The Graphix centre channel will deliver precise timbral matching to the Acoustix main speakers. The same tweeter used in the Acoustix, Atomix, Tryptix, Rhythmix and Neuphonix means the Graphix can be used with a wide range of Krix products. Small and compact, the Graphix is the perfect choice for use in TV cabinets and custom joinery and the dual front ports eliminate 'boomy' bass qualities found when using rear ported speakers in this type of application. The Graphix delivers an acoustically intricate experience every time.
You could probably count on one hand the loudspeaker companies throughout the world that can make claim to offering a comprehensive range across the consumer, professional and commercial markets.
Krix of South Australia is most certainly one of them. It makes speakers that grace scores of cinemas throughout the world, are utilitarian tools for engineers in many recording studios, and of course, are the pride of a myriad of homes in music and home theatre systems.
This 5.1 channel system consists of four of the newly released Acoustix speakers, a very similarly designed Graphix as centre, and the new Seismix 3 mk5 subwoofer handling all the low stuff.
The 45cm high Acoustix speakers are a rather nicely proportioned two-way speaker with twin 130mm paper coned mid/woofers and a revised 28mm cloth tweeter in a D’Appolito configuration, very closely spaced so as to mimic a point source. The speakers have a nominal 4 ohm impedance, are 89dB sensitive and quote a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz in-room (no dB points quoted), they weigh 10kg and vent via twin Krix-designed elliptical ports on the front. The Graphix centre channel speaker is just about identical to the Acoustix except for the positioning of the speaker terminals.
The new Seismix 3 mk5 weighs a solid 18kg and features a new low-distortion and long throw 275mm doped paper cone driver with a 50mm Kapton coil and huge vented magnet system. A 220 watt amplifier helps it dip down to a low 22Hz in room at -6dB. It measures 415mm high by 360mm wide by 390mm deep.
All are available in vinyl and in a number of matching timber veneer finishes for a small price premium. Our review samples come in a first-rate sumptuous red-tinged Jarrah wood.
As promised by the design elements applied to all five speakers, the sound field presented by the Acoustix and Graphix team was absolutely seamless, enveloping us in an enormous bubble of sound that was a sonic mirage of the action taking place on the screen. Objects, people and even music panned around the room showing zero transition effects.
The Krix’s tonal balance was dead neutral and combined with the very detailed tweeter makes for dialogue that is totally intelligible. Our in-house centre channel speaker is from a respected audio specialist and is quite small; we use such a small centre due to practical placement reasons. When we swapped to the Graphix it became immediately obvious that the Krix was far superior in reproducing delicate low-level detail, clear and natural dialogue and dynamic impact that was previously obscured and buried in the mix with our centre (time for an upgrade).
The ‘Watchmen’ soundtrack is an extravaganza of music, effects and dialogue. We can only say that the Krix system was, well, at once crystalline and brutal (watch the first scene for a literal example); the former by way of sheer resolving power of the Acoustix and Graphix’s tweeters and midrange, and the latter via the seemingly indestructible Seismix subwoofer.
The music and dialogue-heavy ‘Blindness’ and ‘Appaloosa’ were the perfect media for testing further resolution capabilities of the Krix combo. The absolute clarity and accurate timbral qualities on offer here resulted in a movie experience that connects the viewer to the various characters, perhaps due to a heightened subconscious ‘suspension of disbelief’. This usually occurs when a speaker system is very accurate. The downside to such accuracy is that badly-produced soundtracks can sound a tad bright – they’re usually tipped-up in the treble – although in the case of this package, never harsh.
Explosions and crashes are a breeze for the Seismix. We were not only physically massaged by the power of ‘Star Trek’ deep space explosions but we were just as impressed with the depth at which the effects punched through. And the sensation of bass wallop is enhanced by the sub’s tremendous control and grip of all low-end output; this is the kind of subwoofer that doesn’t trade bass tightness for depth, as is sometimes the case.
Krix has managed to assemble a superb all-matching system. The identical Acoustix and Graphix speakers provide a seamless picture and they excel at reproducing detail, dynamic contrast and resolution of complex and dense movie or music mixes. Excelling equally is the Seismix 3 mk5 subwoofer, capable of extraordinary bass power, tightness and depth. This is a package from Krix that is truly terrifix.
- Australian Hi-Fi Best Buys - Australia , Edgar Kramer
