Atlantis Lab AT23: Bold Specifications

The AT23 speaker is a moderately sized floorstanding speaker, which incorporates the brand's own characteristics. A two-way speaker, it nevertheless has three drivers. The high section is handled by a 1-inch compression driver with a titanium diaphragm, coupled with an "Atmos" profile horn. The low-midrange is handled by a pair of 21cm drivers, one on the front... and the other, not conventionally, at the rear. The front speaker is high-efficiency, equipped with a very light paper cone. Its transparency is striking. At the rear, the cone is made of Kevlar and allows it to go very low, thanks to a structurally very low resonance. Very concretely, the AT23 actually reaches 28Hz (at -1dB), which allows it to do without the subwoofer, and realizes the initial objective of synthesizing AT21 and Sub AT33. The efficiency is 97dB / 1w / 1m, which is impressive given the very contained dimensions of the speaker. The admissible power is “all terrain” with 200 Watts nominal, double in peak, which allows it to be happily married with any electronics (Transistor, tube, class D…) and any room. In order to further optimize its suitability to the listening environment, the AT23 is delivered with an adjustable vent. This step, simple but precise, is recommended to obtain a restitution in accordance with the characteristics of your room (resonances, bumps or dips in frequencies, Placoplatre walls…).

A silhouette enhanced by an impeccable finish

The aesthetics are neat. Slim, slender, slightly pyramidal… it takes on the proportions and finishes of its little sister the AT16. Despite its slightly larger size, it fits just as easily in the living room thanks to its reasonable footprint: the size of a beautiful bookshelf speaker stand (31 x 33 cm). The imitation leather upholstery is successful: the grain is visible but light, the tension perfect, and the ash-brown or white colors are particularly timeless and happy. The cheeks are made of oak worked along several bevels and grooves to provide additional rigidity and suppression of standing waves and parasitic resonances. The single terminal block at the rear was made in France to exclusive specifications. It is of very fine craftsmanship, made of a high-conductivity copper alloy. The tightening is firm and easy. Bananas and bare wire are accepted. The front horn is circular in section, and is inserted into the front via a square with softened edges. The whole thing serves as a reminder of the beauty's athletic performance. The ensemble is well executed and a resounding success, able to blend into a wide variety of studios or living rooms, from contemporary to more rustic.

Atlantis Lab AT23: a striking listen

The listening experience, finally, lives up to our expectations. Transparency, liveliness, airiness, firm and deep bass… The promise is kept, with the delicacy of a bookshelf, and the substance of a real subwoofer. We raise our eyebrows in approval, and we mischievously look for another piece to submit to it to see how far it could go. Unsurprisingly… very far. Even further than its price positioning might suggest. Here and there we hear details hitherto unknown on speakers of this range. The soundstage is vast, precise; the bass is imperial, fast and ample; the treble is fine without harshness or projection. The compression is clean, and does not overpower. Those who appreciate very high efficiency are well aware of this pinched nose effect, a slightly sonic projection that makes listening tiring, even annoying in some cases, less controlled. Of course, none of that here. The music fills the entire room as if it were self-evident. This is a true reflection of Atlantis Lab's philosophy, its quest for neutrality and monitoring. But this quest hasn't come at the expense of listening pleasure, as is sometimes seen in this genre. A sincere congratulations to Eric Buy and the Atlantis Lab team. We're pleased to present this product in our catalog: it's a very serious audiophile alternative for almost any living room.