The Podium 1 speaker: It's less than an inch thick, 6.5 feet tall, and runs $8K a pair!

The Audiophiliac at Laufer Teknik

(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)

I just heard the Podium Model 1 flat panel speakers at Laufer Teknik, a brand new, high-end audio showroom in downtown Brooklyn, New York. Sam Laufer's shop doesn't carry Sony or Bose, in fact I doubt most audiophiles have heard of most of the brands on display there. The Podium Sound speakers are new to me, but these slender panels, which look like beautifully constructed room dividers, may break through to the wider market.

Laufer Teknik promotes uber audio, stratospherically priced exotica from cutting-edge manufacturers, mainly from Europe; Laufer also serves as a distributor for Behold electronics, Ascendo speakers, and Podium Sound. The goal is to bring advanced audio technology to new markets.

Skinny speakers, room filling sound.

(Credit: Podium Sound)

As high-end designs go, the $8,000/pair Podium 1 speakers are the height of practicality--they radiate sound from their front and rear surfaces. The large sound is unlike any box speaker I've ever heard, much more like live music. But Sam Laufer isn't really courting the audiophile market; he believes there's a wider audience interested in buying quality sound. He has, for example, teamed up with a high-end food caterer to provide sound and music for parties. Hmm, sounds like a great new way to spread awareness of quality audio beyond the usual confines of the audiophile market. I hope so!

It's clear that Laufer's customers have a taste not only for sound, but just as much for the brand's artisan craftsmanship and innovative engineering. (How many Porsche owners ever really come close to pushing the car to its limit?) Yes, the components and speakers are expensive, but hardly out of line compared with high-end cars, clothes, and watches. Patek Philippe's top wristwatch goes for $900K, and buyers have to endure a one- to four-year wait to get one! Damn, how do they know what time it is while they're waiting?

I love the sound I'm hearing at Laufer Teknik, but it's the opulence of the technology that clinches the deal. Complete stereo systems start around $5,000. The Web site, www.lauferteknik.com won't be fully online until the end of the year.

[curcioj]

Steve - ESL or Magnetic? How is this different or provide more value than, let's say Magnepan?

[norm962]

so how does this thing sound in a real living room? I was a little surprised that you said it radiates sound out of the front AND back----can these be put near walls or would that ruin the sound? Still, they look pretty cool and they're not just the same boring box. Lastly, how would an image affect the quality of the sound---I'd love to have a set of these mounted on the wall but with some art on their faces. yes, I'm serious

[norm962]

so how does this thing sound in a real living room? I was a little surprised that you said it radiates sound out of the front AND back----can these be put near walls or would that ruin the sound? Still, they look pretty cool and they're not just the same boring box. Lastly, how would an image affect the quality of the sound---I'd love to have a set of these mounted on the wall but with some art on their faces. yes, I'm serious

[mikeinhouston]

These are standard bipolar planar speakers which have been around for 40 yrs. Some of the finest are made by Magnepan (planar magnetic) and Soundlab and Quad (electrostatic) check out their websites and Audiogon.com as well for more info on high end audio.

[solblack]

Cool! Love the design.

[mikeinhouston]

Come on Steve, are you serious?? Can you say Magnepan? $8000, how are these difference from the sublime Magnepan 3.6 which many people pick as the best all around speaker at any price? And, they go for $4700 new and can be bought in the secondary market for $3000. I can't believe these are any better.

[acardes]

But Mike, they have to sound better... they cost more!

[pelinor]

Remember another brand of speaker, the Bertagni D-120's; they were geostatics made in CA. They were appx. 3.5 inches thick with a rosewood frame, aluminum housed main drivers and piezoelectric tweeters. They stood about 5 ft. tall and threw sound in full 360 degree waves. Anywhere the waves crossed could be heard as stereo.

[tok20000]

Steve, the Gilmore Model 3 speakers distributed by Glacier Audio for about the same price will blow these away. See www.glacieraudio.com. I have a pair of the Gilmore Model 2 speakers (which are amazing) driven by a pair of the Gilmore Raptor monoblock amplifiers (incredible amps).