VU Mettre 2024: Remarquable!

THE SOUND

To fully appreciate these unconventional speakers, it’s important to be open to rethinking your value system. While they use electrodynamic technology, these models share certain characteristics with panel speakers in their sound diffusion. Moreover, they also belong to the category of omnidirectional speakers, which significantly alters the listening experience. In essence, the Vocalis offers a completely alternative sound experience, somewhere between panel speakers and traditional electrodynamic systems. Forget what you know, as Ilumnia’s offering tells a completely different story, and in today’s rather uniform audio landscape, it’s refreshing.

The new models stand out primarily in sound staging, delivering a truly holographic sound field that extends far beyond the physical space occupied by the speakers. This unique spatialization gives the impression that the experience is closer to a live performance than to “simple” stereo. In addition to the sheer openness of the sound, the perception of reverberations is strikingly unique. You can almost sense the singer’s position as they move away from the microphone. Instrument separation is clear and provides a level of depth that is entirely uncommon.

This openness is also a result of the high level of resolution enabled by Ilumnia’s proprietary woofer with electromagnetic suspension. The level of transparency achieved by the Ilumnia is phenomenal: the cone, which literally floats in the air, is free from any mechanical restraints like a traditional membrane. As a result, its movements are completely unrestricted, allowing it to capture even the subtlest nuances. This is particularly noticeable with acoustic recordings, unamplified instruments, and human voices.

Take, for example, a small jazz ensemble such as the one on Oliver Nelson’s album, and experience the degree of precision and purity in the instruments. When the flute enters, it seems to move through the air and burst into the listening space. The transients are so vivid that you could pinpoint the musician’s position to within a few centimeters.

This technology also enables an extraordinary harmonic persistence, akin to the "aromatic persistence" of a fine wine. The sound acquires depth and richness, and since the cabinet is highly inert, all you hear is the speakers themselves, free from any boxy resonances. The bass is taut, and while it doesn’t extend as deep as a column speaker, its very gradual roll-off ensures there’s no sense of frustration.

Consequently, the sound varies greatly from one record to another. As a result, good recordings are transformed, while poor ones may feel particularly flat. This might lead you to sort through your music collection! The Ilumnia Vocalis stands out with its presence, complete absence of drag, and stunning dynamic contrasts.

OUR CONCLUSION

Nothing is more enjoyable than a delightful encounter, especially when it comes with its share of surprises. That’s exactly the case here with this Belgian brand, whose existence we were unaware of until now. This is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement, made even more impressive by the fact that it is based on extremely serious research, rather than sheer luck. The engineers at Ilumnia have taken a bold approach, pushing every criterion to the limit. Of course, this speaker is expensive, but it represents a completely disruptive proposition, involving an enormous amount of high-quality work in both design and execution. The research carried out on the speaker alone warrants the attention this product deserves. And let’s not even mention the cabinet, which is also a technical feat in its own right. This unconventional approach, which addresses genuine challenges, requires careful setup by the listener, but it leads to a listening experience of unparalleled purity. So, if you’re well-versed in high-fidelity audio and looking to discover something entirely new, we recommend giving the Ilumnia Vocalis a listen—you might just be blown away.