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Polestar Opal Custom Install Series
In wall speaker (In ceiling speaker) and backbox design:
The basis of low frequency reproduction resides in the synergy between the acoustics of the cabinet and the performance of the drivers. During the design phase the design engineer can achieve optimal performance by tweaking the dimensions of the cabinet. The backbox on this speaker cabinet not only improves acoustic performance but also acts a vapor barrier to prevent dampness from seeping into the cabinet. When driver diaphragms are damp the life span is shortened and performance will deteriorate as well. Speakers with a backbox can also prevent vermin intrusion such as cockroaches and mice. Speakers without a backbox cannot prevent cockroach incursions or the complications that arise when mice chew wires.
System Audition
The appeal of the Polestar Opal series is readily apparent. The cabinet sports a fresh simple design without unnecessary colors or flourishes. The pure white grille fits perfectly around the black cabinet of the speaker using magnets for ease of use.
Underneath the grille the most striking component is the transparent dome tweeter. One can observe underneath the dome the elegant circuit design, which complements the silver bezel. This tweeter is designed to rotate so that the directionality of the tweeter, thus the treble frequencies can be adjusted.
Kung Fu Panda tells the story of how Bao, an overweight lazy panda obsessed with martial arts becomes a Shaolin master. To demo the Opal series we have chosen the prison break sequence from the film.
With the beginning dialogue sequence the richness of the Rhino commander’s voice is very nicely contrasted with that of Xiaoshan who is running errands. The Rhino commander’s coarse voice is fantastically reproduced, even when interspersed with lines from the jailers. The vocal positioning is very accurate with clear layering of vocal details. The I-OP6S fully demonstrates its high resolution and fast response capabilities. As the prisoner breaks free from the shackles chaining him to the metallic tortoise shell, the shackles are sheared off and sent spinning into the wall with a great sense of violence. As the metal tortoise shell is shattered, the explosive bass of the I-OP6S is aptly shown. The bass is deep and controlled with no sense of faltering or slow response. When the giant spear pierces the ground, the sense of bass is overwhelming and each subsequent strike maintains the force of the first, which showcases the transient response of the speaker. The ring of the last spear striking the metal bracelet is clear and the quality of the sound reproduction is fantastic. In the climax of the scene when the arrows are launched, the I-OP6S envelopes the viewer in the scene with accurate reproductions of the frenzied voices with the sense of dread as the arrows whistle through the air and the staccato bass performance of the arrows finally striking the wooden floor boards.
In both appearance and performance the Polestar Opal series shine in comparison with other products at its price point. There is no doubt that the Opal series is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by a discerning listener.