With audiophile subwoofers gaining popularity in both home cinema and hi-fi, they have been developing in recent years and are now featured in the catalogues of speaker brands such as the Swiss benchmark Stenheim.
Whilst North American manufacturers have never been shy about subwoofers – which have been available for decades from virtually every speaker brand in the US and Canada – their European counterparts, particularly those specializing in high-fidelity, have often been slower to embrace them.
It was therefore with some surprise, but also an understanding of the value in offering such a product, that we discovered Stenheim’s Alumine S10 in Vienna. Designed primarily to complement the speakers in the range – notably as an ideal addition to the compact Alumine Two and Two SE models (review VU#57 FR) – or to enhance the bass response of the Alumine Three and Five floorstanding speakers, this new subwoofer has also been developed to work with other brands.
The S10 fits perfectly within the Alumine series, being made entirely of aluminium and having undergone extensive testing of its internal structure, which comprises three independent chambers. Featuring an isobaric design, it incorporates not one, but two 10-inch (26 cm) cones aligned with the acoustic suspension system. Its frequency response is limited to the sub-bass range, from 20 to 100 Hz, driven by a 1,200 W internal amplifier.
When installing it, its weight of 44.5 kg (98.1 Ib) must be considered, but its dimensions – 32 cm wide, 34.2 cm high and 43 cm deep – make it a relatively unobtrusive piece of kit, fairly easy to position even in stylish living rooms. With connectivity options including XLR, RCA, Toslink optical, SPDIF coaxial, AES and RJ45, the Alumine S10 also offers direct XLR, RCA and Toslink outputs.
It is initially being launched in two colors – light grey or dark grey – with a black front panel, but will soon be available in optional all-black, ivory or mocha finishes, with prices starting from 18 500 €.