95%
Audio Physic Cardeas – NEW since September 2025
The new generation of CARDEAS – technological innovation, redefined
What does true innovation mean?
It is not the spectacular that quickly fades away that is truly revolutionary – but what endures. What endures, shifts standards and opens up new paths. At Audio Physic, we understand true innovation as the result of many targeted, consistent steps – an ongoing development process that ultimately manifests itself in a sonic breakthrough.
With the new CARDEAS, we are taking exactly this step: It stands for the best of four decades of research – and at the same time for a radical new beginning. A loudspeaker that opens up new horizons in terms of sound and sets new technological standards.
Construction at the highest level – sound in complete silence The basis is a multi-sandwich cabinet in an asymmetrical design, which continues to be elaborately developed. Inside, a high-strength honeycomb core in combination with multiplex ensures maximum stability, while an outer shell made of glass-elastomer composite material guarantees maximum internal cushioning. This unique structure effectively minimizes cabinet resonances – and creates the perfect foundation for pure, pristine sound.
Chassis generation with new materials and possibilities The new CARDEAS also sets new standards in terms of sound. All drivers – from the tweeter to the bass-midrange drivers – have been completely redesigned. Particularly noteworthy is the newly developed membrane material: a special carbon matrix non-crimp (RECOTec) that combines extreme stiffness with high internal damping – for maximum precision, impressive dynamics and exceptional transparency.
Adaptability without compromise – with Q-SET The other key feature of the new CARDEAS is its uncompromising adaptability to the listening room. The quality of the damping of the woofers and bass-midrange drivers can be adjusted in two stages via rear switches – a feature we call Q-SET (Bass Adjustment). This allows the loudspeaker to be tuned specifically for installations close to the wall or cornerwithout any significant change in impedance. This is made possible by the use of specially arranged and constructed dual voice coils in the woofers and bass-midrange drivers – a technology that is unique in this form to date.
A speaker that opens up sound spaces Imagine a sound space that is open in all directions. It offers limitless width and pinpoint focusing at the same time. With the new CARDEAS, you will experience music in an intensity that cannot be explained, but can only be experienced – immediate, honest, lively.
Welcome to the future of hearing. Welcome to Audio Physic.
And best of all, despite all these technical and sonic innovations, the recommended retail price of the CARDEAS remains unchanged. An uncompromising loudspeaker – now even more precise, flexible and powerful.
4-Way Design
The 4-way speaker features four different drivers that share reproduction of the entire frequency range. One or more subwoofers, one or more woofers, a midrange and a tweeter. Usually the crossover frequency between subwoofer and woofer is set at around 100Hz, while low and mid frequencies are separated between 250Hz and 400Hz, and the crossover frequency between midrange and tweeter is normally set at 2,000Hz to 3,000Hz.
HHCM V SL+
HHCM V SL+ – The fifth generation. The new reference in the midrange.
For many years, the HHCM SL, which works without a spider, has stood for absolute precision and naturalness in music reproduction. With the fifth generation – the HHCM V SL+ – we have consistently continued this claim and raised the sound to a new level. The result is a listening experience that touches more deeply and comes closer to reality than ever before.
At the heart of this further development is the innovative RECOTec material for the membrane: a carbon fiber fabric embedded in a polypropylene matrix. This unique combination of materials combines maximum stiffness with perfect internal damping – enabling a midrange that sounds freer, more lively and more authentic than ever before. Voices, instruments and fine nuances unfold with breathtaking naturalness.
The Plus version of the HHCM V SL goes one decisive step further: The strictest selection and the equipment with exclusive WBT Plasma Protect™ contacts guarantee maximum signal fidelity and long-term stability.
Experience music in a new dimension – precise, transparent and full of emotion.
HHCT V+
HHCT V+ – The fifth generation. The new reference in treble.
At the heart of our further development is the innovative RECOTec material for the cone: a carbon fiber scrim embedded in a polypropylene matrix. This unique combination of materials combines maximum stiffness with perfect internal damping – and thus enables a treble that is free of resonances, silky fine and exceptionally rich in detail. Even the smallest nuances, the finest overtones and the airiness of a recording unfold with breathtaking naturalness.
The Plus version of the HHCT V goes one decisive step further: The strictest selection and the equipment with exclusive WBT Plasma Protect™ contacts ensure absolute signal fidelity and long-term stability.
Experience music in a new dimension with the HHCT V+ – brilliant, transparent and full of emotion.
RECOTec Membrane
RECOTec – The membrane material of the future
With RECOTec , a completely new type of membrane material has been developed: a chaotically arranged carbon fiber scrim, embedded in a high-purity polypropylene matrix. Adhesives or synthetic resins are completely dispensed with – disturbing resonances cannot occur in the first place.
The result is a sonic symbiosis: the naturalness of classic paper cones combined with the precision and resolution of modern aluminium cones. RECOTec thus stands for a new generation of loudspeaker diaphragms – low-resonance, high-resolution and absolutely authentic.
PowerTrain™
Q-SET (Bass-Adjustment)
The Q-Set allows the woofer reproduction of loudspeakers to be flexibly adapted to the respective room positioning. Especially when positioned close to the wall or corner, excessive bass enhancement can occur due to room influences. With Q-Set, this effect can be compensated for in 3 stages.
Q-Set does not have a negative impact on the impedance curve – the working conditions for the connected amplifier do not change. The switches can be operated during normal music operation.
Dual Basket Design
AUDIO PHYSIC’S unique DUAL BASKET DESIGN is a true break-through innovation and the most important part of the HHCM-III technology. Instead of the tradition single basket, our HHCM-III features two separate baskets to prevent and subdue unwanted vibrations already at the source.
Invisible Subwoofer
Some of our speakers feature an internal woofer inside the cabinet provides the same deep bass and punch as an additional subwoofer without anyone ever having to see it.
Push-Push Configuration
Some of the side-mounted woofers in our 3-way and 31/2-way speakers are arranged in a Push-Push configuration in which the forces exerted on the cabinet by the two woofers cancel each other out, avoiding the introduction of vibrations that could harm sound quality.
Honeycomb Sandwich Board
Very rigid material with an internal honeycomb structure, first used in our state-of-the-art STRUCTURE. It is very light and a lot better in avoiding unwanted vibrations and resonances than the commonly used MDF.
Ceramic Foam Bracing
Ceramic Foam is a high-tech material used for internal bracing in many of our speakers. It is much stiffer than MDF although it consists of 85% air. This means, the room taken up by the internal bracing is also part of the effective volume of air the drivers need to work. By using Ceramic Foam, we can build loudspeakers that match and out-perform much bulkier speakers.
Sandwich Cabinet Construction
Our unique Sandwich Cabinets are an innovative way to stop the speaker cabinet from developing an acoustical life of its own. It is especially effective with our stylish glass-finished speakers as the relatively high weight of the glass panels helps dampening the cabinet even better.
VCT – Vibration Control Terminal
Unwanted vibrations have negative effects on sound quality wherever they occur in the signal path. Because AUDIO PHYSIC has made it their mission to fight unwanted vibration and resonance whenever and wherever they occur, the fully decoupled VIBRATION CONTROL TERMINAL (VCT) has been devised.
Vibration Control Feet Magnetic standard
High End version of our VCF with even bigger improvement of sound performance as the speaker is completely decoupled from the floor by resting on a magnetic field. Also available as VCF Magnetic component for Hi-Fi separates.
Bi-Wiring/Bi-Amping optional
Most our speakers have a regular single-wiring terminal to avoid unnecessary metal or wire bridges that would harm sound quality when used in single-wiring configuration (Which is what most Hi-Fi fans actually use). However, an optional Bi-Wiring/Bi-Amping Terminal can usually be ordered with any new speaker. Retrofitting only on special request.
Dealers selling Audio Physic near you
The Cardeas delivers astonishing low-frequency authority and palpable midrange presence, pairing bone‑shaking bass with a famously refined spiderless midrange and an airy, precise soundstage that disperses orchestral scale naturally. Its multi-layer, glass-clad cabinet and engineered drivers yield striking clarity and dynamics, a combination highlighted in testing by Carsten Barnbeck for Fidelity Magazine.
Pros
- Deep, authoritative low end from dual push-push 280 mm woofers delivering extend bass without excessive cabinet vibration.
- Natural, resonance-free midrange driven by the spiderless midrange chassis, offering clean timbre and exceptional detail retrieval.
- Wide, precisely layered soundstage with excellent phase fidelity that eases placement and reproduces large ensembles convincingly.
Sound Quality
96/100
Bass
97/100
Review praises "bone-shaking bass" and "profound gravity" from the dual 280 mm push-push woofers and gives a 25 Hz extension; reviewers highlight effortless low-end authority with engineered cancellation to avoid cabinet vibration, supporting reference-class bass performance.
Mid
96/100
Reviewer singles out the midrange driver as the standout, describing clean, distinct timbre and a chassis design that suppresses resonance and ringing; midrange is described as exceptionally natural and revealing.
Treble
94/100
A novel aluminum tweeter and a stated 40 kHz upper range are cited; treble is conveyed as coherent with the midrange and extended without reported harshness, delivering detail and air.
Soundstage Imaging
96/100
Reviewer states a "perfectly graduated, superbly detached stage" that disperses large orchestras and creates convincing venue impressions; excellent phase fidelity reduces placement finickiness and preserves image focus.
Dynamics
95/100
Described as having "unparalleled vigor and vibrancy" with palpable low-level detail and impactful macro dynamics; reviewers note intensity and slam without obvious compression.
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Build Quality
97/100
Multi-layer cabinet with honeycomb polymer panels, glass exterior, air-pocket isolation, and internal absorbers are documented; construction is engineered to minimize cabinet coloration and shows flagship-level materials and execution.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive tower baseline applied. Single-wire WBT PlasmaProtect terminals noted; high sensitivity (~90 dB) makes amp pairing flexible.
Value for Money
78/100
Price is very high (review lists €36,550) but includes a 10-year warranty if registered; performance is flagship-class though the asking price places it in luxury territory versus typical peers.
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