Piega Premium 301 Gen2 white (pack of 2)

Thirty prototypes and several years of development were needed to bring this second generation to life. The engineers at Piega, based in Horgen on the shores of Lake Zurich since 1986, have completely redesigned their compact loudspeaker: new ribbon tweeter, new bass-midrange driver, redesigned cabinet. The result comes in a more compact format than the 2019 model while promising a more accomplished sound reproduction. The Premium 301 Gen2 embodies a rigorous approach to high fidelity, typically Swiss in its attention to detail.

An in-house developed ribbon tweeter

The RM 01-24 bears the initials of its two creators: Roger Kessler, head of development at Piega, and Mario Ballabio, a ribbon tweeter specialist whose father Aldo was already collaborating with co-founder Kurt Scheuch back in the 1980s. This is not a folded-membrane AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter like those used by many manufacturers, but a true magnetostatic ribbon: a thin aluminium membrane through which the signal flows directly.

The membrane weighs about 50 times less than a conventional dome. This lightness allows for fast transients and a response up to 50 kHz. The novelty of this generation lies in the arrangement of the magnets, placed in front of and behind the ribbon to create strictly orthogonal magnetic field lines. This configuration reduces distortion and improves linearity. Each tweeter is hand-assembled in the Horgen factory.

Bass handled by a new FSD-M transducer

The 140 mm driver uses Full Symmetric Drive (FSD-M) technology. Its treated paper cone is combined with an iron-magnet motor, a combination aimed at delivering linear and symmetrical cone excursion. The crossover with the tweeter occurs around 3.5 kHz via a second-order filter.

Integration between the two transducers is a critical point when pairing a ribbon with a conventional dynamic driver. Piega has carefully worked on this handover to achieve tonal coherence across the entire spectrum. The bass extends down to 39 Hz (±2 dB) thanks to a bass-reflex loading with a rear port. For a speaker of this size, this is a notable extension that allows it to reproduce the bass range of most recordings without the need for a subwoofer.

Extruded aluminium as a signature

Since 1997, Piega has been using extruded aluminium for its speakers. The body of the Premium 301 Gen2 is formed from a single profile, with no visible seams on the sides. This technique allows for thin walls and thus a generous internal volume despite the compact footprint, while maintaining high rigidity. Inside the cabinet is a wooden matrix and a proprietary damping material borrowed from the high-end Coax series.

The black finish (sanded anodised aluminium) gives the cabinet a matte surface that is resistant to fingerprints. The black fabric grille, magnetically attached, can remain in place during listening as recommended by Piega. The design by Stephan Hürlemann features a discreet oval shape with clean lines that blends easily into a contemporary interior. The dimensions are modest: 31 cm high, 17 cm wide, 22.8 cm deep, for a weight of 6.1 kg.

Placement and amplification

With a sensitivity of 89 dB and an impedance of 4 ohms, the Premium 301 Gen2 works with amplifiers of various power ratings, from small tube amplifiers of around ten watts to powerful integrated units of more than 100 watts. Piega recommends a power between 20 and 200 W.

The speaker rests on four semi-soft feet that provide slight isolation from the surface and prevent any slipping. Placement on dedicated stands (Piega offers its own Premium model) with the tweeter at ear height is preferable to fully enjoy the soundstage. The rear bass-reflex port requires leaving enough space from the back wall: positioning it too close emphasizes the bass and can unbalance the sound. Piega also sells an articulated wall mount (Ball Joint) that takes advantage of the speaker’s low weight for installations where a stand is not an option.

A substantial break-in period should be expected. Brand-new speakers may sound somewhat restrained during the first two weeks of use, particularly in the treble. Once broken in, they gain in coherence and presence.

Technical specifications

Acoustic performance

• Type: 2-way compact loudspeaker
• Recommended amplifier power: 20–200 W
• Sensitivity: 89 dB / W / m
• Impedance: 4 ohms
• Frequency response: 39 Hz–50 kHz (+/- 2 dB)

Transducers

• RM 01-24 ribbon tweeter
  • New-generation magnetostatic ribbon
  • Innovative arrangement of magnets at the front and rear of the ribbon
  • Minimal distortion
  • Fast, detailed response
  • Remarkable clarity and naturalness
  • Outstanding reproduction of voices and instruments with optimal transparency
• 140 mm FSD-M mid/bass driver
  • Full Symmetric Drive (FSD) technology
  • Precise linear movement
  • Clear, detailed midrange
  • Perfect integration with the tweeter
  • Balanced, lively reproduction for an immersive, dynamic listening experience

Construction and design

• Exclusive aluminum cabinet
  • Seamless extruded aluminum profile, PIEGA’s iconic signature
  • Rigid, low-resonance structure
  • Optimal acoustic precision
  • Premium finish
  • Exceptional longevity
• Timeless design
  • Elegant oval shape
  • Minimalist, industrial aesthetics
  • Refined, hard-wearing bead-blasted surface
  • Perfect integration in modern interiors

Physical specifications

• Dimensions (H × W × D): 31 × 17 × 22.8 cm
• Weight: 6.1 kg

Connectivity

• Connections: PIEGA Multi Connectors II

Available finishes

• Bead-blasted silver aluminum with silver fabric grille
• Bead-blasted black aluminum with black fabric grille
• White lacquered aluminum with white fabric grille
• Bead-blasted aluminum limited editions: misty green, brilliant ash with black fabric grille