High End Munich 2023 is in our rearview mirror and one trend that we noticed from the show was the introduction of flagship and cost-no-object loudspeakers from a increasing number of brands. TIDAL has always focused on the top end of the market so we’re not surprised to see this collaboration with Bugatti; the new TIDAL for Bugatti Royale Loudspeakers are a lot more than just some styling changes and have certainly attracted a lot of attention.
Taking its name from the Bugatti Royale automobile these speakers are designed to look as good as they sound. Hopefully better.
Tip: TIDAL Audio is a different company than the Tidal Music streaming service you may be more familiar with.
Core Features
At its core, the TIDAL for BUGATTI Royale is a 4-way hybrid-active multi-channel powered active loudspeaker. This means that these speakers house their own amplifiers, so no need to connect them to an external amplifier or AV receiver, and sources can also be connected directly. However, the speakers do need to be connected to AC power.
The Royale features luxurious industrial strength a TIRALIT™ Ultra polycast matrix cabinet with decoupled isolation front plate and stand frame.
There are two cabinet themes:
- DUOTONE – This theme offers choices of colors and materials that harmonize with each other. One example is a white front combined with a polished Macassar veneer back. Another choice might be a combination of a black piano finish with dark grey carbon fiber.
- MONOCOQUE – This theme provides a “shaped out of one block” theme. Buyers have a choice of single colors in either real piano lacquer or original Bugatti lacquer.
Specifications
- Amplification: TIDAL T4B amplifiers.
- Tweeter: 1 x 30 mm high efficiency T4B diamond tweeter
- Mid/Woofer: 1 x 127 mm high efficiency T4B diamond midrange-woofer
- Woofer: 2 x 170 mm T4B woofers with aluminum-magnesium alloy diaphragm
- Subwoofer: 4 x 265 mm T4B long-throw subwoofers with aluminum-magnesium diaphragm
- Frequency Response: Information not provided
- Crossover Points: Information not provided
- Connections: LAN-remote, XLR, Royale-Link, power cord input
- Onboard Controls: Bass tone/bass level/bass adjustment based on speaker placement.
- Dimensions (HWD – each speaker): 144 x 28 x 60 cm (56.7 x 11 x 24 inches)
- Net Weight: 2 x 217 Kg / 2 x 480 lbs.
- Price: €260,000 – €503,000 ($318,000 – $616,000 USD) per pair, depending on the finish options chosen.
Finish Options: Customers can order their own “pair unique”. This includes metal parts: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, and Precious Metal. Finish options include velvet glass-pearl blasted, brushed, or structure, silver, gray, dark, or other custom colors. Side speaker grills are available in carbon fiber, leather, or one of several metal options.
Tip: The first models were in either “ROYALE Edition Blanc” and “ROYALE Edition Noir” (White or Black) exterior finish options. Each was limited to only 15 pairs of each.
Tidal Royale MC-1
In addition to the speakers, TIDAL Audio also offers their recommended source controller, the Royale MC-1 DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) with lossless volume control.
Tip: Tidal Audio Refers to the Royale MC-1 as a Digital to Music Converter (DMC). For the purposes of this article, the two terms are interchangeable.
MC-1 Specifications
- Control: Wireless Remote control and iOS devices (no Android).
- Wired Sources: Internal streamer (upgradeable) or digital in via Toslink, BNC, RCA, AES, USB.
- Wireless Sources: Streaming content via USB, DNLA network, Airplay, and music streaming services
- Finish Options: Customer choice of metals, carbon fiber, leather, and colors for top cover and side panel inlays.
- Dimensions (WDH): 46 x 42 x 12 cm (18.1 x 16.5 x 4.72 inches)
- Net Weight: 1 x 33 Kg (72 lbs 13 oz)
- Price: €48,000 (~$52,000 USD)
Availability
For details on pricing options, availability, and delivery for both the loudspeakers and MC-1, check out the Bugatti Partner Website.
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