BLUMENHOFER ACOUSTICS Tempesta 20 Mk2

MJ15.09.2024

Floorstanding loudspeakers

When you get interested in loudspeakers like the Tempesta 20, the  horn concepts are probably close to your heart and sound preferences. If not, you'll probably pass them by in a big way. I'm in the latter group myself, but the very fact that you're reading this review suggests that these little speakers are more than interesting.

Funkce a forma

88%
Ergonomie
58%
Zvuk
80%
Zpracování

Blumenhofer Acoustics is a Bavarian manufactory that has been around for 30 years, and its models cover the range from "my first loudspeaker" to real high-end pieces. The Tempesta 20 (in the upgraded Mk2 version) is more of the former, and apart from pure stereo, the manufacturer conceived them as the main speakers suitable for home cinema applications. The baffles use birch plywood, and they are available in nicely finished veneers (walnut and cherry, with dark stained walnut and macassar available at extra cost). There are also several nice finishing touches, that elevate this speaker above the ordinary rectangular box. These include a slightly backward tilted baffle with engraved logos, nicely finished bi-wiring terminals (gold-plated copper!), elegantly designed feet easily adjustable from above, and a crossover assembly that resides in its own separate chamber.

In its standard version the Tempesta 20 uses 200mm paper composite woofer and a compression horn loaded mid-high driver. The latter consists of 44mm Mylar membrane loading a 1” oval waveguide. The whole system is supported by a bass reflex port that is firing to the floor. The crossover frequency is set to 1200Hz. The speaker uses an impedance linearization circuit that can be activated/deactivated by a bridge below the speaker terminals. The manufacturer recommends experimenting with it in case the amplifier has higher output impedance. This way the listener can change the voicing of the speaker to his or her preferences. The system´s sensitivity is specified at 92dB, the bottom end roll-off is 40Hz. The Tempesta 20 can also be had in a special version (SE) that features extended wooden horn and piano lacquer.

Nízké frekvence

Váha
57
Výbušnost
62
Artikulace
58

To set up the speakers with waveguides, one needs to find the right amount of toe in. I found the Tempesta 20 to be the most balanced when they were beaming circa 1m behind my head, which helped their horn systems sound the least intrusive. The good news is that the sweet spot of the Tempesta 20 is very wide, which is useful in case more listeners want to enjoy the sound. That’s where the home cinema applications kick in, but I was interested in pure stereo mode, of course. And I was caught by surprise, for the Thomas Blumenhofer’s speakers flooded my with seamless, lively, and dynamic sound.

Čistota rozlišení

Detail
89
Vzduch
87
Transparentnost
75

As outlined at the very start of this review, a compression horn system always leaves its fingerprint on sound. A cupped hands colouration, if you want. This has its disadvantages, yet there are also some benefits. The main benefit is the ease with which the sound leaves the speakers. It shoots from it, like angels in the song of Nerez (HRR na ně, FLAC 44.1/16), that uses various types of ethnic jingles, rattles, and flutes to build the atmosphere. They all sound fabulous through the Blumenhofer. Also voices have fantastic immediacy and reach out to the listener, like in Hana Hegerova’s Holiday time (Merci!, FLAC 44.1/16); the voice was warm, textured, and connected. In principle, the winds in an orchestra all amazing through the horn loaded system too.

Tonální věrnost

Témbr
56
Dynamika
70
Časování
70

Now and then I come to audition loudspeakers that have no obvious flaw but sound boring anyway. It is in no relation to price, the boring loudspeakers eixst in ultra-high-end audio too. The Blumenhofer Acoustics Tempesta 20 Mk2 are an exact opposite to it. They know how to conjure up live atmosphere even from studio recordings, like McDukey Blues with Christian McBride’s double bass equilibristics and George Duke’s fingers dancing on piano keys. The Tempesta 20 highlighted the double bass’ fretboard rather than the body of the instrument. Also, keys and strings of the piano were accentuated with less of the body, but the instrument did not lack any of its liveliness. I guess this can be expected considering the modest size of the speaker.

Prostorovost

Trojrozměrnost
64
Šířka scény
64
Hloubka scény
64

I have mentioned the winds already. Trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, flutes, pipes, trombones,… all are bigger than life through the Tempesta 20 Mk2. The wind instruments as if were recorded with the microphone attached to their bells to capture the air flow. No wonder that the experience of Sonny Rollins playing his Saxophone Colossus’ St.Thomas piece, or Alison Balsom dreamy transcriptions of Satiés Gymnopédien were so mesmerizing.

The expressiveness of the Tempesta 20 means that these speakers can be listened to at low playback volumes and still they manage to be engaging. They are a perfect companion for smaller listening rooms and anywhere where neighbours are not audiophiles. They are not bass light, however, for bigger rooms and higher playback volumes a subwoofer may be considered, if only to balance the agile top end. Blumenhofer Acoustics offers two – Sub 15 (380mm driver) and Sub 21 (540mm driver) – that can help rock your room.

Cena v době recenze:158 000,- Kč

Doporučení prodejci

Dreamaudio, Bratislava, +421 907 838 806

Připojené komponenty

  • Sources: Rockna Wavelight streamer, Rockna Wavelight DAC
  • Amplifiers: Jadis I-70 integrated amplifier
  • Interconnects and speaker cables: Stage III Concepts Ckahron, Siltech Legend 680, I2S Rockna

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