Epoque Aeon Reference
Epoque Aeon Reference
The flagship product Epoque Aeon Reference sets the ultimate benchmark for loudspeakers.
The core of our Epoque Aeon Reference is represented by the “Carbon Excellence Aeon“ bending wave driver that is based on the patented bending wave technology by Göbel®. This “Carbon Excellence Aeon“ bending wave driver inspired by the principals of sound creation through musical instruments and is the result of over 15 years of development we invested in order to achieve the most natural sound possible.
In order to achieve an absolute homogeneous sound dispersion and stimulation of the room modes within the low frequency range, the Epoque Reference is additionally equipped with 12 custom built Göbel® Aeon 7 inch long throw aluminum bass drivers. These symmetrically arranged bass drivers are specifically located on the front and the back and are impulse compensated to create an absolute smooth transition from the „Carbon Excellence“ Aeon bending wave driver`s broad frequency range to the low frequencies of the custom built bass drivers.
The purely functional design with the perfectly defined form and the use of specific aluminum alloys in combination with our special high density, bulletproof, multilayered composite materials, eliminate any diffractions, resonances and energy saving effects.
Reviewer Statements
"Simply unbelievable that so much resolution can be accompanied by such strong tonality and such a rich foundation!"
Dirk Sommer "Hifistatement"
Featured Technologies
1. Carbon Excellence Bending Wave Driver Front Dispersion
The world wide unique Göbel Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver covers the enormous bandwidth from 170 Hz to 31.000 Hz with a constant frontside dispersion of nearly 180 degrees. Through this, the Epoque Aeon Reference is a maximally coherent speaker that completely avoids time and phase problems from the outset. The phase velocity is always faster on the membrane than it is in air, resulting in an unbelievably fast sound with a tremendous resolution without any indication of efforts – even at high volumes. In addition to that, the almost non existing mass of the GÖBEL bending wave membrane completely avoids problems caused by mass inertia such as impulse deadening which always occurs in conventional loudspeaker systems.
2. Carbon Excellence Bending Wave Driver Rear Dispersion
In the Epoque Aeon Reference, the patented Göbel Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver also has a constant rear side dispersion of nearly 180 degrees through the bandwidth from 170 Hz to around 4.000 Hz, which actually enables a realistic soundstage and an uncolored sound reproduction - even if your are not sitting in the sweet spot. In addition to this, the Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver has no rear enclosure. This avoids any compression or coloration from the outset, which are caused by reflections of enclosures within this most important frequency range. You will experience this in an absolutely natural, free and uncolored sound reproduction without any resonances.
3. Lossless Bass Drivers
In order to get a perfectly smooth transition from the patented Göbel Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver to the low frequency drivers, we had to develop incredibly fast and absolutely linear bass drivers for the Epoque series. The motor systems are optimized to the maximum linearization of the magnet field in both directions of the extremely high excursion area resulting in the lowest and smoothest possible harmonic distortion spectrum. Furthermore, all materials we use here are of unparalleled quality, making it possible to reach the minimum possible loss factors and the fastest impulse behavior. Only to sum a few: Glasfiber voice coils, extremely lossless spiders and gaskets, extensive ventilation, extremely rigid aluminum membranes, etc.
4. Multiple Bass Array
To get an even more accurate and fast bass response, we use multiple arrays of bass drivers. These special bass drivers are mounted in a particular array on the front and the rear-side of the enclosure in order to activate the room modes completely uniformly. Of course we also adjusted the outstanding dispersion behavior of the Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver to the low frequencies. In terms of maximum sound pressure level, a lot of air has to be moved when the frequency drops. Therefore the surface area sum of the bass drivers for a pair of Epoque Aeon Reference is greater than the surface area of 4 pcs 12 inch woofers but with much more coherency and speed.
5. Ultra rigid Sandwich Enclosure
The enclosure of the Epoque Aeon Reference is an absolute non-compromise design, where all our knowledge about material resonances was applied. Based on our bending wave technology, we certainly know exactly how to manage surface waves on enclosure materials so they don't even start to arise. For the Epoque Aeon Reference we use our proprietary multilayered composite material in combination with a special aluminum alloy in order to prevent any resonances in the working areas of each driver. Through this ultra rigid combination of materials we also avoid any energy saving effects. This results in an unbelievably uncolored sound reproduction with tremendous attack and speed in front of an absolutely silent background.
6. Totally Isolated Crossover
The meticulously selected crossover network parts are housed totally isolated in the resonance optimized bottom plate in order to protect them against air pressure differences and resonance patterns, which always occur in loudspeaker enclosures. Additionally, the crossover-path for the bending wave loudspeaker and the crossover-path for the bass drivers are located in completely separated chambers to avoid any crosstalk, electro-magnetic couplings, or any other interferences between them. Furthermore, each network component is hand wired point-to-point to avoid parasitic effects of pc-board type construction. Finally, all crossover parts are moulded with a special damping epoxy to avoid any microphonic effects. All of these efforts lead to an unbelievably natural sound reproduction which is hard to imagine if you have not heard it.
7. Impulse Compensation
Our ultra lossless bass drivers are mounted impulse compensated in the enclosure of the Epoque Aeon Reference. Through this additional technology and based on the usage of our proprietary ultra rigid sandwich enclosure materials, the harmonic distortions and material resonances are once again reduced to nearly one tenth part. You will experience this in an even higher resolution, effortlessness and even quicker transient response in the bass and sub-bass area.
The world wide unique Göbel Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver covers the enormous bandwidth from 170 Hz to 31.000 Hz with a constant frontside dispersion of nearly 180 degrees. Through this, the Epoque Aeon Reference is a maximally coherent speaker that completely avoids time and phase problems from the outset. The phase velocity is always faster on the membrane than it is in air, resulting in an unbelievably fast sound with a tremendous resolution without any indication of efforts – even at high volumes. In addition to that, the almost non existing mass of the GÖBEL bending wave membrane completely avoids problems caused by mass inertia such as impulse deadening which always occurs in conventional loudspeaker systems.
2. Carbon Excellence Bending Wave Driver Rear Dispersion
In the Epoque Aeon Reference, the patented Göbel Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver also has a constant rear side dispersion of nearly 180 degrees through the bandwidth from 170 Hz to around 4.000 Hz, which actually enables a realistic soundstage and an uncolored sound reproduction - even if your are not sitting in the sweet spot. In addition to this, the Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver has no rear enclosure. This avoids any compression or coloration from the outset, which are caused by reflections of enclosures within this most important frequency range. You will experience this in an absolutely natural, free and uncolored sound reproduction without any resonances.
3. Lossless Bass Drivers
In order to get a perfectly smooth transition from the patented Göbel Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver to the low frequency drivers, we had to develop incredibly fast and absolutely linear bass drivers for the Epoque series. The motor systems are optimized to the maximum linearization of the magnet field in both directions of the extremely high excursion area resulting in the lowest and smoothest possible harmonic distortion spectrum. Furthermore, all materials we use here are of unparalleled quality, making it possible to reach the minimum possible loss factors and the fastest impulse behavior. Only to sum a few: Glasfiber voice coils, extremely lossless spiders and gaskets, extensive ventilation, extremely rigid aluminum membranes, etc.
4. Multiple Bass Array
To get an even more accurate and fast bass response, we use multiple arrays of bass drivers. These special bass drivers are mounted in a particular array on the front and the rear-side of the enclosure in order to activate the room modes completely uniformly. Of course we also adjusted the outstanding dispersion behavior of the Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver to the low frequencies. In terms of maximum sound pressure level, a lot of air has to be moved when the frequency drops. Therefore the surface area sum of the bass drivers for a pair of Epoque Aeon Reference is greater than the surface area of 4 pcs 12 inch woofers but with much more coherency and speed.
5. Ultra rigid Sandwich Enclosure
The enclosure of the Epoque Aeon Reference is an absolute non-compromise design, where all our knowledge about material resonances was applied. Based on our bending wave technology, we certainly know exactly how to manage surface waves on enclosure materials so they don't even start to arise. For the Epoque Aeon Reference we use our proprietary multilayered composite material in combination with a special aluminum alloy in order to prevent any resonances in the working areas of each driver. Through this ultra rigid combination of materials we also avoid any energy saving effects. This results in an unbelievably uncolored sound reproduction with tremendous attack and speed in front of an absolutely silent background.
6. Totally Isolated Crossover
The meticulously selected crossover network parts are housed totally isolated in the resonance optimized bottom plate in order to protect them against air pressure differences and resonance patterns, which always occur in loudspeaker enclosures. Additionally, the crossover-path for the bending wave loudspeaker and the crossover-path for the bass drivers are located in completely separated chambers to avoid any crosstalk, electro-magnetic couplings, or any other interferences between them. Furthermore, each network component is hand wired point-to-point to avoid parasitic effects of pc-board type construction. Finally, all crossover parts are moulded with a special damping epoxy to avoid any microphonic effects. All of these efforts lead to an unbelievably natural sound reproduction which is hard to imagine if you have not heard it.
7. Impulse Compensation
Our ultra lossless bass drivers are mounted impulse compensated in the enclosure of the Epoque Aeon Reference. Through this additional technology and based on the usage of our proprietary ultra rigid sandwich enclosure materials, the harmonic distortions and material resonances are once again reduced to nearly one tenth part. You will experience this in an even higher resolution, effortlessness and even quicker transient response in the bass and sub-bass area.
Technical Data
| Principle | Bending wave loudspeaker with impulse compensating passive radiators |
|---|---|
| Drivers | Patented Göbel® Carbon Excellence Aeon bending wave driver 4 massive Göbel® Aeon aluminum long-throw bass drivers 7 inch (18 cm) 8 massive Göbel® Aeon aluminum long-throw passive radiators 7 inch (18 cm) |
| Housing | Acoustically optimized bulletproof multilayered composite materials, massive aluminum acoustic baffles middle element completely made of massive aluminum |
| Standard finishes | Real piano lacquer white with aluminum parts lacquer anodized in natural silver semi gloss Real piano lacquer black with aluminum parts lacquer anodized in dark space grey semi gloss |
| Impedance | nominal 4 Ohm Impedance minimum in Single-Wiring: 3,4 ohm at 160 Hz |
| Efficiency | 86 dB / 1 W / 1m |
| Crossover frequency | 160 Hz |
| Frequency response | 28 Hz - 31.000 Hz |
| Dispersion range | 180° frontside: 28 Hz - 31.000 Hz rearside: 28 Hz - 4.000 Hz |
| Dimensions | Base: 43,6 (W) x 55,7 (D) cm Total height: 203 (H) cm |
| Weight | 180 kg without packaging 220 kg including flight case packaging |
