Coaxial speakers have always been very popular when it comes to factory speaker replacements for the simple reason that they just "drop in" the factory holes. The problem is that there aren't many coaxial speakers that perform at a high level like a high-end component system would. So what do you do if you want component speaker sound from your coaxial? Critical Mass hopes to have the answer with their all new Reference SS6 "Hi-Performance" coaxial speaker system.
Critical Mass started out as a small speaker maker in Florida that focused largely on alternative mobile audio, such as their extremely expensive electrostats. A few years ago, Critical Mass was bought by IconTV and moved to New York. The company has since concentrated on extending their product line to cater to a broader audience.
Before I got started on this review, I called Claudio Laraia, CEO of IconTV, about the SS6 coax. I was surprised when he told me it took three years to create what he calls the ultimate in an "affordable" coaxial speaker. That's a long development time. And, affordable? At $199 a pair, they're at the top of the price range for what I consider an affordable 6 11/42" coax - so yes, just barely.
For a coaxial, the SS6 utilizes some cool tech features. To start, Ferrofluid was used in the magnetic gap of the tweeters' motors to improve power handling and lower distortion - a once common attribute in tweeters that has become less mainstream because of cost considerations. The tweeters are of a good size - 25mm in diameter - and use a titanium coating over a plastic dome. The tweeter is fed power via a 12dB passive crossover network that is neatly concealed within the woofer's frame, while the woofer uses a natural roll-off. The speakers have also been set up to allow the end user the ability to either bi-amp or bi-wire the speaker system for added performance.
The woofer section uses a titanium "plated" polypropylene cone that sits in a standard, stamped steel basket with a black, textured powder coating. Its motor is encased in a thick, blocky rubber boot with the Critical Mass insignia and SS Reference series embossed in it. Beneath it lies a standard looking motor assembly, but what you don't see is what makes it special. Critical Mass employed a copper-shorting cap on the pole piece of the motor structure, referred to as "X-pole Symmetrical Motor Design," to lower distortion and extend bass response. I have to say that it does seem to work very well as you will find out in the listening section. Something that doesn't work well for me was the lack of grilles to protect the speakers and the missing owner's manual. Most coaxial speaker systems don't have a lot of options to explain, but the SS6 does, like bi-amp or bi-wire configuration. This isn't the first time we've noted the lack of manual when testing their products, so I implore Critical Mass to add a detailed owner's manual to all of their product line.
Power handling for the SS6 system is rated at 100 watts per channel, which is on the high side for coaxials. The woofer voice coil diameter is said to be 111/42" on the packaging, but my trusty calipers measured it closer to 1". The packaging also states the voice coil to use aluminum wire for "reduced mass and greater sensitivity," but I wasn't about to cut open my listening sample to find out.
InstallationThe SS6 uses pretty much the normal-sized hole cut as most 6 11/42" coaxial speakers. This is helpful for installers who are using them in factory replacement locations, as they'll fit without, or with minimal, cutting.
For my listening test, I introduced the Reference SS6 to a listening system that consists of an Alpine CDA-9857 head unit driving an Alpine PDX-2.150 amplifier that delivers 150 watts per channel running fullrange. Even though the speaker is only rated for 100 watts, Critical Mass claims they can handle up to 200 watts per channel peak, so I decided to find out.