Atlantis Lab AT18: a family resemblance
The AT18 speaker is a reasonably sized floorstanding speaker, larger than the AT16 and more contained than the AT23. Like its sisters, it is a two-way speaker, with three drivers. The high section is handled by a 1-inch compression driver decoupled from the front for even more transparency, and the mid-bass is handled by a pair of 16 cm paper cone drivers with tangential suspension on the front, and a 13 cm paper cone driver reinforced by polypropylene, located unconventionally at the rear. This last point is important for the placement of the speaker, relatively close to the wall. The efficiency is striking for a speaker of this size: 96dB/1w/1m. It generously handles 250 Watts nominal and almost double that in peak. All this allows it to be combined with any electronics . Finally, the bandwidth is wide with a bass that goes surprisingly low without false marketing (33Hz at -1dB). The latter is adjusted using an adjustable vent. This simple but precise step is recommended to get even more from the AT18 beyond the factory presets, depending on your listening room.
Perfect proportions and a racy look
The aesthetics are neat. Tall, thin, slender, slightly pyramidal… it easily finds a place in the living room thanks to its extremely reasonable footprint: the size of a bookshelf speaker stand (21.5 x 32 cm). The imitation leather upholstery is successful: the grain is visible but light, the tension is perfect, and the ash-brown or white colors are particularly timeless and happy. The cheeks are made of oak worked with several bevels and grooves to provide additional rigidity and absorption 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 midrange is unique in the Atlantis family. There is no cone or core cover. The membrane occupies the entire surface of the speaker, and the suspension is ribbed to facilitate its deployment. The whole thing gives a very racy, trekking, ready-to-pounce look... and suggests a medium with character. The compression on the front offers a beautiful aluminum collar for a touch of modernity and to emphasize the sporty performance of the beauty. The whole is well executed and a great success, capable of blending into very varied studios or living rooms, ranging from contemporary to more rustic.
Atlantis Lab AT18: a stunning listen
The listening experience, finally, exceeds our expectations. Like its little sister, it demonstrates extreme transparency, liveliness, and airiness… Its bass is both structured and taut. And its midrange… This midrange and high midrange are astounding, nuanced, sensual. We shake our heads, still in a daze, as we play the songs one after the other. Not to challenge it, but to go on a journey with it. The details are there, with beautiful relief, the soundstage is vast, precise; the bass is fast and ample; the treble is fine without harshness or projection. The compression is well controlled. Atlantis Lab has succeeded in its bold positioning bet between two impeccable sisters. We can only recommend the AT18, a true audiophile alternative to better-known brands, for almost any living room.