Piega Premium 301 Gen2 silver (pack of 2)

Thirty prototypes and several years of development were required to give birth to this second generation. The engineers at Piega, based in Horgen on the shores of Lake Zurich since 1986, have completely redesigned their compact speaker: 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 refined 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 working with cofounder Kurt Scheuch back in the 1980s. This is not an AMT (Air Motion Transformer) with a folded diaphragm as used by many manufacturers, but a true magnetostatic ribbon: a thin aluminum diaphragm directly driven by the signal.

The diaphragm weighs about 50 times less than a conventional dome. This lightness allows for fast transients and a response up to 50 kHz. The innovation in this generation lies in the arrangement of the magnets, placed at the front and rear of the ribbon to create strictly orthogonal magnetic field lines. This configuration reduces distortion and improves linearity. Each tweeter is assembled by hand at 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 pairing designed to deliver a 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 combining a ribbon with a conventional dynamic driver. Piega has fine-tuned this transition to achieve tonal coherence across the entire spectrum. The bass extends down to 39 Hz (±2 dB) thanks to a bass-reflex design with a rear port. For a speaker of this size, this is a notable extension that allows it to reproduce the low-frequency range of most recordings without the need for a subwoofer.

Extruded aluminum as a signature

Since 1997, Piega has been using extruded aluminum for its speakers. The body of the Premium 301 Gen2 is formed from a single profile, with no visible joints on the sides. This technique makes it possible to achieve thin walls and therefore a generous internal volume despite the compact footprint, while maintaining high rigidity. The inside of the cabinet features a wooden matrix and a proprietary damping material borrowed from the high-end Coax series.

The black finish (sandblasted anodized aluminum) gives the cabinet a matte surface that is resistant to fingerprints. The black fabric grille, magnetically attached, can be left in place while listening, in line with Piega’s recommendations. The design by Stephan Hürlemann adopts a sleek 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 amps of around ten watts to powerful integrated amplifiers of over 100 watts. Piega recommends power between 20 and 200 W.

The speaker rests on four semi-compliant feet that provide slight isolation from the support surface and prevent 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 sufficient space from the back wall: placing it too close reinforces the bass and can upset the tonal balance. Piega also offers an articulated wall mount (Ball Joint) that makes use 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
  • Next-generation magnetostatic ribbon
  • Innovative magnet layout 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
• FSD-M 140 mm mid-bass driver
  • Full Symmetric Drive (FSD) technology
  • Precise linear movement
  • Clear, detailed mids
  • Perfect integration with the tweeter
  • Balanced, lively reproduction for an immersive, dynamic listening experience

Construction and design

• Exclusive aluminum enclosure
  • Seamless extruded aluminum profile, PIEGA’s signature design
  • Rigid, low-resonance structure
  • Optimal acoustic precision
  • Premium finish
  • Exceptional durability
• Timeless design
  • Elegant oval shape
  • Minimalist, industrial aesthetic
  • Refined, hard-wearing sandblasted 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

• Silver sandblasted aluminum with silver fabric grille
• Black sandblasted aluminum with black fabric grille
• White lacquered aluminum with white fabric grille
• Sandblasted aluminum limited editions: misty green, glossy ash with black fabric grille