The PQS-100 Plus MK II Omnidirectional Loudspeaker
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*PQS-Plus Stands (sold separately)*
The PQS-100 Plus uses a single carbon fibre DDD driver combined with a downward firing 6-inch woofer. It is physically compact, making it ideal for stereo systems in smaller rooms. It can also be used in 5.1 systems where its excellent bass response obviates the need for a sub-woofer.
THE PQS-100 Plus is a small, but highly versatile loudspeaker that can offer excellent sound in a wide range of applications
Versatility With Musicality
Like all German Physiks loudspeakers, PQS-100 Plus can produce detailed and realistic stereo images, which can be enjoyed by many listeners from a wide range of positions within the room. This is especially useful in home theatre applications. This also makes the PQS-100 Plus well suited for use in galleries, shops and other public places where very high quality sound is required and the sound source must be unobtrusive.
Despite its compact size, the PQS-100 Plus produces fast, clean and agile bass, which makes the listener think that a much larger loudspeaker is being played. The high quality of the bass is matched by the performance provided by the DDD driver. This gives the excellent speed, dynamics and resolution that German Physiks loudspeakers are famous for and helps to produce the sense of reality that is the essence of a musical performance.
Versatile Mounting Options
The PQS-100 Plus may either be mounted on the optional PQS-Plus stands, or attached directly on to the wall. The latter is especially convenient when the PQS-100 Plus is used in 5.1 systems.
Excellent Driver Integration
A problem with multi-way loudspeakers is how to integrate the drivers so that the listener is not conscious of different parts of the audio range coming from different parts of the loudspeaker. The PQS-100 Plus solves this problem in three ways. Firstly, its carbon fibre DDD driver covers the range from 120Hz to 24,000Hz, so the vast majority of the audio range is covered by just one driver. Secondly, the woofer is physically located very close to the DDD driver, which makes the two drivers appear as one source. Thirdly, by making the woofer fire downwards, its radiation pattern more closely matches the omnidirectional pattern of the DDD driver.
5.1 Surround System Possibilities
The table below shows some suggested configurations for 5.1 surround systems using the PQS‑100 Plus.
| Room Size m2 | Main | Centre | Rear | Subwoofer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 - 90 | PQS-100 Plus | PQS-100 Plus | PQS-100 Plus | - |
| 10 - 70 | PQS-100 Plus | PQS-100 | PQS-100 Plus | - |
| 10 - 55 | PQS-100 Plus | PQS-100 | PQS-100 | - |
The heart of all German Physiks loudspeakers is the unique omnidirectional DDD driver
The German Physiks DDD driver uses a cone made of extremely thin (0.15mm) carbon fibre. This is very light, but also very rigid. Each driver is hand-built by a skilled technician in our factory in Germany. This is a painstaking process that takes 6 hours. After assembly, each driver undergoes a series of rigorous tests. It is then subject to a 96 hour pre-aging process, playing specially selected music at high level. Finally, it is retested and put together with another driver to form a matched pair.
The DDD driver has two key distinguishing features
1. It is omnidirectional, meaning that it radiates the sound evenly around it.
2. It has an exceptionally wide operating range. In the PQS-100 Plus it covers the range from 120Hz up to 24kHz – almost 7 octaves.
This extremely wide range is achieved by the use of 3 modes of radiation
Pistonic radiation
Bending wave radiation
Modal radiation
By comparison, most loudspeakers use drivers that only use pistonic radiation. These have a much narrower operating range and as the frequency rises, they tend to concentrate their energy into a progressively narrowing beam.
Low Resonance Cabinet Design Enhances Transparency
Colouration caused by resonances in a loudspeaker cabinet, where the cabinet itself starts to radiate sound energy,can seriously degrade the sound quality by obscuring detail. The PQS-100 Plus solves this problem by having a minimalist cabinet. This is machined from heavy MDF panels, which are inherently very stiff and non-resonant. The cabinet’s rounded shape has been carefully chosen to minimise resonances. A special damping material called Hawaphon®is applied to the inside surfaces of the cabinet. Hawaphon® is a polymer sheet containing a matrix of small cells filled with very fine steel shot and was originally developed as an anti-surveillance measure for use in military and government buildings. It adds mass to the cabinet to further reduce the resonant frequency and the ability of the shot in the cells to move against each other provides a very effective way of converting vibration energy into heat. Harahan® achieves a broadband attenuation of structure-borne sound of more than 50dB: a remarkably high figure. Additional damping is provided by the application of bitumen damping sheets and unwanted air resonances are prevented by the use of high density felt sheet..
Designed for a Lifetime of Listening Pleasure
As you would expect from a German product, the quality of construction and reliability are first class. We use the same quality of parts in the PQS-100 Plus as in our reference products, where we design for a minimum life expectancy of 25 years.
For this reason we have selected highly corrosion resistant V4 grade stainless steel for the DDD driver support pillars, terminal mounting plates and all the screws.
Meticulous care and attention is paid during the manufacture of the PQS-100 Plus. Prior to assembly all components and materials are subject to a rigorous inspection. We also carry out detailed inspections at each stage of the manufacturing process. We can afford to do this as we build our products by hand in small batches. After assembly the performance of each loudspeaker is measured. Then it is burnt in for at least 12 hours and measured again. Once the burn process is complete each loudspeaker is given a final detailed physical inspection before being packed.
Product Finishes
The PQS-100 Plus loudspeaker is finished in carbon fibre on the cabinet sides and black and grey Nextel on all other parts.
Hand Finished For Ultimate Quality
Because the look of our products is as important as the sound, all cabinets are hand built and finished in Germany by skilled cabinet makers for the best possible furniture grade finish.
They are built in small batches, so that they can maintain a consistently high level of quality. Nothing is rushed.
Product Specifications
Impedance
4 ohms
Frequency response
45– 24,000Hz
Power handling
Nominal 190W
Short term 290W peak
Amplification required
Minimum 70W/4 ohms
Crossover frequency
120Hz
Crossover slope
DDD section 6dB/octave electronic & 18dB/octave acoustic
Woofer section 12dB/octave electronic & 18dB/octave acoustic
Sensitivity
86dB for 1W at 1m
Operating principle
2-way loudspeaker with 360° surround radiation
using the German Physiks DDD driver
Input connectors
1 set of WBT nextgen™ binding posts
Drivers
1 x carbon fibre DDD driver
1 x 6-inch woofer
Finish
Carbon fibre and Nextel
Dimensions
PQS-100 Plus
267mm W x 510mm H x 310mm D
10.5" W x 20.0" H x 12.2" D
PQS-Plus Stand
326mm W x 1,100mm H x 370mm D
12.8" W x 43.3" H x 14.6" D
Weight
PQS-100 Plus 21.0kg / 46.2lbs
PQS-Plus Stand 10.2kg / 22.4lbs
Warranty
5 years