A few years ago, audiophiles around the world started talking about this new brand of loudspeakers from Switzerland that were replacing established brands in reference systems. Stenheim speakers quickly developed a reputation for excellence and a hype that was not driven by the press but rather by audiophiles who were hearing them and then telling others about this ‘special sound’. How does a relatively new brand rise so prominently in stature in such conservative circles that demand the best?
One reason is that although Stenheim was established in 2010, its five founders have decades of experience between them working for high-end speaker brands, so it was a new name with a dream-team of experienced experts behind it. And it shows! Stenheim speakers are so accomplished sonically that you immediately realize that you are in the presence of a true destination product. Another reason is the philosophy employed by Stenheim, which is to find the most tried & tested, proven and effective way of doing something and then apply immense effort to making it the best that it can possibly be. For example, the cabinet construction, the drive units, the crossover design….all of these aspects are executed to the highest possible standards, regardless of the cost. It is important to understand that unlike most audio brands, Stenheim never build a speaker to meet a particular price point. They simply make the best possible speaker that they know how to make and offer it to the market. A refreshing approach resulting in truly heirloom quality loudspeakers that have become the ‘new establishment’. |
|
the 'stenheim way'
Stenheim achieve their exalted sonic performance via extensive attention to detail and precision manufacturing. However, according to Jean-Pascal Panchard (CEO & Owner of Stenheim) there are three main philosophies that guide the design principles used to create these wonderful loudspeakers:
Aluminium enclosures
The type of aluminium chosen by Stenheim is much less sensitive to vibrational energy and therefore does not add further resonance to the sound coming from the drivers. This results in a lack of colouration and a much more natural sound with an absence of a ‘sound signature’. The absence of coloration coming from the enclosure allows the listener to perceive more details within the reproduction of the music. The perceived higher resolution delivers a crystal-clear musical experience. The relatively thin aluminium walls facilitate a greater internal volume compared to the external size of the cabinet. This allows the speaker to be as compact as possible and sound ‘bigger than it looks’.
High efficiency (without horns)
Stenheim speakers have relatively high efficiency which helps to keep the whole energy of the original sound coming from the amplifier-source. Less energy losses result in a very high rendition of micro and macro dynamic characteristics. The higher efficiency is achieved without the use of horns, facilitating a compact form, a realistic soundstage and a natural sound. Stenheim speakers are easy to drive, hence amplifiers are working in their comfort zone. No strain and no need for high power amplifiers. If you love the sound of tube amplifiers of Class A designs, you are in luck!
Highly sophisticated crossovers and components
This is a significant differentiator between Stenheim and many other brands. To keep the drivers working in their best performance (linear) zones, complex crossovers are required. Only the best components are carefully selected for their measured and listened qualities. Before releasing a product to market, Stenheim incorporate long listening test sessions with a panel of diverse audiophiles selected for their experience and discretionary abilities. This is a very important part of the development phase, with the main criteria being the reproduction of the most natural sound with the highest level of resolution and musical expression and the most precise soundstage.
Aluminium enclosures
The type of aluminium chosen by Stenheim is much less sensitive to vibrational energy and therefore does not add further resonance to the sound coming from the drivers. This results in a lack of colouration and a much more natural sound with an absence of a ‘sound signature’. The absence of coloration coming from the enclosure allows the listener to perceive more details within the reproduction of the music. The perceived higher resolution delivers a crystal-clear musical experience. The relatively thin aluminium walls facilitate a greater internal volume compared to the external size of the cabinet. This allows the speaker to be as compact as possible and sound ‘bigger than it looks’.
High efficiency (without horns)
Stenheim speakers have relatively high efficiency which helps to keep the whole energy of the original sound coming from the amplifier-source. Less energy losses result in a very high rendition of micro and macro dynamic characteristics. The higher efficiency is achieved without the use of horns, facilitating a compact form, a realistic soundstage and a natural sound. Stenheim speakers are easy to drive, hence amplifiers are working in their comfort zone. No strain and no need for high power amplifiers. If you love the sound of tube amplifiers of Class A designs, you are in luck!
Highly sophisticated crossovers and components
This is a significant differentiator between Stenheim and many other brands. To keep the drivers working in their best performance (linear) zones, complex crossovers are required. Only the best components are carefully selected for their measured and listened qualities. Before releasing a product to market, Stenheim incorporate long listening test sessions with a panel of diverse audiophiles selected for their experience and discretionary abilities. This is a very important part of the development phase, with the main criteria being the reproduction of the most natural sound with the highest level of resolution and musical expression and the most precise soundstage.
a new era in high perforMANCE loudspeakers
So what do you get when you connect genuine passion & appreciation for music with talented precision engineering abilities? One might say that the result is a speaker that is more responsive and easier to control, more dynamic and more capable of reproducing musical detail and nuance – all while remaining physically compact and room friendly. You get a speakers that deliver more performance, not just from the speakers themselves, but from the systems they are connected to.
Stenheim loudspeakers exist to bring living, breathing music into your home. Every part, every choice made, every aspect of the design is focussed on the performance. But this is not about perfect numbers, pristine graphs or technical measurements. When they say “performance”, they mean THE performance – the musical performance that was captured by your recording.
Stenheim speakers measure beautifully, but those measurements are a result of their musical balance and capabilities, rather than an end in themselves. Whether it’s their sophisticated look or the way they work with your system, everything about Stenheim speakers is dedicated to a single goal:
“Your music…. Live”
Stenheim loudspeakers exist to bring living, breathing music into your home. Every part, every choice made, every aspect of the design is focussed on the performance. But this is not about perfect numbers, pristine graphs or technical measurements. When they say “performance”, they mean THE performance – the musical performance that was captured by your recording.
Stenheim speakers measure beautifully, but those measurements are a result of their musical balance and capabilities, rather than an end in themselves. Whether it’s their sophisticated look or the way they work with your system, everything about Stenheim speakers is dedicated to a single goal:
“Your music…. Live”
products
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a young brand, timeless experience
Founded in 2010, Stenheim quickly became a leader among global high-end audio brands. Its five founders, Jean-Loup Afresne, Antoine Petroff, Maxime Perrin, Sébastien Benz and David Jilli are all engineers, passionate about sound and music. Prior to launching Stenheim, they worked together at one of the biggest brands in audio. After two years of research and development, Stenheim launched its first speaker, the ‘Alumine’, a compact, all aluminium reference speaker.
|
|
The pursuit of the unobtainable is a fascinating human endeavour. Even attempting to define how the ‘perfect’ loudspeaker should sound is fraught with inevitable debate and conflicting opinions. It is such a subjective experience that it is impossible to find a sonic presentation that will create an equal level of enjoyment in two people, let alone a community of audiophiles. As with any artform, music is experienced on an emotional level and here lies the challenge with loudspeaker design.
Some manufacturers focus on pure technology, designing speakers with formulas and algorithms and ensuring that they measure ‘accurately’. Often this approach results in a clinical sonic presentation that people respect but find emotionally unengaging. The opposite approach is to focus on the sensory and allowing the design to be guided predominantly by the experience of enjoyable aural sensations. These designs often result in a sound that is exaggerated, unbalanced and bearing less resemblance to the original recording.
Some manufacturers focus on pure technology, designing speakers with formulas and algorithms and ensuring that they measure ‘accurately’. Often this approach results in a clinical sonic presentation that people respect but find emotionally unengaging. The opposite approach is to focus on the sensory and allowing the design to be guided predominantly by the experience of enjoyable aural sensations. These designs often result in a sound that is exaggerated, unbalanced and bearing less resemblance to the original recording.
|
|
Using their extensive cumulative experience and knowledge gained from years of research, Stenheim merges the two extremes, understanding the relationship between real physical constraints and their impact on the subjective quality of listening. Ignoring the trendy, their products are built to last. Even their aesthetic communicates simple elegance…..neutral, rich and clear tones, highlighting the beauty of the music and nothing else.
If you investigate the way Stenheim speakers are built, the uncompromising specifications and cost of the parts that are used and the attention to detail applied to even the minutiae, you will realise that the extraordinary level of care and effort that goes into each loudspeaker is simply unparalleled.
Made in Switzerland, Stenheim speakers sonically disappear and have an uncanny ability to captivate you emotionally and make you forget that you are listening to a system. Some owners have called them ‘time machines’, referring to the mysterious way that you can become engrossed in a musical performance and lose track of time.
If you investigate the way Stenheim speakers are built, the uncompromising specifications and cost of the parts that are used and the attention to detail applied to even the minutiae, you will realise that the extraordinary level of care and effort that goes into each loudspeaker is simply unparalleled.
Made in Switzerland, Stenheim speakers sonically disappear and have an uncanny ability to captivate you emotionally and make you forget that you are listening to a system. Some owners have called them ‘time machines’, referring to the mysterious way that you can become engrossed in a musical performance and lose track of time.
|
|