Chario Aviator Aria (pack of 2)

Chario Aviator Aria is a 5-way floorstanding speaker that combines distinctive design with sophisticated sound architecture, delivering musical reproduction of remarkable precision and richness. Its unique inverted vertical alignment system and innovative configuration with an upper woofer enable three-dimensional spatialization of instruments, creating a soundstage that is both precise and immersive. Designed with a rigorous scientific approach combining electroacoustics, psychoacoustics, and an in-depth study of the listening environment, the Aviator Aria pushes the boundaries of traditional speakers to offer an authentic and moving musical experience.

A Masterpiece of Italian Craftsmanship

The Aviator Aria embodies the excellence of Italian craftsmanship with its sumptuous solid walnut cabinet, whose elegant curves eliminate right angles, thus reducing the diffraction of standing waves both inside and outside the speaker. This meticulous attention to detail is reflected in its modular structure, composed of two distinct enclosures: the lower enclosure houses two powerful 200 mm subwoofers, while the upper enclosure contains a 165 mm woofer, a 130 mm midrange, and a 38 mm tweeter.

These two modules are separated by four proprietary cylindrical elastomer dampers that act as vibration decouplers, dissipating mechanical energy through orthogonal elongation. This innovative design not only optimizes acoustic performance but also gives the Aviator Aria an imposing and refined visual presence that integrates harmoniously into the most demanding interiors.

The flawless finish and balanced proportions are a testament to Chario’s traditional know-how, a brand that has been manufacturing high-end loudspeakers in Italy since 1975. Each pair of Aviator Aria is hand-assembled with impeccable rigor, ensuring exceptional build quality and unmatched durability.

Revolutionary Sound Architecture

The Aviator Aria stands out for its revolutionary 5-way sound architecture with inverted vertical alignment. Unlike conventional speakers, Chario has fundamentally rethought the configuration of the drivers and their interaction to create remarkable sonic coherence across the entire audible spectrum.

The system replaces the traditional crossover frequency concept with harmoniously overlapping ranges. In the 150 to 200 Hz range, the lower subwoofer, rear subwoofer, woofer, and midrange work in synergy, while in the 1 kHz to 1.5 kHz range, the woofer, midrange, and tweeter collaborate for a perfectly smooth transition.

The 38 mm T38Waveguide tweeter, significantly larger than those used in most speakers, operates at an unusually low crossover frequency of 1345 Hz. This counterintuitive approach is based on a deep understanding of human hearing: our ears are less sensitive to phase distortion between 800 Hz and 1500 Hz, allowing the crossover point to be placed in this zone to minimize perceptible distortions in the ranges where our sensitivity is higher.

The upper 165 mm woofer is another major innovation. Strategically positioned at the top of the speaker, it performs a specific task of regulating the entire audio spectrum, greatly improving music intelligibility and limiting unwanted reflections. This unique configuration allows the Aviator Aria to sculpt instruments in space with striking three-dimensional precision.

The Science Behind the Sound

The design of the Aviator Aria is based on a rigorous scientific approach that integrates three complementary disciplines: electroacoustics, psychoacoustics, and the study of the acoustic environment.

Electroacoustics forms the fundamental research that enables Chario to develop high-performance components through the study of real-world behavior and the application of essential electroacoustic parameters. Each transducer is meticulously designed to deliver optimal performance within its specific frequency range.

Psychoacoustics makes it possible to understand how our perceptual system (ears, eyes, brain, sense of smell, etc.) perceives and decodes the components of sound reproduction. This deep understanding of how human hearing works has guided crucial technical choices, such as the unusual size of the tweeter and its specific crossover point.

The study of the acoustic environment analyzes how space drastically affects sound reproduction, how energy is transferred in the listening room, and what the listener ultimately perceives. This knowledge influenced the design of the NRS (Near Reflective Surface) bass reflex system and the configuration of the woofers.

The harmonious interaction of these three scientific disciplines enables Chario to create a speaker capable of delivering natural sound that respects the main component to consider: the human being. This listener-centered philosophy fundamentally distinguishes Chario’s approach.

Acoustic Performance

The Aviator Aria delivers acoustic performance that stands out for its remarkable coherence across the entire frequency spectrum, despite its complex 5-way configuration. The speaker achieves the feat of sounding like a single high-quality transducer while benefiting from the advantages of a sophisticated multi-way system.

Its high sensitivity of 95 dB SPL (standardized at 1 m / 2.83 Vrms) allows it to deliver impressive dynamics even with moderately powered amplifiers. This feature, combined with a low-frequency response down to 35 Hz at -3 dB, ensures precise and authoritative reproduction of the most demanding musical passages.

The Aviator Aria’s sound presentation is characterized by tonal neutrality and rich detail, never veering into excessive analytical territory that could cause listening fatigue. The soundstage it generates is remarkably three-dimensional, allowing each instrument to be precisely located in space. This ability to sculpt the stereo image with surgical accuracy transforms listening into a true sensory experience.

In the low frequencies, the Aviator Aria delivers exceptional extension, definition, and texture thanks to its two 200 mm subwoofers and NRS technology. The 130 mm ROHACELL midrange offers remarkable transparency and absence of coloration, while the T38Waveguide tweeter delivers detailed and airy highs without any harshness.

This sonic coherence and temporal accuracy across all frequencies allow the Aviator Aria to convincingly reproduce all musical genres, from the most complex classical symphonies to the most demanding contemporary electronic productions.

NRS Technology and Bass Innovation

The NRS (Near Reflective Surface) bass reflex system is one of the major innovations of the Aviator Aria. This proprietary technology exploits the reflected waves between the lower subwoofer, the decompression port, and the surface beneath the speaker to optimize low-frequency response.

The 200 mm subwoofer placed under the speaker interacts with the port and the floor to create ideal acoustic loading, achieving exceptional extension, definition, and dynamics in the bass register despite relatively compact dimensions. This configuration significantly improves the system’s efficiency in the low frequencies while reducing distortion.

Complementing this approach, the second 200 mm subwoofer positioned at the rear of the speaker helps create a more enveloping sound by radiating energy in all directions. This configuration also reduces listening fatigue by assisting the lower subwoofer in reproducing the lowest frequencies.

The Aviator Aria also features a 165 mm ROHACELL Full-Apex Poly-Ring woofer with NeFeB motor on its front, ensuring a perfect transition between the subwoofers and the midrange. This sophisticated transducer, with its ROHACELL diaphragm and powerful motor, combines speed, precision, and dynamic capability for flawless reproduction of the lower midrange.

This complex yet perfectly mastered architecture allows the Aviator Aria to deliver bass performance that rivals significantly larger speakers, while maintaining exemplary articulation, definition, and musicality.

Technical Specifications

Acoustic Specifications

• Sensitivity: 95 dB SPL standardized at 1 m / 2.83 Vrms
• Low frequency response: 35 Hz at -3 dB referenced to C4 WETS
• Precise and intimate sound with three-dimensional instrument spatialization
• Detailed sound reproduction, especially in the bass

Drivers

• Tweeter: 1 x 38 mm T38Waveguide tweeter
• Midrange: 1 x 130 mm ROHACELL Poly-Ring midrange driver with NeFeB motor
• Woofer: 1 x 165 mm ROHACELL Full-Apex Poly-Ring woofer with NeFeB motor
• Subwoofers: 2 x 200 mm natural fiber subwoofers with NeFeB motor
  • One woofer positioned at the rear
  • One woofer positioned underneath the speaker

Configuration and Architecture

• Configuration: 5-way floorstanding speaker with inverted vertical alignment
• Low frequency loading: NRS ported system
• 5-way inverted alignment system:
  • Conventional crossover frequency concept replaced by overlapping frequency ranges
  • From 150 to 200 Hz: lower subwoofer, rear subwoofer, woofer, midrange
  • From 1 kHz to 1.5 kHz: woofer, midrange, tweeter
• Nominal impedance: 4 Ω module (min 3.0), argument ± 36°

Cabinet and Dimensions

• Materials: solid walnut and HDF
• Structure: consists of two enclosures
  • The lower enclosure houses two subwoofers
  • The upper enclosure houses a woofer, a midrange, and a tweeter
  • The two enclosures are separated by four proprietary cylindrical elastomer dampers acting as vibration decouplers to dissipate mechanical energy through orthogonal elongation
• Dimensions: 1610 x 400 x 580 mm (H x W x D)
• Weight: 100 kg

Installation and Listening Environment

• Speaker orientation: speakers should be angled inward facing the listener
• Listening distance: optimal speaker-to-listener distance > 3.5 m
• Room setup: a carpeted floor in front of the speakers is recommended
• Side and rear walls: should be at least 1 m from the front baffle of the speaker