DESCRIPTION:
The Facet Audio Labs LMF101A "Banshee" is a highest quality loudspeaker suitable for two channel stereo, multi-channel music systems and home theater applications. The sonic presentation is a wide and full sound stage with excellent imaging that has a depth and texture that is simply remarkable. Sound quality is clean, accurate and natural since distortion is extremely low and there is no detectable grain or coarseness. Transient performance is quite good too, shock and awe might apply.
Off-axis frequency response is very important in the production of high quality sound, which is one of the many areas the Banshee excels. In fact, the Banshee's frequency response at 45 degrees off-axis is nearly identical to the on-axis frequency response. This is important because sound that reflects off of walls and the reverberant sound is mostly produced from off-axis sound from the loudspeaker - reflected sound and direct sound must match for high quality overall sound.
The Banshee is a 2-way design utilizing two 6 ½ inch midbass drivers and a 1" titanium dome tweeter in a vented cabinet. The cabinet has been designed by our mechanical engineers to be as inert to the sound reproduction as possible. In fact, we use a unique manufacturing process to produce these cabinets. Each piece of the cabinet is machined to a +/-.005" tolerance which is required for a cabinet of such sophistication. Every cabinet features 1" thick extensively braced MDF construction finished in fine Italian real-wood laminates while the interior surfaces are completely sealed to protect against environmental concerns. Besides the engineering and craftsmanship excellence, every component used in these loudspeakers is among the finest available, terminals, silver plated wire, drivers, damping material, finish... nothing but the best.
Our 2-way design in this loudspeaker optimizes midrange and high frequency clarity and harmonic content while still offering excellent bass performance. The Banshee has a flared 4-inch diameter port that is just six inches long! Such a large but short port means good port linearity with no chuffing or whistling noises and no "pipe organ" noises - translated this means tight, loud, clean bass.
Both midbass drivers are magnetically shielded with long-excursion composite cones and rubber surrounds. The tweeter is also magnetically shielded, has an inverted titanium dome with phase plug and very high power handling capability. These drivers complement each other quite well and are known to be some of the finest drivers in the industry. The crossover blends these drivers together so seamlessly it is impossible to tell where the midbass drivers end and the tweeter begins.
The crossover is actually two separate high pass and low pass boards that have been optimized electrically and mechanically. The boards have been designed to maximize output while keeping undesirable component interaction and noise to an absolute minimum. The alignments are third-order high pass and second-order low pass optimized to fourth order response with perfect phasing through the crossover region. Well, that is kind of basic, actually these crossovers have many other exclusive features that were the result of hundreds of hours of research and evaluation. Four high quality gold-plated 5-way binding posts connect the crossover boards to the outside world. As supplied, high pass and low pass sections are connected together with power bridges allowing connection with a single wire. Removing the power bridges permit Bi-wire or passive Bi-amp connection.
Finally there is the appearance. Now we know there are a lot of great sounding loudspeakers on the market that are flat goofy looking. It does not have to be that way and we made certain that it didn't happen to us. Our loudspeakers have real wood finishes unlike any other on the market. First we offer an Ebony finish that is basically black with very faint gray and brown grain structure. Next there is the Antique Cherry, very warm and traditional looking. Then there is the Bubinga. Folks, this finish is to die for. There is nothing like it on this planet or any other, really! The most interesting thing about the Bubinga finish is the holographic nature of the grain structure...it actually changes and moves when viewed from different angles. We are certain that the architecture and finishes of our loudspeakers will work with any decor requiring a high-class unobtrusive appearance.
Besides the stunning looks and stellar performance, the Banshee is undoubtedly the best value on the market today.
