V01

This review published in April 2026 on HifiKnights.com. By request of the manufacturer and permission of the author, it is here syndicated to reach a broader audience. – Ed.

Reviewer: Dawid Grzyb
Transport: Innuos Statement, fidata HFAS1-S10U
DAC: LampizatOr Horizon360 w. Stradi 5U4G + Psvane Art TIII 4x KT88 / 2x 6SN7
USB components: iFi audio Mercury3.0
Network: Fidelizer EtherStream, Linksys WRT160N
Preamplifier: Trilogy 915R, Thöress DFP
Amplifier: Trilogy 995R, FirstWatt F7, Enleum AMP-23R
Speakers: Boenicke Audio W11 SE+, sound|kaos Vox 3afw
Headphones: HifiMan Susvara
Interconnects: LessLoss Entropic Process C-MARC, Boenicke Audio IC3 CG
Speaker cables: Boenicke Audio S3, LessLoss C-MARC
Speaker signal conditioning: LessLoss Firewall for Loudspeakers, Boenicke ComDev
Anti-vibration conditioning: 12x Carbide Audio Carbide Base under DAC, preamp and speakers
Power delivery: Gigawatt PC-3 SE EVO+/LC-3 EVO, LessLoss C-MARC, LessLoss Entropic Process C-MARC, Boenicke Audio Power Gate, ISOL-8 Prometheus
Equipment rack: Franc Audio Accessories Wood Block Rack 1+3
Review component retail: €13'490/pr

In May 2024, I wrote a brief feature on then-new brand Basel Acoustics and their first speaker model. By August 2025, arrangements were made to have regular Warsaw contributor Dawid Grzyb review a pair. In March 2026, one became available in Poland. Whilst owner Piotr Misiewicz is Polish himself, the brand's Swiss name indicates CH production; and classic solid-wood designs by Sven Boenicke whom Piotr collaborated with prior in a marketing function before deciding to branch out with his own endeavour. At Basel Acoustics he openly continues his former association with Sven who now acts like an independent contractor in an acoustic engineering consultancy role. Whilst Basel Acoustics' new cosmetics cater to Piotr's own sensibilities, the driver choices, filter executions and overall tuning are Sven Boenicke's. With Dawid the proud owner of two pairs of Sven's speakers, he was ideally placed to understand and have at hand appropriate amplification for Piotr's V01; and tell us whether its sonic profile is mostly an overlay with his Boenicke models; or where and how it diverges. – Ed.

Dual citizenship. To say that Boenicke Audio is no stranger to HifiKnights would be an understatement that safely applies also to other brands I covered over the years. However, this Swiss audio house founded by Sven Boenicke holds a very special spot in my review roster. Since the very beginning of our Polish site, I had the pleasure of reviewing ten products under that banner. I visited Sven's Basel-based HQ twice, his factory once. That provided valuable insight into how his ideas materialize into hardware. Knowing him well, I have a clear understanding about why he does what he does. Most importantly, I know his portfolio inside out and rely on several of his creations in my daily work. My main system includes his S3 speaker cables, IC3 CG RCA interconnects, ComDev speaker purifier, PowerGate outlet multiplier and W11 SE+ floorstanders. My home relies on his W5 monitors. If that doesn't qualify as fanboy territory, I'm not sure what does although here enthusiasm comes from long-term exposure not blind admiration. Today's review continues with Sven's expertise. My journey into his speakers started with the W5, my first serious expense in the field which effectively set the tone for all that followed. This compact design served me faithfully for roughly six years without ever giving me a compelling reason to look elsewhere. In 2020 it evolved into the 2nd-gen W5 with updated widebander which still operates in my home's nearfield setup for many hours each day. A year prior to launching HFK so at a time when my system was taking shape, I invested in the W8 model which remained my yardstick for full-sized speakers for ~6 years. That eventually led to the W11 SE+, my only big speaker to date, the primary reference point and one that has proven stubbornly resistant to being dethroned both in technical performance and long-term satisfaction. The fact that it looks awesome and carries Sven's signature only strengthens its case.

If money were no object and I had to name just one speaker below seven figures I'd genuinely want, Sven's W22 flagship would be it. My exposure to this unapologetically unconventional design came during a factory visit in late 2023 where I had a chance to listen extensively with my own music; and in complete solitude. That quickly placed it at the very top of my mental leader board. Subsequent encounters at Munich shows further cemented that impression and confirmed my initial assessment. Whilst perfection in loudspeakers doesn't exist, the W22 came dangerously close in a way very few speakers I've encountered have. Granted, acquiring a pair would require liquidating several non-essential organs but the idea of building a system around it remains very much alive—and surprisingly persistent. That flagship mention was no accident. Its relevance will become clear shortly. Before we get there, let's rewind to 2015 when I proudly financed my W8 through Sven's local dealer Piotr Misiewicz. While the Swiss designer might appear central today, this is very much Piotr's story. Back then he was Boenicke's representative in Poland and quite unusually, focused solely on that brand. At the time that struck me as bold yet slightly irrational. In an industry where distributors typically diversify to hedge their bets, such dedication is rarely seen, even more rarely sustained. As it turned out, it was neither misguided nor accidental. Over time Piotr and Sven developed a strong professional synergy that in 2015 led to Piotr becoming Boenicke's CEO. That arrangement allowed Sven to double down on what he does best—design delightfully unorthodox gear—while Piotr steered the company's broader direction with a firm and clearly defined vision. Still, his ambitions extended beyond managing someone else's brand.

During one of our chats, Piotr expressed the idea of launching a speaker brand of his own, not as a side project but fully realized effort. For that you either need to be an audio engineer or have access to one willing to do the heavy lifting. By now it should be clear that Piotr had that in Sven, one of the most gifted speaker designers I know who is backed by complete production and assembly infrastructure. The pieces clicked into place and once they did, the direction forward seemed almost inevitable. In 2020 Piotr stepped down as Boenicke CEO and with Sven's assistance, focused on getting his own brand up and running. Fast forward to High End Munich 2024 above when that vision not only had a face but name: Basel Acoustics. While new, it arrived readymade with Swiss pedigree and Sven's signature which in this business translates to a level of credibility most newcomers can only dream of. Its debut product, the V01 floorstander, showed proudly in the familiar Boenicke room next to the W22 and was extensively demo'd throughout. Although I didn't manage a proper listen—reviewer duties have a way of derailing even the best plans—I could easily tell that the general audience response was notably enthusiastic. A brief chat with Piotr confirmed that at some point his V01 was to appear at my door. I just had to wait. Last time I checked, patience still was a virtue and rewarding mistress. Now I can say that the V01 is a thoroughly intriguing design that brings a lot to the table. Most importantly it's no Boenicke clone. It confidently carves out its own identity. And that's where things get interesting.

The V01 arrived in rather imposing fashion. Two individual cardboard boxes stacked atop each other secured to a pallet at first suggested a job for two and some planning. These cartons were suspiciously large particularly in depth and it didn't take long to understand why. Despite the initially intimidating presentation, unpacking turned out surprisingly manageable. Each box was light enough to be carried from the building's entrance to my listening room without assistance. Extracting the speakers from their double-layered packaging proved straightforward. Once unpeeled, it was merely a matter of removing their foam liners and protective cloth bags after which the V01 was ready for action. On paper, the V01 reads like a fairly compact floorstander though its proportions tell just part of the story. Each stands 105cm tall, measures just over 16cm in width and stretches to a rather generous 39cm depth which explains those unusually large cartons. Weight is a manageable 30kg per while electrical specs appear refreshingly sensible: nominal impedance of 6Ω, sensitivity of 87-90dB depending on frequency. In practice however, the V01 is no easy load and behaves much like other Boenicke designs. As such, it clearly values control and proper current above all else but more on that later. Moving on, declared bandwidth spans 27Hz to 25kHz, with a bass reflex alignment tuned to the lower limit. The architecture itself is described as a two-way system supplemented by rear ambient tweeter, with crossover points at 1'500 and 6'000Hz implemented via minimalist 1st-order networks. The V01 retails for €13'490/pr in Europe, not shocking considering Swiss origins. It's available in any finish you like as long as that's white pigmented ash or black oak.