Serhan Swift Mu2 MkII Standmount Speaker

With its smart new high-quality matt black finish, the mu2 Mk II is much more than just a facelift – it’s effectively a new loudspeaker. All elements – cabinet, woofer, tweeter, crossover – have been carefully re-examined and significantly improved, even where many thought no further improvement was possible.

Lessons learned from the original mu2 Special Edition (as well as our ongoing research into the effects of vibration on all components – see above) have been expanded upon, and have now been applied to the mu2 Mk II. While the woofer and tweeter may look the same as the previous model, both have been improved with an even flatter response, smoother roll-off, and lower distortion.

Enhancements to the crossover take full advantage of the above.

With 1000’s more hours of listening tests and measurements, the cross-over region and on-axis to off-axis transition are even more seamless and even more difficult to detect (always outstanding features of the original design).

The mu2 Mk II takes detail and resolution to yet another level, as well as making the spatial presentation even more realistic. Soundstage and imaging are readily apparent, appropriate and precise in scale, and rock-solid – they don’t appear to change or move.

Additionally, the speaker truly disappears, with listeners in our showroom unable to tell which speakers are playing.

The new multi-layer cabinet construction now employs additional layers of differing materials, carefully chosen for composition and thickness, for even further reduction in cabinet noise (vibration), energy storage and colouration. Bracing has been further strengthened. The new build adds almost 1Kg to the weight of each speaker when compared to the original mu2.

While the mu2 cabinet combined with mechanical isolation and vibration attenuation of drivers and crossover components was already outstanding in its quietness and lack of colouration, the mu2 Mk II is significantly more.

This enables the listener to perceive the entire duration of the decay to an “inky black” total silence between notes. A sense of low-level detail allows the listener to easily discern and follow each instrument and focus on the various layers of the music, rather than struggling to listen through noise and confusion.

“5 days to conceive – 5 years to perfect”

With 5 years of R&D and component testing, Serhan Swift found the optimum drivers to be a bass-midrange woofer and ring-radiator tweeter belonging to the premium Revelator series manufactured by renowned Scan-speak of Denmark.

These drivers are also found in much more expensive speakers from high-end companies such as Wilson Audio, Sonus Faber and others—some costing well over $50K. Their use in a speaker at this price point is unheard of – pun intended!

After extensive experimentation with low and high-order crossover configurations, a high-order crossover was ultimately chosen allowing for steeper slopes, to keep the drive units in their respective “power bands” and minimise out of band distortion. Whilst this increases component cost dramatically the audible benefits are very obvious.

Components are not selected simply based on brand or reputation – the synergy is key. They must perfectly suit the application. And then all are tested, measured, adjusted and matched.

Bass and treble crossovers are kept separate and hand-wired, point to point, then silver soldered on 5mm thick high-density substrates. Proprietary micro-vibration control is also applied here. These measures reduce unwanted noise and distortion even further.

The Cardas brand terminals are high purity copper with rhodium plating. Expensive, but audibly superior, reliable, and long-lasting. (Nothing has been overlooked. Attention to detail means you hear the detail.)

Serhan Swift consider their products a long-term investment. Each pair of mu2 MKII’s take 3 days from start to finish under the watchful eyes of Chief Loudspeaker Designer Brad Serhan and Engineering Director Morris Swift. Brad performs final testing and then he and Morris proudly sign each unit.

mu2 Mk II – specification

Frequency Response (typical in room response): 45Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity: 84dB/1m/2.83 volts

Power Handling (typical music programme): 100 watts

Nominal Impedance: ~ 6 ohms

Dimensions: Height 32.2cm, Width 18cm, Depth 23.6cm

Weight: 8kg each approx.

Cabinets

Low noise-floor cabinet utilises multiple layers of specified thickness and different materials to reduce the noise, vibration and colouration

Mechanical isolators for mounting drivers and key crossover components further reduce vibration/colouration

Asymmetric bracing to break up standing waves

Finish: Matt Black multi-layer polyurethane