TiFi Argos Spinorama measurement graphs. Short comments are added for those who are not familiar with the Spinorama methodology.
Directivity
Largest angle where average SPL is still higher than - 6 dB compared to On-Axis in frequency range of 1 - 10 kHz.
- Horizontal directivity: -/+ 70 degrees.
- Vertical directivity: down -30, up +80 degrees.
On-Axis
TiFi Kraken subwoofer (cut with an Audiophonics amplifier filter) has been added to the picture.
As indicated with the product, this speaker is intended for use with a subwoofer. Without it, the bass part is missing. For its price range, the graph is reasonably straight, +/-2 dB in area of main interest. If you're a teenager or have super hearing, consider whether the higher frequencies are sufficient for you, as above the 18 kHz the volume drops rapidly (you can use a tone generator website on your mobile phone and listen to the tones accordingly).
On-Axis Tolerance: +2.1 dB, -2.0 dB
Predicted in Room
The graph is expectedly straighter than the pure direct sound. This means that room reflections complement and smooth the direct sound graph. It can be seen that the graph is initially horizontal, with a uniform decline starting after 1 kHz. To ensure a uniform decline, it is advisable to slightly increase the amplifier's bass tone control when listening to this speaker (about 3-4 dB), or less if speakers are close to wall
Predicted In Room Tolerance: +1.8 dB, -2.1 dB
Directivity:
When evaluating Spinorama graphs, the possibility of further straightening the sound image with an equalizer can be assessed. The TiFi Argos sound profile can be improved by adding the previously mentioned bass boost and by adding a few dB in the frequency range of 2.5 - 8 kHz also. If desired, some assistance can also be provided for the highest high frequencies, but boosting at 10 kHz should be avoided. Generally, it's a correctable sound profile.
Horizontal Reflections
Looking at the graphs, TiFi Argos clearly fulfills its promise in terms of a wide and uniform listening area. There should be noted that side reflections graph has little difference to direct sound profile. When adjusting the sound profile with an equalizer, it's important to consider proximity to walls and apply less or more correction as appropriate.
Vertical Reflections*
* TiFi Argos is, of course, placed on a desk next to the computer monitor. The actual reflection angles from the desk and the desk position from the ceiling have been used for the graphs.
The graphs are as expected, not straight, but drop rapidly. TiFi Argos clearly achieves its goal of reducing desk reflections. The graph is already about 4-6 dB lower than the direct sound from 2 kHz onwards and continues to drop. Ceiling reflections are stronger, but the ceiling itself is at least 3 times farther away from the desk, making the sound with ceiling reflections correspondingly lower.
Measurements
Spinorama is measured in a room half a meter distance, with sound level normalized to 1m, 1W (2.83V), with a 5 ms gating window, which allows the direct sound of the speaker to be measured but reduces measurement resolution at lower frequencies.
Lower frequencies are measured on-axis, 2m away, in an open room using the Ground Plane method, with sound level normalized to 1m, 1W (2.83V) for an open room.
The frequency response graphs are merged based on the average sound frequencies on the Spinorama axis and the Ground plane axis in the range of 300 - 700 Hz, forming a unified graph. Spinorama angle graphs are replaced with a corrected graph below 700 Hz. Angle corrections are made using a diffraction model based on the dimensions of the speaker and loudspeaker, normalized to the actual Spinorama angle measurement result at 700 Hz.
After Spinorama calculations, the graphs are rounded to 1/6 dB.
The measurements should be considered preliminary. The small peaks and differences in the graphs +/- 2 dB are not reliable, but the overall shape of the graphs and the characteristics of the speakers are described accurately with the initial measurements.