THE uppermost rungs of the high-fidelity ladder are sparsely populated by products that need to look and sound spectacular. They have to make a statement to their potential owners, who are well-heeled and court exclusivity; they need to cry out, “buy me, I’m unique in every way.”
There’s little doubt which end of the ladder Denmark’s Steinway Lyngdorf belongs to – this collaborative venture between revered piano maker Steinway & Sons (150 years and going strong) and audio innovator Peter Lyngdorf has already given us one of the most exclusively esoteric hi-fi systems known to humankind – the magnificent (in price and sheer dimension) Model D. There are other equally impressive models further down the line (like the slimline, in-wall Model LS), but none so tailored for such exclusivity.
Now, if the Model D is a bit of a stretch, here’s some good news – Steinway Lyngdorf has just released the Model LS Concert, which combines elements of the Model D’s dipole and Model LS’ line source technologies to give you an open-baffle dipole line source speaker.
The lack of a conventional cabinet, says Steinway Lyngdorf, means the speakers interact with the room very much like a musical instrument, for an “open and life-like” presentation. The Model LS Concert also has great reach, so there’s little difference in volume level or audio quality from anywhere in the room.
“The Model LS Concert started out as a sketch in my notebook and was something I dreamt about creating for several years. The idea of combining a dipole speaker with the line source principle would allow me to create not only a truly unique and immensely powerful speaker, but something that aesthetically fills the room with its physical presence,” said Lyngdorf.
“I am happy to say that even before the official launch, we have received extremely positive responses from clients and have already installed the first systems, underlining our belief that sound delivered in its purest form is always in demand.”
The two-way Model LS Concert can be installed as part of a complete stereo system or a multi-channel set-up, along with the company’s array of sound processors, amplifiers and other speaker collections. Steinway Lyngdorf’s proprietary RoomPerfect technology and fully digital amplifiers combine to deliver high-fidelity playback even in acoustically imperfect environments.
Each speaker comprises 15 mid-range drivers and eight AMT (Air Motion Technology) tweeters, which feature an ultra-thin, folded Kapton diaphragm with a large surface area – this has the advantages of both dome and ribbon designs, and can handle high power. As the bottom reaches down to just 120Hz, you’ll need a subwoofer for lower frequency extension.
The price? If you need to ask … US$86,000 for the speakers, and if matched with a whole gamut of Steinway Lyngdorf’s electronics, a full stereo set-up starts at US$228,000. A matter of loose change for the Bugatti Veyron or McLaren F1 owner. Ah, well …
