WIENER LAUTSPRECHER MANUFAKTUR WLM Franz S
Floorstanding loudspeakers
Although the Austrian loudspeaker manufacture is not a newcomer, it operates under the high-end radar of many. I am regularly enjoying their sound during audio exhibitions over years, so I decided to give them a bit more exposure through the review of their latest offering, the fully active Franz S loudspeaker. There are not many studios around Europe that provide the WLM line-up, so I decided to give it a thorough listen on the opportunity of this year's High-End Munich show. It did not dissapoint and filled the rather large 120m2 listening space with truly high-end sound.
Function and form
Not only are the WLM Franz S fully active speakers - they ar enot conventional in many other ways either. They employ two 8cm AMT tweeters, one in the baffle, one sitting on the top of the cabinet alike a supertweeter. In theory this is a recipe for many problems, my ears did not find anything annoying in how the Franz S sounded, except certain agility in the HF content. Two paper woofers of the Race Track oval design (22 x 30cm) are invisible to eyes - one fires to the floor, the other to the ceiling. The driver complement is completed by dual 12 cm midrange woofers with papyrus cones. The cabinet is a multilayered structure that also employs real wood. The stiffness is addressed through the variable thickness of the cabinet's walls - the material reaches up to 74mm thickness at the critical spots.
The WLM uses class D amplificiation inside, each band is fed by its dedicated amplification module. This facilitates the use of analog filtering. WLM does not believe in DSP and claim the analog filters are superior to it in the classical speaker design like Franz S. So, apart from the usual power socket, power switch, and two analogue inputs on RCA and XLR, there are 4 large knobs at the rear of the speaker. Those serve to adjust bass volume and focus, as well as to sculpt midrange and treble according your preferences.
Bass management
The Franz S can play deep and provides plenty of the fundamental of bass frequencies that are centered around what listeners find attractive. This helps sustained bass notes develop with bloom and weight. I listened to Enya's Watermark tracks and it was both monumental and beautiful. These are the moments for your guts to send the signal to your brain that perhaps you need those speakers at home.
There is nothing exotic about the Franz S, everything is a good old engineering. No aluminum or supermaterials, yet the speaker is inert enough not to induce any distortions or resonances even at high playback volumes. I guess this is due to the masterful combinetion of the counter-acting woofers inside in the rigid cabinet.
Clarity & delicacy
The AirMotion ribbon tweeters are masters of resolution, plus they are light and fast, so the sound is full of air and speed. Depending on what you play the openness contributes to aliveness of the sound, or it may shift the listening experience towards too much spark. Especially with the 80's recordings the top end may be too hot. I see this as no problem whatsover - mind you there are those knobs at the rear of the Franz S and it is breeze to find the right setting for your listening environment, or even for every single recording if you wish. You an adjust each speaker individually to compensate for assymetry of the room.
Tonal accuracy
I wish the Franz S had finer microdynamic gradations, especially in is midrange, although its macrodynamic performance is flawless and the contrasts between soft and loud are like flicking a whip. The Grid from Tron soundtrack (Daft Punk) through the WLM makes the Cinema City sound flat and uninvolving.
The tonal balance is (in its neutral setting) tilted towards the treble, at least for my tastes. In any modern reflective interior it will ask for a bit of correction, in the rooms with furniture and carpets it will be perfect.
Spatial resolution
The spatial presentation of the WLM Franz S was a real candy, mostly thanks to the drivers that fire to three axes. The resulting soundstage was quite immersive and embraced me the way which was hard to get elsewhere. The AMTs provide pinpoint imaging, and your only worry will be how to set up properly the WLMs in your room not to lose all this. The Franz S does not require an overdamped room, on the contrary, they use the room to enhance the presentation. Make the room an ally, rather than an enemy.
As I said, I have been having Wiener Lautsprecher Manufaktur in my scope for long. The Franz S confirm that their speakers are remarkable. To run the Franz S you will only need a source component with analog outs, a pair of interconnects and a pair of power cables. This way you save quite a substantial money for amplification. Therefore the high-end asking price of the WLM Franz S is not as high as it may seem.
Recommended resellers
AT: Studio Wiener Lautsprecher Manufaktur, Innsbruck
Manufacturer's website: http://www.wiener-lautsprecher-manufaktur.com
Associated components
- Source: DAS Digital Audio Systeme HD-Player Model 2
- Interconnects and power cables: Way Cables Silver a Core
ACOUSTIQUE QUALITY AQ Passion
Acoustique Quality has been around since early 90’s. The company’s loudspeakers were always close to what can be characterized a good value for money, with a bit of pre-2000 vibe. Speaker by speaker the guys in Acoustique Quality ...
Recommended resellers
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
ANTE Supersonic One
The Supersonics were visually inspired by Lamborghini Countach racer. The functional elegance of the Lamborghini does not come at budget costs and neither the Ante does. The price tag of €160,000 keeps the Supersonics in the company ...
Recommended resellers
Media Control, Bratislava, SK, +421 905 613 928
AQ Canto 5
An experience that moves your soul. This is how Czech loudspeaker manufacturer presents the brand-new Canto range. For the company, the Canto is a milestone, so important that they decided to dedicate a special website to it. The ...
Recommended resellers
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
AUDIO PHYSIC Avantera
The Audio Physic’s HHCM midrange drivers are fantastic. The realism of both male and female vocals through the Avanteras is nothing short of magic. The Avanteras skillfully blend a cocktail full of colors, sonority, textures, ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: High-End Audio Studio, Praha, tel. +420 224 256 844
SK: Platan Audio, Hlohovec / Bratislava, tel. +421 905 409 802
AUDIO PHYSIC Cardeas Plus+
Audio Physic's original Cardeas was like an album of a respected band that was recorded just because it had to be recorded due to a contract. Not like the album that was recorded because the band wanted to. I sighed with relief that ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: High-End Audio Studio, Praha, tel. +420 224 256 844
SK: Platan Audio, Hlohovec / Bratislava, tel. +421 905 409 802
AURUM CANTUS V6F
The Aurum Cantus V6Fs have the ability to dissapear from your ear-view - they move an orchestra to your living room instead and let you bathe in an expanding and transparent soundstage. After listening to the V6Fs you'll find ...
Recommended resellers
Hifi studio MeLissa, Brno, tel. +420 777 04 1313
AVANTGARDE ACOUSTIC Uno Fino
Should your priority is to blend the speakers with your interior and make them visually disappear, the Avantgarde Acoustic Uno Fino is not for you. I am not in favor of color lacquers on speakers and prefer natural veneers where ...
Recommended resellers
HI-FI studio TYKON, Ostrava, tel. +420 723 449 894