USHER Be-10 Dancer
Floorstanding loudspeakers
Úžasný zvuk, překvapivá hodnota. Tak takhle nějak to stojí ve sloganu taiwanských Usher. Spíše než z dálného východu však vypadají, jako by Be-10 přišly od Armaniho. Navíc pro Usher hraje i fakt, že si většinu komponentů firma vyrábí sama, včetně beryliových výškových a středových reproduktorů. Berylium je dnes mezi hifisty značně populárním materiálem, ale je jen několik málo firem, které si vlastní vývoj a výrobu takových měničů mohou dovolit. Usher mezi ně patří.
Function and form
Taiwanese Usher uses its own technology of ceramization of beryllium formers to produce dome tweeters. The tweeter in the Be-10s is the current top model of Usher. Usher also patented their Symme-Motion technology that controls a voice coil in the magnetic field with close-to-zero tolerances. The cones of midrange and bass drivers are concave and they use Kevlar. Crossover frequencies are 544 Hz and 3.84 kHz, frequneccy response is specified 22Hz - 40kHz. Usher does not provide any fabric grilles with the Be-10 so listeners have to bear with rather technical looking front baffle.
Bass management
The Be-10 could reach down to the lowest octaves and it could do so with ease. It was refreshing to hear loudspeakers that have internal volume high enough to comply with the laws of physics. Still, I could sense a bit of bass overhang here and there. The Ushers were designed a decade ago and the latest drivers can perform better. It calls for an MKII upgrade.
Clarity & delicacy
The top end of the Be-10s is clean, precise, smooth and fast. A crash of cymbals is presented with attack and bloom, it is not just an undefined sizzle. Iiked the way the big Ushers communicated the ambience of recordings - all the clues and reverbs from studios and concert halls are part of the listening experience. The xylophone from Sant-Saens & Charles Dutoit's Danse Macabre had fantastic colours through the Be-10s, the taps on the wood were very woody. After hour or two of listening, especially with not so well recorded material, the highs may be too prominent so it is advisable to find the right balance in the room by moving the speakers or moving yourself to the right position - each inch is audible.
Tonal accuracy
The mids of the Be-10s are neutral, the voices are not colored, maybe too much. I suspect the speaker cables (Nordost Valhalla) to have an influence here. Other cables may lend a bit more emotions and warmth to the sound of the Ushers.
Spatial resolution
Despite what I said earlier I liked the Be-10 especially with classical music recordings. The whole orchestra moved to my place, including their music sheets and creaking chairs, and they took the auditorium with them too, with all the coughing and wiggling. The soundstage was holographic and alive with many layers and it kept its high spatial resolution up to the highest loudness levels.
Recommended resellers
Horizon Trading Prague, Praha, +420 222 715 959
PP HiFi Studio, Otrokovice, tel. +420 603 581 305
SK: Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
Manufacturer's website: http://www.usheraudio.com.tw
Associated components
- Sources: Ayre cx-7e
- Amplifiers: Audio Research SP17 a SD135
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Nordost Valhalla
Gallery
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