Auer Acoustics Versura V2 Loudspeaker: Mastery in Panzerholz Craftsmanship

Experience the unique blend of music passion and craftsmanship in the Auer Acoustics Versura V2 loudspeaker, built from dense Panzerholz material.

An Unforgettable Delivery Challenge

The day the Auer Acoustics Versura V2 loudspeakers were slated to arrive couldn’t have been more inconvenient. Our small condo's main elevator was out of commission. Normally, heavy audio gear arrives through the garage, rolled in on a forklift or dolly straight up in the elevator to our unit. But this time? We had to haul those hefty beauties up five front steps just to reach the service elevator for the ride to the fourth floor.

Peeking into the back of the truck, there were two plywood travel cases secured on a pallet, each holding a Versura V2. Measuring a seemingly manageable 18″ × 14″ × 50″, I wondered, how heavy could they be?

I glanced at the shipping details I’d printed: the total shipment weighed a jaw-dropping 550 pounds. How was that even possible?

Well, as Mr. McGuire might have said to Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate, had this been the context:

“I just want to say one word to you. Just one word… Panzerholz.”

What Is Panzerholz?

Panzerholz, also known as “tankwood,” is a fascinating engineered wood crafted by the venerable German company Delignit AG, boasting over 200 years of history. This unique material is created by bonding hardwood veneer—typically beech—with phenolic resin under immense pressure.

The result? A material with twice the density of MDF that literally sinks in water and can even withstand bullets. Indeed, during World War II, it was used as tank armor by the German military. Beyond its formidable toughness, Panzerholz is also remarkably expensive—a single inch-thick panel roughly 8′ × 4′ can set you back about $1,200.

Today, tankwood finds its way into construction, automotive industries, and intriguingly, audio applications like:

• Cartridges
• Turntables
• Equipment racks
• Loudspeakers

I first encountered Panzerholz as the front baffle of the Rogers LS5/9 Classic. It’s also been embraced by specialist speaker makers such as Kaiser Acoustics and Auer Acoustics for entire enclosures.

Why Use Tankwood for Loudspeakers?

Tankwood’s suitability for speaker cabinets isn’t just folklore; it’s been scientifically investigated with fascinating outcomes. Lithuanian company LessLoss Audio compared Panzerholz blocks against aluminum alloy blocks similar to those used by high-end brands like Magico and YG.

In their semi-dead recording room, blocks of each material were struck with a hammer, revealing:

• Panzerholz decayed to silence much faster than aluminum
• Aluminum showed multiple resonant peaks across the frequency spectrum
• Panzerholz displayed virtually no resonant peaks

While this doesn’t inherently crown tankwood as the supreme cabinet material—implementation always matters—it does explain why some manufacturers are captivated by its properties.

The Story Behind Auer Acoustics

Consumer electronics might feel like a modern tale, but Robert Auer’s journey has an old-world charm. At 15, he completed a traditional cabinetmaker apprenticeship before pursuing a physical science degree through a second educational path.

Even as a teenager, Auer was building loudspeakers, initially using humble chipboard before moving to birch multiplex. He knew about Panzerholz but couldn’t afford or properly process it back then.

Working in a small workshop, he has now sold over 100 pairs of loudspeakers before officially launching Auer Acoustics five years ago. Today, his company operates a small factory with:

• Five employees
• Producing 2 to 4 pairs of speakers weekly
• Fifteen dealers worldwide
• Recognition as one of Germany's 100 fastest-growing companies

The Auer Acoustics Versura V2

The Versura V2 occupies the second spot in Auer’s four-speaker lineup, which includes a bookshelf model, a stand-mount, and a larger floorstanding speaker.

Key specs for the V2:

• Height: 47 inches
• Width: 9 inches
• Depth: 13.5 inches
• Weight: 143 pounds per speaker

Every cabinet component, including the internal bracing, is crafted from 30mm-thick Panzerholz. The enclosure rests on a solid aluminum block base and features four two-piece footers designed to acoustically decouple the speaker from the floor.

The hefty 550-pound shipping weight also includes custom painted plywood travel cases and a heavy-duty plastic pallet, part of the $45,000 per pair price tag. Intriguingly, the speakers arrive with a custom handtruck made from the same wood as the travel cases—complete with a padded bar to protect the finish—though this handtruck isn’t included in the purchase price.

Drivers and Design Philosophy

The Versura V2’s driver lineup includes:

• 1.3″ beryllium tweeter from Bliesma tweeter
• 5″ midrange driver
• Two 7″ bass/midrange drivers from Scan-Speak bass midrange drivers

The crossover frequencies are set at 200Hz and 3000Hz with steep third-order slopes.

Robert Auer explains his approach:

“My philosophy is that everything in the midrange should be reproduced by a single driver.”

The speaker features a single pair of five-way binding posts. For an additional $1,000, a second set can be added for bi-wiring or bi-amping, though Auer admits he’s not a fan of that practice.

For those wanting the ultimate upgrade, the standard tweeter can be swapped for a diamond tweeter paired with a Mundorf SESGO Silver-Gold-Oil capacitor at an eye-watering extra $20,000.

Finishes and Craftsmanship

Buyers can select from eight paint colors, including the vibrant Indian Red shown on the review pair, offered in matte or gloss. Natural wood finishes like oak and walnut are also available.

Achieving the high-gloss lacquer finish involves an intricate process:

“We apply two coats of epoxy primer, sanding between each, followed by multi-layer color application with intermediate sanding, and finish with a clear coat polished to a high gloss.”

Remarkably, U.S. customers pay no extra charge for either high-gloss or natural wood finishes.

System Setup

Replacing my Magico M2 loudspeakers reference speakers, no other system changes were made.

Playback chain:

• Sony X1100ES universal player for CDs and SACDs
• Baetis Reference 5 music computer for files and streaming
• Tidal Audio Contros DAC/controller
• Tidal Ferios monoblock amplifiers

David McGinnis, Auer Acoustics’ North American brand ambassador, flew in to set up the speakers.

Final placement:

• 20″ from the rear wall
• 8′ apart
• 9′ from the listening position

The listening room measures 225 square feet with ceilings from 10 to 11.5 feet.

A minor setup hiccup was the non-adjustable feet on the V2, solved easily with stick-on felt pads from any hardware store.

Listening Impressions: Soundstage

Coming off a diet of mostly 5.1 multichannel and Atmos recordings, I braced for stereo to feel like a step backward. It didn’t.

The V2s delivered a remarkably expansive soundstage when recordings allowed. Iván Fischer’s Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, recorded at Budapest’s Palace of Arts, showcased excellent front-to-back layering and precise orchestral placement. David Zinman’s Baltimore Symphony recordings held the same clarity.

Popular recordings also shined. Monkey House’s “Disappear in Plain Sight” projected layered chorus harmonies clearly, floating ahead of the speakers in space.

Listening Impressions: Dynamics

Where the V2 truly shines is in dynamic impact and nuance.

The classic audiophile recording Tricycle by Flim and the BBs features startling fortissimo piano, bass, and drum accents. Through the V2s, those notes leapt out with unprecedented force.

Classic rock from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and more also benefited. Despite not being engineered for high-end playback systems, these albums regained much of their raw energy and visceral impact.

Large orchestral works by Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and Rimsky-Korsakov delivered both the full power of the orchestra and subtle dynamic gradations.

The Rest of the Sonic Checklist

Beyond space and dynamics, the V2 performs strongly across the board:

• Treble: Open and airy without harshness. ±3dB response up to 40kHz retains bell and violin harmonics with clarity.
• Bass: Powerful and controlled despite sealed enclosure. Acoustic bass sounds even and tuneful, with satisfying orchestral weight.
• Speed and Transients: Electrostatic-like speed makes fast piano passages and harp performances sound clean and unsmeared.
• Transparency: Natural and distinctive timbres, likely aided by the inert cabinet that isolates driver movement.

The overall presentation is revealing without sounding analytical—a tricky balance to strike.

Final Thoughts

At audio shows, Robert Auer often hands visitors a small block of Panzerholz, measuring about 10″ × 4″ × 1.2″ and weighing roughly 2.4 pounds. Its surprising heft usually prompts instant reactions.

It certainly did for me.

That physical density is a clue to what makes the Versura V2 so special. Auer Acoustics’ accelerating success stems from two things:

• Robert Auer’s extraordinary craftsmanship as a woodworker
• His deep love of music

The Versura V2 is extraordinary because it blends both — and because it’s built from an extraordinary material.

All hail Panzerholz.
And all hail Auer Acoustics.

FAQ

• What is Panzerholz, and why is it used in the Versura V2?
  Panzerholz is a dense engineered wood originally used as tank armor in WWII. Its acoustic properties make it ideal for speaker cabinets, offering low resonance and excellent damping.
• How heavy are the Versura V2 loudspeakers?
  Each speaker weighs about 143 pounds, with the full shipment weighing 550 pounds including travel cases and pallet.
• What drivers are used in the Versura V2?
  The speaker features a 1.3″ beryllium tweeter from Bliesma, a 5″ midrange driver, and two 7″ bass/midrange drivers from Scan-Speak.
• Can I customize the finish of the Versura V2?
  Yes, buyers can select from eight paint colors (matte or gloss) and natural wood finishes like oak or walnut, with no extra cost for U.S. customers.
• What kind of sound qualities does the Versura V2 deliver?
  The V2 offers an expansive soundstage, dynamic impact, controlled bass, open treble, fast transients, and natural transparency, excelling both in classical and popular music playback.

For those who love music and stunning craftsmanship, consider shopping for your favorite album cover poster at our store to complement your audio sanctuary.