I have now heard the Voxativ Ampeggio loudspeakers by Schimmel Pianos at length, and not much changed on my perception of these speakers from the first time I wrote about them – Voxativ Ampeggio Impressions Aug 3, 2011. Here are some thoughts after a more critical listening session.
 

 
These are speakers that produce sound unhampered by a crossover, with cabinets superbly designed to match the drivers. What results is a purer sound, excellent fidelity in timbre, tone, space. They are also without doubt outstanding representatives in the area of pace, rhythm, and timing. The description of “an open window to the music”, a phrase commonly used in reviews, definitely applies without doubt when one listens to the Voxativ Ampeggios.
 
   
I haven’t heard the Voxativ Ampeggios produce a muddy sound at all, never boxy at any time. I decided on the CD “Dynamic Experience Vol 1″ by STS Netherlands on the Neodio NR22 CD player for a session in dynamics. It was certainly a delight listening to Victor Wooten’s “Live in America” track, where the widely celebrated bass virtuoso’s complex bass lines were effortlessly rendered, and with excellent timbre.
 

Moving on to Gary Boyles’ “Grumble” from the Naim Audio CD “Electric Glide”, the Voxativ Ampeggios showed why they are one of the most dynamic speakers in the world, delivering the snap and quick stops Naim users are familiar with, a rare occurrence. All this driven by a puny 8-watt Trafomatic Audio 300B Experience Two amplifier. That’s high praise for the dynamic capabilities of the speakers.
 

One very difficult dynamic track to play, on either CD or LP, is Dave Grusin’s “Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow” from his album “Discovered Again“. It was an ear-opener to hear this track through the Voxativs, which never faltered in easily presenting all the complexities of this track. I would also give kudos to the Trafomatic Audio 300B Experience Two amplifier, never clipping despite the heavy pressure it was being subjected to by this track played loud.
 

After that high tension track, cued up Hans Theesinks’ “Missing You”, a slow blues song but with splendid transients from his steel guitar, later on accompanied by his raspy voice.
 

Still intent on giving the speakers a workout with the same 300B amplifier, I inserted the Sheffield Drum & Track Record. I’ll get to the one of the most difficult parts as explained in the liner notes, to quote – “… there is a definite amount of “room decay”. When comparing components, if you hear a difference in the amount of “room”, the component giving you more room is more accurate. We have found that low level information is the most easily lost in the playback chain, as well as being the hardest to capture in the recording studio.”
 
Well, no problem. “Room” is so easily discernible in the recording I don’t need to compare speakers. And all those percussive instruments besides the drum were incredible in their presence and visceral impact. It was awesome the way they seemed to pop out of the speakers and into the room.
 
And what about voice ? These speakers give new meaning to holographic voice, the presentation of voice is easily one of its prime strengths.
 
And piano ? Another difficult instrument to reproduce, it’s enough to know that Schimmel Piano’s CEO chose Voxativ because of the way it reproduced the piano. Of course, it does piano so superbly, and one would easily hear the different piano tones of various piano recordings. I would attribute a lot of that to the Neodio NR22 CD player’s prowess in being able to present the tonality differences from one CD to another.
 
I really like these speakers, absolutely first-class in sonic performance, fit and finish, and musicality. It reminds me of the mastering process “Live Direct To Disc”, these are speakers that will really bring it “Live, Direct To Listener”.

Flamenco Fever LP (no CD copy of this)
 
 
Well, you can always listen for yourself to the Voxativ Ampeggio speakers by Schimmel Pianos, and to the same music mentioned above at the showroom, below. Then you might experience what I had. If you have never heard a good widebander (or usually called single-driver, or “full-range”) speakers, now is your chance. It will not be for everyone, of course, but at least one gets to hear one of the best representatives of widebander speakers.
 
#02-44 The Adelphi
Singapore
 
 
* P.S. I once was told by someone that the speakers were fast, in spite of them not being field coil driver speakers. I was surprised by that remark, because I just heard a really boxy and slow speaker with field-coil drivers. Whoever gave him that idea must have been a salesman who was trying to sell him a speaker with field-coil drivers. Incidentally, Voxativ has a much higher priced speaker model with field-coil drivers, the Ampeggio Due, and I am sure that it is not slow. It’s all in the design, and also not in the price. One can buy the Voxativ Ampeggio driver, or the field coil version, and subsequently destroy the sound or potential by using the wrong cabinet design. In the case of the Voxativ Ampeggio and Ampeggio Due, all cabinets are designed by Voxativ themselves together with Schimmel Piano engineers.