Read StereoNET UK’s Serhan Swift Mu2 MkII Bookshelf Loudspeakers Review Here

mu2 MK II – detail

With its smart new high quality matt black finish, the mu2 Mk II is much more than just a facelift – it’s a totally new loudspeaker.

All elements – cabinet, woofer, tweeter, crossover – have been carefully re-examined and significantly improved, even where many thought no further improvement was possible.

Lessons learned from the original mu2 Special Edition (as well as our ongoing research into the effects of vibration on all components – see above)  have been expanded upon, and now been applied to the mu2 Mk II.

While the woofer and tweeter may look the same as the previous model, both have been improved with even flatter response, smoother rolloff, and lower distortion.

Enhancements to the crossover take full advantage of the above.

With 1000’s more hours of listening tests and measurements, the cross-over region and on-axis to off-axis transition are even more seamless and even more difficult to detect (always outstanding features of the original design).

The mu2 Mk II takes detail and resolution to yet another level, as well as making the spatial preentation even more realistic. Soundstage and imaging are readily apparent, appropriate and precise in scale, and rock solid – they don’t appear to change or move.

Additionally, the speaker truly disappears, with listeners in our showroom unable to tell which speakers are playing.

Of course, the other attributes for which the mu2 is renowned (see Design Brief, above) have all been retained.

mu2 Mk II – cabinet

The new multi-layer cabinet construction now employs additional layers of differing materials, carefully chosen for composition and thickness, for even further reduction in cabinet noise (vibration), energy storage and colouration. Bracing has been further strengthened.

In fact the new build adds almost 1Kg to the weight of each speaker when compared to the original mu2.

While the mu2 cabinet combined with mechanical isolation and vibration attenuation of drivers and crossover components was already outstanding in it’s quietness and lack of colouration, the mu2 Mk II is significantly moreso.

This enables the listener to perceive the entire duration of the decay to an “inky black” total silence between notes. A sense of low-level detail allows the listener to easily discern and follow each instrument and focus on the various layers of the music, rather than struggling to listen through noise and confusion.

“5 days to conceive – 5 years to perfect”

With  5 years of  R&D and component testing, Serhan Swift found the optimum drivers to be a bass-midrange woofer and ring-radiator tweeter belonging to the premium Revelator series manufactured by renowned Scan-speak of Denmark.

These drivers are also found in much more expensive speakers from high-end companies such as Wilson Audio, Sonus Faber and others—some costing well over $50K. Their use in a speaker at this price point is unheard of – pun intended!

After extensive experimentation with low and high-order crossover configurations, a high-order crossover was ultimately chosen allowing for steeper slopes, to keep the drive units in their respective “power bands” and minimise out of band distortion. Whilst this increases component cost dramatically the audible benefits are very obvious.

Components are not selected simply on the basis of brand or reputation – synergy is key. They must perfectly suit the application. And then all are tested, measured, adjusted and matched.

Bass and treble crossovers are kept separate and hand wired, point to point, then silver soldered on 5mm thick high density substrates. Proprietary micro vibration control is also applied here. These measures reduce unwanted noise and distortion even further.

The Cardas brand terminals are high purity copper with rhodium plating. Expensive, but audibly superior, reliable, and long lasting. (Nothing has been overlooked. Attention to detail means you hear the detail.)

Serhan Swift consider their products a long-term investment. Each pair of mu2 MKII’s take 3 days from start to finish under the watchful eyes of Chief Loudspeaker Designer Brad Serhan and Engineering Director Morris Swift. Brad performs final testing and then he and Morris proudly sign each unit.

mu2 Mk II – specification

Drive Units

ScanSpeak 1″ Ring Radiator Tweeter

Patented Symmetrical Drive(SD-2) motor

Non Resonant Alu Rear Chamber

Patented Phase Plug Design

Large Ring Neo Magnet

Extremely Low Distortion

ScanSpeak 5”/15cm Revelator Bass/Mid Woofer

Patented Symmetrical Drive motor design

Low-Loss linear suspension

Die cast Alu Chassis vented below the spider

Sliced Cone (controls Cone Breakup)

Low Damping SBR Rubber Surround

Key Components

Crossover components utilising premium quality air cored inductors, polypropylene capacitors and non-inductive resistors

Cardas Rhodium ‘high purity’ copper binding posts

Measurements

Frequency Response (typical in room response): 45Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity: 84dB/1m/2.83 volts

Power Handling (typical music programme): 100 watts

Nominal Impedance: ~ 6 ohms

Dimensions: Height 32.2cm, Width 18cm, Depth 23.6cm

Weight: 8kg each approx.

Cabinets

Low noise-floor cabinet utilises multiple layers of specified thickness and differing materials to reduce the noise, vibration and colouration

Mechanical isolators for mounting drivers and key crossover components further reduces vibration/colouration

Asymmetric bracing to break up standing waves

Finish: Matt Black multi-layer polyurethane