Visaton NoBox 170 speaker kit pair

The fascination of surface radiators, mostly electrostatics, has been unbroken for decades.
The large, yet light membrane surface, combined with the two-sided radiation provides an airy, unexercised sound image that perfectly dissolves from the boxes and fills the room evenly with music.
Such loudspeakers are, however, extremely complicated and therefore usually unreliable.
However, a very similar sound experience can also be achieved with conventional cone loudspeakers when they are arranged in an open sound wall.

For this purpose, 4 bass drivers WS 17 E - 4 Ohm with paper membrane and high quality were selected at NoBox 170, which are optimized for free-air operation.
Thanks to the omission of a housing, they provide a beautifully clean bass.
Also, thanks to the Dipol principle, significantly fewer spatial modes are excited, which is why the bass quickly swings out and therefore never sounds sympathetic or drones.
In addition, the mid-tone WS 13 E - 8 Ohm fits seamlessly, also with paper membrane and high quality perfectly suited for open use.
In order to remain visually and acoustically (and inexpensively) within the framework, the high tone was also equipped with paper membranes.
The TW 6 NG - 8 Ohm rounds up the sound of the NoBox 170 harmoniously and prepares a cleanly resolving high tone.
Since the tweeter is the only driver in the rear, a second back was mounted on the back to maintain the principle of the dipole radiator up to the high tone range.
This can be lowered or completely switched off via a potentiometer.
Thus, the tonal balance and the depth of the stage can be easily adapted to the spatial conditions or the personal taste.
In any case, the NoBox 170 should be set at a sufficient distance from the rear wall in order not to limit the unfolding of the enormous low bass and the deep stage staggering.
The sound experience, properly set up and set, is fascinating: With a rarely experienced airiness, the NoBox 170 sets voices and instruments in the middle of the room without artificially flaking them up or pulling them into the width or depth.
With a central seat position, the image sharpness is excellent, but also on far out-center seats, the sound image does not collapse in itself, but remains alive in the room.
Hearing with the NoBox 170 is unfamiliar stress-free, the tonal balance and the large membrane area ensure a sovereign performance up to deepest regions that would never be trusted to such a petty box.
If you are looking for a box with a lot of membrane area, which as a full-range dipole transports a very special atmosphere into the living room, very close to the large electrostatics, you should look at the NoBox 170 once more or listen.