Emphaser is coming this spring with a firework display of new VW speakers for a wide range of models. It all starts with the EM-VWF4, which we have just tested in the editorial office.
Emphaser will soon be presenting four new VW sets. Vehicles with 15 mm woofers and those with 18 mm woofers will be covered, as well as two systems for buses in the form of the EM-VWF3 for T5 and EM-VWF4. The latter is our test object, which fits into the popular T6.1 camper van. VW has also refused to use standard DIN woofers in the T6.1 or to adopt their basic dimensions. Instead, an "intermediate size" is used, which at approx. 150 millimeters is half a size smaller than a standard 165 millimeter woofer. There is also only one clean retrofit solution, namely to develop a special T6.1 loudspeaker, because of the trim and its distance from the power unit carrier.
Emphaser has therefore developed a tailor-made basket made of fiber-reinforced plastic that solves all installation problems. There is a socket for the original VW plugs on the outside of the basket edge, so that installation is plug & play. There is no external crossover, but Emphaser does not simply leave out the woofer crossover, as is often the case with inexpensive retrofit speakers. There is enough space inside the basket structure to accommodate a crossover, and what Emphaser offers here with the VWF4 is anything but a cheap solution. A transformer core coil and an MKT capacitor are a high-quality and practical choice here, plus an RC element for optimization - external crossovers can't offer anything better. There is a level resistor and a film capacitor for the tweeter; no adjustment options are required for a vehicle-specific system; thanks to the fixed installation positions of the speakers, it either fits or doesn't fit.
Measurements and sound
The 25 millimeter fabric dome tweeter works well up to 20 kHz, and the omnidirectional response is very good. As a fabric dome tweeter, it is also restrained in terms of distortion, which we note with approval. Just like the tweeter, the 15 speaker is at an almost perfect level in our measurements. It doesn't suffer any interference, and the hard aluminum cone with inverse dustcap also works sensationally well.
The amplitude frequency response of the Emphaser bass-midrange driver also shows that the crossover is perfectly matched. The resonance peaks that are unavoidable with aluminum cones are effectively damped, and there is almost nothing below the angle. The only minor drawback is that the 15 is not one of the most powerful woofers, but its SPL capabilities are perfectly adequate and in no way worse than usual. This is also evident in the listening test, where we were able to achieve quite good levels. The entire EM-VWF4 showed its best side with distortion-free performance. It sounds nice and crisp with lots of detail, but also suitable for long distances. Precise bass, honest voice reproduction and great spatiality allow the EM-VWF4 to play its way into the hearts of listeners.
Conclusion
The EM-VWF4 clearly belongs in the top class of VW retrofits, it is certainly one of the best T6.1 systems available. Highly recommended!
Source: Hifitest
