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Audiovector Si3 Signature Active Discreet

Audiovector Si3 Signature Active Discreet

We’ve come a long way in a very short time. A few years ago, the audio world was relatively stable; you bought a CD player and an amplifier, wired these to some loudspeakers, and you were away. Computer audio changed all that, but the real depth of that change is only just becoming realised with products like the Active Discreet system, from Audiovector.

Audiovector supplied us with a pair of Si 3 Signature floorstanders with the Active Discreet modules and the little plastic hub that goes with it. The Si 3 Signature is something of a known product to the magazine; we’ve tested the Si 3, and discussed the company’s unique upgrade path from basic Si 3 to top-notch Si 3 Avantgarde Arreté. Which means the Signature model (mid-way in the five-step upgrade path) is a good platform upon which to work up the Active Discreet system. However, the wireless active system can be fitted (or retrofitted) to any one of more than 30 models in the Audiovector catalogue.

, Audiovector Si3 Signature Active DiscreetThe Active Discreet module slips in place of the passive crossover network on the back of the relevant Audiovector loudspeaker. On the outside are two speaker terminals (of sorts) and three switches; one a treble boost or cut, the middle does the same for the bass, and the third flips between channels. Inside the speaker itself, there’s a small custom circuit called ADAC (short for Audiovector Discreet Active Concept), which is a combined DSP crossover and series of Class D amplifiers depending on the loudspeaker used (there are three 70W modules in the Si 3, for example).

The loudspeaker is driven by the Discreet Hub, a small black plastic module designed to wire into any existing sources, or connect wirelessly via aptX Bluetooth or Apple’s Airplay. The really clever part of this is the connectivity. It has all the benefits of active drive, without the need to plug the speakers into the mains AC power. Audiovector went with low voltage power modules inside the loudspeakers, meaning the Active Discreet modules are driven by a bell-wire sized connection cable between hub module and loudspeakers, which sends both power and data. All you have to do is assign left and right channels, by flipping a switch at the back of the loudspeaker, and everything else configures almost automatically. The only big user adjustments involve setting the volume ceiling for a given room and whether you want the Bluetooth pairing process to be protected or open. Either way, you cannot have two competing Bluetooth devices paired at once, for obvious clashing reasons.

 

You can control this hub through a range of remote handsets and it has a learning function, but in most cases, given the ease of connection through Airplay and Bluetooth means it’s probably going to be controlled from the phone, tablet, or computer that is driving it in most cases. Functionality without a remote, the hub is fairly basic; just one multi-colour LED to denote source.

, Audiovector Si3 Signature Active DiscreetWhile the combination of Bluetooth and Class D might bring some audiophiles out in a case of hives, those of us who listen to stuff instead of judge it on specifications alone will find much to like here. In some respects, once you set aside the amp and Wi-Fi prejudices, Audiovector’s system is more like a scaled-down version of the Linn Exakt concept without the hoop-la and the high price. And, in fairness, without the room correction options, too.

This had to be one of the least fussy installations around. Once the speakers were in place, the cables connected up, and the Si 3s learned whether they were left or right loudspeakers, we were streaming from a phone in under a minute. And the sound was actually damn good. You could definitely hear the typical Audiovector strengths of precision, focus, good rhythmic properties, a tight bass and an ability to play loud without strain, and the active speaker wasn’t giving much away next to the passive version in a good system. There is some upper mid graininess and a slight tendency toward leanness shown here more than with the passive versions, but the overall effect is mild.

I found the Discreet to be remarkably good at picking up a wireless signal of any sort. It was also good at holding it. Dropouts were rare even in an environment shown to be typically hostile to wireless signals. Pushing it to the limit, trying to get Bluetooth to work at the limits of reception still did well, until the inevitable Dalek-like sonic freezes took over. Nevertheless, by comparison to most wireless connections used in audio, Discreet is military-grade in its reliability.

OK, so the further you get from the absolute pinnacle of well-massaged digital high-res files squirted along wired channels directly into the hub, the further you get from the absolute benchmark of sound, but what’s surprising is even the worst case possible (streaming a live feed through a relatively low-power 3G phone signal with 128kbps MP3 from a Deezer mobile account through regular Bluetooth, because the iPhone doesn’t do AptX) isn’t anywhere near as bad as we’ve been led to believe. Yes, freshly squeezed, organically-grown, super-sized digits made by craggy-faced craftsmen are more listenable over the long term, but I could call on the entire canon of modern music from my mobile phone and more than enjoy the experience.

I guess a dose of reality is necessary. In its native Denmark, Audiovector has traditionally enjoyed a close association with Naim: for good reason – the two go well together. No-one already using a Naim system would upgrade to the Active Discreet, because it doesn’t have the drive, the energy, and the sheer grip of good Naim equipment. That’s not exclusive to Naim, and good though the Discreet system is, realistically those driving Audiovectors with muscular electronics are very liable to stay with the muscular electronics. However, part of this reticence to give up old paradigms comes down to familiarity.

 

The other side of the story is there’s an increasing move away from lots of components, even among audiophiles, and the Discreet takes that to the limit. The system is just one small box about the size of a paperback (to future generations, a ‘paperback’ is a Kindle played on period instruments), designed for hiding. The rest is loudspeakers, and tiny wires that are also easily hidden. I can see these speakers flanking many a TV set.

, Audiovector Si3 Signature Active Discreet

There’s a move to add active circuitry to systems (compare this with the ELAC Air-X system), but this doesn’t quite fit that bill. Every other active system I’ve encountered relies on the loudspeaker having two sets of cable, one of which is a power cord. That locks the speaker into parts of the room where there are power outlets, and in some brick-built buildings, just adding another couple of sockets is no easy task. These more conventional active designs might have a slight edge when it comes to sheer grunt, but you lose in terms of flexibility next to Discreet.

A loudspeaker company might seem an unlikely agent for change in the way we access our music from today’s sources, but if any brand were likely to drive change in the market, it would be Audiovector. No other brand can take people through a range of systematic upgrades in the same loudspeaker cabinet, so the idea of making the next step and upgrading the way the sound arrives to that loudspeaker is a natural one. While the concept is not for everyone, the Active Discreet modules are an exciting adjunct to a fine line of loudspeakers. This is how tomorrow sounds.

Technical Specifications

  • Type: 3-way, three-driver, floorstanding speaker with active drive and separate control module.
  • Driver complement: One 30mm 3rd generation Evotech low compression Audiovector soft dome, two 165mm carbon sandwich composite long throw mid/bass drivers.
  • Inputs: analogue line RCA and 2x S/PDIF connections, plus Ethernet, USB and Bluetooth/Airplay wireless on Hub. 2x 4mm speaker terminal connections on hub and speakers
  • Crossover frequencies: 210Hz, 3kHz
  • Frequency response: 27Hz – 27kHz
  • Impedance: N/A
  • Sensitivity: N/A (3x 70W Class D amplifiers driving loudspeakers)
  • Dimensions (HxWxD): 1030 x 190  x 330mm
  • Weight: 21kg/each
  • Finishes: Cherry, maple, walnut, rosewood, black ash, gloss white, gloss black.
  • Price: £6,750/pair

Manufacturer: Audiovector

URL: www.audiovector.com

UK Distributor: Henley Designs Ltd.

Tel: +44(0) 1235 511166

URL: www.henleydesigns.co.uk

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