Amphion Krypton3X - Impeccable sound in a futuristic guise
Germany — The Finnish manufacturer has been optimising the Amphion Krypton3X for 25 years now. And it’s already won over a number of testers and listeners with the sound of its most elaborate speakers. The soaring towers offer a number of visual features that are continued inside. According to the manufacturer, they should also offer good performance in small rooms and near large window areas. I’m curious to see how the Finns can position themselves in our smaller listening room with a wide window area. Are they really that uncomplicated?
The Amphion Krypton3X arrived at our editorial office today in two large wooden crates – well protected as if they had come from overseas. The heavy artillery we retrieve from these boxes promises precise, phase-correct sound reproduction – and should largely ignore spatial limitations. So we heave the 1.37 metre high towers – each weighing 70 kilograms – into the intended listening room. This is set up like a living room to provide our readers with experiences rather than sober measurements. We place the columns next to our hi-fi shelf, on which a Hegel amplifier provides the necessary power. The Krypton3x are not quite identical, as they have a sidemounted base driver that can be directed either inwards or outwards. In our setup, they radiate outwards towards the wall – the intention here being to provide a wide spatial image. We leave a good 40 centimetres of space towards the wall.
Craftsmanship
When positioning the Amphion Krypton3X, it is not only the weight that stands out, but also the excellent workmanship. The white housing has an excellent paint finish. All edges and drill holes are immaculately executed and the metal covers sit perfectly and bombproof on all drivers – including the high-frequency driver. There are black fabric covers on both sides of the lower section. Behind one side is the 10-inch bass driver, the other side is closed off with a solid wooden panel. The entire housing rests on an equally solid wooden plate to prevent the heavy column from falling over. The side walls of the housing have two conical areas with numerous holes. This not only looks interesting, but also has a sonic function – which I’m going to come to later. The cones and the waveguide for the tweeter are then fitted into the housing with perfect precision. The screw connection is practically invisible thanks to the metal grille.
Enjoyment from the very first second
After connecting the sound columns, I called up the “Milk Bar Seaside Season 10” to brew myself a cosy cup of coffee. What the Amphion Krypton3X does here with rather cosy material is quite remarkable. So as not to disturb anyone, I set the volume to a very moderate level and returned to the room with my coffee during “Walk with the Dreamers”. I’m amazed, because even at room volume a rich bass foundation fills the room. Space lasers whizz through the ambience, the background of electric guitar and synthesiser spreads out to the front. The singer’s voice has a strong basic tone and is reproduced with many nuances in the overtones. The jazzy electric guitar sounds absolutely authentic and natural – as far as you can say about an undistorted electric guitar. The trumpet sounds just as clearly, its echo reverberating throughout the room.
Deep and crisp bass
Inspired by this sonic transparency, I switch to “Limbo” by Yello. The 10-inch woofer picks me up from the very first bar. It delivers the crisp bass of the bass drum without booming. I often have to deal with room modes in this room, but that doesn’t seem to bother the Amphion Krypton3X much. The growling basses of the synthesiser also have an incredible sharpness. The outward-facing bass drivers create a wonderfully crisp and wide stage on which the other instruments can let off steam. And Boris Blank knows how to impress in a variety of ways with his fascinating playful sounds. When Dieter Maier’s spoken vocals are reproduced here on both stereo channels, you can hardly believe your ears how wonderfully his voice and the bright nuances harmonise with the humming bass.
A marvellous web of sound
This continues in “30,000 Days”. The snare drum sounds, gently operated with a brush, and I can hear every single wire that touches the eardrum. The careful tuning of the individual chassis can be heard in every detail. I really like the fact that the driving rhythm synth sounds as if it were directly in my ears. It has an incredible breadth and depth – and still sounds close enough to touch. When I close my eyes, I’m no longer sitting in front of the loudspeakers – but in the centre of the sound fabric. This is particularly true here, as the sounds flood the entire room in a really well organised way. All the instruments are precisely positioned and envelop me in a perfectly crafted cloud of sound. Amphion has done a really good job in tuning the individual components. You can tell that many years of development work have gone into the Krypton3X.
Thrills, spills and goosebumps
In Kari Bremne's “Kanskje”, softly plucked guitars on the left are paired with the rhythmically warm sounds of a synthesiser on the right. Then the singer’s voluminous voice rings out – giving me goose bumps down my arms – rich and well-founded. The slightly gloomy atmosphere that the Amphion Krypton3X creates here is very impressive. When the rich sound of the bass drum with its menacing pattern kicks in, things become even darker. Finally, the strings heighten the scene even further and the tension increases immeasurably. And once again, the speakers deliver the necessary volume and warmth to fully inspire the sound. It becomes even more exciting towards the end of the piece, when the strings and flutes simply leave the built-up gloom behind with bass and echo. A really moving experience and a fascinating piece.
Conclusion
The Amphion Krypton3X offer a unique musical experience. While listening, I was constantly floating in a wonderful cloud of sound. On my musical journey, I discovered many facets in pieces that had previously escaped me. The warm and deep tuning is exactly to my taste – while the skilful arrangement of the drivers brings order to the variety of instruments. Everything has its place and all the fine details are teased out of the material. Especially at normal listening volume, the Amphion Krypton3X deliver a sound that usually takes more power to achieve. For me, these are the ideal speakers for everyday music enjoyment. Unfortunately, they now have to move on and inspire others – so my cold coffee and I are left wistfully behind.
