TiFi Poseidon

     Creation Story

When tuning the TiFi Elf speakers, I had to constantly move between my work desk and the listening spot. The speakers were positioned along the side walls of the room, approximately in the middle, with the listening spot on one side and the work desk on the other. While testing sample tracks, it was surprising to find that the Elf sounded remarkably good even when listened at right angle. As I continued to shuttle back and forth, the idea of creating a speaker pair capable of emitting sound in 360 degrees took shape.

Initially, the speaker was aptly nicknamed the "tower" because any symmetrical structure like this could be considered a tower. The task of developing the bass component initially seemed quite challenging because one of the steadfast rules in speaker design is to never place a speaker directly at the end of a tube, as the tube will return everything you send into it, altered by the tube's modification coefficient. Here, 3D printing came to the rescue, allowing for internal designs that differed from the external shape, and the bass was successfully resolved in the first iteration.

Bass sound naturally wants to propagate in all directions, and the bass waveguide is, in reality, mostly an invisible object for most bass frequencies. Since even the higher bass frequencies have relatively long wavelengths, there is no timing issue when listening to the loudspeaker at a right angle, where sound generated at the center of the speaker does not lag behind the outer edges, causing interference. Therefore, the bass waveguide is relatively straightforward and effectively fulfills its role.

The most critical task for the bass waveguide is to accommodate the tweeter. However, solving the high-frequency waveguide was a complex endeavor. At the higher end of the high-frequency spectrum, the wavelength is only 8.6 mm, and every millimeter of the waveguide matters for the final sound. Additionally, cylinder resonance accounts for half a wavelength, further complicating the waveguide's dimensions. Eventually, the waveguide was perfected in a way that did not introduce new issues when redirecting sound laterally.

Initially, as the speaker grew, it resembled a symmetrical tower, but with the addition of the waveguides, it became evident that it resembled a lighthouse. Thus, the speaker earned its name: "Poseidon." Tuning Poseidon's filter was relatively straightforward; at least in the horizontal plane, there was no need to balance sound in different directions. The challenging aspect of tuning was giving the high-frequency range a finishing touch, and the most interesting part was achieving the desired sound profile.

A typical loudspeaker's desired sound profile usually features a straight volume curve from low to high frequencies, perhaps slightly declining towards the high frequencies. However, a curve descending towards the listening position introduces different spatial distributions for various frequencies due to room effects. Since bass always spreads in all directions, the bass output from the speaker is always more significant than other frequencies. As a result, in the listening position and, naturally, in every other location, the sound profile becomes one where the bass is slightly stronger and the high frequencies are slightly weaker. But when the speaker emits sound in all directions with equal intensity, the sound profile at the listening position becomes flat, influenced only by room resonances. Thus, a straight-profile Poseidon sounded harsh. This presented a new intriguing problem - what is the desired sound profile for a speaker builder if it is not straight? Ultimately, I adopted Floyd E. Toole's referred room profile for experienced listeners, but with a predominantly straight curve. Consequently, Poseidon's factory profile features bass that is approximately 8 dB more intense than the high frequencies.

Throughout testing, the urge to return to my usual listening spot was ever-present. Each time I stood up, I remembered - there was no need for that. This speaker sounds the same everywhere!

Sound Profile

For sound profile detailed evaluation look at Spinorama measurements.

A truly unique listening experience unfolds. Moving around the room maintains a natural soundscape. When listening to sound details, they are sculpted by the fusion of omnidirectional reflected sound with the direct sound from speakers. The smaller the room, the more room reflections and resonances interact with direct sound. The bass is rich. The Egyptian papyrus strengthened loudspeaker diaphragm strikes an ideal balance between precision and sonic pleasure. Thanks to precise timing, the soundstage is spatial.

In terms of placement, Poseidon speakers should be treated as live performers. Just as you wouldn't place live artists against a wall or in a corner, Poseidon shines when positioned away from the walls. In this setup, the soundstage remains remarkably natural. Upon reflections, this design choice aligns perfectly with the way sound radiates from live artists in all directions, and Poseidon replicates this experience.

When placed in a larger room, Poseidon establishes its own musical oasis, providing a natural listening experience. The most remarkable moment during testing was listening to Poseidon's compositions within an L-shaped room, all while tending to various tasks. Every instance of indulging in the music was superb, and even along the speaker arrangement's axis, the music resonated with a remarkable sense of authenticity. Here, there was also room for experimentation with the placement. The initial attempt was to position one speaker in the L-shaped corner of the room and the other closer to the inner corner. However, it is challenging to find a single perfect spot for these speakers. They sound right everywhere; one just needs to ensure that room resonances are not amplified, cables don't trip you up, and that there are as many positions as possible to enjoy equal sound from both speakers.

Poseidon's unique features can be utilized in various ways, whether creating a small and natural musical oasis in a large room, filling irregular spaces with pleasant soundscapes, enabling numerous listening positions, or simply delivering a different musical listening experience.

Poseidon is my favorite speaker in the... kitchen. In this space, one often finds themselves navigating back and forth. There isn't a specific listening spot possible. Thankfully, even from the sideways-opened living room, the sound from Poseidon (aligned on their axis, one after the other) is natural. It serves as a pleasant background but also provides a delightful experience when listened to attentively. Thus, it unquestionably earns its status as my favorite speaker in uniquely shaped rooms.

Test listeners feedback

V.V., engineer and amateur musician, had this to say: "In my imagination, I envisioned a 360-degree speaker comprised of approximately eight loudspeakers arranged in a circular fashion, resembling a small coffee table. However, what I witnessed was an incredibly positive shock. It works exceptionally well. Poseidon's bass, in particular, has a delightful sound."

A.M., an entrepreneur, engineer, and music enthusiast: "Surprisingly pleasant-sounding bass. In terms of sound quality, Poseidon is my second preference after Elf."

I.P., recruitment consultant, radio amateur: You can listen from any direction, the sound image hardly changes at all. At certain volumes, some tracks had too much bass for my taste. Regarding the appearance, I clearly prefer the black color detail (instead of white). It's reasonable that this can be chosen.

J.K. business consultant, audiophile: Indeed, even when listening completely sideways, one speaker behind the other, the sound image is extremely natural. A very interesting concept.