Fleetwood Sound Company a division of Oswalds Mill Audio (founded in 2006) was created to produce a line of smaller, more affordable audio components while retaining high build quality and design. The speakers incorporate solid hardwoods, hand-rubbed natural finishes (oil and wax), conical horns, and additional innovative audio engineering.
Excelsior
Building on that foundation, Fleetwood Sound has introduced the Excelsior wireless-powered speaker system.
The Excelsior joins the growing number of wireless-powered speakers from other well-regarded speaker manufacturers such as PSB, Bowers & Wilkins, Sonus faber, ELAC, Triangle, Dynaudio, and KEF.
Tip: Industrial design is done in collaboration with Ana Gugic.
Construction
Made from solid 1-inch thick torrefied Pennsylvania oak, cast aluminum, and paper phenolic, Fleetwood Sound describes the Excelsior as the Swiss Army knife for sound. It simply plugs into the wall through an an external brick-size power supply that’s included.
Speaker Drivers
The Excelsior incorporates a unique speaker driver layout. The woofers are 6-inch in diameter incorporating neodymium magnets with additional support via reflex loading through front vertical vents. The high and midrange frequencies are handled by tweeter/compression driver horn assemblies that stick out of the top of the Excelsior.
Input Sources
The Excelsior can accept virtually any wireless or wired audio input source including WiFi, Bluetooth, Phono, USB, Ethernet, Analog line, Digital and includes a built-in DAC.
Onboard Control
The Excelsior incorporates a simple one-dial control that functions as both a volume control and an input selector.
Upgradability
A modular electronics architecture ensures Excelsior will never be obsolete. Fleetwood claims owners can update it without any sophisticated tooling. All the key circuits are accessible behind a removable rear plate. Each circuit board (or module such as the DAC, Bluetooth or phono stage) can simply pop in or out.
Use Cases
Excelsior weighs 55 lbs so it’s likely to stay put on a console or optional stand. In theory it’s compact enough to be carried to another room, but we’re not quite sure many would do that. An introductory Instagram post claims you can put in the backseat of a car, take it to a cabin, or use it for a party outside (weather permitting).
Sound Quality
Johnathan Weiss, OMA and Fleetwood’s founder said, “Excelsior will play as loud as you want with no distortion — 110 dB easily, maybe 115 dB. The speaker will play any kind of music and has amazing bass along with the most natural, beautiful tonality. It has the dynamics that our [Oswalds Mills Audio] big horn systems have, offering a natural quality that’s absent in virtually all commercial audio. It’s remarkable even by my standards.”
Excelsior SQ
For a more elevated listening experience, Fleetwood Sound offers the Excelsior “SQ” (Superior Quality) model. This variant features polished and lacquered solid bronze horns, upgraded wiring, and a wider selection of wood finishes.
Dimensions
- Loudspeaker dimensions on the stand (WHD): 32 x 20 x 10-inches.
- Weight: 55 lbs
- Stand dimensions: The cast iron base is a circle 15 inches in diameter, and the torrefied wooden stand adds 31.5 inches to the 16.25-inch height of the Excelsior.
- Overall footprint (WHD): 32 x 47.75 x 15-inches.
- Overall Weight (Excelsior and Stand Together): 83.5 lbs
Price & Availability
Update: We have confirmed Excelsior will only be available direct from Fleetwood Sound for a starting price of $19,600. The premium SQ version will sell for $33,000, and the optional floor stand made of wood with cast iron base is $2,300.
* Correction: a previous version of this article had stated lower prices.
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Ed Brumbaugh
February 18, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Nice article, enjoyed reading about the Excelsior. Fleetwood Sound and its more expensive bigger brother brand Oswalds Mill Audio have some fantastic designs. I lust after their OMA Special K tube amplifier, coupled with their Museum Speakers … both brands are a little too rich for my blood, but will be my first stop if I come into that kind of money. Thanks again.