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Aperion Intimus 632-LR Bookshelf Speaker (cherry) (08/17/2005)

Aperion Intimus 632-LR Bookshelf Speaker (cherry)

Entered CNET Catalog: 08/17/2005

SKU: 811

Manufacturer: Aperion Audio

Manufacturer description

Imagine getting all the flavor with half the fat - sonic accuracy from top to bottom, at a price firmly in the middle. Excellent out of the box for music and movies, the Intimus 632-LR delivers phenomenal home theater sound when paired with a subwoofer. These beauties boast thick, furniture-grade cabinetry to minimize resonance for beautiful clean bass, while custom 1" silk tweeters and 6 1/2" carbon fiber drivers sound fantastic and deliver tight bass and exceptional midrange clarity. This means your music and movies will always sound unbelievable, no matter what. With their excellent imaging, flat frequency response and unbelievable bass performance, they'll keep you satisfied for years. The Intimus 632 is the top of the line bookshelf speaker, offering flawless performance, flexible mounting options, and astonishing bass. It's an incredible value - and that's no distortion.

Product summary

The goodThe good: Two-way bookshelf speaker; superior sound quality; 6.5-inch woofer; 1-inch dome tweeter; gorgeous furniture-grade finishes; 30-day in-home trial; free shipping.

The badThe bad: As satellites go, this is a pretty large speaker.

The bottom lineThe bottom line: Aperion's big bookshelf speaker, the Intimus 632-LR, has the muscle of a tower speaker.

Average user rating: 0 stars

Editors' review

  • Editors' Choice: No
  • Reviewed on: 03/11/2006
We took our first look at Aperion a few years ago when the online direct-sales company offered just one satellite speaker and three subwoofers. Aperion's ever-expanding line now features a bunch of new models, all boasting upgraded technology and improved sound quality. The 632-LR bookshelf speaker is the largest "satellite" ever offered by Aperion: it's 15 inches tall, 7.75 wide, and 12.75 deep, and it weighs in at 26 pounds. The company sells the 632-LR direct on its Web site for $299.

The 632-LR is fitted with a 6.5-inch composite woofer and a 1-inch soft dome tweeter. Like its sister speakers in Aperion's Intimus line, the 632-LR utilizes HD-X3 impedance-leveling crossover technology, which is said to produce better sound, greater efficiency, and an easier "load" for amplifiers than did the crossovers used in previous generations of Aperion speakers, such as the otherwise identical predecessor, the Aperion 622-LR. The 632-LR's gold-plated five-way binding posts accept single or dual banana plugs, spades, pins, or bare wire.

Pick up the Aperion 632-LR and the first thing you'll notice is that it's a lot heavier than you thought it would be. Here's why: instead of relying on commonplace 0.5- or 0.75-inch-thick medium-density fiberboard (MDF), Aperion cabinets are constructed from 1-inch-thick high-density fiberboard (HDF). The heavily braced cabinet minimizes resonance to produce more accurate sound. Cheesy, vinyl-wrapped boxes are the norm, so we give Aperion major props for its meticulously crafted real cherrywood and high-gloss piano-black finishes. Aperion's extrathick foam packing materials and blue velour "socks" protect the speakers on their way to you. It all adds up to a very classy presentation.

And to top things off, if you buy the 632-LR as part of a multichannel speaker package (such as the System E configuration), Aperion will include a high-quality sound-pressure meter to help you get the best sound from your system. Aperion is so confident that you'll love the 632-LR, the company sells it with a 30-day money-back return policy. UPS Ground shipping is free (ditto the return shipping if you're not satisfied) in the continental United States. The speaker is sold with a 10-year warranty.

We listened to DVDs with a pair of 632-LRs partnered with an Aperion 533-VAC center speaker, two Aperion 532-LRs as surround speakers, and the Aperion S-10 subwoofer. The 632-LRs withstood The Day After Tomorrow DVD's full-frontal assault like a pro, and the sound was detailed, without a hint of harshness or edge. Elvis Costello's new Live in Memphis DVD video was a lot of fun. The band tore through old and new tunes with gusto, and the 632-LRs' small stature never crossed our minds.

On Los Lobos' Live at the Fillmore CD, the sound balance was rich and warm, as if the guys were right there in front of us, and their guitars had lots of transient detail. Even after we turned off the subwoofer, the Aperion 632-LRs' bass more than held its own. This is one speaker that we can wholeheartedly recommend to music lovers.

User opinions

Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 2 user reviews

These speakers mean business.

Pros: Nearly full-range frequency response, excellent sound

Cons: Not huge, but not a little speaker

Review: I just set up my 5.1 system with 632 mains, a 533-VAC, 422 surrounds, and an S8-APR sub. I tried the 632's with music that I have listened to for years, like Metallica, and I have never heard a speaker that sounded like this. Every cymbal clash, every guitar note, every drum beat comes out sharply and precisely. I don't know if you can find a better value anywhere for 600 bucks a pair...these speakers mean business!
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 2 user reviews

fantastic sound

Pros: quality for the price

Cons: pricey for a beginner

Review: Upgraded to these as my front speakers in my 6.1 system, noted an immediate improvment in the fulness of the sound in the room. Bass response seems smoother, trebles cleaner than with the 522s. Very happy.

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Aperion Intimus 632-LR Bookshelf Speaker (cherry) specifications

  • General
  • Product type Speaker
  • Dimensions (WxDxH) 7.8 in x 12.8 in x 15.0 in
  • Weight 26.0 lbs
  • Color Medium cherry
  • Speaker Features
  • Speaker Type 2-way - Passive
  • Woofer size (inches) 1.0 in , 6.5 in
  • Response Bandwidth 46 - 20000 Hz
  • Input Impedance 8.0 Ohm
  • Recommended Amplifier Power -150.0 Watt
  • Sensitivity 86.0 dB
  • Output Features Bass Reflex
  • Magnetic Shield Yes
  • Connectivity Technology Wired
  • Recommended Placing Bookshelf
  • Detachable Grilles Yes
  • Additional Features Gold-plated connectors
  • Speaker Details
  • Features Speaker - 2-way - -19954.0 Hz - 8.0 Ohm - Bookshelf - Wired
  • Driver Details Speaker : 1.0 x Mid/woofer driver - 1.0 in - Carbon - Ferro-fluid cooled , Speaker : 1.0 x Tweeter driver - 6.5 in - Silk
  • Miscellaneous
  • Remote Control None
  • AV Furniture None
  • Power
  • Power Device None
  • Battery
  • Type None
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