Nearfield Speaker
In DevelopmentA compact two-way monitor engineered for the first metre — desks, consoles, and small rooms where the listener sits close.
Internal ID: speaker-nearfield
Specifications
Specifications are provisional
| Format | Two-way passive stand/desk monitor |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 4.5" mid-bass, 1" soft-dome tweeter (waveguide loading planned) |
| Crossover | Passive, ~2.2 kHz (provisional) |
| Recommended distance | 0.6 – 2 m |
| Sensitivity | ~84 dB / 2.83 V / 1 m (provisional) |
| Impedance | 8 Ω nominal |
Design highlights
- Nearfield-first geometry: baffle width and driver spacing chosen so the crossover region sums cleanly at short listening distances.
- Waveguide-loaded tweeter inherited from the Reference program to control directivity at the crossover.
- Compact enclosure tuned for desk-boundary behaviour, with front porting to keep placement forgiving.
- Same voicing philosophy as the Reference One, so timbre matches when models are mixed in a room.
Why nearfield
Most listening happens close to the speakers — a desk, a console, a bedside. At those distances the room contributes less and the speaker itself contributes more: baffle step, driver spacing and the crossover sum arrive at your ears almost undiluted. The Nearfield One is designed around that fact instead of shrinking a floorstander.
Design notes
The mid-bass unit is chosen for linearity well below its crossover point, so the tweeter never has to work into its breakup region. The waveguide keeps horizontal directivity smooth through the crossover — the same target we chase in the Reference program — which keeps the tonal balance stable as you move your head a few centimetres, the way you actually do at a desk.
The enclosure is front-ported because nearfield speakers usually live near a wall. Rear ports punish exactly that placement; we designed for reality instead.
What we measured
Acoustic prototypes are being built. Simulation of the waveguide and enclosure is complete; the first on-axis and directivity sweeps will appear in the Audio Lab as soon as they exist. Until then there are no published graphs — this page deliberately shows none.
Stay close to this build
Status changes here first — the button below tracks it automatically.