Q&A

Q: What is a dipole speaker?

A: Dipole speakers allow their drivers to emit sound both forward and backwards, whereas box speakers try to retain/manage the rear sound output of the driver through sealing it in/porting it or sending it down a transmission line.

When using a dipole speaker the  room becomes the tool used to find the desired sound you want to achieve. Where the front and rear sound waves wrap around the baffle and meet (at the sides of the speaker) a degree of natural cancellation happens. This process is often described as a figure of 8 radiation pattern. A good example of this is If you are to stand in-between a pair of HEX3 speakers the volume of the music is much lower volume than when you return to your listening position. Dipole designs like the HEX3 tend to work better than conventional box speakers when they need to be placed close to side walls as the majority of the sound is directed forward and backwards.

Q: What is the frequency response of the HEX3?

A: 30hz to 30khz +/- 3db (room dependent).

One of the most common questions we get asked is does the HEX3 open baffle design produce meaningful bass? The answer is yes, in fact the bass they produce is not only deep but also very textured, fast and very impactful. The bass is very different to boxy bass as it has no hangover or boom.

Q: What is the sensitivity of the HEX3 loudspeakers?

A: 96db @ 1m - 2.83mv with a 8ohm impedance load making the HEX3 very easy to drive

Q: How does the passive crossover work?

A: The HEX3 is a totally passive speaker designed to run from a single two channel amplifier so a crossover is a critical part of the design. The crossover takes advantage of a carefully designed second order filter system with no resistors in the signal path to ensure brilliant resolution and clarity. Both the Tweeter and Midrange drivers are wired out of phase to ensure the optimal response. Crossover points are set at 750hz & 6000hz. The housing for the crossover is no magnetic and natural wood damping is used inside to further improve performance.

Q: What's the minimum power requirements for amplification?

A: At 96db sensitive what is most important is quality not quantity from your amplifier. We have used to great effect a SET valve amplifier with just 2.3wpc to drive the HEX3 but they also work brilliantly with powerful 500wpc class D.  If you really want to make the HEX3 speakers sing then we recommend the best amplifier you can afford as they will only get better as the quality of the amplification improves.

Q: Are there any rules for HEX3 placement?

A: There is no exact rules however we like to place them approximately 60-100cm from the front wall with a very slight 5-10 degree toe-in or very wide and almost straight to the listening position. Given their small form factor it is very easy to play with placement or move them into an optimal position for critical listening should that not be practical when they are not in use.

Q: What is constrained layer dampening & how does it work?

We use a combination of different materials that have different compositions as they each have their own resonant frequency. As they are adhered to each other they will each be excited at different frequencies meaning there becomes a conflict at a molecular level between the layers. This conflict between the different materials results in the vibrational energy being converted into heat and importantly loosing its strength. This process dampens the excitement within the baffles molecules making the baffles more inert and higher performing.

AA

Q: How long does it take for my HEX3 speakers to arrive after placing my order?

A: All HEX3's are built to order and we aim to despatch all orders within 28 days but we will be in touch before then with more accurate timescales.

Q: How will my HEX3 speakers be delivered?

A: This very much depends where you are based. The Free UK shipping uses an overnight insured palletised delivery service that would be booked in consultation with the customer. We also offer the opportunity for the speakers to be  collected from our Leeds based showroom where we can walk the new owner through how to get the best from them over a coffee.

Q: Do you ship internationally?

A: Not at the moment but if you are interested in placing an order for delivery outside of the UK please get in touch via our contact page and we will try our best to assist you as this is something we are working on.

Q: Where can I hear a pair of HEX3?

A: There will always be a pair on permanent demonstration at our new listening space called the Spinning Room in Leeds. If this is not convenient to call in person then we also offer our 14 day no quibble return policy (Policy) where you get chance to try them at home. We are also more than happy to support the new owner with advise and suggestions for optimal placement.

Q: Do the HEX3's prefer a certain style of music?

A: Absolutely not! Whether it be intimate acoustic vocals or pounding techno they will deliver an amazing performance even at low levels. The high resolution achieved means that even the most complex music is resolved.

Q: How big are the HEX3?

A: They are actually surprisingly small measuring just 84cm tall and 54cm wide. They are only 27cm deep so have a very small foot print and as a result they are very easy to move around. They weigh a substantial 29kg per especially given there is no box!

Q: Do they perform at their best straight out of the box?

A: We test every speaker before despatch including a initial burn in process. They will continue to improve over the first 100hrs use as crossover parts and drivers loosen up.

Q: Do HEX3 work in small rooms?

A: Every room is different but yes on the whole even awkward shaped rooms can benefit from the dipole radiation pattern as very little sound is emitted sideways. We have exhibited the HEX3 at a number of Hifi shows where small double bedrooms are used and still achieved fantastic results.

Q: Do you do bespoke custom finishes?

A: We offer a selection of standard finishes that all use striking real wood veneers. We also have the ability to have the baffles professionally paint finished in any satin RAL colour. We do not offer a gloss finished baffle option at this time but feel free to contact us if you are wanting something that we don't currently offer.

Q: Do the HEX3 come with speaker grills?

A: No we believe they get in the way of delivering the best performance. If we have enough customers requesting such a product then we may consider offering them as a option during the ordering stage.

Q: Is there a warranty provided?

A: Yes we offer a 2 years parts and labour warranty against manufacturing defects and component failure