Blumenhofer Genuin FS 2
Thomas Blumenhofer is not a talkative man. He lets you speak and listens to what you say with attention. And it’s not just a matter of language, it happens also with German speaking people. Unlike his fellow designers around the world he does not speak evil of the competitors, he does not hold forth and he does not speak endlessly of his products. If you question him he’ll answer with politeness and expertise. If you do not have questions he’ll play a record and let his loudspeakers play in his big listening room, located at the first floor of his big house near Munich. I visited that home twice. The first time that I went there I wrote a report on the location where the Blumenhofers are manufactured. In the photo gallery at the end of this review you’ll find all the pictures. The enterprise was born in 1977 and Blumenhofer has a good experience both in design and production. Believe me when someone acts as a manufacturer and sells products that are not interesting, does not endure 35 years on the market and stops way before. Well, we were talking about the tour of the Blumenhofer facility. If you happen to go to the Munich High End, drop by at the Blumenhofer stand, demonstrate your interest and Andrea Vitali, the marketing director, will invite you to Walkertshofen for a listening. At least, this is what happens when there is not a playing room in the show, Last year Blumenhofer had a sounding room therefore no excursion, alas … and no tasty buffet.
Well let’s talk about the FS2s, the loudspeakers that belong to the mid-high range in the Blumenhofer catalogue that count on 17 models. They are a 2 ways loudspeaker, bass reflex loaded firing to the ground. The woofer has a 12” paper cone, the mid-high is a 1.4” compression driver with a titanium dome.
Well let’s talk about the FS2s, the loudspeakers that belong to the mid-high range in the Blumenhofer catalogue that count on 17 models. They are a 2 ways loudspeaker, bass reflex loaded firing to the ground. The woofer has a 12” paper cone, the mid-high is a 1.4” compression driver with a titanium dome.
Blumenhofer is not chatty also in the presentation of his products but he’s generous with technical data that you can find below:
Loudspeaker: Genuin FS 2
Material: Birch plywood
Thickness: 18mm / 0,75"
Internal Bracing: Structural bracing interaction
Cross over chamber: Yes
Frequency range: 36Hz - 20kHz ± 2dB
Woofer: 300mm / 12"
Woofer membrane: Paper
Bass Cabinet: Floor ported bass reflex
Cross over frequency: 1150 Hz
Midhigh: Compression driver
Horn Throat: 1,4"
Membrane Ø: 75mm / 3"
Tweeter membrane: Titan membrane
Max power input (RMS): 150 W RMS
Efficiency: 94 dB
Impedance: 8 Ohm
Impedance linearization: Yes
Terminal Bi-Wiring gold plated tellurium copper
Dimensions:[mm] 1112 x 332 x 455
Dimensions: [Inches] 43,75" x 13" x 18"
Weight: 45 kg
Packaging dimensions: 105 x 60 x 38 cm
39 x 34 x 35 cm (Horns)
Loudspeakers per carton: 1
Packaging weight: 48 kg + 12 kg (Horns)
The Genuin FS2s have two big cabinets on which the woofers are mounted. Two thin metallic structures bear the mid-high range drivers and the horns. The horns' position is adjustable thanks to a graduated scale to obtain a perfect balance between the two drivers’ emissions. Later on we’ll speak about the finishing.
The loudspeakers have been connected to the following system:
turntable Basis 2001, tonearm Graham 2.2, cartridge Lyra Kleos, phono preamplifier: Einstein "The Turntable's Choice", CD/SACD player dCS Puccini + Puccini U-Clock, preamplifier: MBL 4006, power amplifiers: Bryston 7B ST mono, loudspeakers: JBL 4350B, interconnect cables: MIT Oracle MA-X Proline, MIT Shotgun S2 RCA, Transparent Super XLR, Transparent Super RCA, LAT International XLR, loudspeaker cables: MIT Magnum MA, Vovox Initio, USB cable: MIT SL-Matrix USB, power cables: MIT Shotgun AC 1, Black Noise Pearl and others DIY, mains distributor: Lector Edison 230/8, mains filter: Black Noise 2500.
This time I have used a different loudspeaker cable: a MIT SL-Matrix 39S that the Italian distributor gave me in order to have a feedback about its sound. Well, the feedback is absolutely positive. These cables have a very good sound for a price that is much cheaper than that of my Magnum MA. It is absolutely suggested to try them in your systems.
Loudspeaker: Genuin FS 2
Material: Birch plywood
Thickness: 18mm / 0,75"
Internal Bracing: Structural bracing interaction
Cross over chamber: Yes
Frequency range: 36Hz - 20kHz ± 2dB
Woofer: 300mm / 12"
Woofer membrane: Paper
Bass Cabinet: Floor ported bass reflex
Cross over frequency: 1150 Hz
Midhigh: Compression driver
Horn Throat: 1,4"
Membrane Ø: 75mm / 3"
Tweeter membrane: Titan membrane
Max power input (RMS): 150 W RMS
Efficiency: 94 dB
Impedance: 8 Ohm
Impedance linearization: Yes
Terminal Bi-Wiring gold plated tellurium copper
Dimensions:[mm] 1112 x 332 x 455
Dimensions: [Inches] 43,75" x 13" x 18"
Weight: 45 kg
Packaging dimensions: 105 x 60 x 38 cm
39 x 34 x 35 cm (Horns)
Loudspeakers per carton: 1
Packaging weight: 48 kg + 12 kg (Horns)
The Genuin FS2s have two big cabinets on which the woofers are mounted. Two thin metallic structures bear the mid-high range drivers and the horns. The horns' position is adjustable thanks to a graduated scale to obtain a perfect balance between the two drivers’ emissions. Later on we’ll speak about the finishing.
The loudspeakers have been connected to the following system:
turntable Basis 2001, tonearm Graham 2.2, cartridge Lyra Kleos, phono preamplifier: Einstein "The Turntable's Choice", CD/SACD player dCS Puccini + Puccini U-Clock, preamplifier: MBL 4006, power amplifiers: Bryston 7B ST mono, loudspeakers: JBL 4350B, interconnect cables: MIT Oracle MA-X Proline, MIT Shotgun S2 RCA, Transparent Super XLR, Transparent Super RCA, LAT International XLR, loudspeaker cables: MIT Magnum MA, Vovox Initio, USB cable: MIT SL-Matrix USB, power cables: MIT Shotgun AC 1, Black Noise Pearl and others DIY, mains distributor: Lector Edison 230/8, mains filter: Black Noise 2500.
This time I have used a different loudspeaker cable: a MIT SL-Matrix 39S that the Italian distributor gave me in order to have a feedback about its sound. Well, the feedback is absolutely positive. These cables have a very good sound for a price that is much cheaper than that of my Magnum MA. It is absolutely suggested to try them in your systems.
Back to our Genuine now. I play the CD “Trio in Tokyo” by Michel Petrucciani (Dreyfuss Jazz).This is an incredible CD that everyone should have - even those that do not love jazz - and that goes along well with these loudspeakers because it’s a recording with a big dynamics and speed. In fact, you don't need to listen to a big orchestra to have dynamics, a jazz trio is enough, even one musician can be enough. The piano keys can be touched softly or hit with violence to get different music sounds. This is dynamics, it’s very simple. The piano in this recording sounds quite as an electric piano and this happens often in Petrucciani’s recordings. The piano does not have a timbric characterization and seldom if ever it seems to come from a horn, due to the high mid range energy. The drum solo in the fourth song - reproduced at a volume close to the original, - I’m a drummer, trust me! - comes out nicely from the German loudspeakers. The Steve Gadd drumming is very strong, exciting. This man does not only hit the drums with an incredible technique, he plays music with the percussions with a unique and rich sound, a sound that makes him recognizable among the other drummers.
A close listening to The Nutcracker by Tchaikovski, performed by the Kirov Orchestra and directed by the great Valery Gergiev (Philips), underlines the great swiftness and the subsequent dynamic excursion that these loudspeakers have. The orchestra is reproduced with a good dimension, with clear colours as if it was playing in a well designed and reverberating concert hall.
The harp is used a lot in this composition and has a very present and captivating sound.
The violent finale of the “Intrada” of the “Pas de Deux” is reproduced with ease by the Blumenhofers. This is something that does not happen with the majority of the hi-fi components that we have in our houses, it’s a wonderful performance indeed!
Silvestre Revueltas is a Mexican composer of the first part of the 20th century. The SACD “Homenaje a Revueltas” (Channel Classics) is an example of contemporary music that I appreciate even if it’s not my favourite genre. The recording is very good but this is no surprise with Channel Classics. The Genuines do their best and reproduce it with ease. The mid-high range drivers demonstrate a very high quality and the woofers, put to the test, react greatly.
Listening to “Sultans of Swings” by the Dire Straits (Vertigo) propose a highlighted mid range, a top range a bit rearward and a well tuned low range. The woofers, with their cloth surround, make small movements and in this way reduce the distortion.
What about a listening at a low volume? Here it is! The CD is “Teresa de Sio” (Mercury) that is very enjoyable, smooth and with the necessary low range to obtain a relaxing and complete listening, with the voice of the singer that has the right evidence in between the loudspeakers.
The great mid range of these Genuines comes out clearly with “Master Plan” by Dave Weckl (CD GRP), one of the greatest drummers of our time. The rim shots on the snare drum are very strong and melted with a swift bass drum as it was fashionable in the 80’s, when the record was composed and recorded.
I listen to “The Hollywood Sound” (Sony Classical) and one emotion follows the other. The unforgettable songs of this record are reproduced by these loudspeakers with respect and attention. The mandolin of the song “The Godfather” suddenly becomes real on your right, close to the loudspeaker but never inside it. Yes, it’s true. These loudspeakers, despite the horns, are able to disappear and let the scene to music.
I think it’s important to tell you that these loudspeakers are not easy to set up properly. The positioning must be done carefully while the adjustment of the horn distance is quite easy. The position of the loudspeakers in the room has to consider the balance between the mid-low range and the mid-high range, in order to control the latter to get a relaxed listening.
On the other hand you will hardly find a low range too rich and you will be able to put the speakers close to the walls without problems.
Each room has its characteristics but knowing that a speaker can be put close to the walls may be helpful.
Well, all in all we can say that this is a device produced with care by someone that is not just an assembler but is someone that builds its cabinets in home and therefore can offer to you a great variety of finishes. It you don’t like the one I have reviewed it’s not a problem, you can choose among many other veneers.
The quality of the drivers used is very high and its coupling well tested.
It’s not a mystery that I love compression drivers, that play as if their membrane had no mass and make me think of the electrostatic loudspeakers but without the dynamic limits of the latter.
The tonal balance of the Genuine FS-2 is quite centered on the mid range, that has a transparency alike that of a recording studio monitor.
In their price range there are many other products but the Genuins have characteristics that make them different from all the competitors. If you are considering to buy horn loudspeakers but you do not have much room in your house, these loudspeakers could be a solution … think about it!
Angelo Jasparro
Manufacturer: Blumenhofer Acoustics
MSRP in Germany: euro 14.850,00
Translation: Francesca Rubino
A close listening to The Nutcracker by Tchaikovski, performed by the Kirov Orchestra and directed by the great Valery Gergiev (Philips), underlines the great swiftness and the subsequent dynamic excursion that these loudspeakers have. The orchestra is reproduced with a good dimension, with clear colours as if it was playing in a well designed and reverberating concert hall.
The harp is used a lot in this composition and has a very present and captivating sound.
The violent finale of the “Intrada” of the “Pas de Deux” is reproduced with ease by the Blumenhofers. This is something that does not happen with the majority of the hi-fi components that we have in our houses, it’s a wonderful performance indeed!
Silvestre Revueltas is a Mexican composer of the first part of the 20th century. The SACD “Homenaje a Revueltas” (Channel Classics) is an example of contemporary music that I appreciate even if it’s not my favourite genre. The recording is very good but this is no surprise with Channel Classics. The Genuines do their best and reproduce it with ease. The mid-high range drivers demonstrate a very high quality and the woofers, put to the test, react greatly.
Listening to “Sultans of Swings” by the Dire Straits (Vertigo) propose a highlighted mid range, a top range a bit rearward and a well tuned low range. The woofers, with their cloth surround, make small movements and in this way reduce the distortion.
What about a listening at a low volume? Here it is! The CD is “Teresa de Sio” (Mercury) that is very enjoyable, smooth and with the necessary low range to obtain a relaxing and complete listening, with the voice of the singer that has the right evidence in between the loudspeakers.
The great mid range of these Genuines comes out clearly with “Master Plan” by Dave Weckl (CD GRP), one of the greatest drummers of our time. The rim shots on the snare drum are very strong and melted with a swift bass drum as it was fashionable in the 80’s, when the record was composed and recorded.
I listen to “The Hollywood Sound” (Sony Classical) and one emotion follows the other. The unforgettable songs of this record are reproduced by these loudspeakers with respect and attention. The mandolin of the song “The Godfather” suddenly becomes real on your right, close to the loudspeaker but never inside it. Yes, it’s true. These loudspeakers, despite the horns, are able to disappear and let the scene to music.
I think it’s important to tell you that these loudspeakers are not easy to set up properly. The positioning must be done carefully while the adjustment of the horn distance is quite easy. The position of the loudspeakers in the room has to consider the balance between the mid-low range and the mid-high range, in order to control the latter to get a relaxed listening.
On the other hand you will hardly find a low range too rich and you will be able to put the speakers close to the walls without problems.
Each room has its characteristics but knowing that a speaker can be put close to the walls may be helpful.
Well, all in all we can say that this is a device produced with care by someone that is not just an assembler but is someone that builds its cabinets in home and therefore can offer to you a great variety of finishes. It you don’t like the one I have reviewed it’s not a problem, you can choose among many other veneers.
The quality of the drivers used is very high and its coupling well tested.
It’s not a mystery that I love compression drivers, that play as if their membrane had no mass and make me think of the electrostatic loudspeakers but without the dynamic limits of the latter.
The tonal balance of the Genuine FS-2 is quite centered on the mid range, that has a transparency alike that of a recording studio monitor.
In their price range there are many other products but the Genuins have characteristics that make them different from all the competitors. If you are considering to buy horn loudspeakers but you do not have much room in your house, these loudspeakers could be a solution … think about it!
Angelo Jasparro
Manufacturer: Blumenhofer Acoustics
MSRP in Germany: euro 14.850,00
Translation: Francesca Rubino
