Pre-Owned and Ex-Demo
About the IO Speakers
The IO Speaker is no longer in production from New York company Alta Audio, having now been replaced by the Alyssa. But this is a speaker that is still worthy of recognition as it's blend of great build quality, driver quality and careful design create a brilliant performer. A small stand mount with a two inch ribbon tweater and a seven inch mid/bass driver, it has great treble extension but naturally is limited in the bass with roll-off at around 42Hz. However, the bass loading is unusual in this design with a combination of transmission line and port loading – the result of which is a surprisingly natural and agile bass that is very informative and musical.
Specifications
Dimensions: (HWD) 14.5" x 8.5" x 13"
Weight: 27lbsDriver complement:
– One 2 inch ribbon tweeter
– One 7 inch midrange/wooferSensitivity: 87.5 dB / 2.83 Volts @ 1 Meter
Frequency Response: 42Hz to 47kHz
Impedance: 4.Ohms
Requirements: 50 to 150 Watts per channel
The Winters Audio Experience
For small rooms and for someone who doesn't really want to blast out window-rattling rock, these are a seriously good little bargain just waiting to be snapped up. They work well with a good fifty watt amplifier but you should note that the moderate sensitivity and 4 Ohm impedance rules out small amps.
Set up on good stands they perform beautifully. The combination of the ribbon tweater and the unusual transmission line/ported bass gives a very open and extended sound both top and bottom. Indeed that bottom end sounds much more impressive than the figures suggest – there's quality here. Indeed, we've sat back and relaxed in front of these little gems and spent hours meandering through back catalogues, marvelling at the smoothness, subtlety and three-dimentionality these speakers were producing from old recordings that we didn't think were that good!