only" 25,900 euro a pair. :(

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