Davis Acoustics Courbet 4 S2 black (pack of 2)
Complementary products
Davis Acoustics Courbet 4 S2, the updated compact floorstander
A single 13 cm driver, a tweeter and a cabinet barely over 80 cm tall: the formula behind the Courbet 4 launched in 2018 has not changed. This S2 generation carries it forward with a revised tweeter, a new crossover, a rear-mounted port and a cabinet with rounded edges. The result is a floorstanding speaker with a small footprint that is equally suited to a stereo system or a home theater setup.
Softer lines and a flush-mounted grille
The sharp edges of the first Courbet 4 have disappeared. All the cabinet’s vertical edges are now rounded, as are the grille’s four corners. These curves also affect the sound: a sharp edge reflects a small portion of the wave emitted by the drivers (known as diffraction), slightly blurring instrument placement, whereas a rounded edge limits this effect. The grille is shorter than before: it now covers only the driver area, leaving the rest of the front baffle visible. It is recessed into the wood, flush with the front panel, and can be removed by pulling on a discreet fabric tab.
The Courbet 4 S2 comes in four lacquer finishes: black, white, orange and gunmetal gray. The bass driver’s cone remains black regardless of the finish. Only the central piece changes color to match the finish: champagne on black lacquer, aluminum on gray, and black on white and orange.
A 13 cm Kevlar driver handling almost the entire range
The mid/bass driver measures 13 cm in diameter and uses a Kevlar cone, a fiber that is both rigid and lightweight. In place of the usual central dust cap, it has a phase plug: a small fixed cone that helps spread the upper midrange throughout the room rather than keeping it concentrated along the speaker’s axis. A fabric ring surrounds it to limit air turbulence at the center of the driver.
The crossover frequency is set at 4,000 Hz. Below this, the single 13 cm driver handles everything, reproducing the fundamental notes of voices and most instruments without handing over between two drivers in the region where hearing is most sensitive. Above 4,000 Hz, the tweeter takes over with its 28 mm fabric dome. This dome has been completely redesigned based on the one used in the Olympia One Master 35, and now features in every model in the Courbet S2 range. Its rear chamber has been reworked to better absorb the wave emitted into the speaker cabinet, reducing treble distortion.
The crossover, which splits the signal between the two drivers, is point-to-point wired: its components are connected directly to one another by wires, without a printed circuit board. The binding posts accept heavy-gauge cables.
Bass reinforced by the floor
The original Courbet 4 delivered its bass through a front-mounted port. On the S2, the circular port moves to the rear, at the very bottom of the cabinet. Bass spreads along the floor, which reinforces its foundation. The frequency response extends from 50 Hz to 20 kHz (at ±3 dB), covering electric bass and most of the kick drum’s range. The very lowest octave, used by organs or certain movie effects, requires a subwoofer.
With a rear-mounted port, the distance from the wall affects the amount of bass. Moving the speaker closer to the wall boosts bass, while moving it farther away makes it cleaner: a difference of a few centimeters is audible, and adjustments are made by ear once the speaker is installed.
The cast aluminum base is included and screws onto the underside of the speaker. It is essential for such a narrow floorstander: it widens the footprint and keeps the 12 kg speaker firmly in place.
An easy speaker to drive
The 90 dB sensitivity means little power is needed to achieve a comfortable listening level. The nominal impedance of 8 Ω, which never drops below 4.2 Ω, does not place a difficult load on amplifiers, including modestly powered or tube models. The Courbet 4 S2 handles up to 100 W, but an amplifier delivering a few dozen watts per channel is sufficient for most living rooms.
Documentation
Technical specifications
Overview
- Type: passive floorstanding speaker
- Number of ways: 2
- Number of drivers: 2
- Acoustic loading: bass reflex, rear circular port at floor level
- Packaging: sold individually, one box = one speaker
Drivers and crossover
- Tweeter: 28 mm soft textile dome
- Optimized rear damping
- Derived from the Olympia One Master 35 tweeter
- Mid-bass driver: 13 cm
- Black Kevlar cone, regardless of finish
- Dispersion phase plug with anti-turbulence fabric ring
- Crossover frequency: 4000 Hz
Acoustic and electrical performance
- Frequency response (± 3 dB): 50 Hz to 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 90 dB
- Nominal impedance: 8 Ω
- Minimum impedance: 4.2 Ω
- Maximum power: 100 W
Design and finishes
- Cabinet: rounded vertical edges
- Grille: short, recessed and flush with the front baffle, rounded corners, removable using a fabric strap
- Base: metal, screw-on
- Finishes: black lacquer, white lacquer, orange lacquer, gunmetal gray lacquer
- Phase plug color by finish:
- Black finish: champagne
- Gunmetal gray finish: aluminum
- White and orange finishes: black
Dimensions and weight
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 81 × 18 × 22 cm
- Weight per speaker: 12 kg
Frequently asked questions
Is the stand included with the speaker?
Yes. The cast aluminum base is supplied with the Courbet 4 S2 and screws into the underside of the cabinet. There is no need to purchase a separate stand or mount.
Is the Courbet 4 S2 sold individually or as a pair?
It is sold individually, and each box contains one speaker. You therefore need two for stereo listening.
What are its dimensions?
The Courbet 4 S2 measures 81 cm high, 18 cm wide and 22 cm deep, and weighs 12 kg. As the port is at the rear, you need to leave some space between the speaker and the wall to prevent the bass from becoming too thick.
Can it be used in a home theater system?
Yes. The S2 range includes the Courbet C S2 centre speaker, whose tweeter is flanked by two 13 cm drivers for clearer dialogue, and the Courbet 3 S2 bookshelf speaker, which can serve as a rear speaker. These three models share the same tweeter and mid/bass driver, ensuring identical tonal characteristics from one speaker to another as sound moves around the room. A subwoofer completes the system for the deepest bass effects.
Should you add a subwoofer to a stereo system?
It isn’t essential for music: the Courbet 4 S2 goes down to 50 Hz, which covers most recordings. A subwoofer becomes useful for electronic music, organ music or films, which go lower.
Why does the center of the speaker vary in color depending on the finish?
The dispersion plug is matched to the speaker’s lacquer finish: champagne on the black finish, aluminium on the “gunmetal” grey, black on the white and orange finishes. The Kevlar cone surrounding it remains black in all cases.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
