Gershman Acoustics loudspeakers are renowned for their sonic superiority, exquisite design, meticulous construction detail and beautiful finishes. To achieve this level of quality, construction of each loudspeaker requires painstaking attention to detail. From the innovative contained-layer cabinet wall construction of the value-priced X-1 to the unique double-cabinet assembly of the GAP-828, no expense has been spared to ensure the finest quality.
All loudspeaker fabrication and assembly is performed by experienced and skilled craftsmen who specialize in assuring the highest quality fit & finish. Our piano lacquer finishes are among the world's finest and superior to similar lacquer applications found on some far more expensive loudspeakers. We invite you to compare and listen.
Shown here is the AvantGarde during pre-finish construction. Gershman Acoustics employs the pyramidal enclosure shape in every loudspeaker design except for the even more complex and ovoid Opera Sauvage. Despite the challenging sub-assemblies and time-consuming processes involved, these compound angle designs are structurally far superior to standard box enclosures, absorbing internal reflections and providing superior rigidity for minimized cabinet talk and more precise wave launch. And while sonic excellence admittedly was the priority in their development, the resultant aesthetic elegance does work beautifully regardless of decor.
The bass cabinet of the GAP-828 uses a unique twin-chassis construction. Shown right is the initial assembly of the GAP's inner woofer chamber. Using double-wall constrained-layer isolation results in both superior rigidity and minimized transmission of cabinet resonances to the midrange/tweeter section. Only the highest quality materials are used and all construction is performed by specialized craftsmen. Construction of the GAP 828 is an extremely lengthy process due to the unique shape requirements with its complex angles. In the end, the acoustic performance and strong visual statement make these extra efforts well worth it to produce a true reference caliber loudspeaker that refuses to visually dominate its environment.
All cabinets are glue-joined and clamped the old-fashioned furniture artisan way to ensure rock-solid construction while multi-layer MDF construction eliminates common joint seams. This obsessive attention to cabinet quality is a common denominator with all Gershman Acoustics designs, from the affordable X-1 all the way to the massive Opera Sauvage. It's what allows the celebrated big performance from speakers whose physical size is always shockingly dwarfed by their room-filling sonic presence.
The same dedication to perfection is practiced during the elaborate lacquer process of the AvantGarde and GAP-28 models; be it in the stock piano gloss black or burgundy colors or any of the custom lacquers our customers request on a one-up special-order basis. Like in the best Steinway tradition, multiple coats are painstakingly finish-sanded with consecutively finer grit to eliminate any chance of underlying surface imperfections from telegraphing through the high-gloss paint. This process is repeated over and over until a durable and deep mirror sheen finish is achieved that will give its owners years of pleasure to become a cherished heirloom treasure.
The 18-layer construction process of the flagship Opera Sauvage is even more intricate. It uses 1-inch slices of precisely CNC-machined sub-assemblies which are then stacked and bonded with special adhesives. This arrives elegantly at both the visible outer egg shape without stressful bending of panels, and the invisible, well-braced and wavy internal surfaces that break up internal standing waves. The only speakers which benefit from a similar labor-intensive layering technique are the Vandersteen Model 5 [albeit merely the head structure, not the complete enclosure] and the $40,000 TAD flagship whose slices are stacked horizontally rather than vertically. But it seems fair to say that no matter how you slice it, the Gershman Acoustics Opera Sauvage plays in very exclusive and rarefied company. As deep-sea divers have confirmed, the ovoid shape is one of the strongest in Mother Nature, preventing the cracking of an egg even when exposed to high submarine pressures. With the high dB pressure levels that develop inside any speaker cabinet from the rear waves of its drivers, ultimate rigidity and absorptive mass become tantamount to enjoying high playback levels with low distortion. This becomes especially important in full-range designs whose potentially high low-frequency SPL levels and substantial cone displacement otherwise cause massive resonances in the speaker enclosure, migrating into the tweeter/midrange assemblies to overlay the vocal range with muddiness, slowed transients, incorrect timbres, soundstage confusion and masked micro details.
These issues are well known, yet few companies go through the trouble to systematically address them. And while you may expect drastic [and expensive] solutions from the big loudspeaker manufacturing houses, such implementations are virtually unheard of with smaller boutique firms. This places Gershman Acoustics and their products in a league of their own, something which jubilant press coverage and owner feedback has long since confirmed.
