Audiovector QR 1 SE

Audiovector QR 1 SE - The new benchmark for its price class

With the new QR 1 SE, Audiovector has created a speaker that truly shakes our perception of what is sonically possible for such an affordable compact speaker. The speaker features an AMT tweeter that draws on Audiovector’s experience from their high-end series priced at +70,000 DKK, a completely new cone technology, and an exceptional design. The result is a speaker that sounds incredibly warm, precise, and detailed while also being dynamic and musical.

Highlights

• Natural, fluid, detailed, and musical sound
• Incredibly easy to place
• Simple and timeless design
• Golden Air Leaf Motion Tweeter (AMT tweeter)
• S-stop filter removes hissing sounds
• Pure piston dual magnet bass driver
• New cone technology
• Acoustically optimized cabinet

The SE series offers significant improvements

Compared to its predecessor, the new SE model offers even more open, dynamic, and detailed sound reproduction. It is a very clear and audible improvement that is easy to hear in an A/B demonstration. 

The improvements in the SE series include, among other things, a new crossover that has better properties in the bass and midrange response frequency. All internal wiring is now cryogenically treated, having been frozen all the way down to -236 degrees. The new high-precision vibration-optimized capacitors have even been double cryogenically treated to reduce resistance and improve signal transmission. The result is a high-precision component that improves the treble range.

Audiovector has also improved the damping inside the cabinets using NanoPore™, which until now had only been used in the most exclusive and far more expensive Audiovector models. The SE series has had its damping factor optimized, which improves dynamic and aperiodic performance. They have also received new precision-milled spikes with a knurled locknut for easy adjustment.

Why does the QR 1 sound heavenly?

If there is one thing that characterizes Audiovector, it is that they never compromise on quality. That is why they have equipped the QR 1 with an excellent AMT tweeter that was previously reserved for much more expensive series, and they have even mounted an S-stop filter in front of it so that all hissing sounds are eliminated. The result is an extremely airy, open, clear, and detailed treble where the top end never ever sounds compressed. Audiovector mounted the tweeter with only three screws because they discovered that this number creates the least possible interaction with the cabinet and therefore gives a cleaner sound. To ensure that the sound is as clean and open as possible, they have even doubled the size of the speaker’s rear chamber so that compression is kept to an absolute minimum.

The same applies to the midrange/bass driver, which consists of a unique 3-layer sandwich cone that Audiovector helped develop themselves.  What is special about this cone construction is that it consists of two thin layers of aluminum and a lightweight core, allowing it to work perfectly across its entire frequency range. This cone also has the advantage that it does not color or distort the sound.

When Audiovector develops their own drivers, it makes it possible for them to use crossover filters that do not load the impedance and make them harder for the amplifier to drive. Therefore, you can get fantastic results with even a smaller amplifier when playing on all Audiovector speakers, but as with everything else, you get the best results when you pair them with other quality components.

A simple and timeless design

Unlike the larger floorstanding speakers in the QR series, the QR 1 has a narrow and elongated bass reflex port that minimizes port noise and provides a sleek and clean design. In addition to the speaker’s small physical footprint, the QR 1 is also tonally designed to integrate easily into the room. This means that the speaker is made to be placed closer to the rear wall than other speakers, and therefore the QR 1 sounds good whether placed on stands or on a shelf. Another advantage is that the speakers no longer need to stand far out in the room to sound optimal, which makes them especially interior-friendly.

Like the rest of the series, the QR 1 is available in a beautiful satin white finish that blends completely into a room with white walls. If you want to highlight the speakers, you may want to choose them in a beautiful black high-gloss piano finish or dark walnut veneer with real wood veneer. Because the QR 1 is so beautiful that it does not need to be hidden away.

Reviews:

HiFi Pig Magazine - click here.

Hifi4all - click here.

Stereolife Magazine - click here.

Audio-Video - click here.

Hi-Fi Voice - click here.