Transpulse, that’s been it before… And indeed, the transpuls remind me of the loudspeakers in my father’s attic from the seventies. At that time they were still called Transpulsar. Based on this design, Magnat is currently building loudspeakers again – currently the Magnat Transpuls 800A. And of course it is full of state-of-the-art technology. Because the development of transducers has by no means stopped in the last 40 years…

Magnat Transpuls 800A: the concept

The Transpuls 800 A in retro look is the smallest and only active part of the Transpuls line. It combines old school design with the latest driver technology and, above all, with the latest playback options. This allows transpuls customers to stream their music via Bluetooth – with the aptX transmission standard in version 5.0 optimized for lip synchronicity for AV applications. A streamer docked via optical digital cable is also conceivable. Here even HighRes audio playback with up to 24 bit/192 kHz sampling rate is possible. It is, if you like, almost a complete system: Simply stream music via your mobile phone or computer – and you’re done.

The term “active” loudspeaker is somewhat misleading. Active means with the Transpuls 800 A that there is a stereo amplifier for both channels in the right box. However, it is not the case that the woofers and tweeters each have their own amplifiers and that their work areas are played via an electronic or digital crossover – as is customary in the classic term “active loudspeaker”. The crossovers are therefore constructed with passive components and sit in the left and right boxes. The transition frequency between the 17-centimetre woofer and the 25-millimetre fabric dome with the horn is 3100 Hertz.

In the high-frequency range, the Magnat engineers achieve good efficiency on the one hand through a strong neodymium abrasion of the dome and on the other hand through a short horn-like sound guide. The latter gives the sound a certain directivity. This means that a good orientation to the listening place is necessary in order not to miss anything.

The 17 woofer was given a fabric bead from the PA sector, which ensures long-term stable properties. Its multi-wave contour helps the hardened paper membrane to perform linear movements during intensive lifting work. Both PA woofer and tweeter horn evoke certain associations with earlier times…

And if retro then a connection for turntables should not be missing. Because the record was the popular storage medium 40 years ago; the CD player was only in its infancy in Transpulsar times… The analog RCA input is switchable: from line level to phono. The integrated phono preamplifier amplifies the small signal of moving magnet i.e. MM pickup systems. Against any humming problems in phono mode, a ground terminal helps, which raises the amplifier unit and turntable to a ground level.

An HDMI connection to the TV, for example, was also considered. Thanks to the ARC function, the essential basic functions can then also be controlled via the remote control of the TV. A mini jack input, which is often used in practice, is available as well as a combined button/controller for input selection and basic volume. In fact, however, all functions will be switched and regulated during operation via the supplied remote control.

These are all construction details that show less retro than the state of the art. Thanks to a well-equipped measuring laboratory with measurement technology from Klippel, Audio Precision, Brüel & Kjaer and Rohde & Schwarz, the technology tinkerers in Pulheim at Magnat do not miss any detail with potential for improvement. For example, with the laser-supported Klippel measuring system, loudspeaker chassis or their diaphragms and suspensions as well as the magnetic drives are optimized until they deliver the best results in terms of small and large signal behavior in the respective dwelling.

Accordingly, the stereo amplifier is designed in Class D technology. Its twice 60 watts RMS are enough to bring the high-efficiency chassis to high, distortion-free listening volume during game operation.

Of course, with such an all-round practical and fun package as the Magnat Transpuls 800A, you will also find red pencil approaches. The vinyl décor, for example, is simple but well done – absolutely class-standard.

Practice

After connecting the left and right boxes via the supplied speaker cables and the music playback via the optical input via Mutec’s Smart Clock MC-3+USB and Roon Nucleus, the music data from the streaming service Tidal arrived. The “pairing” of the Bluetooth connection works perfectly. A press on the “Pair” button and in my smartphone after a few seconds “Transpuls 800A” appeared as a possible connection.

Basically, the Magnat Transpuls 800A have been designed and developed for positioning closer to the wall. After placing it on the shelf or on the sideboard next to the TV, there are a few things to keep in mind. In particular, the vertical orientation should be right here, otherwise there may be underexposure in the transition area of both chassis.

This is exactly why threaded spikes are included in the package, which are screwed in at the front and make a high seating position a fine adjustment and alignment at ear level possible. Thanks to the front bass reflex tubes, the speakers are allowed to stand relatively close to the wall. The manufacturer recommends a minimum distance to the nearest wall of 10 centimeters.

Incidentally, both in the hearing test and in the measurements, it was shown that at a listening distance of about two meters and an ear height on the sitting position of one meter, a low speaker position (speaker stand <60 centimeters or lowboard) brought a more balanced midrange range.

By the way, if the presented bass level – or depth – should not be enough for you, you are welcome to add an active subwoofer. The necessary line level output is already available in the right active box.

High-frequency horn and PA bass, but also the great heritage, give hope for a certain level stability. And the Magnat Transpuls 800A delivers:

The achieved 98 decibels are a respectable size for a speaker of this size – especially since the Transpuls 800A is also quite bass-powerful. So smaller parties are quite conceivable and feasible with the Transpuls…

Magnat Transpuls 800A in hearing test

First I check if everything has been connected correctly polarized. Do the singer stand correctly in the middle or float diffusely, off-centre in the room? Then the tonality in the important midrange is up for review. Do voices perhaps sound nasal or grumpy in the lower range? Are they more superficially present or perceptible further back?

Sara K. with Brick House is always good for a first check. The Transpulsar 800A places the singer neatly in the middle of the listening jury, perhaps taking a step back. The tonality is just as good except for a tendency to warm coloring. I also like the crisp, impulsive percussions and the representation of the recording room with the usual reverberation.

René Marie’s voice on “Dixie/Strange Fruit” may also be set back a bit and has the warm coloring in the mids, but the Transpuls 800A manages to convey the mood of the ballad beautifully.

The live recording of “Big In Japan” in Stockholm is a recording in which Ane Brun’s voice was captured very intimately. Great how the magnate presents the intimacy of the voice in this quiet ballad with only minimally applied S-sounds.

And what does a man’s voice sound like? David Munyon with “Four Wild Horses”, Christian Willisohn with “Caruso” or even better The Fairfield Four with “Bones” show any weaknesses of transducers in the reproduction of deep chest tones. Not so the transpulse, here no grumbling is perceptible. Clean and dry, the gentlemen intonate even when it comes to the low voice range.

And what about heavier fare? In other words, now the Pulheim retros had to show that they can also cope with hub-intensive bass work. Whether Musica Nuda with “Come Together” and the neatly contoured acoustic bass or with fat electric bass and crisp drums: the Transpulsar duo did everything without grumbling. And even with a level that one would not have expected the little Böxchen.

Certainly it lacks the last octave in the frequency cellar. But since most of the content in the bass of acoustic instruments plays mainly from maybe 40-50 Hertz upwards, this is to be overcome. And you have to leave the church in the village – to demand frequencies below 50 Hertz from a loudspeaker of this size would be technically feasible with a different bass reflex tuning and suitable bass equalization, but this would significantly limit the possible maximum level. Friends of well-groomed low bass waves may now think: Good that there is the sub-out socket. Exactly.

Magnat Transpuls 800A: the conclusion

The concept of active, enormously versatile 2-channel complete systems is not new. But it has been reinterpreted by Magnat at least once at this point. Here the music lover will find what he is looking for, who does not like the slick, highly polished loudspeakers of current provenance and who likes retro

The Magnat Transpuls 800A is a bit rough in all respects. This is intentional, quite original and really fun. Because here only the optics are retro, the rest, on the other hand, on the state of the art. That means: Rarely has retro been so much fun for so little money.

Magnat Transpuls 800A: original master/slave system for 800 Euro (lowbeats.de)