German Physiks loudspeakers

I first heard a loudspeaker from this manufacturer of omni-directional loudspeakers about 10 years ago and was really impressed with their sound. That model at that time was a touch too expensive for the portfolio but the sound remained in my head as being exceptional.

All German Physiks loudspeakers employ the same DDD driver. The DDD diver is a carbon fibre cone suspended vertically (upside down) using technology that allows the sound to radiate 360 degrees. This technology is unique to German Physiks, developed over 10 years, which encourages bending motion in the thin cone radiating sound from a large surface area.

The DDD driver operates from 24K Hz down to 200Hz and is extremely linear across this bandwidth. The majority of the sound is generated by this single driver and is totally phase coherent. Furthermore there is no enclosure around the DDD driver, hence no box colouration, resulting a very transparent, very detailed, holographic sound.

The lower frequencies are supplemented by carefully selected bass drivers built into the bottom of the sealed cabinet firing downwards. The integration between the two drivers is excellent resulting in a seamless sound without any delay of bass behind the super fast DDD driver. Bass extension is deep, fast and powerful for the size of cabinet, and able to resolve fine detail and textures at these low frequencies.

The low crossover point minimises many of the problems associated with forward facing driver designs, the principal one being of phase integration. These phase problems exists where crossovers are in the mid band range, almost inevitable with more conventional speaker designs. Our ears are most sensitive here and can pick up these distortions very easily, along with any poor integration of multiple drivers. Having a crossover point well outside of this sensitive mid band region results in a better sound, better image image focus than might be expected from any speaker, let alone an omni-directional design.

We have centred on the HRS-130 and the Borderland. Both have an 8 sided cabinet that is more rigid and stiffer than conventional 4 sided designs. Some clever technology developed for military use is employed to dampen cabinet resonances, which means less internal bracing is required. Hawaphon, developed for military use to eliminate sound resonating within solid structures, consists of a single layer of small metal spheres housed in individual "pockets". When attached to a solid surface, in this case the different types of MDF material, and that surface vibrates they move very slightly absorbing the unwanted resonance energy. This is done so efficiently that, other than adding a special textured felt over the Hawaphon, no other internal damping of the cabinet is required. No other internal bracing is used, which can introduce another resonance point; no fibre filling within the internal void is required. Simple and highly effective.

These design innovations are why the German Physiks loudspeakers sound far better than other omni-directional design, and produces a sound stage that not many conventional dynamic speakers can emulate.

The sound produced is a very large and deep sound stage way beyond the boundaries of the speakers. Almost beyond the boundaries of the room. Within this sound stage, the focus of the stereo image is very precise, and the lack of distortion immediately apparent. An exceptionally coherent sound with a natural tone that closely mimics that of the live event.

There is no sweet spot in order to obtain the "best" stereo imaging. The image focus, the large sound stage and the correct tonal balance can be experienced in almost all positions in the room. More like that experienced in a concert hall.

The low level detail resolution is of the highest level resulting from the lack of cabinet resonances normally only experienced in very high priced speakers. The low mass of the DDD drivers produces very fast dynamics, somewhat akin to that from the best electrostatic designs.

The sculptural looks and solid coloured cabinets will fit into many interiors and appear to be a piece of modern art rather than loudspeakers. A wide range of veneers, some of them from exotic woods, are available enabling these unique cabinets to blend within almost any interior design.

The HRS-130 and the Borderline have 8 sided cabinets and are bi-wire capable. The HRS-130 can generate high dynamic levels of sound in rooms up to 75 sq m, perhaps as high as 90 sq m.

German Physiks have received the following comments after exhibiting at US shows during 2017.

Dr. David Robinson, the editor of Positive Feedback

To put it plainly, the sound here was very damn good, with simply lovely timbre on a Bösendorfer grand, and an equally lovely sense of enveloping space. This was a better presentation than what I've heard in the past from GP, blessed with the seamless coherence of the DDD but with tighter imaging in the mids, terrific transient response and ambience retrieval in the treble, and very good integration and sock on the bottom.

Senior reviewer Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound magazine

Terrific on Rimsky Korsakov and equally wonderful on Doctor John and Odetta’s version of “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” this was my first Best of Show contender"

Senior reviewer Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound magazine

Once again, the holographic magic that I had heard last year was powerfully in evidence this year. I am quite taken by the very best omnidirectional designs that I have heard…

Dr. David Robinson, the editor of Positive Feedback

To put it plainly, the sound here was very damn good, with simply lovely timbre on a Bösendorfer grand, and an equally lovely sense of enveloping space. This was a better presentation than what I've heard in the past from GP, blessed with the seamless coherence of the DDD but with tighter imaging in the mids, terrific transient response and ambience retrieval in the treble, and very good integration and sock on the bottom.

Senior reviewer Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound magazine

Terrific on Rimsky Korsakov and equally wonderful on Doctor John and Odetta’s version of “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” this was my first Best of Show contender"

Senior reviewer Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound magazine

I've always been a fan of German Physiks and here again was a perfect example as to why: the sound is open, you can sit anywhere in the room and get the same focus as you would in the sweet spot. The low-end is rich, quick and goes deep only when needed.

Editor Clement Perry, Stereo Times

…this was I think the fifth time I have got gooseflesh at the show today. It was wonderful. The detail was there, the body of Anne’s voice was there, the cello was just exquisite…

The Audio Beatnik, a new US web magazine run by a long established reviewer called Jack Roberts, who also writes for The Absolute Sound wrote: 

This was one room that surprised me. I had heard German Physiks speakers before but never like this. The amount of air they moved and the space they created made for a really lifelike experience. While no system is perfect, especially at an audio show, this was the most emotionally involving room I heard at the show.

Given the right amplifier and room setup, the HRS-130 ticks all the important sonic boxes and clearly edges out the competition when it comes to palpable imaging. No wonder the German Physiks HRS-130 is currently my favourite speaker under $25k.

Dick Olsher, The Absolute Sound, Issue 275