Sigma Acoustics MAAT Vector XAC

[bonzo75]

I wrote shot the technical aspects of the speaker and the flexibility in the opening part, and also published Aldo’s FR response

Sigma MAAT – Final speakers from Italy – Zero Distortion

zero-distortion.org

 

[Marcus]

I’ve not heard the maat with best tube amps so I can’t comment on that. But with 2 different tube amps used to drive the Orchestra 2.9 at Aldo’s room at Munich sound nowhere near the karan and pilium in my opinion.

Although they’re very sensitive speakers at around 100db 8ohm, but in order to control those 15” woofers properly at any volume level, it requires very powerful amps at the highest quality built possible.

Due to my family situation, I can’t come to visit Aldo at his place just yet and the owner of the system with maat/kondo to see how things go. But one day I will make it happen, hopefully soon enough.

Andrea is using Kondo Gaukon-II, 50W/ch 211 power amps and these drive speakers like there’s no tomorrow. We put on the most demanding classical and rock pieces you can imagine and drove them to insane levels. To be honest, it was way over my (loudness) tolerance level, and at times I was expecting Gaukons to crash, but they went through these torture tests with authority and total control. Fascinating!

 

[Audiohertz2]

Tweeters are from Mundorf.

You see two hand tightening knobs at the back of the bass cabinet? I was told that with these you can put additional pressure on woofers from the back, so my prediction is that these knobs must be connected to the woofers with a metal rod or something similar to further damp woofer casks. Maybe sonrock can explain that better…

Yes Tweeter is AMT design (Heil) ..! Sensitivity is rated at 100db , nice piece of kit ..!

 

[sonrock]

The massive knobs are indeed to control the bass extension by increasing or decreasing the air movements toward the back of the speakers.

Aldo’s using very dedicated metal tubes inside the cabinets for bass reflex of each driver, and the woofers have extra treats to tailor for the room and owner’s preference.

 

[sonrock]

Andrea is using Kondo Gaukon-II, 50W/ch 211 power amps and these drive speakers like there’s no tomorrow. We put on the most demanding classical and rock pieces you can imagine and drove them to insane levels. To be honest, it was way over my (loudness) tolerance level, and at times I was expecting Gaukons to crash, but they went through these torture tests with authority and total control. Fascinating!

I think the kondo gakuon are something else among all other tube amps which I believe are very special. I’m just no longer interested in tubes, otherwise I’d definitely give them a try here.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Well if speaker is 97db -98db , 50 watts will be sufficient db level wise. The higher voltage amp will control the bass better so there is something to gain do so which may or maynot improve total performance ..

 

[sonrock]

That’s true, and that’s why I said we need very high quality built amps to drive the maat to their ultimate performance regardless ss or tubes.

 

[Dane33]

Andrea is using Kondo Gaukon-II, 50W/ch 211 power amps and these drive speakers like there’s no tomorrow. We put on the most demanding classical and rock pieces you can imagine and drove them to insane levels. To be honest, it was way over my (loudness) tolerance level, and at times I was expecting Gaukons to crash, but they went through these torture tests with authority and total control. Fascinating!

View attachment 135330

View attachment 135331

Sigma MAAT Vector are very special speakers indeed. I was also listening Aldo's, Andrea's and some others systems with MAAT. Every time I liked the sound very much. Especially at Andrea's room the sound of the analog and also from digital rig was mesmerizing. Maat Vector speaker are for me the base to built the natural sounding system. They disapear, thej reproduce all timbers, nuances and react lightning fast to dynamic changes. The can go loud, but for me it is important that the instruments have full body and the sound is fullrange already at "normal" levels. I liked them with tubes and transistor amps. They really shine in all systems. But with source like top Kuzma rig and Kondos amps are really realy top.
The Sigma Acoustic MAAT Vector are shure of the top of my dream speakers list.

 

[sonrock]

As I’ve already reported, the 2 15” woofers on each speaker are just incredible with their job. When fellow audiophile friends came over here from across the UK, even at pretty extreme volume level, they were amazed by the way these woofers behave as we can’t notice any movements from the listening position unless going up close to the speakers.

The woofers are extremely fast and punchy, they can shake the whole room at the lowest octaves. I think one of the reasons for this is not simply how well these woofers are custom made by Aldo’s specifications, but also the way he designs the crossover with Duelunds components and frequency cuts.

Although the tweeter is much higher than the listening position but the vocal or instruments are never too high unless the original arrangements of the artists and stage are like that. The top woofer handles both the lower midrange and upper bass while the bottom one handle mid and low bass.

I know that users tend to match highly sensitive speakers like the Maat to tube amps, but actually they work extremely well with ss amps too.

 

[djsina2]

Tweeters are from Mundorf.

You see two hand tightening knobs at the back of the bass cabinet? I was told that with these you can put additional pressure on woofers from the back, so my prediction is that these knobs must be connected to the woofers with a metal rod or something similar to further damp woofer casks. Maybe sonrock can explain that better…

Audio Tekne has been doing this for 30+ years. It’s not really adjustable by the user but tuned once by them using the threaded rods you describe. It’s like a sandwich with a large carbon block applying pressure from the rear on the magnet.

 

[matthewb142]

Is there anywhere to hear any of the Sigma Acoustics loudspeakers in Canada/U.S.? I tried contacting the North American distributor which appears to be Kevin Saffari at Audiologic (audiologiconline.com) according to this.

 

[Silvano]

Look at this specs but mainly I strongly recommend to give them a listen to really understand what they are capable to do. Difficult if not impossible to tell by words.



MAAT VECTOR XAC

Technical data :

Sensitivity 100 db 8 ohm

Impedence 8 ohm minimum 5.2 at 300 hertz

Max power input 1000 watts

Frequency response 20-30000 hz / 20-100000 hz optional

High driver : Special new generation neodymium dipolar AMT Heil made from our specifications

Midrange high sensitivity papyrius fibres and Alnico Magnet

Double special woofer 15” on bass reflex system build on our specifications

Weight Kg. 340 each

Dimensions cm 80x64xh185

 

[leyenda]

a bass reflex cabinet with dual 15inch woofer and rubber surround... 100db at 8ohm, how can they pull it out?? salute...

 

[sonrock]

Autumn has arrived, the weather suddenly becomes rainy and cloudy with fallen leaves everywhere. I’m posting a sunny picture, captured just a couple of days ago, to remind me of having 4 seasons in a year is amazing and beautiful <3

Also I have been listening to more classical music recently in comparison to jazz/rock and electronics. Maybe as I am getting older haha!

I’m not sure if anyone here is still buying CDs and spinning discs as I am, but the Esoteric SACDs sound absolutely fabulous with classical pieces although I am not a fan of the price.

The Maat is extremely flexible with all sorts of music and probably among the very best when playing strings and piano. The contrabass sounds particularly incredible either with a bow or fingers plucking.

On another hand, I’ve just realised that the Maat speakers Aldo used at the Italian highend show last weekend also have the same midrange drivers like the ones at Kuzma. I’m not sure if this’s a new design or just a tweak but I will find out.

Aesthetically speaking, I prefer the original driver which he still uses in the Maat, but don’t know how the performance could be improved with this change.

 

[Audiohertz2]

a bass reflex cabinet with dual 15inch woofer and rubber surround... 100db at 8ohm, how can they pull it out?? salute...

Whats with the Rubber surround ..??

 

[leyenda]

Whats with the Rubber surround ..??

slows down the diaphragm and lowers sensitivity, ime...

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Is there anywhere to hear any of the Sigma Acoustics loudspeakers in Canada/U.S.? I tried contacting the North American distributor which appears to be Kevin Saffari at Audiologic (audiologiconline.com) according to this.

Write to them in Italy. I am sure they will sell direct. You should get a sizeable discount as well. You can also fly to Italy for a day, or two to audition.

 

[mtemur]

slows down the diaphragm and lowers sensitivity, ime...

It (rubber surround) does those things (lowering sensitivity and slowing down the cone) to improve bass frequency response. Drivers with rubber surrounds go lower than same diameter with cloth. I personally prefer cloth.

 

[Audiohertz2]

slows down the diaphragm and lowers sensitivity, ime...

If used on midrange drivers and bass units for upper bass maybe, not on low freq drivers, where better stability and consistency is a necessity on long throw woofers ..

Sensitivity yes somewhat ...!

 

[Audiohertz2]

It (rubber surround) does those things (lowering sensitivity and slowing down the cone) to improve bass frequency response. Drivers with rubber surrounds go lower than same diameter with cloth. I personally prefer cloth.

If you dont plan on using the woofers to plumb the depths and used in vented enclosures cloth can be fine to use ..!

I would be more concerned with overall QTS/BL /xmax and MMS values than jist the surround Type ..