Halo M1

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea, Laiv Audio Harmony; Active filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Power amplifiers: Vinshine Audio x Kinki Studio Dazzle & 2 x Nord Acoustic Ncore-500-based monos on subwoofer; Headamp: Enleum AMP-23R; Phones: Raal 1995 Immanis; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
2nd system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp: Hattor ARP-S; Active analog xover: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box II; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik MusikBoxx; Subwoofer: Zu Method; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
2nd headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 work station Win11/64; USB bridge: LHY UIP; DAC + Head/preamp: Audalytic DR70 + HP70 both on LHY LPS-80 Dual; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7
Upstairs headfi system: FiiO R7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: FiiO R7; DAC/pre: COS D1; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-M7; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Cobra [on loan] 2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Dynaudio 18S; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: $6'000/pr, €416/pr for the stands

Starke Sound. Stark is German for strong. Stärker becomes stronger. Hence a Verstärker is a stronger-maker—an amplifier. Where a brand aimed at 2-channel hifi might end in 'audio', today's—designed in California, built in China—culminates in 'sound'. That suggests closer proximity to 'pro' or 'home theatre'. Et voilà, the bare bones of a first impression. Is it correct though? Yes, Starke's most ambitious Halo range includes two active subs, a centre channel and on-wall rears matching today's M1 monitor. But does that limit a 6½" 2-way monitor with 28mm Beryllium tweeter and carbon mid/woofer to multi-channel duties? Clearly not. That it uses tension-rod construction for a quieter cabinet with a stout aluminium baffle certainly won't hurt any audiophile aspirations; or pretensions depending on your perspective.

As the cutaway shows, the corpus lines in foam and the eight-part 1st-order filter network executes with self-branded parts.

When in the wake of a recent review the next recipient of my travelling loaner introduced himself as German brand ambassador for Holland's Final electrostatic speakers, SoCal's Starke Sound, Singapore's Laiv and Denmark's Storgaard & Vestskov, the seeds for today's gig were laid. Thomas Wolff of Hamburg's new outfit Nordyx Audio still had to check with the principals across the pond. But between us we already agreed that my first look at the brand might as well be their current top monitor in black, white or red lacquer skins, stand optional but securing the load with two bolts to prevent drive-by toppling by hoover or hound. As regular readers know, I'm into hifi 2.1 so most my systems use subwoofers. That makes the perfect case for keeping the speakers compact. As we'll read next though, for most music the M1's lower bandwidth won't really need a sub if we keep room size sane.

The woofer basket looks very well ventilated, the voice coil behind the central dome unusually large for the driver's diameter.

Basic specs are 33.5Hz – 28kHz bandwidth -3dB, 89dB/2.83V71m sensitivity, 4Ω nominal impedance, 13.7kg weight and dimensions of 22.5×40.2×41.6cm WxHxD. The grills solidly attach by magnets, warranty attaches for a solid eight years. Now we have the bare bones of a 2nd impression. Armchair engineers already amuse themselves by speculating about the edges of this tweeter's hexagonal waveguide, wondering whether curves not facets wouldn't be smoother anti-diffraction operators. Parts profilers quickly suspected a Morel mid/woofer only to later see that Starke's basket makes that an erroneous pick. Without getting explicit, this Starke video suggests that these could be their own drivers. To advance from speculation to specificity, I'd have to contact Starke HQ in Gardena. That's a 50km drive from Valencia where Schiit operated before relocating to Corpus Christi in Texas. For an independent video about a visit to their Chinese showroom with 32-channel home theatre including dual 18" subs behind the screen and twin 24" subs in the rear all driven by their own electronics, go here. Starke Sound clearly are about Hollywood not just the Hit Factory so movies and music. Knowing my lane, we'll stick to stereo and wave good-bye to the silver or OLED screens of the multi-channel space. But the underlying point is clear. Just as the right recording monitors can double-task for home playback, so can speakers groomed for high SPL, expanded bandwidth and pristine speech intelligibility in movies. Might loud listeners do well to canvass catalogues that cater to cineastes? I'll leave this question open-ended. Unlike a lizard tail, damaged hearing won't grow back. THX levels are ruinous to our ears. They're naught which domestic sanity aspires to. That doesn't negate that the occasional loud session with 95dB peaks can't be fun. It simply shouldn't be prerequisite to presage eventual tinnitus. That wraps my remote inspection. For more I needed to get hands/ears on; and with someone at the company. Thomas Wolff would surely have the right contact for me if the Gardena team sanctioned our plan.

… to be continued…