Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Excellent transient and spatial performance due to the Manger Sound Transducer
- Very fine detail and nuance are delivered in a musically engrossing manner
- The controls on the back provide a lot of flexibility in placement and sonic preference
- High build quality
- Fast speaker, delivering a seamless bottom-to-top rendition of the recording, revealing more of it than a lesser speaker
Product Considerations
- Bass is present, but do not expect to bathe in it
- Leans more toward exciting than toward comfortable, but not excessively so
- Not all recordings sounded good because the s1's are not particularly forgiving
- Placing the Manger s1 speakers precisely matters a lot
- Adding a preamp may make the sound more fleshed out
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Some aspects of the S1's performance remind one reviewer of Quad 57s
Takeaway: The Manger s1 is a precision instrument and a ton of fun to listen to. It brings out the truth in recordings and is a great choice for guaranteed turn-key success at a very high level.
All
s1
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Type: Active 2-Way Floorstanding System
- Frequency Range: 30 Hz – 40 kHz
- Crossover Frequency: 330 Hz
- Max SPL: 110 dB Peak
- Dimensions: 44.8" x 10.6" x 8.4" (1139 x 270 x 214 mm)
- Weight: 105.7 lbs (48 kg)
- High + Mid: Manger Sound Transducer, Bandwidth 80 Hz – 40 kHz, Rise Time 13 μs
- Bass: 8" Glass Fiber-Polyester Sandwich Design, 38 mm Voice Coil
- Max. Power Output LF: 250 W @ 8 Ohms Class AB
- Max. Power Output HF: 180 W @ 8 Ohms Class AB
- Power Bandwidth HF: 250 kHz (-3 dB)
- Input Sensitivity: 6 dBu (1.55 V) or 0 dBu
- Input Impedance: 10 kOhms
- Input: XLR-3 (balanced)
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Manger differentiates itself by focusing on temporal and tonal accuracy through their bending wave transducer design, which mimics the function of the basilar membrane in the human ear.
- The brand leverages the unique design of the Manger Sound Transducer, which avoids the traditional pistonic motion of conventional drivers, to achieve exceptional spatial representation and clarity.
- Manger offers extensive customization options, including a wide array of RAL and NCS colors, various finishes, and the capacity to custom-match interior decor.
Select products
Z1:
- Positioning: Compact speaker designed for versatile use in various environments.
- Description: Offers a natural sound with its modern woofer and patented Manger sound transducer. Compared to the P1, it is more compact and suitable for smaller spaces, while still providing powerful bass and clear mids. It is a great choice for those with limited space but who still want excellent sound quality without the need for large floor-standing speakers.
C1:
- Positioning: Active compact monitor for professional and home use.
- Description: Praised for its neutral sound reproduction, making it a favorite in recording studios. Unlike the Z1, this is an active system with built-in amplifiers, providing more flexibility in setup and integration into various audio environments. It is perfect for users who need precise sound reproduction in both professional and home settings.
P1:
- Positioning: Passive floor-standing speaker for high-fidelity audio enthusiasts.
- Description: Delivers natural timbres with its Manger sound transducer, offering a unique listening experience. Compared to the Z1, this floor-standing model provides a larger soundstage and more powerful bass, making it suitable for larger rooms and those who prioritize sound quality over compactness.
P2:
- Positioning: Passive flagship model for ultimate audio fidelity.
- Description: Designed for high-level audio reproduction, with its advanced woofer system and Manger sound transducer. It offers superior impulse fidelity and bass precision compared to the P1.
S1:
- Positioning: High-end active floor-standing speaker for discerning audiophiles.
- Description: Combines the Manger sound transducer with a powerful woofer, providing seamless audio with time-accurate reproduction. Unlike the P2, this is an active system, offering built-in amplification and advanced room correction features for users who want a high-end, all-in-one solution without the need for external amplifiers.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
The Manger driver is a different technical principle.
It's quite a full-range driver, and the technical principle it uses is a so-called bending wave driver. You’ve probably read that my father invented this driver. He figured out that a conventional driver always has its own sound or footprint. By measuring, he saw that a classical driver always stores energy due to its construction. It behaves like a mass-spring system —so it's never quite as fast as the electronic signal. It introduces a kind of delay through mechanical energy storage. So, by the time the next change in the music or sound happens, the driver is still moving in another direction. Avoiding this transient behavior of the conventional driver —this energy storage—was the intention. This led to our core technology, the Manger sound transducer with its bending wave principle, which doesn’t store energy and covers a range from 360 Hz up to 45 kHz. If you read reviews, the conclusion is always the same: it’s very neutral and very natural.
Philosophy of neutrality and natural reproduction.
I always say the Manger is like food without additives. People know from eating or restaurants what “no additives” means—so they have a comparison. If you don’t have experience with natural sound—which means you’re not used to going to concerts with natural instruments—you have no reference. And if you compare our loudspeakers with other loudspeakers, they all sound different, but you don’t know which one is “right” and for sure it is also a matter of taste. There is something objective in the sound reproduction —how you can recognize things like imaging and the character of instruments, these are all so-called transients and the better a loudspeaker can reproduce this the more natural and lifelike the sound reproduction is perceived. But if you have a technical artifact in between—and mainly it’s the loudspeaker—then it’s not so direct. It is also less relaxing but fatiguing.
What's your approach to customer support?
The best situation is always when the customer has a good relationship to the dealer. Sometimes, the customer invests so much time and gathers so much information that—depending on the dealer’s capabilities—the dealer may not know how to help. In such cases, the customer typically contacts the distributor. And if they’re still not satisfied, they can contact the manufacturer directly. I am always willing to answer any questions. This has to do with our philosophy, and also with the fact that we are not a big company. So everything is like a small restaurant: you talk directly to the cook. People feel good when their questions are answered seriously and competently.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
- Birds — Dominique Fils-Aimé | Album: Nameless | Genre: Blues / Jazz / Soul
- October — Göteborgs Kammerkör | Album: Viska du Vind | Genre: Folk / World
- Malletoba Spank — Duke Ellington | Album: Ellington Jazz Party | Genre: Jazz
- Celestial Echo — Malia & Boris Blank | Album: Convergence | Genre: Pop
- Reflexion — Markus Stockhausen | Album: Sol Mestizo | Genre: World
- Wheels Turn Beneath My Feet — Fink | Album: Wheels Turn Beneath My Feet | Genre: Rock
- Various tracks | Album: Musik von einem anderen Stern | (Manger CD and LP sampler)
What other products pair best with yours?
In my demonstrations and shows, I mainly pair with SPL (Sound Performance Lab). I really love this combination. For me, it’s always important to show the result to people—when everything is in balance, including the cost of the electronics and the cables. The products from SPL sound great. I also know that Accuphase fits very well, and of course, it's also a matter of taste. I have customers who pair with tube amplifiers as well.
Used
Manger
What if you spend more?
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Product Strengths
- Excellent clarity, detail resolution, and agility in sound reproduction
- Impressive bass definition and punch, delivering huge amounts of bass effortlessly
- Combines muscularity, insight, scale, and attack for an engaging listening experience
- Design is unique and striking, with impeccable build quality and a flawless finish
- Offers extensive specification and numerous control options, all implemented expertly
Product Considerations
- Sonic presentation might be a little too 'safe' or 'civilizing', potentially losing some of the vibrant energy in music
- Lacks some features compared to competitors regarding connectivity and adjustability
- Requires a large listening space to avoid overpowering the room
- The provided remote casing feels cheap and insubstantial compared to the overall package
- Room correction (ADAPT) is not as automated or precise as some other systems and the application may crash
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs KEF LS60 Wireless: KEF LS60 offers more flexibility, including a subwoofer output, but at higher volumes, Focal Diva is the clear winner
- Vs Bang & Olufsen Beolab 90: Beolab 90 is in a league of its own and provides a more complete audio experience
- Vs Scala Utopia Evo: Diva Utopia is cheaper in the long run, as the Scala Utopia Evo needs additional components, such as Naim Classic components
- Vs Diablo Utopia Color Evos: The Color Evos may represent the ultimate Focal experience
Takeaway: The Diva Utopia is an all-in-one speaker with impressive sound that expertly combines performance and design. It offers a unique blend of luxury and high-end audio quality that can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a simplified audiophile experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Elegant and powerful, our BXT turns any pair of Kii THREE into unrivaled floor-standing speakers.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- When combined with the BXT module, the system delivers tight, dynamic, and nuanced bass reproduction
- The addition of the BXT allows the system to reveal subtle details in the lower frequencies that are typically missed
- The BXT system offers a balanced sound, with the midrange frequencies benefiting from the addition of the BXT module
- Are relieved of some bass duties, letting them focus more on the mids
- The combination with the BXT module creates a cardioid dispersion pattern, reducing reflections from side and rear walls—minimizing the influence of room acoustics
- Ease of use is another strength of the concept
Product Considerations
- Some perceive it as sounding 'too digital' or 'too analytical' on its own, lacking the warmth of other speakers, but the BXT module helps to address this
- The display on the Kii Control is considered small, making it difficult to read in poor lighting conditions
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Versus ATC speakers, ATC speakers have a warmer, more colorful sound
Takeaway: The system, especially when paired with the BXT module, delivers exceptional sound quality with deep, controlled bass and reduced room interaction. For those wanting a system with great clarity and power, this could be a good pick.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Astonishing control, detail, coherence, and extension due to 200 Watts being connected directly to the bass driver
- The new ATC tweeter is more revealing yet sweeter than the SEAS unit it replaces, making the speaker more charming without losing transparency
Product Considerations
- Installation potentially difficult, as it is a large and heavy speaker, weighing 75kg each
- Bass performance reveals flaws in recordings that are tweaked to sound good on most speakers
Takeaway: The ATC SCM150 ASL speakers deliver clean and controlled sound with impressive detail and extension, making them ideal for critical listening. The new tweeter improves upon previous versions, offering a sweeter and more revealing sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- ATC designs and builds every drive unit in-house, including voice coils, crossovers, and active amplification, allowing for complete control over every loudspeaker design decision
- In the active version, a more clearly defined soundstage has clearer, more well-defined individual elements, where everything pops out more from the background
- The active version has more energy, drive, and a more vivid overall presentation, resulting in a more tactile, energetic, and higher resolution sound
- The SCM50's woofer has an enviable ability to resolve textures and timbral colors, capably rendering the skins of bass drums, the flutter of tom-toms, or the dark voicing of orchestral bass viols as bows are dragged across their strings
- The SCM50 has an almost eerie immediacy that seems to glean the intent of the musician before their bow touches the string or a note escapes their lips, making piano reproduction breathtaking
- Connectivity is limited to a single XLR input, which may require adapters for single-ended sources
Product Considerations
- The active version is heavier than the passive version
- The owner must manually turn each speaker on and off, as there is no trigger or auto startup circuit
- The active version may pose challenges for owners of subwoofers needing high-level wiring connections, although workarounds exist
- Careful attention must be paid to positioning a pair of SCM50s, as the full-bandwidth—ported design means that placing them too close to a boundary wall will result in bass bloom
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- SCM50 wins hands down over PureAudioProject Duet 15s for resolution, clarity, and dynamic shading
- The active version excels over the passive in solidity of soundstage, neutrality, and ultimate detail retrieval
Takeaway: The ATC SCM50 offers exceptional sound quality, whether in its active or passive configuration, thanks to ATC's engineering and in-house design. The ATC SCM50 is a choice that will bring musical joy for years to come.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Improved phase or timing enhances stereo imaging and creates a clearer overall picture
- The active version removes a 'filter' between the listener and the original source, making music more intense, energetic—and vivid—resulting in higher resolution audio
- Vocals are presented bigger, taller, grander in scale, with more detail and insight—most impressively—how natural they sound
- Dynamics and micro-detail are impressive, expressed in ambient noises, breaths of singers—and fingernails of guitarists
- ATC monitors are designed to provide the best from both areas: detailed and accurate with limited dynamic range, and professional monitors with great dynamic range and fidelity
Product Considerations
- ATC speakers like to be played loudly, like the original event, and live music isn't created at volume levels for going to sleep; if you like to be lulled by your audio system, look elsewhere
- The speakers get quite a bit heavier with the amplifier packs in them
- You have to manually turn each speaker on and off, as there is no trigger system designed into them
- System organisation and cabling has to be considered because it might be quite different to how you have things wired now in a passive system, and this could mean extra cost on top
- If you don't have an amplifier to connect your high level wiring to, you would need to either use a preamplifier with an output you can use, or maybe use a splitter on the balanced cable
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs ATC SCM50 PSL (Passive): The active SCM50 ASL is more vivid overall, while the passive is more 'cuddly'
- Vs ATC SCM20: The 50s are more like the same person—only bigger
Takeaway: The SCM50 ASL offers a technically better and more vivid listening experience due to its active design, bringing listeners closer to the original sound. If one wants a speaker for serious listening and appreciate high-resolution audio, this could be a great choice.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Houses everything needed to play digital music
- Equipped with DSP and room correction for a seamless room-filling fit
- Reproduces music with superb control and an expansive sound image
- Offers finely textured and richly saturated sound
Product Considerations
- Speakers that don't look like every other speaker can be polarizing
Takeaway: The Pearl Pelegrina is a wireless active loudspeaker that houses everything needed to play digital music, offering a seamless room-filling fit with superb control and finely textured sound. It could be worth buying for those seeking an all-in-one speaker solution with a unique design.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Very dynamic presentation, with quick stop and start speeds that leave little off the table
- Natural and even-handed tones from the wide array of drivers
- Cohesive structure with plenty of low-end support
- High efficiency (101 dB), allowing them to be driven by tubes
Product Considerations
- Build times are around 8 weeks
Takeaway: The Zu Audio Definition 6 offers a very dynamic and realistic listening experience with natural tones. They are also high efficiency, making them a great option for use with tubes.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Straightforward, direct, and honest sound
- Extremely listenable top end that's toned down a mite
- Solid and pleasing midrange
- Rock solid bass
- Exhibits a family sound between the models, making it difficult to distinguish between them, at least in this context
Product Considerations
- Price may be high compared to the UK price
Takeaway: The SCM100ASLT Active Driver Tower loudspeaker has an honest and pleasing sound with solid bass. It encourages you to get up and dance.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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