Single unit full range standmount Loudspeaker with dark Rosewood veneer – FRM1

The FRm 1 design may be bookshelf or stand mounted. All designs are front ported in order that they may be placed close to a wall if desired. Although like conventional ported enclosures, placement away from the wall is recommended with the floor standing cabinets.
All three models are supplied with “No Loss” attenuators which are pre set to give optimum performance in the average room. These are in a small external box.
However many rooms are far from average, and each amplifier and source (e.g. CD player) will have its own sound. If after the run in period you feel that the sound may benefit from “tailoring” to your own circumstances this is a simple matter to change a couple of components at low cost.
Indeed all three designs may be run without any attenuation. The FRm 3 in particular has many possibilities to “contour” the sound to a personal preference.

Our Magnificent 8” driver with cast alloy basket, large efficient rare earth magnet and audiophile connectors.What are Full Range “Modified” Speakers?

Background:
Since 2002 Icon Audio have been making complete loudspeakers, cabinets and drive units. From the experience gained during this time in conjunction with our successful valve amplifiers has taught us many things including:
1. The best spatial image and sound stage comes from full range or a simple design of speaker, without a complex crossover. Generally efficient design.
2. Most speakers waste a large proportion of the amplifier power in order to “flatten” the frequency response. Especially with smaller speakers where the midrange and treble power is “dumped” (as heat in resistors) to make the bass louder as a proportion.
3. Full range often have hugely powerful magnets in the drive units, this severely restricts the cone movement to as low as +/- 1mm, necessitating the use of a large horn for bass.

FRM3 cabinet. 1” audio quality MDF. 3 internal braces. Audiophile foam damping. Audio Quest heavy duty pure copper wire.

This is how we do it:
We think so. In the same way a very simple valve amplifier can be very “musical”, a good full range speaker can also sound inherently “musical” in character. We have designed a wide range efficient drive unit that has excellent sonic properties using both new and old technologies to achieve the sonic footprint we wanted.
Our special 8” drive unit was then matched up to 3 cabinets that get the best overall acoustic sound. This is then further “tweaked” to get the desired response by using a special attenuator, rather than a “crossover”. This way no power is wasted or dumped as heat as resistors, maintaining the high efficiency.
The FRm 3 uses two closely matched units that work in parallel to give effortless bass reproduction that is well suited to a larger room, for large orchestral works, big band jazz rock music etc.

Are there any shortcomings?
All types of loudspeakers have shortcomings, they have the highest distortion of any part of the hi fi chain. Each type of design having its own set of problems. Like other electrostatic and co-axial speakers the FRm range are a little more directional and have a more tightly defined listening area.