Muraudio SP1 Electrostatic Loudspeaker

“Either I'm getting old and deaf, or Muraudio has done a close to miraculous job of integrating the four dynamic woofers per channel with their curved electrostatic panel.” - Malachi Kenney, Positive Feedback

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MURAUDIO SP1

The award winning SP1 integrates Muraudio’s high output continuous curve projected point source ESL panel with bespoke custom designed six inch aluminum cone drivers to create a beautiful, immersive, panoramic sound stage. The SP1s full range 120 degree horizontal listening window delivers Muraudio’s signature “Sound is Everywhere®” listening experience with contemporary design and luxurious finishing.

Electrostatic loudspeakers (ESL) use electrostatically charged micro-thin polymer film suspended between two perforated aluminum plates to reproduce midrange and high frequencies. Muraudio’s Mylar Diaphragm Technology creates enhanced dynamics through improved distribution of acoustic energy across the continuous curve of the ESL, delivering clear, detailed, natural sound. The SP1s virtually weightless, ultra-light electrostatic film moves with speed and precision, producing ultimate sonic accuracy. The SP1s total harmonic distortion is so low that it is comparable to levels only measured in high end amplifiers.

The SP1s long throw six inch aluminum low frequency drivers are paired in two independently sealed cabinets, combined with proprietary, tuned inertial reactionary dampers for tight bass response. These ultra-rigid drivers accurately reproduce frequencies below 750 Hz, and move so uniformly that modal resonances are inaudible. Over 6 kg of magnet structure provides the necessary force for deep bass extension, achieving F(-3) = 45 Hz (anechoic).

Only professional grade, tight-tolerance premium components are used in the crossover and electronic systems. Air core inductors and Mundorf EVO oil capacitors ensure that critical high frequencies are perfectly reproduced. The SP1’s high voltage transformer uses a precision wide bandwidth interleaved balanced design with ultra-low leakage inductance, delivering clear highs without coloration, operating at low magnetic fields even at maximum power. The SP1’s multi-layer curved cabinet is designed for enhanced stiffness and low resonance. A stable acoustic center is maintained by mounting all drivers symmetrically in a D’Appolito configuration. The SP1 ESL panel and driver configuration are designed to produce a polar dispersion pattern similar to the ESL at the 750 Hz crossover, maintaining uniform tonality across wide horizontal positioning.

The SP1s managed to be very convincing not only in the one centered ideal position but over a wide area... the point-source nature of the imaging felt very natural. And compared to other hybrid electrostatics, well, when the chips are down, most instruments are not line sources. I would strongly urge you to find the Muraudio SP1s at a show or a dealer and spend some time listening to them carefully. This is a landmark speaker design. There has never been anything else like it. It is unique and sounds like real music in a way which escapes most speakers entirely. I think many people are going to find it matchlessly satisfying, if they can get a serious listen to it.

- Robert E. Greene

The SP1s had broad horizontal dispersion (this is no head-in-a-vise speaker) - the outputs of its five drivers blend so well that they sound like a single driver of nearly full range. It can play at volume levels from extremely low to well beyond loud enough equally well. I liked the way a pair of SP1s painted vast soundstages with well-focused aural images in my room, without sounding exaggerated or artificial. And all of that, without being difficult to set up. That’s a long list of accomplishments... Muraudio’s latest isn’t just one of the best-sounding speakers at the price - I’d wager it can knock the socks off many speakers costing considerably more.

- Doug Schneider

"The SP1s were very impressive, and made some of the most refined, convincing sounds of the show—and, indeed, in terms of spatial performance, there wasn't a bad seat in the house, and the hand-off between electrostatic and dynamic drivers was undetectable. Singing voices were silky-real, with natural-sounding timbres, good distinctions between head tones and chest tones, and sibilant sounds that were, for once in hi-fi, utterly perfect."

- Art Dudley

Reviews and Awards (click on logos to read more)

Download TAS SP1 Review Highlights

Download Soundstage SP1 Review Highlights

Finishes

Each SP1 is hand finished using state of the art technology to create a luxurious look. Rich, real wood textures and bold colours are available.

Solid Colours

Wood

Specifications

~~Type~~

~~Passive Hybrid Electrostatic~~

~~ESL Transducer Configuration~~

~~120 Degree Continuous Curve~~

~~ESL Dispersion~~

~~120 Degree Horizontal x 16 Degree Vertical~~

~~ESL Membrane Area~~

~~1,650 cm2 (active area)~~

~~ESL Membrane Type~~

~~Ultra thin tensioned Mylar film (3.8 µm)~~

~~LF Enclosure~~

~~Sealed design, curved multi-layer plywood, integrated upper and lower inertial reactionary mass dampers~~

~~LF Alignment~~

~~Sealed (Qts 0.72)~~

~~LF Driver Area (Sd)~~

~~340 cm2 (effective area of all 4 drivers)~~

~~Frequency Response~~

~~45 Hz – 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB) Anechoic, 35 Hz – 22 kHz Typical Room with gentle 12 dB/octave roll off of sealed design (versus 24 dB/octave of typical vented designs)~~

~~HxWxD~~

~~147 cm x 42.3 cm x 36.8 cm~~

~~Weight~~

~~45 kg~~

~~Maximum SPL~~

~~103 dB at 2m on axis~~

~~Crossover~~

~~750 Hz analog 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley~~

~~Sensitivity~~

~~86 dB (2.83V/1m)~~

~~Input~~

~~Dual 5-way gold plated binding post~~