Three years ago, Dutch company Crystal Cable presented the original Arabesque, stunning loudspeakers ($65,000 per pair), which received the SoundStage! Network’s top honor: Product of the Year. Now, Crystal Cable has conveyed the Arabesque’s essence into the stand-mounted, two-way, all-aluminum Arabesque Mini ($25,000/pair, plus $1,000/pair for matching stands).
Like its big sister, the Mini uses the same COMSOL FEA software to create a scaled-down cabinet, built from solid aluminum panels that are beveled top and bottom, so unlike glass-cabineted Arabesque, the Mini is neither transparent not even translucent. Each panel is a different width, while the complex, curved form that results dissipates both mechanical energy within the cabinet and standing waves within the contained volume. A tiny slot in the tail of the cabinet terminates the internal air mass and allows Crystal to dispense with internal wadding or damping.
Its published specifications include: an in-room, near-wall frequency response of 45Hz-40kHz, -3dB; an efficiency of 86dB/2.83V/m; a benign nominal impedance of 8 ohms; distortion of less than 0.5% from 120Hz to 20kHz, and of under 1% below 120Hz; and a solid yet manageable net weight of 40 pounds, without stands.
The Arabesque Minis are small enough to fit into nearly any room (13″H x 12.5″W x 11.5″D), and powerful enough to produce a big and easy sound wherever is fitted, and additionally it can serves as elegant décor.