99.26 Piano MKII / Reference Stand Speaker in it´s price range
XTZ 99.26 MKII Piano is a further development of the immensly popular previous model 99.26 Piano. The new version has got updated crossover filters, optimized for the best possible performance in terms of phase linearity and frequency response. Just like its predecessor, the new version is equipped with SEAS Excel High End drivers, providing an absolutely clean and transparent sound. 60 years of experience supports this driver.
99.26 also features a ribbon tweeter to ensure a superior transient response and very flat frequency response.
For the 99.26 MKII, we carefully selected the components. The goal was to offer a top end stand speaker with a minimum of colouring, and with a finish normally not found in this price range
- 8 lyers of piano paint
- SEAS Excel element
- Ribbon tweeter with extreme performance
- Room-Tuning
- 25mm MDF
- Adjustable tweeter level in four steps
- Tweeter can be rotated
When the XTZ 99.26 MKII Piano was constructed the resulting quality of the speaker had greater importance than the cost. Still we claim that with the right skills and production volume, it is possible to obtain true High End quality without ending up with a price so high that only a few people can afford it.
- Use extreme performance drivers
- High End reproduction
- Components at the highest possible mechanical quality
- Relatively small cabinet
- Timeless and clean design
- Very flexible with lots of adjustment options
- Can be used as monitor speaker and center
The 99.26 MKII Piano is the new monitor speaker in the XTZ 99-series, and can be used as front speaker on a stand or satellite. It can also be used together with the subwoofer modules 99 W 12.16S or 99 W 12.18P to create a very competent 2.2 front system.
XTZ 99.26 MKII Piano is the same speaker as 99.25 MKII Piano except for the cabinet shape.
Cabinet
The cabinet is built using a narrow front - not only an aestetically neat shape, but also an advantage from an acoustic point of view as it provides a stable construction to keep resonances to a minimum. The cabinet is built from 25 mm MDF to ensure good sonic properties.
TweeterWe selected a ribbon tweeter with superior transient response and a very flat frequency response. Ribbon tweeters are frequently used in high end speakers.
The ribbon cone is super light and only 18 microns thin. It is a rosin-aluminium-rosin sandwich construction that has been hardened at 320 degrees celsius.
The magnet system is a two row highly efficient neodynium construction in a moulded chassis of ceramical carbon steel.
Fishbone shaped contactors in aluminium provide a low connection resistance and good heat dissipation.
The driver has a high power capacity and handles frequencies up to 40000 Hz which makes it DVD-Audio and SACD-ready.
Woofer/Midrange driver
After evaluating a large number of drivers from different manufacturers we selected one from Seas, a company that has a solid reputation in the area of high quality speaker drivers. You can find Seas drivers in many High End speakers, even with 6 figure price tags. With 60 years of experience, they have cutting edge knowledge that puts most of the competition behind.
For the woofer/midrange we decided on a 6,5" magnesium driver from the Seas Excel series that have extreme performance. We claim that finding a better 6,5" driver on the market is a very difficult task.
The surface treated magnesium cone is extremely light but still extremely stiff and effectively reduces resonances.
The rubber surrounding makes sure that no edge resonances are present.
The moulded metal basket is a "high flow" type that is acoustically transparent and has high precision since the basket is shaped exactly due to the moulding process. This makes sure that the basket is very stable and efficiently reduces resonances. The basket is absolutely non-magnetic, which contributes to a higher efficiency of the driver.
A strong magnet combined with the light cone ensures high efficiency and a good transient response.
Heavy copper rings mounted above and below the T-shaped pole piece reduce non linear and modulation distortion and increase the overload margin.
The copper plating of the top and bottom plates along with a solid copper phase plug improves the heat conduction and thus contributes to the high power durability.
Goldplated terminals reduce contact resistance and serve as anti-corrosion.
Large windows in the basket both above and below the spider reduces sound reflections, air flow noise and cavity resonances.
Crossover
The crossover is an advanced Linkwitz/Riley type, with 12/18 dB/oct slope for the midrange and tweeter. This offers a minimum of phase shiftings and good transient response. The filter uses MOX resistors, air wound coils and high quality capacitors.
There are tuning options included to enable you to adjust the tweeter level to match your listening room and preferences.
Binding post
The bi-wiring connectors are goldplated and you can connect to the amplifier with double cables (bi-wiring), or connect to two amplifiers (bi-amping) for further improving the sound. This would need active filters.
Room Tuning - Mechanical boundare frequency control
By using the supplied bass reflex plugs, it is possible to mechanically alter the lower boundary frequency on XTZ 99.26 MKII.
This makes it possible to drastically alter the sound character of the speaker. You can choose from eight different sound shapes in the bass range by using the bass plugs.
Sealed or bass reflex
With the plugs inserted the speaker operates as a sealed construction.
Technical Specifications::
Dimensions
244 x 379 x 352 mm (Width x Height x Depth)
Weight: 10 kg/pcs
Magnetically shielded: No
Impedance: 4-8 ohm
Binding post: Goldplated bi-wiring / Banana plug / Pole screw
Efficiency: 88dB
Power
300 W Short term IEC 268-5
100 W Short term IEC 268-5
Tweeter: Ribbon tweeter, SACD/DVD-Audio-ready, Sandvich ribbon cone in aluminium, neodymium magnets, chassis made in ceramic carbon steel.
Woofer / midrange: 6,5" SEAS Excel, Magnesium driver, moulded "high flow" driver basket, powerful magnet. 2000 gram, shielded.
Connections and settings
* Goldplated biwiring.
* Bassreflex, can be set to closed box (Room Tuning).
* The trebble level is adjustable in 4 different modes.
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and rapid mid bass makes it suitable for both home cinema and music setups. It also offers a wide range of adjustments for tuning it to most rooms. 99 W12.16 is a further development of the previous model 99 W12