9. On The Graph And To The Ear

The Z-4 showed good response, with some emphasis on the upper part of the spectrum, but within the bounds of the acceptable. Not surprisingly, the low midrange showed a dip, but not overly deep. The bass extended quite low for a small subwoofer enclosure, showing a rather peculiar response pattern attributable to the technique used.

The Z-4 behaved fairly well, though it emphasized the treble a little between 2 and 8 kHz.

The bass extended well into the lower frequencies for a subwoofer this size.

With an SPL of 99.6 dB, the Z-4 compared well to other small speaker systems. It's fine for listening close up and even a little beyond. The Z-4's listening qualities were often quite pleasurable, due to the absence of coloration in the midrange and a slightly "slimmed-down" lower midrange. The reproduction tended to favor the highs sometimes, but acceptably so. The bass extended well down, and reproduction was effective as long as you don't expect it to handle transients-they end up getting stuck in the subwoofer due to the nature of its operation. Once again, everything depends on the musical genres you listen to and the kind of effects you're looking for.

The Z-4 is an innovative product in several ways, and can provide enjoyable listening, but the rather high price is likely to be an obstacle for some.