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Image 414 LoudspeakerFFWD Magazine Issue 5 - August/September 2003Image Loudspeakers has earned a dedicated following in the New Zealand audiophile community, thanks to products that are consistently attractive in terms of appearance and sound quality. The company's current 400 range consists of a stand-mount monitor and five floor-standers; the 414 model occupies the middle of the range in terms of size, frequency extension and power handling. The pair supplied for review were finished in an extra zesty, high-gloss Ducati Red enamel (the finish adding $1000 to the retail price). However, Image appreciates that most domestic environments require something a little more subdued, so the typical 414 is finished in a sumptuous wood veneer. Standing at almost a metre high on their custom-made brass spikes, they communicate a look of quiet confidence, fully justified by the standard of sound they produce. The 414 is a ported two-and-a-half-way speaker, which means the upper cone (by Morel) handles pretty much everything below 2400Hz. Its lower twin only gets busy below 250Hz to augment the low frequencies. The tweeter is also a Morel unit, and the enclosure these drivers are bolted into is solidly braced and features a sand-filled base to firm up the lower registers. At the rear of the enclosure is a flared reflex duct, so it pays to have at least 75cm of air in between speaker and wall. Bear in mind that a speaker of these specifications will be happier in a larger room: they can set off disconcerting low frequency resonances in smaller spaces. The 414 sound is neutral and detailed, warm enough without straying into lush territory. Treble is well resolved and free from edginess, while the mid-range is accurate and unburdened by distracting colorations. Tweeter and mid-bass blend well, thanks to a lower than usual crossover point, so everything north of the lower bass driver's territory is handled with grace, and at all but obnoxious volumes the 414 holds together admirably. In the southern regions the 414's tuneful and speedy bottom end, though not attaining subterranean depths, lays a solid foundation for all varieties of music. A bit of lift in the upper bass helps here. With their narrow front baffle, imaging is good laterally and especially in terms of depth perspective. On the rhythmic front, the 414s are capable of setting your feet tapping, but the sound is not strikingly fast. In this regard, a low-powered amplifier would tend to slow proceedings if it were not man enough to flap the bass drivers. CONCLUSIONS From pre-classical to post-modern, the Image 414s took every musical genre in their stride; as I'm a sucker for good all-rounders, the 414s won me over with their lack of musical prejudice. What's more they do so at a price that saves the day for Kiwi music lovers with mortgages and mouths to feed. The 414s won't slay dragons in the $10K range, but they represent very high value for money, easily standing eye to eye with British competitors costing 30% more. An imported speaker of this standard will cost significantly more, so the Image deserves serious consideration in the up-to-$3000 range - and maybe beyond.
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| © copyright 2002 i m a g e LOUDSPEAKERS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Image Loudspeakers ltd is the manufacturer and distributor of IMAGE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS. 21 Eric Paton Way, Mt. Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone: ++64 9 570 8090. Fax: ++64 9 520 6229 Email: |