Small kids, minor issues, big children — big problems right... This fairly holds for the loudspeakers :). I wouldn’t suggest it’s simpler to construct smaller speakers, but a lot less problems are associated with the sheer size from the starting point. With larger enclosure the lower frequencies (and the complete frequency range) are tougher to conquer and listening room reflects this way quicker, than the grander chassis.
Yes, it’s all about physics and again same rules applies for the designing the loudspeakers, that fall under the mini monitor labeling. One might work with fewer problems linked with the volume, but to drive loudspeakers of such proportion to truly sing, there are multiple little things someone must determine beyond just sufficient.
There is an interesting preconception about many factors associated with mini monitors. One of them is the disappearing act. Believe me, this attribute alone is not binding by any means. So, no! Not every little speaker with by default vanish in the listening space! And we’re just freeing the Pandora box...
Over the years I’ve either owned or have listened/tried a collection of smaller speakers. As many of you I prefer to call them mini monitors. With the right decisions from the ground up an immensely potent music experience can be illustrated and for relatively quite a few individuals, mini monitors even surpasses performance of the bigger relatives. In no way one can squeeze thunderous bass into such small boxes. Some people either adopt this “limitation” and take advantage of the stand out qualities, that can convey the soul of the music or sometime later on add the subwoofer. But, as you’ll learn on these are the speakers, that can present highly believable and rich aural image.
Before I’ve signed up for the review Dušan Duda Milosavljević (Tonal Speakers owner and CEO) explained in extent about his cherished and proud creations.
Let us delve further into the mind behind the Mini (R)s and examine, what makes these mini monitors so different and so unique.
THE CONSTRUCTOR!
Dušan Duda Milosavljević: "I was born in 1964 in Belgrade, Serbia. By education, I am a software developer; however, this has never been my main profession. My passion always lied in creating a connection between music and sound reproduction. The obsession with music began from an very early age.
About 25 years ago, I started constructing loudspeakers for my own use, as I was unsatisfied with what was available on the global market.
Being very well aware of the situation in the audio production field, I couldn't agree with the majority of (primarily mainstream audio magazines) opinions regarding high-end. For me, there was an unbearable amount of so called “high-end products” which didn't deserve to have such a distinction (a large part of these were not Hi, nor even Fi, at all). At this point, I have to be honest and admit that there were several (especially 1970’s and early 1980’s) excellent examples of speaker design; I cannot fail to mention some Radfords, JBL's, TADs - until recent years, EV’s, some Japanese and Germans loudspeakers, etc.
During the years, I made many different speakers of all sizes - for me, my friends, their friends, friends of their friends, and some people who were just referred to me by the word of mouth. These speakers have never appeared publicly, until now. Why? Because every of these speakers was unique, original, and different from the others. For some time now, I've been wanting - to create one of the best little speakers in the world. Name them what you like - mini monitors, bookshelf speakers... whatever. I consider them as the best, as small as possible (less than 6 lit.), speakers that can give us a full, coherent experience of music listening, in a proper room.
Simultaneously, I have been following events in the audio industry very carefully, especially on the speaker production field, always trying to to own a few (or at least one or two) pairs of speakers, which were publicly marked as very popular, among the best in their size or class, as “breakthrough” (whatever that means), so I could compare my work with them. I still think it was the only way for avoiding the trap of being captured in a self-oriented frame and to maintain a critical perspective.
After 35 years (and more), spent as a fully dedicated audiophile, I'm afraid I can count on the fingers of one hand, the few that were worth considering: from Celestion SL6 and it's better derivatives, Acoustic Energy AE1 - first edition only (around 1990), Acapella Fidelio (really great little speaker - unfortunately, Fidelio 2 should be avoided), Sonus Faber’s Electa Amator (not so little; Amator 2 - not at all!), and only a few more, until today. (Please forgive me if I have skipped any in the above list, because I couldn’t mention everything - these are just some examples of exceptions)
Although almost all of the above mentioned speaker’s are much more physically voluminous (larger) than the Tonal Mini (R) or (D), I do believe I achieved in creating speakers that surpasses those famous “oldies”, and I am hoping that future customers will agree!"
THE TONAL WAY!
All Tonal products are fully hand-made by the constructor himself, which might bring along some tiny visual imperfections, yet these are almost invisible to a regular observer's eye. Duda has always considered sound as much more important than the visual components of audio equipment.
Each pair of ordered Tonal speakers will have a three months' long “burn in” and trial period under the CEO supervision, before it’s ready to be sent to the customer.
Every model of Tonal speakers will be produced as a limited edition and will never be made again.
Tonal Speakers CEO explains differences between Tonal Speakers and average speakers are as follows:
- Tonal Mini (R) and Mini (D) are made with absolutely no compromise regarding the quality or price of the parts used to build them (such as Duelund capacitors and resistors).
- Every Tonal speaker is built as a double-wall construction filled with Green Glue between the inner and outer sides.
- Every Tonal Speaker has a tuneable bass-reflex port, which allows optimal final tuning according to the space in which they are used and to the other parts of the sound system.
- Every single pair of Tonal speakers must pass a three-month-long break-in trial period, under my personal daily control (observing, listening and fine-tuning) in the Tonal lab.
- There is no wire in the signal path - just elements, connected point-to-point, from + the speaker pole directly to the drivers (Mini series only, for now).
- Original and unique connection between the speaker and the stand.
- Original and unique crossover calculation and construction.
- The opportunity for every Tonal product owner to be directly in touch with the creator (via Skype, Viber, etc.) for every question or concern.
- The complete Mini (R) stand is filled with the mixture of fine sand and wood glue. The rest of the contacts are tightly screwed and glued with Green Glue..
Here is the list of some of the gear, that was used in the development of the Mini (R)
- Ypsilon Phaethon (Silver Transformers Edition)
- Plinius SA-103 i SA Reference
- Unison Research Absolute (first edition)
- Graaf GM20 i Graaf GM200
- Fi 2A3 monos by Don Garber (2 x 3W)
- Spectral DMC-30SS Reference Preamplifier
- Graaf GM 13.5B ll
CROSSOVER
Personally, after more than 35 years of experience and very serious, dedicated researching in audio domain, I have to say that I’m some sort of “outlaw” and great oppositionist to the existing mystifications, phraseology and manipulations, which are (according to me) very present (I would rather say - dominant) in mainstream audio industry. In sense of the goal achievement in audio reproduction, all of those “great stories”, “ideas”, “breakthroughs”, “a whole sea of bombastic phrases that mainly means nothing”, and “another sea of spent money for nothing”, can be replaced by only two words - MINIMAL DISTORTION (or as less as possible distortion in audio reproduction)! That’s the goal.
As a constructor or a researcher, I couldn’t count a number of crossovers I made over the years. I tried all of existing kinds of crossovers, all of their orders, etc. After all of that, I decided to make only filters that are as simple as possible, but with the best parts one can achieve. Such approach obligates knowledge of how to select and mate compatible drivers for a loudspeaker and how to choose crossover points. Who knows it, knows it. Who doesn’t, should learn, if capable. Others can freely continue to put a bunch of elements in order to “listen” what computer monitor or oscilloscope “tells” them “to hear”.
Please, don’t get me wrong - I am not against measurements at all, but measurements are just one (helpful) segment in process of making audio equipment. Also, mentioned approach has nothing to do with money! Those “simple” crossovers can often be many times more expensive than “rich” and good looking ones that can be usually found in standard, industrial speakers, even if they were marked as hi-end.
Today, I use coils and capacitors made by myself. On a customer request, one can get Duelund RS or Jensen Cu-foil in oil caps instead of mine. That’s no problem at all. But, for myself, I use caps that I made, because I find them better. After all, that’s the reason I make those capacitors. As resistance, I use Duelund CAST Silver/Graphite resistors, mostly. I expect I will achieve to make resistors of my own, too, very soon.
Also, I developed my type of crossover, which can’t be found in well known types of filters, as Butherword, Bessel, etc.
THE MUSIC
The most important part of every speaker evaluation is for certain this category. The music! A lot could be told about the speaker design, principles, innovative approaches, the materials, etc. At the end of the day, the most significant merit is the sound!
The biggest challenge for such small speakers is obviously the bass performance. As I realize, that most of you would pose that question, I'll open up the usual music impact with this subject matter.
I've tried Mini (R) with few Detroit techno tracks known to be Roland "808" and "909" heavy laden. It took a bit of a time to find the proper "level" of the tuneable bass-reflex port "stick-out", but once set, Tonal Mini (R) have indicated better than a healthy and focused bass considering its sheer size. This was further evident with the high-octane bass challenging Donald Fagen - Morph The Cat. For the one, that is auditioning this track for the first time, the electric bass might occur as distorted or to compressed. That is not the case. It's only recorded in that way. On the ordinary speakers, this will merely appear as sort of a suppressed sound. The more fine transducer will vividly illustrate the solid bass image and it will not “disintegrate” within the kick drum formation, but display an obvious contrast between the two. Mini (R) speakers have surprisingly offered instantly recognizing the difference and kept its integrity despite their given proportions. 
Yes, you cannot expect submarine-like depths from such a small driver. Still... If well concerted and designed, even a small monitor can forecast some grasp of the expect bass power management. Karate - In the Fishtank 12 EP - The New Jerusalem belongs to the upper echelon of most demanding tracks. New Jerusalem is not easily digestible even for the huge speaker systems and if hit too intense, it can too quickly send the drivers to the eternal dimensions. I was, of course, cautious with volume level and played on the safe side with Tonal Speakers Mini (R)s. Anyhow, the plan was to evaluate the scale of energy impact Mini (R) can provide. The exhibited portion was again above the healthy mark
Moving to the midrange, the epicenter of the music's momentum. Without a proper mid frequency foundation, there is no base of the music. What It's All About is Pat Metheny's beautiful sole exploration of some iconic songs from the past like The Sound Of Silence by Paul Simon & And I Love Her from The Beatles. This album is not only beautifully recorded. It's a genuine -- challenging reference to test and stress any speakers' ability to portray the guitar's essentials. Tonal's Mini (R) monitor voicing have formed a rich and entertaining performance, not truly expected from such "miniature" boxes.
Janis Ian's Grammy Awarded - Breaking Silence was aspectual of the Mini (R)'s well-established attributes. Janis' vocal and all the instruments had a convincing scale and tonal density further evidenced by Mika Sasaki's - Obsidian, where tone layering was not something to be accepted moderately. Mini (R)'s distinct ability to emit highly potent music's arrangement continued with the holographic sonic emanation of I Robot by The Alan Parsons Project. Beautifully produced and recorded, this album can literally let speakers disappear and form one of the kind sonic illusory presentations. Tonal Speakers' mini monitors surprising high level of auditory cues helped in recreating highly gratifying and mesmerizing experience without a common frequency collapse.
Stravinsky/Tchaikovsky/ Mussorgsky -Stokowski/London Symphony Orchestra – Firebird Suite: Marche Slave / Night On Bald Mountain (London Records – SPC 21026 DJ) easily expanded Mini (R) inspiring abilities to paint the complexity without entering into domains of distortions and fatigue. Orchestra foundation was solid and the complex passages remained dynamically solvent.
I've tried Tonal Mini (R) within a few different rooms. From 16 up to 82 m2. Duda designed the speakers to carry out their best in the listening rooms up to 25m2, but can also extend their reach within larger surroundings. In such conditions, the golden triangle rule is almost mandatory and Mini (R) demand at least half a meter to perform at their best.
CONCLUSION
The biggest challenge and quest for any speaker manufacturer and designer is to find a proper harmony. Each little nuance in construction, tuning, and voicing will manifest in the final sonic outcome. Nowadays is fairly popular to chase utopian, non-existing sonic structure, being farther from the real music DNA. Instead of scraping the traits and fades, Dušan Duda Milosavljević pin-pointed the Mini (R) sound at the realism.
Tonal Speakers Mini (R) loudspeakers are serving all the right directions in obtaining the natural, balanced and deeply involving music performance. Yes, Mini (R) produce bigger aural projection, than their sheer size. Also, the tuneable bass delivers very controlled and focused lower frequency. This handy feature is effective in a real-world scenario and can help set the proper bass distribution for the dedicated listening room. The variety ranges from subtle to instantly perceptible. It was more than interesting to examine the bass "tube" effect and follow the minuscule revisions.
Tonal Speakers Mini (R) speakers are the sum of Dušan Duda Milosavljević's long lasting quest for something remarkable. I never take lightly any product, that is infused with so much passion, commitment, and devotion.
Duda's proud creations are made by a devoted music lover for the music lovers and audiophiles, that will appreciate the Mini (R) advantages.
It was both encouraging and welcoming to spent a lengthened time with Tonal Speakers monitors. They're an avid reminder of what THE right sonic direction is and it should be.
Not so often one comes across such a juxtaposition of timbre — tone — color, glowing pinpoint precision and balanced dynamic act all packed in such a small enclosure. Well done!
Matej Isak
PRICE
14,500 EUR (pair) without VAT including stands
A full money back guarantee (excluding shipping costs) is obtained for every Tonal customer within a one-month trial period (after receiving the goods), there should hopefully be little standing in the way for those who might want to try Tonal.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
HF unit - RAAL 64-10 true ribbon tweeter (adapted to Tonal’s aim)
LF unit - SEAS W12CY001 mid/woofer
Nominal impedance - 8 Ohm
Sensitivity - 84 dB
All technical data suffice every hi-end audio aspect
Overal dimensions: With stands:
43 x 110 x 43 cm approx. (W x H x D)
17 kg approx. net weight (each) -
Without stands (speakers only):
18 x 31 x 26 cm approx. (W x H x D); 9,5 kg approx. net weight (each)
CONTACT
TEL: +381 63 270870 MOBILE
FAX: +381 11 414 50 05 FAX
EMAIL: OFFICE@TONALSPEAKERS.COM