Ø Audio Ymir – Reference Loudspeaker with a 12-Inch Driver

Norwegian brand Ø Audio has introduced the new Ymir floorstanding loudspeaker system – a model that immediately draws attention, especially if you are already familiar with the Icon 12 and Verdande speakers. Like Verdande and Frigg, the new model takes its name from Norse mythology: Ymir is the primordial being and ancestor of the giants. The company emphasizes that Ymir is not an evolution of previous designs, but a completely new development created from the ground up. Its purpose is to rethink what reference-class loudspeakers can achieve in real-world listening environments. At the same time, the model’s appearance clearly echoes the latest Icon 12 and Verdande designs.

One of the key design features of the Ø Audio Ymir loudspeakers is a new 10 mm thick stainless steel front baffle. It not only gives the speaker a more striking and muscular appearance, but also significantly increases the overall rigidity of the cabinet. According to the manufacturer, this helps reduce unwanted vibrations and energy storage while providing a more stable mechanical foundation for the drivers.

The Ø Audio Ymir uses a new 12-inch driver with increased linear excursion. It features a carbon-fiber composite cone with a damping core and, according to the manufacturer, is capable of maintaining stable performance at both low and high volume levels. This driver is designed for a wide operating range and is paired with a new compression driver fitted with a 76 mm carbon diaphragm. The latter is mounted in Ø Audio’s proprietary Quad Vertex Soundfield (QVST) waveguide, which is responsible for controlled directivity and a smooth off-axis response.

Signal distribution between the drivers is handled by what the company calls an assisted first-order crossover network. It uses custom copper-foil capacitors and resin-potted inductors. Ø Audio notes that minimizing the number of components in the crossover, as in its other models, helps preserve the integrity of the musical signal. Claimed specifications include a frequency range of 26 Hz to 22 kHz, 8-ohm impedance, and sensitivity of 93.5 dB.

The Ø Audio Ymir cabinet tapers toward the rear, a shape intended to reduce internal reflections and suppress standing waves. Each loudspeaker measures 114.5 × 38.2 × 52.9 cm and weighs 120 kg. Large stainless steel outriggers are used to improve stability.

Special attention has also been paid to isolation from the floor. The height-adjustable feet feature a two-stage vibration isolation system based on a tungsten ball. According to the manufacturer, this solution is intended to reduce the transfer of unwanted energy between the speaker cabinet and the floor surface, which should have a positive effect on clarity, image focus, and low-frequency control.

The design is further complemented by three bass reflex ports in each mirror-imaged loudspeaker, a solution intended to make room integration easier. On the rear panel, Ø Audio’s proprietary speaker terminals are fitted with an integrated torque limiter.

The Ø Audio Ymir loudspeakers will be offered in two finish options and will be supplied in a transport case. According to information that has not yet been officially confirmed, the estimated price of the new model will be 65,000 US dollars per pair.

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