Usher – ML-801 – Magnesium Alloy Tower Speakers (Pair)

Usher – ML-801 – Magnesium Alloy Tower Speakers (Pair)

Since its inception more than 40 years ago, Usher has continued to work hard on the technology of speaker system design and single unit development. From the most affordable S-520 to the flagship BE series, they have become famous in the international audio industry. Usher understands that the most basic single-unit performance of speakers is the foundation of sound quality and performance. In recent years, Usher has introduced the innovatively designed DMD “Diamond-Metal-Diamond” composite structural material based on the single-diaphragm technology, and launched the TD series with better performance. The top flagship speaker pushes the achievement of speakers to a new peak, and is affirmed by the international audio industry and market.

The sound quality and performance displayed by the Usher TD series have become the indicators pursued by many audio enthusiasts, but the size of the TD series cannot be accommodated in a slightly restricted environment, so a speaker with performance comparable to the TD series but with a restrained size was created.

The space-constrained environment means a closer listening distance, and there are different requirements for the performance of the mid-tweeter unit. For this reason, Usher has further developed a new magnesium/magnesium-lithium alloy diaphragm for the mid- and tweeter unit, to establish a more compact body. The foundation for top-notch performance in the small ML series. The innovatively designed ML series finally meets the world with the dedicated efforts of the Usher design team.

The ML-801 is a three-channel three-single design, suitable for audiophiles who have a slightly smaller listening environment but are looking forward to the performance and sound quality of the TD series.

The single unit is the foundation of speaker performance and sound quality. No matter how the architecture of the audio system is designed, or how sophisticated the speakers and crossover network are, they cannot make up for the shortcomings of the single unit in terms of performance and sound quality, but can only “accommodate”. The new ML series adopts the innovative magnesium alloy diaphragm tweeter and magnesium-lithium alloy diaphragm mid-range units, which can exert the best performance under the promotion of closer listening distance and lower power.

Magnesium has a lighter weight than beryllium metal, and is widely used in aerospace materials. It has ideal internal loss characteristics and excellent thermal conductivity, so it is also suitable for making a single diaphragm. However, the foil material for making the single diaphragm has technical limitations and challenges. In addition, Usher uses the manufacturer’s DMD tweeter as the specification index of the magnesium alloy tweeter, so there are multiple difficulties and challenges in the development process. Need to overcome, and finally successfully developed a 1.25-inch magnesium alloy diaphragm tweeter with the same response and efficiency as the DMD tweeter. It has excellent transient response and extremely low distortion performance. The frequency response extends to 38kHz, which can be used in small It shows excellent performance and sound quality under the power.

Compared with the development of the tweeter, the challenge of the metal diaphragm midrange unit is even more difficult, because it is already difficult to achieve the goal of maintaining light weight and rigidity under a larger diaphragm diameter; Usher In the past, we have experienced many difficulties in the development of the DMD midrange driver, so we have accumulated design Know-How. After several tests of different materials, an extremely lightweight and high-strength magnesium-lithium alloy material is used as the material for the midrange diaphragm.

Magnesium-lithium alloy is the lightest metal material at present. It can maintain the density of magnesium alloy material or even lower, but the strength performance is better. However, there are technical difficulties to be overcome in the production of foil for single diaphragm application. , especially the large-diameter midrange diaphragm. The magnesium-lithium alloy diaphragm midrange unit has a faster response speed and excellent internal loss characteristics than the traditional soft diaphragm or cone midrange unit, and can generate greater power and sound pressure in the mid-frequency domain. At the same time, it maintains lower distortion characteristics and clearer sound quality performance.

The cabinet of the ML series speakers adopts a slightly backward front baffle with a tilted design, so that the tweeter and the mid-range speaker are arranged backwards in order to maintain the timing continuity between the sound channels. In order to obtain the structural strength of the speaker box and the internal loss characteristics of the material of the box wall, the ML series adopted the production method of integral pressing of multi-layer plywood. With excellent strength and toughness and good internal loss characteristics of multi-layer plates, the design of the arc box body also helps to suppress the back wave of the monomer to form standing waves. Considering the camber design of the phase connection of each monomer, the front baffle is also cut and milled from a whole piece of MDF plate to fix the monomer with a stable foundation; the interior of the box is also designed with a rib structure to strengthen the box. The overall strength of the body effectively suppresses the resonance generation.

The surface treatment of the box body adopts the transparent piano baking varnish that is made by the fine craftsman, and the texture is crystal clear and can be seen, which completely sets off the extraordinary design of the ML series. The industry’s rare and expensive thick and heavy “solid” metal feet and independently adjustable foot pegs provide the necessary foundation for the most stable bottom plate and excellent sound quality for speaker placement. The ML series not only strives for the ultimate performance in terms of single unit performance and sound quality performance, but also spares no effort in the appearance design and texture presentation.