JEM A4z    d'Appolito loudspeakers

High Performance 2-way

The A4z is one of the very few floorstanding loudspeakers completely made out of solid wood still available worldwide. The cabinets you see on this website are all made by hand by me in my workshop. The copper colour hardwood used is from the Eucalyptus tree. A plantation tree used to produce eucalyptus oil.

This loudspeaker has more special features. First and formost, the A4z is a loudspeaker that combines the imaging and musical capabilities of a monitor with the convenient format and esthetics of the floorstander. While in the cabinet two woofers can been seen, it is still a 2-way. The A4z is a so-called d'Appolito. This type of loudspeaker has a symmetrical driver configuration and a resulting unique radiation pattern and imaging capabilities that surpass traditional more-way systems. Next to this the A4z utilizes many of the techniques found in its 4-series siblings and also those of the 7-series.

Unique to this loudspeaker are the special reflex techniques. Due to the lenght of any floorstander, the system also starts to function as a (too short) transmissionline. Meaning many low and midrange frequencies are boosted inside the cabinet. This counterproductive acoustic energy will make its way out though the port, cabinet walls and woofer cone. The A4z has a special internal construction, preventing this build-up for over 90% and therefore delivering a very clean output. The A4z has a surprising full-bodied sound and extended low frequency range up to 38 Hz.

High Quality components

While the filter of almost all competing loudspeakers in this price range have only cheap electrolyte and metallized capacitors, the A4z utilizes costly but high performing arrays of Tinfoil and other film-foil cap's. Tinfoil capacitors sound very dynamic and transparant due to their separate conductive foil and heavy weight. Metallized capacitors such as MKP, PPM or MKT have, due to their ultra thin conductive layer, have much higher losses. In practice this results in “smearing” effects, loss of detail, loss of “air”. Electrolithic capacitors, (still used in many hi-end loudspeakers by many well known brands!), are NEVER used in JEM loudspeakers. These are many factors worse due to their enormous losses and distortion. On top of that they degrade ever further over time.

Each side contains two 4.5 ich SEAS woofers featuring rigid aluminium cones and flow optimized baskets for low compression. Sensitivity is relatively high for its slim size: 88dB. While classified as a 4 ohm system, impedance minimum is no less than 4,6 Ohm @ 350 hz. So still recommended for many tube amps. For durability purposes internal cables are all heavy silver plated.

The footprint is a mere 30x25 cm. Fitting in a pair of A4z's in any room will not be a difficult task. The outriggers and the CNC machined feet are made of solid industrial quality aluminium and dampened with rubber. The A4z is optimized for use at close proximity to a back wall.