Artisan Series Reference speakers with fluted sides

The Artisan fluted cabinet series has been designed to provide very stylish and unique speakers that would be at home in all types of room decor, using top quality components and drivers consistently throughout the whole series for exceptional sound reproduction.

The cabinets are finished in semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood front baffles (other veneers available on request). This series is for people who want uncompromising build and sound quality, and something different. And with only six models that satisfy most requirements and combinations, it is easy to choose the speakers you need for a complete system, whether that is high end stereo or home theatre.

The Artisan style of cabinet build and appearance can be applied to most other Ascension model ranges on this website by request.

All speakers include removable grilles but any speaker can be made without grilles and grille clips if you request.

Blackwood veneer is standard on Artisans, other premium veneers cost extra.

You can still choose from standard American Oak or stained American Oak veneers.

or non veneered colours

Also available: grey, red, blue, violet. See veneers, colours and finishes page.

Artisan A1093SQTL
10" 3-way large floorstander

Price: $2695/pr
Finish: Fluted semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 1240h x 350w x 415d transmission line cabinet
Power Handling: 180 wrms
Nominal Impedance: 6 ohms
Frequency Response: 22 -- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB with gradual roll-off giving usable response below 20Hz
Sensitivity: 91 dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 290 mm high end papyrus cone bass driver; 150 mm papyrus cone midrange with ultra flat response; Superb, smooth, efficient wave guide tweeter capable of response beyond 30 kHz.
Description: This flagship Artisan fluted floorstander makes a strong style statement.  Like a column out of a medieval cathedral, yet strikingly modern or even Art Deco, it has vertically fluted, curved sides and is finished in piano black and Blackwood -- unique! The cabinet is much more inert and has a surprisingly big sound stage and extended musical bass with its practical Transmission Line design, and the sort of refined studio performance you would expect after seeing its beautiful stylish appearance. The previous similar 8883PRTL was a real artisan of sound and is used professionally by a highly regarded nationwide music reviewer, but this speaker is a further refinement of the design using a new range of drivers. It is fast, accurate, extended, and above all, has that wonderful quality of faithfully, lucidly recreating a live sound stage to envelope you in either a stereo or home theatre system.  Huge presence, efficient, clean and accurate, fabulous bass, these Artisans are comparable to and more natural sounding than other brands costing much more. A refined audiophile experience.

Artisan A253SQ
double 5" 3-way centre channel

Price: $950 each
Finish: Semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 840w x 160h x 315d bass reflex 24 litres
Power Handling: 120/180 wrms/w program
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response:  50-- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 91dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 5 inch high resolving SB Acoustics Papyrus cone bass drivers; 2 x 4" SB Acoustics midrange;  high end wave guide tweeter with low distortion and extended high frequency output
Description: This Artisan is primarily to be used as a centre channel to go with other Artisan speakers, but it can also be used as a point source vertical stand-mount or low shelf speaker.

Artisan A5522SQ
double 5" 2-way large bookshelf or centre channel

Price: $1495 pr (or $750 each)
Finish: Fluted semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 640h x 240w x 315d bass reflex 24 litres
Power Handling: 120/180 wrms/w program
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response:  45-- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 91dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 5 inch high resolving SB Acoustics Papyrus cone drivers; wave guide tweeter with good off-axis response and smooth high frequency output.
Description: This is a universal Artisan speaker that can be used for almost any purpose: front, back, centre, surround or stereo.

Artisan A5532SQTL
double 5" 2-way small floorstander

Price: $1495 pr (or $750 each)
Finish: Fluted semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 940h x 240w x 315d bass reflex 30 litres
Power Handling: 120/180 wrms/w program
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response:  42-- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 91dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 2 x 5 inch high resolving SB Acoustics Papyrus cone drivers; wave guide tweeter with good off-axis response and smooth high frequency output.
Description: This is a fabulous Artisan speaker for its size, ideal as a main speaker for smaller to medium rooms, but with the presence of a much bigger model. 

Artisan A502SQ
5" 2-way bookshelf

Price: $995/pr (or $500 each)
Finish: Fluted semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 340h x 240w x 215d bass reflex 8 litres
Power Handling: 60/120 wrms/wmax
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response:  51-- 30,000 Hertz +/-2dB
Sensitivity: 90dB 1w/1m
Drivers: 5 inch high resolving SB Acoustics Papyrus cone woofer/mid; wave guide tweeter with good off-axis response and smooth high frequency output.
Description: Once again this Artisan smaller bookshelf speaker uses the same high quality drivers and beautiful design as other speakers in this series, but in a more compact size suitable for use as a rear/surround, front high/wide, a complete high end satellite home theatre system, or stereo speakers for a small room. The SB Acoustics 5 inch drivers used in this series have exceptional quality bass, and this small speaker does not disappoint. Similar to the M502SQ from the monitor range.

Artisan Subwoofer A1025STL
10" 250 watt transmission line

Price: $1195
Finish: Fluted semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 540h x 350w x415d hybrid Transmission Line 48 litres
Amplifier: 250 wrms
Controls: on/off; level; crossover; phase
Crossover Control: adjustable 30 -- 120 Hertz
Frequency Response: 23 Hertz -- crossover +/-3dB
Inputs: low level RCA and high level (speaker leads)
Driver: SB Acoustics 290mm triple magnet, long throw, free moving driver with die cast basket and huge compression free coil venting--superb driver.
Description: To suit the rest of the Artisan series in style and performance, the Subwoofer is not huge, but oozes quality. It uses the incomparable 10 inch SB driver which is very hard to beat for quality listening--especially with our in-house modifications. The bass reproduction is natural, faithful, clean, deep and detailed.  It has the power and quality to satisfy all requirements in all but the very largest of rooms/spaces. Excellent audiophile high end reference music listening as well as quality movie experience.

Artisan Subwoofer A1550DTL
15" 500 watt transmission line

Price: $1995
Finish: Fluted semi-gloss piano black with Blackwood face
Cabinet: 840h x 490w x465d hybrid Transmission Line 125 litres
Amplifier: 500 wrms
Controls: on/off; level; crossover; phase 0 -- 180
Crossover Control: adjustable 30 -- 200 Hertz
Frequency Response: 18 Hertz -- crossover +/-3dB
Inputs: low level RCA and high level (speaker leads)
Driver: Huge double magnet, long throw, free moving driver with huge compression free coil venting--superb subwoofer driver.
Description: To suit the rest of the Artisan series in style and performance, this subwoofer is huge, but oozes quality and power while retaining control and accuracy in our unique transmission channel design. The bass reproduction is natural, faithful, clean, deep and detailed.  It has the power and quality to satisfy all requirements in large and medium rooms/spaces.