PSI Audio three-way speakers deliver sonic precision in midfield and farfield setups

Yverdon-les-Bains, 23 rd March 2022 – In speaker design, many manufacturers use multi-way driver constellations, including PSI Audio. However, not all the manufacturers exert the same level of care as PSI Audio when it comes to the details of these designs. Multi-way systems in general and systems with three or more ways in particular come with their own sets of challenges.

Approaching fidelity in many ways

PSI Audio uses multiple ways in all the speaker models, from the compact A14-M up to the A215-M floorstanding speaker – and for good reason. Every driver in an audio system has its sweet spot, its very specific range where it performs optimally. Using multiple drivers and combining them into one box allows the developers to address different parts of the spectrum with specialised chassis, which usually means: larger drivers for the lower frequencies, smaller, more agile ones for the highs. The engineering team at the PSI Audio manufacture then very finely tailors these drivers and the underlying electronics to work together perfectly, creating one unified, transparent sound source. Achieving this goal takes some serious crafting and clever design, as theory suggest that an ideal sound source would have to be a lot smaller.

The theoretical ideal of the point source

In fact, the ideal sound source is infinitely small; the often-quoted point source. In the real world, sound sources generally are larger than that. Attempts have been made to reduce the acoustic size of playback systems to get closer to the point source: broadband speakers use just one driver to cover the entire spectrum, for example. Other manufacturers align their drivers so their acoustic centre is identical, resulting in coaxial speakers. Both of these concepts have their limitations, however, from very limited spectral range to negative effects on the performance of the drivers, which is why PSI Audio takes a different route. The drivers in PSI Audio studio monitors are perfectly tuned and optimised to each perform at their peak, while dedicated analogue electronics ensure ideal synergy between the chassis.

Distance makes perfect: three ways for the midfield

Flagship models A23-M and A25-M from PSI Audio combine three drivers to astonishing effect. Reaching as low as 28 or 34 Hz respectively, they cover very nearly the entire range of the human hearing spectrum with outstanding linearity and fidelity. For the three chassis to coalesce into one coherent sound source, they do require a little more distance than typical nearfield speakers, setting them comfortably in the midfield or even farfield range. Set onto appropriate monitor stands or even built into the wall of the studio, the PSI Audio three-way speakers reproduce sounds with a fascinating clarity, making them come to life as if the original sound source was right there in the room. Given the appropriate listening distance, even the large A25-M appears as a point source acoustically, creating an immaculate stereo image and representation of depth – such is the genius of PSI Audio engineering.

Making it work with Swiss precision

Getting a three-way speaker to function like the A23-M or A25-M from PSI Audio is quite a feat and requires taking into account a number of factors, the most important of which is the time alignment of the individual chassis. In the ideal point source, all frequencies happen at the same time; the multi-way speaker, then, must also emit all frequencies at the same time to appear as natural as the original source. PSI Audio uses proprietary technology CPR (Compensated Phase Response) to match the time profile of the drivers, resulting in phase-coherent playback – just like in the ideal point source. Combined with other technologies like AOI and the class G/H amplifiers, the multi-way speakers by PSI Audio deliver the most accurate representation of sound possible – the real thing.