Chario Academy Sovran (pack of 2)

The Academy Sovran is a three-way floorstanding speaker that embodies the brand’s philosophy: combining premium materials with proprietary technologies to deliver precise sound reproduction. Its construction features two separate enclosures and an inverted vertical alignment, ensuring refined sonic coherence and spatial imaging, while its solid walnut cabinet reflects meticulous artisanal craftsmanship. Designed for small to medium-sized rooms, it delivers acoustic performance that stands out even among larger and more expensive models.

Distinctive Acoustic Architecture

The two-enclosure construction is the visual and technical signature of the Academy Sovran. The upper enclosure, crafted from solid walnut or cherry with a high-density fiberboard (HDF) front panel, houses a 32 mm Silversoft dome tweeter and a 170 mm Rohacell Full-Apex midrange driver. This unit rests atop the lower enclosure, which contains two 200 mm natural fiber woofers. The two modules are separated by four proprietary circular elastomer dampers that Chario calls “puffers.”

These cylindrical decouplers play a crucial role in dissipating mechanical energy through orthogonal elongation, thus minimizing unwanted vibrations between the two enclosures. This physical separation isolates the bass frequencies from the mids and highs, significantly reducing interference and unwanted coloration. The entire assembly is tilted five degrees backward, a precisely calculated angle to ensure perfectly synchronized energy propagation.

Sophisticated Acoustic Configuration

The Academy Sovran’s three-way system is based on a unique driver arrangement. Unlike typical configurations, the tweeter is positioned below the midrange driver, at a height corresponding to a seated listener’s ears (about 89 cm). This layout, combined with the tilt of the upper enclosure, optimizes sound dispersion and improves phase coherence.

In the lower enclosure, the two 200 mm woofers are configured in an isobaric “cone-to-cone” setup, where both drivers are wired out of phase, allowing them to operate as a single unit. This system, which Chario describes as an “acoustic doublet,” helps minimize room resonance modes and reduces peaks and dips in the bass frequencies. The “vented isobaric compound” acoustic loading combines this configuration with an exponential hourglass-shaped NRS port, enhancing efficiency and reducing bass distortion.

Advanced Crossover Technology

The Academy Sovran uses a sophisticated crossover system that maintains parallel phase delay slopes between the different sections. The crossover frequency between the bass enclosure and the midrange driver is set at 100 Hz, while the mid/high transition occurs at 1180 Hz with an LKR4-derived filter (with a 45° phase shift).

This meticulous approach to filtering allows for remarkable flexibility in speaker placement. According to Mario Marcello Murace, you can angle the speakers inward for greater soundstage depth, or place them parallel for a soundstage wider than the distance between the speakers, without affecting timbral accuracy. Tests confirm this claim, with a clear recommendation to aim the speakers toward the listener to optimize image focus.

Balanced and Precise Sound Reproduction

The Academy Sovran’s sonic signature is defined by its exemplary neutrality. As one reviewer put it, “it does nothing, it does everything.” This neutrality is paired with an exceptional ability to reveal the nuances of recordings without ever sounding clinical or artificial. The speaker delivers remarkable rhythmic coherence and crisp attack, followed by clean sustain and long decays that enhance well-recorded material.

Although bass extension is limited to 35 Hz, the quality and precision of the low frequencies more than compensate for this limitation. The bass is exceptionally clean and agile, free from the boom, artificial warmth, or excessive coloration often found in speakers with deeper extension. The sound presentation remains coherent at all listening levels, from whispers to high volumes, never losing clarity or definition.

The stereo imaging is particularly impressive, with the ability to create a three-dimensional soundstage that extends well beyond the speakers. Instruments retain their tonal and physical integrity, with images clearly placed outside the cabinets. This spatial coherence gives the impression that the sound emanates from a single point source rather than multiple drivers.

Technical Specifications

Acoustic Features

• Low-frequency loading: Exponential NRS hourglass port
• Port geometry: Two-dimensional hyper-exponential hourglass type
• Configuration: 3-way floorstanding speaker with inverted vertical alignment
• Sensitivity: 90 dB SPL standardized at 1 m / 2.83 Vrms / L/R channels decorrelated
  • Measurement in listening room according to ITU-R BS 1116-1 standard with pink noise
• Low cutoff frequency: 35 Hz at -3 dB referenced to C4 WETS
• Doublet crossover: 100 Hz
• Midrange / tweeter crossover: 1180 Hz / LKR4-derived (Δf = 45°)
• Nominal impedance: 4 Ω module (min 3.0) Argument ± 36°

Drivers

• 1 x 32 mm SILVERSOFT dome tweeter with NeFeB motor
• 1 x 170 mm ROHACELL Full-Apex midrange driver with polymer ring and NeFeB motor
• 2 x 200 mm natural fiber woofers with polymer ring and NeFeB motor

Cabinet and Dimensions

• Cabinet: Solid walnut and HDF
  • Structure includes two enclosures:
  • The lower enclosure houses two woofers
  • The upper enclosure houses one midrange driver and one tweeter
  • The two enclosures are separated by four cylindrical elastomer dampers
  • These vibration isolators dissipate mechanical energy through orthogonal elongation
• Dimensions and weight: 1220 x 240 x 440 mm (H x W x D) / 47 kg

Listening Environment and Amplification

• Speaker orientation: Speakers should be angled inward toward the listener
• Listening distance: Optimal speaker-to-listener distance > 3.0 m
• Listening setup: A carpeted floor in front of the speakers is recommended
• Side and rear walls: Should be at least 1 m from the front of the speaker
• Recommended amplifier:
  • Standard amplification: 180 W / 4 Ω maximum average power
  • Bi-amplification: 120 W / 4 Ω maximum average power

Technologies and Innovations

• Doublet Radiator: Low-frequency dispersion control with Chario technology.
• Acoustic design: Interference management for realistic listening.
• Inverted alignment: Optimized energy response of the drivers.
• Natural wood: Climate adaptation for optimal sound quality.
• Hourglass port: Quiet and efficient acoustic dispersion.
• Handcrafted construction: Wood assembly ensuring strength and durability.