At this juncture, a press release for Audiovector's QR7 announced a €5'700/pr Danish 3-way priced virtually identical. Like Jern's transducers, its AMT tweeter, 6" midrange and dual 8" woofers are custom made by a Danish supplier. Its finishes are matt white, gloss black or Walnut veneer, sensitivity is 90dB. Standing in for similar floorstanders, they're a fair reminder. On how much our investment buys in materials, a 15H buyer gets two not four drivers, less bandwidth, less efficiency but still needs a stand. It speaks to a different less-is-more aesthetic. It demands audio experience and self assurance to exercise. It's no easy sell. Neither is Enleum's €5'500 25wpc AMP-23R, a personal favorite. Reporting on anti heroes is all in a few weeks' jernalism on the moons.

Also important is the roll-off difference between ported/sealed bass. Ports attenuate at 24dB/octave below their resonance, sealed woofers at 12dB/octave. Comparing published -3dB specs thus must know whether they're for vented or sealed loading. The latter is good for a bit more. You just saw the upstairs system which the Jern bedded into. This signal path was a Soundaware D100Pro SD transport clock-slaved to a Denafrips Terminator+ in I²S-over-RJ45 connection; a Passive Preamp icOn 4Pro SE; and Goldmund's Job 225 stereo amp. The Dynaudio S18 sub was benched for the duration. What suggested need for a lot more mileage was the 15H's dynamic reluctance and refusal to project. The music just sat far in the distance as though stuck in Lounge Mode. That's when we're outdoors in a lake-view bistro. Depending on daylight, we nurse designer java or fruity cocktails. Hidden speakers drizzle us with trendy BuddhaBar fare at low volumes. It sets that generic holiday ambiance without overlaying engaged conversations. But replace conversations with engaged music listening. Now we need more. Chasing it clearly meant a lot more hours first. It's why conscientious shippers dispatch fully broken-in not uptight samples. Inject Boris-style resignation. Thems the breaks.

While in slow break mode, the 15H sat on the above 60cm Monitor Audio stands. I'd acquired them together with our Acelec Model One as the perfect bolt-together fit. Following a sneak suspicion that my alignment was off because bass was overly prominent, the mids recessed, I checked on Jern's stand. It's 85cm or 95cm! Crikey. That should make the mid/woofer's lower rim the intended ear level? For serious listening, I'd surely have to use our taller EnigmAcoustics M1 stands. With their bigger top plates, they'd not look as good but this was an audio not interior design review. Just so, lots of interior designers should happily spec out the 15H for its svelte form factor, disappearing size and classy finish. It's really quite the looker; a lifestyle product with serious audiophile parts and ambitions.

Subtle metallic flecks in the cast finish.

Awaiting the appointed hour of 100C° for fully cooked readiness, I hedged some bets. One, their overall wind-slip factor would have to make these absolute imaging monsters. Two, sealed small-enclosure bass would be drier than familiar ports and better controlled but less dynamic. Three, the inert iron enclosure would subtract box talk. Its absence should strike some as a lack of warmth or texture, others as an increase in clarity from absence of micro blur and fuzz. Then came questions. Would bass in my usual spots be sufficiently full-range? Close proximity to the front wall may well be a natural for this design but my layouts use 2-3 metres of free space. How about important low-SPL listening? Finally there were the Tarot cards of the Joker and Hanged Man. How would I know when break-in was complete? Steve French: "Apologies that the rubber rings weren't included. I requested that they ship them express so you should have them before the weekend. Also, you're correct that the ear should be in line with the mid/woofer's center. As you noted, our average stand for standard-height seats is 85cm. The 95cm stand is for office-style seats that we use at hifi shows. When you receive the rubber rings, they'll help you align the speakers if your stands aren't quite tall enough. On break-in, I have a pair of standard 15 with the same woofer. That woofer needs the exercise. Mine hit a good place at just over 100 hours. If you play just Smooth Jazz not Hip Hop or Dub, it might take a bit longer."