Vivid Audio B1

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Reviews

"The B-1s' soundstaging was some of the best I have heard, with superlatively solid and stable images.." - John Atkinson, Stereophile, February 2011

Read the Stereophile Review

"Vivid Audio’s B1 is an extraordinarily good loudspeaker that has midrange and high-frequency neutrality, transparency, and refinement that are second to none. In resolution and detail in those mid- and upper ranges, every other speaker I’ve heard comes in second to it. Listening with the B1 was like training a microscope on my records -- it was truly revelatory in that regard. This makes the B1 a reference-caliber monitoring tool and a great home loudspeaker..." - Doug Schneider, editor of SoundStage, December 2010.   Click here for the full review

The Vivid B1 loudspeaker is a serious audiophile's dream. Ultra high performance, technology and aesthetics converge in this uniquely designed loudspeaker from the mind of Lawrence Dickie, the creator of B&W's Nautilus™ loudspeaker. The Vivd B-1 is not the typical "cones in a box" design, sonically or visually. Everything from cabinet design to materials has been scrutinized and reinvented to recreate a dynamic, open boxless sound. The B-1 incorporates the exact same front firing drivers as the Giya, and presents a very similar sonic portrait from 60hz on up. Once you hear (and see) the B-1, no other boxed speaker will do. To us, the Vivid B1 represents the best value in the Vivid loudspeaker lineup. You have the identical front firing drivers used in the top of the line Giya loudspeakers, with an additional 6.5 inch midbass driver mounted oppositionally on the rear of the enclosure that not only improves bass impact, but actually works to nullify enclosure resonances below 100 Hz. This speaker has been compared very favorably to Wilson Sophia's, and Apogee Acoustics electrostatic loudspeakers.  The B1 is recommended for medium sized listening rooms. It can be driven by tube and solid state amplification.

"...It performed powerfully, providing qualities well beyond its price, delivering audiophile sound of great finesse and purity. Undoubtably a technical tour, Lawrence Dickie and Vivid Audio are to be commended..." - Martin Colloms, Hi Fi PLUS, Issue 40

The Vivid Audio B1 sits approximately in the middle of their product lineup. It is a mid size floor stander utilizing 4 drivers in a 3 1/2 way design. They are a standout both visually and sonically from today's standard cones in a wood box design. The technology implemented in the design of the B-1 is equally, if not more impressive than the stunning aesthetics. To offer a quick overview of the design:

Monocoque carbon fiber loaded polyester compound enclosure

Reaction canceling mounted Bass drivers
Simply put, the bass drivers are mounted on opposing sides of the enclosure. They are not mounted directly to the enclosure, rather they are joined rigidly together at the magnet structure by a tensioning rod. This serves to keep the drivers in the cabinet, and since the drivers receive an identical signal below 100hz, the vibrational forces normally transmitted to the enclosure cancel each other. No motion below 100 Hz is transmitted to the enclosure, resulting in extremely clean bass output.

In addition, the drivers are further decoupled by rubber O-rings that sit under each driver mounting rim.

Reaction Cancelling ports
Two symmetrical identical ports cancel cabinet reactions much like the opposite mounting of the bass drivers.

Tapered tube loaded chambers for Midrange and High Frequency drivers
Replacing the standard magnet in the midrange and tweeter with an external ring, leaving a "hole" behind the driver diaphragm, and allowing back wave pressure from the motion of the driver to flow throw this hole into a long tapered tube filled with damping material eliminates resonance issues and allows for the sound to eminate from the front surface of the driver unhindered.

Vivid Audio Tech Talk - Read more about what makes Vivid Audio loudspeakers the most advanced and musical designs in the world.

				B1 Specifications
Configuration				3 & 1/2 way vented cabinet
Cabinet material				Complex loaded carbon fibre filled polymer
Finish				High gloss automotive
Drive units				26mm metal dome hf unit
				50mm metal dome mf unit
				158mm metal coned lf unit (two of coupled)
Sensitivity				89dB/1w @1m
Nominal Impedance (?)				4
Frequency range (hz)				6dB points 35 - 44,000
Frequency response (hz)				39 to 41,000 +/- 2dB on reference axis
Harmonic distortion (2nd and 3 rd harmonics)				< .0.5% over frequency range
Cross over frequencies (hz)				100, 900, 4000
Power handling (music program) watts rms				300
Loudspeaker dimensions (H, W, D cabinet, D base)				43.1, 10.4, 14.7, 16.5
Net mass				80
Shipping dimensions (H, W, D)				48 x 16 x 20
Shipping mass				110 lbs

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