SongBird features

SongBird transmission line cabinets are a sleek 8" wide, 7.55" deep and 38" tall (not counting plinths and spikes).

the drivers

The design begins with the Hiquphon OW1 tweeter. One of the finest 3/4" dome tweeters being made today, the OW1's smaller cone allows it to produce a more detailed and accurate top end than a typical 1" dome tweeter. Of course, it will not cross as low as a 1" dome. That is where the ER15's come into play. These high-performance 5" drivers have a very extended and flat top end, making them a perfect match for the OW1's. Of course, 5" midwoofers do not typically play all that low.

the cabinet

That is where the SongBird's "Quarter Wave Tube" transmission line cabinet comes into play. Paul Kittinger did a marvelous job utilizing Martin King's mathcad formulas to develop the perfect TL cabinet for the SongBirds. This cabinet design allows the woofers to play lower than they would in a typical ported cabinet. The result is deeper bass than one would expect out of a speaker with a 5" driver. The cabinets are built with 1" MDF for added mass and reduced cabinet resonance.

The combination of the drivers selected, the transmission line cabinet and Dennis Murphy' crossover design come together in a formidable speaker indeed. The SongBird's frequency response is 42Hz to 20,000Hz +/- 3db. And the response is very flat - even off-axis! Check out the SongBird's specifications.

the sound

So, how do they sound?

• - The top end is lush and detailed - just what you'd expect from the exceptional Hiquphon QWI
• - The driver dispersion and the slim cabinet combine to offer superb imaging
• - The soundstage is deep and wide with instruments and vocals precisely located.
• - Midrange is detailed and accurate. Voices are rendered with realism
• - The TL cabinet results in very impressive bass extension considering the design uses 5" midwoofers.

In short, we feel the SongBird 's represent a new performance standard in a speaker system priced under $1500. Hearing them, we think you'll agree.

placement

The SongBird's footprint will work almost anywhere as these speakers take up less space than a typical stand-mounted monitor.

Transmission line speakers couple with room modes differently than traditional ported speakers. As a result, they can be placed closer to the rear wall without producing "boomy" bass. So speaker placement is far less critical than with almost any other speaker design. While all speakers benefit from ample room to the rear of the speaker, the SongBird 's will work well with as little as 12" of room to the rear - a significant benefit in some situations!

SPECIAL NOTE: The SongBirds are perfect for a small to medium-sized room, and for HT duty, where high SPL's are not required. They will work admirably where reasonable volume levels are maintained. Those requiring a speaker capable of high volume output would be better served by the SongTowers as you can only get so much displacement from a single 5" midwoofer.