Discover these divine, absolutely gorgeous looking, new bluetooth speakers. Vifa from Denmark make portable, wireless speakers with built-in environmentally friendly rechargeable batteries and innovative engineering for uncompromised sound. Compact units and wifi multi-room options. Everything about the design is seductive, made for long life and the best possible sound. Our analysis will tell you more…
For 80 years Vifa developed and manufactured drivers for high-end loudspeakers. They now produce their own range of five premium compact music systems, which includes WiFi multi-room options for your home.
To feel an affinity is a form of inner revelation. Aotearoa could be mapped onto Scandinavia. Powerful mountain ranges, pure rushing waters, deep fiords, open seas, fresh air, clear light, and wild weather. These are embedded in our our psyche and our lifestyle, with a Nordic romanticism.
You can imagine then a company in Denmark, developing audio as long as Vifa has (founded 1933), could not help but design a lifestyle audio range that has echoes of the natural environment. Vifa’s fame comes from manufacturing driver units for many high-end speaker brands, until 2014 when it made a transition into making its own wireless speakers. If ever there was an antithesis to the general perception of Hifi this is it. They are almost pre-industrial, earthy, not at all mechanical, and there is nothing plastic or synthetic about them. Yet the technology is absolutely cutting edge. Vifa speakers are made for you and your home.
Their new self-titled range consists of five playing systems. All are Bluetooth speakers.
Three come under the ‘portable’ banner and the other two ‘home.’ The ‘portable’ ones are stand-alone systems and the two larger ‘home’ speakers can also be multi-room/user/source-systems.
When we say wireless we mean exactly that. All but the largest in the range have a built-in rechargeable Lithium battery.
We find a litmus test for the sound quality of Bluetooth speakers is, when people walk into Totally Wired, they can’t tell where the sound is coming from. In a room of high end stereo systems which one is making the music?
Advanced Sound Reproduction
Digital Signal Processing’ splits the sound production into the three channel amplifier, which then individually powers the woofer and two tweeters. Normal speakers require a ‘crossover’ between the amplifier and drive units. DSP means even the smallest of the range can produce much more sound from its size. Sound that is both full and detailed. This type of technology is found in some high-end loudspeakers. By keeping the signal within the digital domain the sound is more pure. This purity of sound which you’ll hear, is also aided by the amplifiers being ‘switched mode’ (Class-D), of the Digital Pure Path type. Unlike big, old style amplifiers this type of amplification is small and doesn’t generate heat.
Vifa’s audio engineering superiority is again exemplified with their Force Balanced Woofer system. This has the two woofers (speaker units), inside the enclosure placed back to back, rigidly fixed together and oriented to outbalance vibration. The strength of construction results in the strength of sound produced. Made from polycarbonate the enclosures are also inordinately strong. Woofers push air, so where does the air go? Below the woofers two back-to-back passive radiators take care of this. These are flat rigid cones mounted in a soft linear long-throw suspension, precisely designed to minimise mechanical impact on the enclosure and allow the woofers to work efficiently. Two full-range drivers on either side of the woofers, but in their own seperate enclosures, provide exacting control of the mid and upper-range notes. These are angled in such a way as to disperse sound no matter where you place your speaker.
‘aptX’ is an addition to the standard Bluetooth coding. It transfers audio at a higher bit rate and uses a better compression method resulting in a more smooth and crisp stream of sound. ‘NFC’ means ‘near field communication.’ Its a wireless chip that, if your device has it, allows it to connect to another NFC device simply by being within a few centimeters of each other. This means that when using Bluetooth, as would often be the case with the portable models, you have not only reliable and fast connection but also superb sound.
Kvadrat
The sensuous wool covers are especially designed by Kvadrat who are a high quality textile designer and manufacturer. Kvadrat are a multi-talented international company based in Denmark. Art and design are at the heart of this environmentally concerned organisation. They partner with a myriad of design companies on projects, as well as artists around the world.
“Kvadrat was a perfect partner for our new series of upscale loudspeakers. We had some extremely challenging specifications for the fabric covering our loudspeakers, in terms of both resistance and the ability to let sound pass through the threads. Kvadrat was up for the challenge and brought solid experience and the ability to think out of the box to the table. In terms of design, our two companies also share the same strive for high-end, Nordic quality. The end-result exceeded our expectations and we are more than satisfied with the collaboration” – Vifa.
Everything about the Vifa speakers call out to their premium description. Mostly especially their subtle design and obvious sound quality. The construction is, without a doubt, high end. They are reassuringly solid and stand with stability; yet are light enough to comfortably carry. Which Vifa is for you? Send us your query.
We are excited to have discovered the Vifa range which allows us to share with you a new up-market design. One that is technically more advanced than other Bluetooth speakers we’ve dealt with, resulting in overall better performance for you to enjoy.
Reviews
If you would like get a more personal impression of the Vifas Carolijn has written about them. What do others think? “Vifa Copenhagen is a wireless speaker for people who do not only appreciate traditional hi-fi qualities such as pure, musical sound and acoustic pressure that fills the room but also live a connected life with digital content and streaming to portable units.” Indulge in the imagery on Vifa’s Instagram.
