Kingfisher Audio

A16 Standmount Loudspeakers

AUD $4,650 RRP

Going from crafting homemade loudspeakers to being a thriving commercial enterprise in a saturated market is undoubtedly a formidable challenge. However, the father-son duo behind Kingfisher Audio has embraced this task with a commitment to quality craftsmanship and small-scale production. Despite being a newcomer, can its A16 standmount speakers compete with more established brands in delivering exceptional sound quality? Let's dive in and find out…

UP CLOSE

Starting as DIY speaker builders, the guys behind Kingfisher Audio claim to be chronic perfectionists who want to continually learn, improve, and tinker. The business started organically when the team made a pair of speakers for use in a local gallery. "We put a price tag on them, and they ended up selling. We made another pair to replace them with some small improvements and we sold a few more. We decided to make a logo and start a website for fun and after a while found ourselves dreaming of making it our full-time focus."

In designing a new product, the Kingfisher team has incorporated curved walls and attractive, sustainable veneers to create this visually stunning design. The company's product range includes the A16 standmounter that you see here, which is positioned between the higher-end Dacelo floorstander and the more affordable SP15 bookshelf speaker. The A16 measures 430x240x260mm and weighs 10.5kg apiece. 

This review pair made an impactful first impression with their Bloodwood grain and patterns, which are skilfully mapped around the edges to give a seamless appearance. Upon opening the boxes, customers are greeted with the pleasant aroma of recently cut hardwood, which just enhances the unboxing experience.

The inspiration for the A16 design came from a pair of large towers that the team had built for their amusement years ago. They aspired to refine the trans-laminated CNC-cut 'ribs' method to construct a speaker enclosure with curved or tapered walls. This design choice is believed to help reduce standing wave resonances within the speaker enclosure, and the use of viscoelastic butyl-rubber inner lining and bracing contributes to a stable, 'dead' enclosure that does not alter the sound's natural quality. With the A16, Kingfisher aimed to develop a high-quality enclosure without compromise, one that concealed its intricate details within a beautiful and simple form, making the timber the star of the design.

Oliver-King explains that Kingfisher uses SB Acoustic drivers due to their "impressive" performance. The design team tested a variety of driver types and membrane materials before deciding on aluminium for both the tweeter and woofer, apparently. The latter's cone features geometric reinforcements (visible as four creases on the cone) designed to manage the breakup modes in higher octaves that can often lead to a harsh sound in a metallic cone woofer. 

The aluminium's stiffness is said to make the bass sound tighter and more controlled. While it might seem counterintuitive, Kingfisher claims that metal diaphragms can actually produce warmer, sweeter sound than most silk or paper options. Oliver-King emphasises that the tweeter offers a wide, controlled dispersion extending beyond 20kHz, helping to create a wide soundstage as the room's reflected sounds match the direct sound in tone.

Kingfisher constructs its unique veneers in the company's workshop, using logs supplied by local arborists. This innovative approach results in distinctive designs using beautiful trees that would otherwise be chipped for mulch or firewood. MDF is used for the carcass because of its stability, density, and ability to reduce vibrations. Following the assembly process, the team fortifies each wall with epoxy and adds vibration-dampening Butyl rubber pads for extra stability. If a natural wood finish isn't for you, Kingfisher is also working on an alternative version with a plywood surface – coming from sustainably managed Australian plantations and giving a lighter and more Scandinavian-inspired look.

The A16 uses a crossover with a 2nd order slope for the woofer and a 3rd order slope for the tweeter. According to Oliver-King, the crossover point set at a low 2kHz ensures a seamless transition between the two drivers, both directly and indirectly. It's said to enhance the soundstage, allowing room reflections to maintain the same tonality as the direct sound. 

The A16s leverage a sculpted Valchromat baffle for smooth off-axis response, and Kingfisher holds the view that the broad sound dispersion of the speaker – even going up into the higher frequencies – makes it less dependent on toe-in adjustments. The manufacturer suggests using toe-in to make minor tweaks to the treble tones, explaining that the more directly the speakers face your ears, the greater the intensity of the high-frequency sounds will be. However, individual preferences, room shape, and furniture arrangement may influence this setup, making it a personalised experience for each listener. 

While the A16 isn't overly sensitive to room placement, like most loudspeakers, it performs best when positioned at some distance from walls. The manufacturer says that significant effort was put into minimising cabinet vibrations within the speaker, using a mix of bracing techniques, viscoelastic linings, and a specific wall design to help decrease the need for additional isolation solutions. The A16 doesn't come with isolation footers but is compatible with various aftermarket options.

Despite its compact size, this speaker offers impressive claimed low-frequency extension down to 44Hz; the front-facing port, chosen primarily for aesthetic reasons, is tuned to 40Hz. According to the manufacturer's specifications, the A16's sensitivity is a decent but not exceptional 87dB (2.83V @ 1M). Nominal impedance is said to be 4 ohms which is a little lower than most, so readers should check their amplifier's load driving recommendations. Continuous power handling is listed at 60W.

To evaluate our review pair of Kingfisher Audio A16s in my system, I streamed hi-res audio from Qobuz using Roon, which was then processed through a Hegel H190 integrated amplifier. I played a wide variety of music. Oliver-King states that the speaker design isn't optimised for any particular genre and the design goal was to reproduce music as the artist intended. "This way the artist/producer/mixing engineer has already optimised each track for the speakers, no matter the genre", he says.

THE LISTENING

This speaker delivers a captivating listening experience with natural, lifelike vocals that immerse the listener. The sound signature is inviting, and exhibits capable dynamics, allowing for a lively and engaging sound. An expansive soundstage adds to the fun, with good depth and breadth. The A16 can also handle complex musical passages with ease, showing an ability to reproduce intricate yet complex compositions effortlessly. Tonally, it is neither overly bright nor too dull, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable listening experience across a wide range of musical genres.

For example, I Am Kloot's To The Brink is a skilfully composed track, balancing a mix of melancholic undertones and lyrical optimism. This musical tapestry is woven together by the distinctively raspy voice of lead singer John Bramwell, and the overall listening experience is quite immersive. When played back through the A16, the sound is very authentic; the speaker's exceptional midrange performance projects the vocals in a pure and unfiltered manner, almost as if the listener is in the same room where the recording took place. Vocals are bathed in a subtle layer of reverb, which enhances the emotive depth inherent in the introspective lyrics and infuses the track with a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. Moreover, the performance of the A16 validates Kingfisher's claim about the potential advantages of using metal diaphragms; Compared to JBL's 4312G monitor, for example, the sound produced is indeed warmer and sweeter, complementing the sentimental tones of the song and providing an intimately satisfying listening experience. 

Our Decade by Melbourne-based band My Disco is a journey into minimalist post-punk music; its soundscape is characterised by stark rhythms that don't compromise on intensity. This song is grounded by repetitive, yet entrancing drum beats, punctuated by the band's characteristic sharp guitar riffs. Played through the A16, the discordant guitar intro feels vast, suggesting a wide soundstage. About two minutes in, as percussion slices through with tom hits reminiscent of rifle shots, deeply intoned vocals contribute to the song's mysterious and potent aura. This speaker's ability to render highly dynamic music faithfully is rare, and it delivers a detailed soundstage that outmatches what one might expect from similarly sized designs. 

Spanish Sahara from Oxford-based act Foals is an enthralling auditory journey, characterised by its slow-building dynamics and an expansive soundscape. It begins with a soft, haunting guitar melody, coupled with subdued, introspective vocals, setting a mildly melancholic mood. As the track progresses, this speaker makes sure that every nuance is revealed with precision. The initial calm gives way to a slow but steady building of tension, with delicate interplay between individual instruments. The escalating guitar lines, growing percussion, and the gradual intensification of the vocals combine to create an emotional crescendo. When the climactic chorus kicks in, the Kingfisher really shines, effortlessly handling the explosive energy without losing any detail, and the guitar tremolo on the outro sounds stellar.

Switching gears into a more acoustic vein, Jack Johnson's Times Like These was a pleasant discovery made with the help of Roon's radio function. A trademark blend of folk and soft rock elements, the track opens with a smooth guitar melody, which instantly creates an atmosphere of comforting familiarity. Through the A16, the song's organic and intimate sound comes alive. Compared to beryllium tweeter-based designs from Paradigm and Focal, there isn't any unnatural brightness in the speaker's high-frequency response. The melodic guitar lines are presented with clarity and depth, perfectly capturing the warm timbre of the acoustic guitar. Johnson's laid-back vocals sound natural and close. The A16 ensures that every layer of the song's modest yet rich arrangement is heard, delivering this intimate experience with clarity, warmth, and presence. 

The Vagabond is a powerful collaboration between French band Air and Beck, an American musician known for his laid-back approach. This song brilliantly combines their respective and unique production styles, creating a distinct sonic blend. When played through the A16, the recording's intricate details come to life. The crisp acoustic guitars and beautifully rendered harmonica establish a clear, pleasing sound right from the start. Beck's voice, which is richly layered and double-tracked, enters the soundscape in an impressive display of the speaker's capabilities. Vocals remain deep and rounded, even when challenged by the dense percussion that vies for space in the stereo mix.

Throughout the track, the Kingfisher provides a high level of clarity and depth, revealing every element of the multi-layered composition. While perhaps not the last word in terms of detail retrieval, the delicate balance between synths, bass, and other electronic components is vividly presented, maintaining an immersive auditory experience. It excels at reproducing this complex audio environment, from the softest synth pads to more robust basslines. 

THE VERDICT

The Kingfisher Audio A16 presents an intriguing proposition in a market flooded with basic speaker cabinets. What sets it apart is the meticulous craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail evident in the design and finishing. When it comes to playback, it not only impresses with well-presented and lifelike vocal sound, but also creates an inviting rhythmic feel that captivates the listener.

Importantly, it strikes a near-perfect tonal balance by avoiding an overly bright treble, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable listening experience across various musical genres. Even when faced with complex musical passages, these speakers maintain their composure and effortlessly reproduce intricate compositions. The exceptional craftsmanship, finishing and beautiful materials used in their construction not only justify their cost, but also explicitly add to the overall appeal, making them a lovely addition to any audio setup.

For more information visit Kingfisher Audio