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Alcone Pascal CX

The Pascal CX was designed around the Vifa ASE 17 CN 225/8-XT, a driver that has not received the recognition it should have, although the sound quality is superb. Dennis Frank took these drivers home and experimented with different arrangements.

The result: Pascal CX where the ASE point source is surrounded by two hard-suspended Alcone AC 6.5 HE.

The Elektor Special Edition Audio 1 confirmed an excellent sound and exquisite three-dimensionality at a moderate price" Alcone Pascal CX
 

The Pascal CX shows the following characteristics:

  • accurate bass
  • well balanced sound and excellent three-dimensionality
  • extremely transparent
  • beautiful, slim design Form (height x width x depth): 122 x 20 x 30 cm

Technical data:

  • frequency response: 37-30 000 Hz (-8dB)
  • crossover frequencies: 300, 2700 Hz
  • average SPL: 90 dB (2.83V/1m)
  • impedance: 4 Ohm

The Alcone Pascal XT kit contains:

  • 1 x ASE 17 CN 225/8-XT coax driver
  • 2 x Alcone AC 6.5, bass / mid drivers 8 Ohm
  • 2 packs (4 mats) damping fleece
  • 2 x HP 70 bass reflex tubes
  • 2 Au binding posts, gold plated
  • 3 metres cable 2 x 1.5 mm2
  • self-adhesive sealing tape
  • 12 Allen screws
  • the building instruction

The crossover consists of:

  • 4.7 mH i-core coil, < 0.3 Ohm
  • 22 mH ferrite core coil 22 mH/1.49 Ohm
  • 3.9 mH core coil / 1.58 Ohm
  • 0.68 mH baked varnish coil / 1 mm
  • 0.39 mH air core coil / 1 mm
  • 0.22 mH air core coil / 0.7 mm
  • 100 uF ELCO, non-etched
  • 220 uF ELCO, etched
  • 122 uF MKP capacitor (100 uF in parallel to 22 uF)
  • 22 uF MKP capacitor
  • 1 uF MKP capacitor
  • 3.9 uF Mundorf MKP capacitor
  • 2.7 Ohm MOX10 resistor (red-purple-gold)
  • 5.6 Ohm MOX10 resistor (green-blue-gold)
  • 6,8 Ohm MOX10 resistor (blue-grey-gold)
  • 8.2 Ohm MOX10 resistor (grey-red-gold)
Price per unit without cabinet EUR 482,00

If you don't want to mount the crossover components on wood, we can also supply a 220 x 155 mm universal PCB; one per speaker is needed.
Price per PCB EUR 8,80

A high-end crossover is also available, although we believe the one listed above is good enough.
 
 

Lab results of the Pascal CX:

A loudspeaker heavily depends on the reflections coming from the walls, especially since the listener is not seated right in front of the speaker. Therefore, it is more important to measure loudspeakers at an angle of 15 degrees instead of 0 degrees.
Frequenzgang Pascal
 
 

Picture left:
the frequency response
at 0°.

There some peaks above 10 kHz. They won't, however, be noticed negatively since the human ear judges the
a) direct radiation and
b) the reflected radiation
and especially the reflections shouldn't be too subdued. A long ribbon radiates less toward the top and bottom; it, therefore, makes sense when there are some peaks radiating in other directions. A radiation to the front would be the obvious one since usually the listener is not sitting right in front of the speaker but usually listens at an angle anywhere between 15 and 30 degrees with the speakers parallel to the rear wall.

Measurements at 15 and 30 degrees is therefore important and are shown below.

Frequenzgang Pascal
 
 

Picture left:
the frequency response
at 15°.

Frequency response
is quite flat

(Diagram
without smoothing
like third order or
octave averaging!)

Waterfall spectrum
 
 

Picture left:
Waterfall spectrum
at 15°.

Decay is
quite quick.

Impedance
 
 

Picture left:
Impedance response

Pascal CX Building Instruction

Home Cinema with Pascal CX: point sources with DSP subwoofer

Pascal CX Heimkino

Especially high-end home cinema systems often comprise point source loudspeakers. It, therefore, makes sense to use the Pascal CX for this type of sound system. Our recommendation:

  • two floorstanding speakers like described above
  • Three to four satellites (one of them a centre speaker)
  • One Alcone subwoofer

The satellites and the centre consist of the same drivers as the floorstanders, as the crossovers in general influences the upper frequency range, which is the same in both cases. The reduced volume of the satellites and the lack of bass reflex tubes results in these speakers reaching down only to roughly. 60 Hz (-3 dB).

As subwoofer we recommend the Sub 22 with DSP (or Sub 12) as well as a standard Sub 22.

The following prices are per loudspeaker without cabinet:

Pascal CX Floorstander EUR 482,00
Pascal CX Satellite EUR 479,00
Subwoofer Sub 22 DSP - not available

Pascal CX Building Instruction     Home