Review: Sigberg Audio Saranna

When Norwegian Sigberg Audio launches its first pure floorstanding loudspeaker, it comes with exciting solutions. Saranna combines a cardioid midrange design, strategically placed bass units and a large coaxial unit at the front.

The price tag places Saranna in the upper segment. But these are active speakers with built-in DSP and three EQ profiles. Compared to passive speakers in the same price range, an amplifier must also be included in the price, which easily adds a significant amount to the investment.

Cardioid and coaxial

The vents on the sides of the coaxial unit are not ordinary bass reflex ports, but part of a cardioid midrange design that reduces energy radiated towards the side and rear walls. The result is less room-induced interference in the critical midrange area between 130 Hz and 1 kHz.

The 8-inch coaxial unit reproduces bass and midrange, with a horn-loaded compression tweeter in the centre. This provides a true point source with precise stereo imaging and phase-accurate sound.

Bass from behind

The rear conceals two 8-inch woofers with a long stroke of 24 mm. Combined with the recommended placement only 10-20 cm from the wall, the bass connects better to the rear wall and the room, providing natural reinforcement in the bass range. The ports are tuned low, with a large opening to avoid port noise. The result is bass response down to 20 Hz in a typical room.

Active electronics and DSP

Each speaker houses three Hypex nCore Class D amplifiers with a total output of 600 watts. The built-in DSP handles crossover filters, time alignment and three preset EQ profiles: Reference (neutral), Large Room/Film (+2 dB bass) and Small Room (-2 dB bass).

If you want more control, there is a nine-band parametric EQ via USB and Hypex Filter Designer (Windows only). Sigberg recommends using EQ only to reduce room resonances.

The speakers have inputs for analogue signals (XLR, RCA) and digital signals (optical, coaxial/SPDIF, AES/EBU), all with pass-through connectors for connecting multiple speakers.

The sound of Sigberg Saranna

The cardioid design gives the midrange a focused, intimate presence. On Nathaniel Rateliff’s All Or Nothing, his raspy voice is right in front of me. On Ane Brun’s ‘All My Tears’, the interplay between the guitar and vocals is magical – every string stroke has its tonal structure intact.

The treble is super-detailed without being sharp. On Aurora’s A Potion For Love, you get both razor-sharp details and an airy, ethereal quality. The coaxial unit ensures that everything hangs together perfectly in phase.

On A Little Shy with Marie Noreger and Nedja Bozaida, you get funky, hard-hitting bass and beautiful vocals with impressive control. The dynamics are extreme, especially in the midrange.

The rear-mounted woofers provide distinct and deep bass without resonance or rumble. If anything is missing, it is more punch in the bass – a little flutter in the trouser legs.

Saranna disappears completely. The sound does not come from the speakers, but from an orchestra between and behind them. It sounds like a virtual centre channel, where vocals and individual instruments are located most of the time, while the sound spreads out to the sides.

Classical music, such as Araia: La forza dell’amore e dell’odio from Cecilia Bartoli’s live release St. Petersburg, demonstrates the speaker’s ability to place acoustic instruments naturally in the room with clarity and reverberation.

Brutally honest

Saranna is so honest that poor recordings become painfully obvious. Flat, overly compressed productions such as You Know My Name by Chris Cornell or Magic by Bruce Springsteen are almost unbearable. The speakers reveal so mercilessly what is wrong that you automatically seek out better recordings.

With subwoofer

Although Saranna plays down to 20 Hz, its impact is limited. However, when tested with the Dali V-16 F, the result was spectacular. Saranna integrates perfectly with a subwoofer thanks to its linear bass response.

With old hip-hop – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg – the experience was one of the most intense I have ever heard. A large orchestra from a magnificent film soundtrack becomes so physically present that it gives you goosebumps!

The eminent midrange from Saranna combined with the monstrous bass from Dali created a total experience that makes even the Focal Diva Utopia pale in comparison. But the subwoofer is not a necessity. Saranna works perfectly well on its own.

Competitors

Comparable passive floorstanding loudspeakers such as the KEF Reference 3 Meta or Focal Kanta No2 also require an amplifier, which quickly pushes the total price above Saranna’s price tag. Passive speakers also have crossovers that limit the damping factor – something Saranna eschews with active crossovers.

Focal Diva Utopia has more brutal punch, but connect a subwoofer to Saranna and that argument disappears. Other active alternatives such as System Audio Silverback or Dynaudio Focus 50 lack Saranna’s crystal-clear midrange and point-source precision.

Who is Saranna for?

Saranna is suitable for listeners who appreciate neutral sound full of dynamics. The speakers handle a variety of music – from classical to hip-hop – with the same dynamics. They don’t require much space and are easy to place thanks to the EQ options.

However, the speakers are not for those who want bling or need to be able to throw huge parties. Add a subwoofer, and the situation is changed completely.

 

Conclusion

Sigberg Audio Saranna combines point source precision, cardioid midrange design and honest bass reproduction in a way that few speakers can match. The sound is both analytical and musical, with a midrange in a class of its own.

The price of over €21,000 is hefty, but when you compare it to passive alternatives including an amplifier, the math quickly works out in Saranna’s favour.

For me personally, Saranna is among the best speakers I have tested in a long time. The combination of natural sound, extreme dynamics and the magical midrange makes me want to hear more. Add to that the fact that the speakers connect perfectly to a good subwoofer, and the case is clear.

This is sound I want for myself.