Piega Premium 701 Gen2 black (pack of 2)

Handmade in Horgen, near Lake Zurich, this three-way floorstander is a complete overhaul of its predecessor. The 701 moves from a 2.5-way configuration to a true three-way system with a dedicated midrange, while adopting the new RM 01-24 magnetostatic ribbon tweeter, the result of two years of development and more than thirty prototypes. Its seamless extruded aluminum cabinet and circular plinth give it an immediately recognizable silhouette.

An aluminum cabinet milled from solid

Piega extrudes each cabinet from a single block of aluminum. No joints, no welds. When you tap on the side, you hardly hear anything, whereas many wooden speakers reveal unwanted resonances. This natural rigidity of metal is complemented by an internal wooden matrix and a damping material borrowed from the high-end Coax series.

The C-shaped oval profile, designed by Stefan Hürlemann, echoes the styling cues of the Ace range. The speaker sits on a 30 cm diameter circular base that gives the impression it is floating above the floor. The fabric grilles are magnetically attached with surprising strength while remaining invisible: no clips, no pegs, just a precise fit within the cabinet’s frame.

At 17 cm wide and 111.5 cm high, the 701 Gen2 remains surprisingly discreet in a room. Its 20.9 kg weight, moderate for a floorstander of this size thanks to the aluminum construction, makes handling during installation easier.

The RM 01-24 tweeter: twenty years of experience distilled

The name RM 01-24 pays tribute to its creators, Roger Kessler (chief engineer) and Mario Ballabio (ribbon specialist at Piega). This magnetostatic tweeter with aluminum diaphragm is hand-assembled in the Swiss factory using know-how passed down from one generation to the next within the company.

The aluminum diaphragm, about fifty times lighter than a conventional textile dome, responds with a speed that conventional technologies struggle to match. The innovation lies in the layout of the magnets: they flank the ribbon at the front and rear in a strictly symmetrical geometry. This orthogonal magnetic field improves linearity, reduces distortion, and refines impulse response.

The frequency response extends up to 50 kHz, well beyond the audible spectrum but contributing to an airy, detailed reproduction of high-frequency harmonics.

Three ways, four drivers

The previous 701 operated as a 2.5-way: two identical drivers shared bass and midrange duties with different crossover filtering. The Gen2 abandons this compromise. The 140 mm midrange driver (FSD-M) is now specifically optimized for its frequency band, while the two 140 mm woofers (FSD-W), arranged symmetrically below the midrange, focus exclusively on bass.

This FSD (Full Symmetric Drive) technology halves the number of magnets compared with previous designs, a step Piega presents as part of a sustainability approach. Magnetic optimization strengthens the voice coil in areas of high field intensity and improves the overall efficiency of the system.

The bass-reflex ports are placed at the rear, in the center of the cabinet. Frequency response extends down to 34 Hz (±2 dB), an honest figure for a speaker of this size. Sensitivity of 90 dB/W/m and 4-ohm impedance allow the use of amplifiers from 20 to 200 watts.

Listening impressions: neutrality and transparency

The 701 Gen2 has a neutral character that could seem clinical if the presentation were not so lively. Voices, acoustic guitars, and string instruments appear with a realism that does not require high listening levels to reveal detail. The texture of vocals, the breath on studio recordings, the bite of the strings: everything is there, without exaggeration or softening.

The dedicated midrange brings a coherence that the 2.5-way configuration could not achieve. Stereo imaging is precise and stable, with soundstage depth that rewards careful placement. Microdynamics, those subtle variations in intensity that bring musical phrasing to life, are particularly well rendered.

Bass extends with authority yet remains tight. You won’t find the physical impact of larger speakers here: the 701 Gen2 favors definition over sheer power. In small and medium-sized rooms, this approach works especially well, including at low volume. For larger rooms or fans of high-level electronic music, a subwoofer can be added to complete the system.

Technical specifications

Specifications

• Type: 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker
• Recommended amplifier power: 20 – 200 W
• Sensitivity: 90 dB / W / m
• Impedance: 4 ohms
• Frequency response: 34 Hz – 50 kHz (+/- 2 dB)

Drivers

• RM 01-24 ribbon tweeter
  • Magnetostatic ribbon with an innovative arrangement of magnets at the front and rear
  • Distortion reduced to a minimum
  • Strikingly realistic vocals
  • Exceptionally refined instruments
  • Musical details reproduced with brilliant clarity
  • Lively, natural soundstage
• FSD midrange and bass drivers
  • Full Symmetric Drive technology ensuring a harmonious and powerful sound
  • 1 × 140 mm FSD-M (mid-bass): precise, balanced reproduction, perfectly integrated with the ribbon tweeter
  • 2 × 140 mm FSD-W (woofers): symmetrical layout providing deep, powerful, and perfectly controlled bass
  • Every sonic nuance reproduced with accuracy for total immersion

Design

• Brand’s iconic signature
• Exceptional quality and acoustic precision
• Minimalist, industrial aesthetic
• Seamless integration into all contemporary interiors

General

• Dimensions (H × W × D): 111.5 × 17 × 22.8 cm
• Base diameter: Ø 30 cm
• Weight: 20.9 kg

Available finishes

• Sandblasted silver aluminum with silver fabric grille
• Sandblasted black aluminum with black fabric grille
• White lacquered aluminum with white fabric grille
• Sandblasted aluminum limited editions (Misty Green, Shiny Ash) with black fabric grille
• Elegant, resistant, and durable surface