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"Small, musical and amazing!" Paul Cervantes, ultralinear,net
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A single 3.5 inch
driver in a folded transmission line cabinet that is only
4 inches wide
8 inches high
9.5 inches deep
(10 X 20 X 24 cm).
It weights 4 pounds each, and has frequency response of 40 Hz
to 20,000 kHz.
Believe it! |
Shown in satin black
The Sampan FTL takes on
the Amphion Ion that is more than twice the price of the Sampan
FTL?
" ..The Amphion
... doesn’t present the depth and holography of the FTL.
Nor is it as coherent and immediately engaging. The Ion has it’s
own strengths and appeal. but doesn’t possess the addictive
coherency and flow, the magic of the [Sampan] FTL.
Robert
Learner, Sonic Flare
The Sampan FTL takes on the Magnepan
1.6QR speakers
The
Sampan FTLs,
"...are absolute champs when it comes to soundstage portrayal,
tonal accuracy, and coherence from top to bottom and musicality.
I even found myself reconsidering my own listening preferences
and questioning the performance of my Magnepans in several areas
when compared to the Sampan FTL (in particular overall musicality,
soundstage depth and micro detail). Consider it strong praise
indeed for these little overachievers."
Craig Johnson in Affordable$$Audio
Ultralinear.net reviews the Sampan
FTL
"The
Sampans ... have a big, bold, expansive sound.... It really takes
some time to come to terms with just how much energy they can
put into a room. There’s always a tendency to look up and
say to yourself, “all of this is coming from those two little
boxes? That can’t be right."
Paul Cervantes, Ultralinear.net
VMPS RM40 owner
Robert Learner
finds satisfaction in
the Sampan FTL micro speaker!
Surprise #1 was the amount of detail the FTL threw
at me. ... you get timing and texture -- this is a potent combo.
Surprise #2 is how deep these tiny boxes go. ... the Sampan
FTLs subjectively deliver, and music across the frequency spectrum
has appropriate body.
Surprise #3 is the other end of the frequency spectrum.
The rolled off highs I often experience with single driver designs
is MIA here. The FTLs [are] notably neutral throughout the entire frequency
range.
...That the FTL manages to fit a nearly
three foot [transmission] line in a box about a fifth of
a cubic foot in volume is indicative of high quality cabinet
design and construction."
Sonic
Flare, April 25, 2007
Here is what
Positive Feedback has to say:
"... the little Sampan FTLs were dynamic and surprisingly
extended at both ends of the frequency spectrum. ... the speakers
sounded much bigger than they looked...vocals and acoustic guitar
sounded full-bodied and robust."
John Acton
of Positive
Feedback comments
on the Sampan FTL at AudioKarma Fest 2007 in Michigan.
Here is what
Affordableaudio.org had to say upon hearing the Sampan FTLs at
AudioKarma Fest ‘07.
"Audio Two (Windsor,
Ontario) surprised many listeners with the sound, size and price
of the Role Sampan FTL speakers .... They are incredibly small
(8”x4”x9.5”) and lightweight (less than 5 lbs.)
considering the full-range sound they are able to produce from
a single 3.5” driver in a folded transmission line. Electronics
were a Croft battery powered preamp and amplifier and Connoisseur
CD player."
affordableaudio.org,
Issue 16, April 2007 report on AudioKarma Fest ‘07
Ultralinear.net
evaluates the Sampan FTL as high end computer speakers
"Do
the Role Audio Sampan FTLs win the title of world’s greatest
computer speaker? I can only say that I have yet to hear better.
...There’s no way I can convey just how well these tiny
speakers play. ...They are truly some of the most amazing dynamic
speakers that I have ever used. You really owe to yourself to
try a pair. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself
listening to them more than you ever imagined and in far larger
rooms than you might believe possible."
Paul Cervantes, ultralinear,net
Special Features:
True point source
Magnetically shielded
Perfect time coherence
Hard wired hand soldered
Single 3.5 inch cast frame transducer
MLSSA matched transducers
True minimum phase response
Superior five-way terminals
10 year limited warranty |
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No subwoofer
necessary!
The
Sampan FTL images better on a bookshelf than most small loudspeakers
image on stands out in the room. Place it on stands out in the
room and there is no contest. And while most small speakers struggle
to reproduce 80 cycle bass, the Sampan FTL is engineered to play
40 cycle bass with ease. In fact, the Sampan FTL bass extension
will put many full range loudspeakers to shame.
From top to bottom the Sampan FTL presents a very neutral and
seamless frequency response with no excesses at any place in
its frequency spectrum. It produces a totally engaging and enveloping
sonic experience. It's astonishing resolution and foot tapping
speed will make you want to go through your entire music collection
to discover and savor sonics delights you missed before. It is
a tiny loudspeaker that can full an average sized house with
music. And it has the uncanny ability to project accurate bass
into adjoining rooms.
The Sampan FTL uses the latest transducer technology – a
cast aluminum frame, neodymium magnet, underhung motor design
to generate surprising sound pressure level. Its crossover-less
design and flat impedance curve means it can easily be driven
with everything from an iPod to the most exotic audiophile amplifier.
And its small size means it is very portable and easy to place,
allowing you to freely enjoy high quality music just about anywhere.
The Sampan FTL is the game changer among small loudspeakers,
it says the future is now..
(1) Read
first review of Sampan FTL by Robert Learner in Sonic Flare,
April 25, 2007
(2) Read
second review of the Sampan FTL by Paul Cervantes in Ultralinear.net
(3) Read
third review of the Sampan FTL by Craig Johnson in the August
2009 issue of Affordable$$Audio
(4) Read
Ultralinear.net's Role Audio Sampan FTL faces off with the Bose
Companion II Series 2
Sampan FTL in desktop environment
see
illustration of the Sampan FTL's bass response
print
brochure
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