Kepheus from Peak Consult

[Peak]

Peak Consult Perspective for The Kepheus

In the jungle of consumer and so-called High-End loudspeakers, there are some brands actually reaching for these higher goals. Peak Consult is one of them, but how is that done?

Countless hours of measuring and critical listening by many audiophile ears have gone into making The Kepheus one of the finest three-way loudspeakers available. With impedance curve and electrical phase characteristic like an electrostatic speaker, the final blend of art and technology has made The Kepheus an uncompromising work of art. The State of the Art and the finest loudspeaker have seen the light of day. It will herald a new meaning to High End speakers.

Enclosure

The multifaceted enclosure of The Kepheus is handcrafted in our own facilities in Denmark by skilled Danish artisans in a 1.5"- 3.0" HDF specially glued sandwich material covered by 1" solid acrylic. At all points, resonance suppressers have been used in the construction. Special resonance suppressers have also been milled into the construction. Each material panel has been measured and hand-chosen by skilled Danish artisans. The triple order composite creates a new standard in resonance control. The Peak triple construction renders resonance problems virtually history. Production is very costly, but Peak Consult made that final step.

The design optimises the off-axis response and minimizes any kind of diffraction. In order to minimize acoustical waves, there are no parallel front, back, top or bottom panels. The slant of the front panel aligns the phase and timing between tweeter, midrange and woofers. All design choices have been made and done to meet acoustical performances. The enclosure is the direct result and the acoustical phase behaviours are second to none.

Transducers

The Tweeter:

The tweeter is a triple magnet 1" soft dome with a non-resonant aluminium chamber. It features multiple chambers with low compression and a machined aluminium faceplate. Peak Consult has altered the front plate in a very different way to take the perfect behaviour to the extreme. The tweeter performs effortlessly at the sonic extremes and creating "space and air" unlike all previous dome tweeters. The most important thing about the choice of this construction was the performance. There are many tweeters reaching for the higher frequencies, but they fail in phase characteristics and that is what it's all about. Not data - only performance.

The Midrange section:

The dual 5" Audio Technology midranges are hand-built specifically for optimal behaviour in The Kepheus enclosure. The driver features a cone that has been uniquely shaped for this moving system and a vented magnet system that includes Symmetric Drive, optimising the linear directivity. It performs with unparalleled sound staging ability and images as tight and sharp as a diamond. The midrange will set new standards with regards to midrange clarity and will go far beyond what is typically possible for a midrange driver.

What has been done? Peak Consult choose to have a very linear and stable cone, instead of fancy cones that in Peak Consult ears are unreliable in production as well as performance. The chosen cone is more coherent instead vs. the unnatural excesses of popular exotic cones. Furthermore, Peak Consult have decided to do the most linear design that makes the speakers perform effortlessly in years to come. This was an easy choice, instead of choosing an exotic appearance.

The Woofer section:

The dual 6" Audio Technology woofers are hand-built and specifically designed for The Kepheus. Using new and special technology in the moving part of the units make them very low-loss drivers. The huge magnets and ventilation that includes Symmetric Drive systems make the driver's reproduce very tight and extremely low frequencies - second to none. These drivers will set new standards in bass reproduction.

High frequencies:

The Kepheus includes an acoustical fully compensated second order crossover in the tweeter/midrange and woofer section, isolated from the moving system in its own dual sealed department. The Kepheus only features the best of the best. Dual Peak foil capacitors, silver carbon resistors and oiled/waxed inductors by Duelund Coherent Audio manufacturer of the world's finest components.

Low frequencies:

The low frequency includes only oiled/waxed-foiled inductors from Duelund Coherent Audio helping to realise a fully compensated second order roll of. The low frequencies have also been altered by our straight level impedance and phase control. All sealed in its own isolated compartment.

Components:

Every component has been chosen for its sonic and musical behaviour, with no consideration for cost. The crossover is crimped and hardwired with silver soldering. The crossover is sealed in its own compartment to avoid microphony distortion and to shield it from electrical and magnetic radiation from the rest of the system. Peak Consult uses only the best parts to do this High End loudspeaker. Imagine, there is used more than 300 metres of components in a speaker. The end user only has control over a few metres of speaker cable. The speaker has a heart and for that only the finest is acceptable.

Internal wire:

Peak Consult uses a special dual Silver flat silk insulated OEM wire from Duelund Coherent Audio for the upper frequencies and a special Peak Consult manufactured high current cable for the bass.

Termination:

The true Bi-wire termination is done with The WBT platinum signature.

Recommended room size:

From: 20 square meters and up.

Specifications:

Design: 3-way Ported.

Crossover Frequencies: 250 Hz / 2.450 Hz.

Frequency Range: 28 – 45.000 Hz –3dB in room.

Sensitivity: 90 dB @ 1W/1m.

Impedance: 4 ohm linear to 25 Hz.

Dimension (H X W X D): 128 X 27 X 69 cm. – (50" X 10,6"X 27")

Weight: 155 kg. –(343 lb.) each.

[Tobias Lindell]

Wow, world class. Looks stunning!

But let's keep to the facts, you're writing:

Peak Consult has altered the front plate in a very different way to have a perfect behaviour that makes it to the extreme

The face plate are indeed a Morel standard face plate. Not a "different super special Peak Consult version" as you claim.

Is the bass cabinet closed or ported? (You specify -3db @ 28Hz, in room???)

Do you have any FR measurements of the speaker?

Jag vet inte varför jag skriver på engelska...

Rock on,

Tobias

[Chr. R.]

Det er altså en imponerende basgengivelse fra en højtaler, der opgives til "kun" at gå ned til 28 Hz /v. -3dB

Jeg tager et par "bas skiver" med næste gang

[Peak]

Wow, world class. Looks stunning!

But let's keep to the facts, you're writing:

The face plate are indeed a Morel standard face plate. Not a "different super special Peak Consult version" as you claim.

Is the bass cabinet closed or ported? (You specify -3db @ 28Hz, in room???)

Do you have any FR measurements of the speaker?

Jag vet inte varför jag skriver på engelska...

Rock on,

Tobias

Jo vi har fået STANDART face plate lakeret med en anden type lak der gør den mere "nupret" i stedet for "nupret" tape.

Jep vi har en måling, håber at det er ok

[Peak]

målt i 3.2 afstand i lytteposistion på de 12 gr. negativ af aksen

(Sofaen)

[Tobias Lindell]

Hej Per,

Ok @ "special paint".

Men din mätning är svår att läsa när du har Y-skala att visa 150db

Zooma in Y-scale i CLIO till att visa i alla fall 50db

Mvh,

T

[Peak]

Hej Per,

Ok @ "special paint".

Men din mätning är svår att läsa när du har Y-skala att visa 150db

Zooma in Y-scale i CLIO till att visa i alla fall 50db

Mvh,

T

Ja klart,

Du ved med måling kan du få hvad du vil og det er jo ikke målinger man vil i den sidste ende.

Vores studio monitorer måler som studio monitorer vil have, men i Hifi sammenhæng er verden en anden.

[Guest justaudiomagic]

Hej Per

Jag är med i er så kallade news group o jag bara måste gratulera till ett par helt otroligt läckra högtalare !!

Hoppas jag får äran att se o lyssna på dessa en dag, du kanske har lust att ta med ett par till Malmö?

155 kg st är imponerande !!!!

[Peak]

Hej Per

Jag är med i er så kallade news group o jag bara måste gratulera till ett par helt otroligt läckra högtalare !!

Hoppas jag får äran att se o lyssna på dessa en dag, du kanske har lust att ta med ett par till Malmö?

155 kg st är imponerande !!!!

Yes we are the last Boy Scouts

[Peak]

[Peak]

[Peak]

[Peak]

[plundin™]

Mmmmm, jag skulle helt klart kunna tänka mej ett par i oljad Briar (Erica arborea)!!

/ptr

[Peak]

Mmmmm, jag skulle helt klart kunna tänka mej ett par i oljad Briar (Erica arborea)!!

/ptr

Det ville desværre nok koste det halve kongerige

[Peak]

Mmmmm, jag skulle helt klart kunna tänka mej ett par i oljad Briar (Erica arborea)!!

/ptr

Men den kommer jo i momentum udgaven i sølv og sort

[plundin™]

Men den kommer jo i momentum udgaven i sølv og sort

Naaäää, jag tror nog att det skall vara nått litet träinslag, silver och svart blir lite för betong och stål för min smak...

Man har ju lite konservativ smak när det gäller högtalare... :cool: :cool:

/ptr

[Peak]

Naaäää, jag tror nog att det skall vara nått litet träinslag, silver och svart blir lite för betong och stål för min smak...

Man har ju lite konservativ smak när det gäller högtalare... :cool: :cool:

/ptr

Det er også min smag, men det er jo ens egen smag der gør sig gældende og "momentum" er også solgt med sort og træ

[kim]

Det er også min smag, men det er jo ens egen smag der gør sig gældende og "momentum" er også solgt med sort og træ

Kepheus Momentum, god elektronik,kabler og fed musik = MIN SMAG! that´it

[Peak]

Kepheus Momentum, god elektronik,kabler og fed musik = MIN SMAG! that´it

Ja Lørdag står der en ny forforstærker og CD.......Det bliver godt

[kim]

Ja Lørdag står der en ny forforstærker og CD.......Det bliver godt

Så kan vi jo spille dobbelt

[kim]

Så er det dags for nye Kepheus oplevelser. På lørdag er der træf for Nerds.DK, Vejen hifi klub og andre hos Peak Consult i Middelfart. Per Kristoffersen vil naturligvis selv være tilstede sammen med, Hans Ole Vitus fra Vitus Audio, Johnny Bergmann fra Bergmann Audio, Frederik Carøe fra Duelund Coherent Audio og sidst men ikke mindst Brian Skov fra Sound and Magic i Odense. Alle forudsætninger for en trävelig HiFi helg er tilstede

[Chr. R.]

Ja Lørdag står der en ny forforstærker og CD.......Det bliver godt

Lyder godt

Har netop i dag modtaget en meget musikalsk skive, så jeg selvfølgelig tager med.

Vi ses :D

[Chris DuCousso]

This is a late response - but I have owned this speaker for the last 12 years. It's lack of extension above 2kHz (particularly in the 4-8kHz region) has presented me with issues which I attributed to electronics, having made the fatal mistake of changing several components of the system at the same time - just for these speakers. Here's my conclusion on the speakers, which at the time listed for $110,000.  

 

1. Low Frequencies (20 Hz - 200 Hz):
   • The dip around 80-100 Hz (down to 70 dB) is more disappointing for a speaker in this price range. At $110,000, you’d expect deeper, more controlled bass with minimal room interaction issues, even at 3.2m and 12 degrees off-axis. High-end speakers often incorporate advanced driver technology or room correction to mitigate such dips.
   • The bass extension to 20 Hz at ~80 dB is respectable, but for this price, I’d expect closer to 90 dB with tighter, more linear response.
2. Midrange (200 Hz - 2 kHz):
   • The relatively flat midrange (80-85 dB) is a strong point and aligns with high-end expectations for clarity and naturalness. This is where the speaker performs best, which is critical for vocals and instrument reproduction.
   • However, the slight dip around 1-2 kHz (~75 dB) is a bit surprising. For $110,000, you’d expect near-perfect linearity in the midrange, as this range is crucial for presence and detail.
3. High Frequencies (2 kHz - 20 kHz):
   • The treble roll-off above 2 kHz, dropping to 70 dB by 10 kHz, is a significant drawback for a speaker at this price. High-end speakers in this range typically maintain better off-axis performance, with more extended and linear treble, even at 12 degrees off-axis. This roll-off could result in a lack of airiness and sparkle, which is not ideal for a speaker costing $110,000.
   • While the smooth treble avoids harshness, the lack of extension might make the sound feel less “hi-fi” than expected for the price.
4. Phase Response:
   • The smooth phase response is a positive, as expected for a high-end speaker. Good driver integration is a must at this level, and the speaker delivers here.

Updated Summary:

• Good:
  • The midrange performance is solid, with a mostly flat response, which is critical for accurate sound reproduction.
  • The phase response is smooth, indicating excellent driver coherence, as expected for a $110,000 speaker.
• Bad:
  • The bass dip at 80-100 Hz is unacceptable for a speaker at this price. High-end speakers should either have better low-frequency control or come with room correction features to address such issues.
  • The treble roll-off above 2 kHz is a major letdown. For $110,000, the speaker should maintain better high-frequency extension, even off-axis, to deliver the detail and airiness expected at this level.
  • The overall response, while smooth, lacks the linearity and extension you’d expect from a speaker in this price bracket. Competitors in this range (e.g., Focal Utopia or Wilson Audio Sasha DAW) typically offer flatter, more extended responses, even in real-world conditions.
• Other:
  • The measurement at 3.2m and 12 degrees off-axis does introduce challenges, but a $110,000 speaker should handle such conditions better. High-end speakers often have superior directivity control and should maintain a more consistent response off-axis.
  • The speaker might still sound good in the midrange and overall tonal balance, but the bass and treble shortcomings are glaring for the price.
  • It’s possible the speaker excels in other areas not captured by this graph, such as imaging, soundstaging, or build quality, which are often strengths of ultra-high-end speakers. However, based on frequency response alone, it underperforms for the cost.

Conclusion:

For a $110,000 speaker, this frequency response is underwhelming. While the midrange is strong and the phase response is good, the bass dip at 80-100 Hz and the significant treble roll-off above 2 kHz fall short of the near-flawless performance expected at this price. High-end speakers in this range should deliver exceptional linearity, extension, and off-axis performance, even in real-world listening conditions. This speaker might still have other redeeming qualities (e.g., build, imaging, or dynamics), but based on this measurement, it doesn’t meet the expectations for its cost. You might consider room treatment, repositioning, or even reaching out to the manufacturer for optimization tips, as this performance doesn’t justify the price tag.