HL1

About the HL1

The Aspara HL1 loudspeaker, designed by Brian Taylor of Aspara Acoustics, is a two-way full-range horn speaker system. It incorporates a 12-inch (305mm) bass/mid driver with a paper cone supported by a 42-inch folded modified exponential bass horn, and a 2-inch titanium compression driver loaded by a radial horn molded from glass-reinforced plastic. The horn mouth is positioned at floor level with an area of approximately 4 square feet. The crossover network uses a first-order high-frequency and second-order bass crossover design. The cabinet is constructed from engineered birch plywood with high-quality custom veneer finishes. The speaker stands over 1.2 meters tall with a substantial footprint and weighs approximately 85 kg. It has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and an exceptionally high sensitivity of 100 dB at 1 watt/1 meter, making it suitable for use with tube amplifiers rated between 20 and 100 watts. The HL1 is noted for its coherent sound, ease of placement in rooms, and ability to energize large listening spaces. While it is highly efficient and delivers a dynamic and immediate sound, some reviewers note it is slightly less refined than the very best horn speakers. The price was listed at £8175 around 2010.