Cost-no-object loudspeakers seem to be making a comeback in the post-COVID environment and whilst their appeal is limited to those with bottomless pits of money, it is definitely interesting to us that manufacturers are investing this much time and R&D money into the segment right now.
When you look at some of the more recent introductions like the Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo, Monitor Audio Hyphn, Sonus Faber Suprema System, and Gryphon Audio — it’s clear that some are trying to push engineering boundaries and offer real innovation.
The Vivid Audio Moya M1, however, seem to go above and beyond. If you are not taken aback by the $450,000 price of entry — these are from a brand that has definitely proven that it knows how to build state-of-the-art loudspeakers.
The Birth of the Moya M1
The Moya M1 was born of circumstance. Quarantined in a hotel room for 10 days by the global pandemic, Vivid Audio technical director Laurence Dickie began to sketch out an idea for an ultimate speaker. After going through design refinements and testing, the initial concept has resulted in the Vivid Audio Moya M1 loudspeaker.
Tip: Laurence Dickie was also the designer behind the celebrated Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus loudspeaker.
The Moya M1 is no ordinary speaker. Its innovative carbon-reinforced balsa-cored vacuum-infused sandwich composite cabinet houses an impressive 5-way 13-driver speaker system that is designed to deliver the ultimate sound listening experience across all frequencies – to put it simply, the Moya M1 is designed to handle anything with little effort.
Woofers
The Moya M1 incorporates eight bass drivers (C225). This is because Vivid Audio claims that this provides more efficiency and power handling capability.
Compared to the two C225s of the Giya G1 Spirit model, the Moya M1 features four times the woofer driver complement. Vivid Audio claims that this results in an extra 6dB of efficiency which allows the Moya M1 to reach down below 20Hz with clarity.
The eight bass drivers have 100mm voice coils; Vivid Audio claims that this is equivalent to having two woofers with 400mm voice coils. Even the most powerful 21-inch drivers have no more than a 150mm voice coil, let alone 400mm. The C225 woofers also incorporate alloy diaphragms and a radial magnet system. For added low-frequency support, the Moya M1 also incorporates Tapered Tubes (Bass Reflex).
Midrange
The next stage in the Moya M1’s construction includes coverage of the midrange frequencies. For this, Vivid Audio has included separate Upper Midrange, Midrange, and Lower Midrange drivers.
- Upper Midrange: For the upper midrange frequencies, the driver is the D50DLC. This is a 50mm Diamond-like Coated alloy dome unit with Tapered Tube Loading with a Copper shielded radial magnet system.
- Midrange: For the “center” midrange frequencies, the driver is the C100SCu. This is a 100mm carbon fiber reinforced alloy cone driver with Tapered Tube Loading and Copper shielded rare-earth radial magnet system.
- Lower Midrange: For Lower Midrange frequencies, there are 2 C175 drivers. These drivers incorporate a 175 mm carbon fiber reinforced diaphragm with 76 mm voice coil with rare-earth radial magnet system and Tapered Tube Loading.
High Frequencies
To round out the Moya M1’s driver complement is the tweeter. For this critical sound reproduction role, a D26DLC tweeter is used. This driver incorporates a 26mm Diamond-like Coated alloy dome unit with Tapered Tube Loading and Ultra-high flux radial magnet system.
Specifications
- Brand/Model: Vivid Audio Moya M1
- Configuration: 5-way, 13-driver system
- Cabinet Material: Carbon-reinforced balsa-cored vacuum-infused sandwich composite
- Standard Colors:
- Piano Black, Lexus Pearl White, Oyster Grey Matte.
- Bespoke PPG automotive colors are available on request
- Piano Black, Lexus Pearl White, Oyster Grey Matte.
- Tweeter: 1 x D26DLC 26 mm
- Upper Mid Frequency Driver: 1x D50DLC 50 mm
- Mid Frequency Driver: 1x C100SCu (100mm)
- Lower Mid Frequency Driver: 2 x C175-76 (175 mm)
- Woofers: 8 x C225-100H (225 mm)
- Ports: Bass loading Exponentially Tapered Tube (bass reflex)
- Sensitivity: 93dB/2.83V@1m
- Nominal Impedance: 5 Ohms nominal, 2.5 Ohms minimum at 40 Hz
- Frequency Range -6dB: 19 Hz – 42,000 Hz
- First D26 Break Up mode: > 50,000 Hz
- Harmonic Distortion (2nd and 3rd harmonics): < -60dB > 100 Hz
- Crossover Frequencies: 125 Hz – 550 Hz – 1,700 Hz – 4,000 Hz
- Power Handling (music program): 3,000W RMS
- Loudspeaker Dimensions (HxWxD):1,660 x 660 x 1,210 mm (65.4 x 26 x 47.6 inches)
- Net Weight: 346 kg/753 lbs (each)
Tech Note: For complete details on the creation, and development of the Moya M1, refer to the Vivid Audio’s Moya M1 Product Page.
Price & Availability
The Vivid Audio Moya M1 Loudspeakers are available for $465,000/pair USD in the U.S. and €450,000/pair in Europe from Authorized Distributors and Dealers. Bespoke PPG automotive colors are available upon request.
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ORT
April 3, 2024 at 10:29 pm
Moya was a female Leviathan on the SciFi Outer Space TV show from Jim Henson.
This is a Land-locked Leviathan of a speaker. The price is even Leviathanesque. Only someone with the wealth of the immortal Sheik Yerbouti could easily afford this let alone hope to enjoy it. One must have an appetite (and ego) for the ridiculously overspendgineered.
This looks like something Lord Michael of Fremer would salivate over like a slug on a saltwater sidewalk. One can only dream of the highlarious PRATlle that would pepper the fAd Copy of that review…Pffft!
It looks like the afterbirf of an infant Leviathan, left to float in space until it came in contact with the unwavering, gravitational pull of a frAudiophilian’s Priapic EGO where upon it landed fully formed in the Holy of Rollers. The “Listening Room”. That or a Brontosaurus turd from the remake of “Bringing Up Baby”.
Just when you held high hopes that the High End would embrace affordability and abandon fraudability, this turdle waddles onto the scene. What if you have to vacuum under it? Will you announce to all present in the fashion of Lucilla in “Gladiator”, “It was a Turdle of Roam. Honor it.” (Gracchus) “Who will help me shovel shit?”
I would say more but…Okay. I will. More. And now I abide in abject fear that somewhere…out there…some idiot just dropped Acid and has had an epifanny (i.e., his head up his buttocks like an Asstrich) and by Bacchus he can do “more”!
As Bill the Cat would say, “Ack!”
ORTics Vinicius Ridikalus
Nephalim
April 9, 2024 at 11:16 am
Hilarious review 😃😃😃you can’t help but laugh it was well thought out and put together.Thing is it will get sold and someone will enjoy just cause they can because we might never get to own such a product doesn’t mean it will be a waste of money we have to learn to appreciate the things we may never get to embrace
Tim
April 6, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Aren’t worth $450 considering how ugly they are !
Wow…. this hobby has gone cuckoo for coco puffs.
David Leingang
April 6, 2024 at 11:42 pm
Stated Frequency Range -6dB: 19 Hz – 42,000 Hz. And the human ear caps out at 20,000 Hz, yes?
DARIO VIDAL
April 8, 2024 at 7:30 pm
You are absolutely right.