The new R 10 Arreté is the culmination of the very latest Audiovector technologies, with the Danish family business striving to immerse listeners in "an audio experience that stands apart from any other loudspeaker."

With 45 years of heritage crafting loudspeakers at its Danish base, Audiovector continues producing speakers that excel across various price points.

The new Audiovector R 10 Arreté marks a decade of Mads Kifoth being at the wheel and has been designed, engineered, and hand-built in Denmark. It features a unique approach to the task at hand while remaining as visually arresting as it is acoustically stunning.

UP CLOSE

These 156 × 36.5 × 62.7 cm (HxWxD) 95kg per side loudspeakers boast a suite of the latest generation of Audiovector innovations that promises to immerse the listener in the full breadth, depth and detail of the music. "Our ambition was to create something timeless and uncompromising – both in appearance and performance," says Audiovector CEO Mads Klifoth. "The R 10 has been developed entirely from the ground up.

While they might be tall, their form factor cuts quite an elegant silhouette thanks to their relatively narrow baffle, due to the cabinet only having to accommodate 6.5-inch drivers at most.

Every component – from the cabinet to the drive units – has been purpose-designed to deliver the most natural, dynamic, and open sound reproduction we have ever achieved."

Firstly and perhaps most noticeable is the Dual AMT Tweeter, which, says Mads, integrates Audiovector's Soundstage Enhancement Concept (SEC), designed to deliver an exceptionally open, precise and three-dimensional treble. Here, the main zero-compression AMT tweeter covers frequencies from 3,000 Hz to 53,000 Hz, with the dedicated hyper tweeter extending the treble response to 20,000 Hz to 53,000 Hz - beyond the range of human hearing.

According to the company, this design "maximises the retrieval of fine details and ensures superior imaging within the soundstage."

Meanwhile, taking care of the bass end is a low-frequency array of eight rear-mounted 5-inch bass drivers, each with a linear travel of ±12 mm. Together, these represent the equivalent surface area and displacement of a 15-inch woofer; however, Audiovector says this solution not only allows the R 10 Arreté to share the design language and aesthetics of the rest of the range but also ensures profound bass extension with controlled articulation. At the same time, this special design prevents cabinet-induced pressure buildup to produce a fast, powerful, and deeply controlled low-end response.

Dividing the bass across multiple fast subwoofer drivers results in greater speed and precision. These bass drivers extend up to 2,000 Hz with a tapered frequency response. Moreover, the rear-facing bass line source is ideal for evenly distributing bass energy throughout the listening room.

On the front baffle, two upper bass/lower mid 6.5-inch drivers and a 6.5-inch mid band driver deliver fast, precise, and undistorted performance in this crucial area where most musical dynamics live. Together with the rear-facing bass system, they create a vast and open soundstage with deep, involving bass.

The Accelerated Force Concept (AFC) bass/midrange structure accelerates and decelerates the drive units with precision and control. Rather than the ubiquitous roll surround seen on most bass drivers, Audiovector uses a custom-developed concertina surround crafted from natural and neoprene rubber. The goal is to make the bass drivers fast enough to blend in with the midrange driver. According to the manufacturer, it creates a "turbo effect" on those minimal initial movements while improving high-frequency detailing. This should produce a cleaner sound, better dynamics and a more detailed soundstage while preserving lifelike vocal and instrumental textures.

The special hysteresis-free 'concertina' corrugated surround improves midrange performance and retains long throw capability rather than choosing between the two.

This results in a lightning-fast response, ultra-low distortion, and a physical presence in the sound you can both hear and feel.

A uniquely flexible damping feature perfectly aligns cabinet resonance and energy release with the music for a calm, controlled, and profound musical performance.

As you can imagine, having thirteen drivers per loudspeaker requires an excellent crossover. Mads tells us that the R 10 Arreté crossover is designed and built to uncompromising standards. Crossing over at 180 Hz, 450 Hz, 3,000 Hz, and 20,000 Hz, it features double cryogenically treated capacitors that combine polypropylene dielectrics with tin-flashed copper foil for an exceptionally musical sound. Meanwhile, distortion-optimised copper coils in a Dynamic Feed Forward (DFF) configuration reduce resistance and distortion. Audiovector's bypass capacitors preserve the highest treble harmonics for ultimate realism. Unlike conventional loudspeakers, which tend to rely on reactive wire-wound resistors, Audiovector models integrate precision film resistors to guarantee a smooth and refined treble response.

We're told that the R 10 produces a 21 – 53,000 Hz in-room frequency response with a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms (5 Ohm minimum). Meanwhile, sensitivity is stated at an amplifier-friendly 90 dB/W.

The R 10 also borrows the bass control system first seen on the Trapeze RI loudspeakers. This is designed to better accommodate your amplifier's damping factor. This unique Damping Factor Dial makes achieving a perfect impedance match possible, enabling you to optimise bass response according to room acoustics and preference. Position 1: For transistor amplifiers with a medium damping factor, Position 2: For high-power transistor amplifiers with a high damping factor, and Position 3: For valve amplifiers with a low damping factor. That said, we were also told to experiment to find a more pleasing result to our ears no matter the amplifier being used.

Mads Klifoth told StereoNET:

This outstanding speaker not only surpasses our previous benchmark, the R 8 Arreté, and also marks ten years of close collaboration between my father, Ole, and myself. With a deep love for music and an uncompromising curiosity, we have continuously pushed the boundaries of what is possible. The R 10 is the result of this journey – a culmination, a statement, and a tribute to passion, precision, and family-driven innovation.

THE LISTENING

Spending some alone time with R 10 Arreté meant I could throw any music at it, from the Lambrini Girls' Company Culture to Level 42's Mr Pink via Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone) by Clutch and much more in between.

In the larger listening room at Audiovector HQ just outside central Copenhagen, the R 10 were powered by a Soulution system comprising the company's 727 pre-amplifier, 711 power amp, and 760 DAC fed by a Naim streamer.

These relatively large speakers work well with less room than you'd think between them and the rear boundary wall. That said, I cannot imagine people with this kind of budget for loudspeakers having to squeeze them into a small two-up, two-down dwelling.

While the R 10's produced an expansive and detailed top end packed with extraordinary micro dynamics lending itself beautifully to string quartets, this luxuriously-finished loudspeaker is also capable of rocking out to the likes of Hot Milk's Party On My Deathbed.

In concert with the dual AMTs and speedy midrange, the bass drive array made Crooked by Smilk a truly immersive affair.

These speakers definitely deserve more time for a proper review. That said, the R 10 is undoubtedly an impressive creation and one that Audiovector should be rightly proud of.

The Audiovector R10 is hand-crafted from premium, high-density wood, finished in African Mahogany Crotch Piano, Canadian Birdseye Maple Piano, and Italian Walnut Burl Piano.

The Audiovector R 10 launches in Munich and is expected to be available in September.

Audiovector invites attendees to enjoy a glass of champagne and experience this special loudspeaker in Atrium 4.2 F203 (A4.2 F203) between 15:00–17:00 on Thursday, May 15th.

Visit Audiovector for more information