Stenheim Ultime Two SX Loudspeaker Review: Swiss Craftsmanship Meets Sonic Brilliance

Experience the remarkable sound and engineering of the Stenheim Ultime Two SX loudspeaker, a high-sensitivity marvel poised to redefine your music listening.

A Swiss Sonic Revelation

Every so often, a loudspeaker comes along that not only commands your attention with its imposing stature but also effortlessly pulls you into the music’s soul. The Stenheim Ultime Two SX is one such marvel. As a passionate audiophile who's had the pleasure of experiencing this beast firsthand, I can attest that it’s not just about raw power or precision—it's about an emotional connection that few speakers can deliver.

Swiss loudspeaker maker Stenheim has earned accolades for their Alumine series, but the Ultime Two SX, their smallest in the Reference Line, truly steals the spotlight. It wowed critics and audiophiles alike at the AXPONA show last year, clinching the Best of Show award. Having tested it in my own listening room, I’m excited to share what makes this speaker a standout.

Design and Build: A Masterclass in Aluminum Elegance

At first glance, the Ultime Two SX is a striking presence: a three-way floorstander that weighs in at just over 500 pounds per speaker, thanks to its all-aluminum enclosure. This isn’t just any aluminum box—the cabinet is engineered with six internal chambers for optimal acoustic control, all visually segmented by tasteful anodized bands that come in red, gold, or silver, breaking up what could otherwise be a monolithic block.

The front baffle and rear panel maintain a sleek black finish, while the sides, top, and bottom can be customized in black, ivory, or mocha. And no grille here—the speaker goes grille-less, putting its drivers directly on display.

Inside, you’ll find dual 12" woofers, dual 6.5" midrange drivers, and a single 1" silk dome tweeter, arranged in a full D’Appolito configuration. Rather than exotic composite materials, Stenheim uses coated paper-based diaphragms, which they argue give the sound a more natural, organic quality. It’s a bold choice that pays off in rich, lifelike tonal balance.

Technical Prowess Meets Practical Features

With a specified sensitivity of 95dB (measured in half-space to better reflect real-room performance) and a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, the Ultime Two SX boasts a frequency response stretching from a deep 25Hz all the way up to 35kHz. This speaker plays well with powerful amplifiers, comfortably handling up to 400 watts, peaking at 800.

One of the speaker’s thoughtful design touches is the ability to tweak its tonal balance via rear-panel jumpers that adjust bass, midrange, and treble levels in small increments. This lets you dial in the sound precisely to your room and taste without making drastic changes—like having a fine-tuning knob right on the speaker itself.

The crossover network is a sophisticated blend of second-order filters between woofer and midrange, and fourth-order filters between midrange and tweeter, assembled from premium components selected after rigorous listening tests. It’s clear that every detail was carefully considered.

The SX model adds a hefty aluminum cross-brace platform with four adjustable outrigger feet, boosting stability and allowing precise leveling and rake angle adjustments. This platform isn’t just about looks—it significantly improves the speaker’s mechanical isolation and sonic performance.

Pricetag and Presentation

At $179,500 a pair, or $199,800 with the SX platform, the Ultime Two SX sits firmly in the ultra-luxury segment. If you already own the standard Ultime Two, the SX platform is a $28,500 upgrade. With build quality as impeccable as the sound, you’re investing in a true work of art.

Listening Experience: Where Power Meets Passion

With expert help from Stirling Trayle, a renowned setup maestro known for wringing every drop of performance from high-end gear, the Ultime Two SX was carefully positioned and bi-amped with CH Precision M10 amplifiers in my room. The attention to setup paid off handsomely.

Right out of the gate, the Ultime Two SX reveals high sensitivity in action: it springs to life with a vibrancy and immediacy that makes even low-volume listening engaging. Turn it up, though, and the speaker transforms the room with an almost horn-like dynamic verve—music bursts forth with a sense of scale, authority, and effortless grace.

It’s rare to find a speaker that’s both bold and refined, but the Ultime Two SX walks that line perfectly. Its extroverted exuberance draws you in, making you want to move with the music. Unlike tight, sealed-box designs that favor clinical precision, this speaker delivers warmth and weight without sacrificing clarity.

The midrange presence is compelling—vocals feel textured, tangible, and are pinpointed right between the speakers. The speaker’s transparency strips away any veil between you and your music, enhancing the lifelike immediacy and emotional impact.

Listen to Stan Getz’s “Bahia” from Jazz Samba and you’ll experience the tenor sax’s bloom, its dynamic expansion into the room’s acoustic, and every subtle inflection of phrasing. The Ultime Two SX captures not just instruments, but the very essence of their performance.

On the other end, big orchestral works and complex jazz ensembles come alive with a sprawling soundstage and crystal-clear image separation. Tracks like “Cantaloop (Flip Out!)” by The Manhattan Transfer showcase the speaker’s ability to track multiple voices and instruments without a hint of muddiness.

Bass That Moves You

The bass response of the Ultime Two SX is nothing short of spectacular. Dual 12" woofers and a rigid aluminum cabinet deliver a bottom end packed with warmth, power, and impressive dynamics. It’s not the ultra-lean, overly controlled bass that some audiophiles favor; instead, it leans just slightly toward the underdamped side, adding a delightful richness and authority that makes you feel the music physically.

This bass character enhances genres from reggae’s deep grooves to the thundering piano lows of a Fazioli F278, and the visceral punch of a bass guitar. The speaker handles massive bass-drum hits with aplomb, delivering them with no dynamic compression and a sense of grounded solidity.

Fine-tuning the bass with the rear-panel jumpers made it even more precise in my mid-sized room, improving transient fidelity and midrange clarity. Larger rooms will appreciate the option to boost bass to fill the space with ease.

Conclusion: Beyond Audiophile Excellence

The Stenheim Ultime Two SX is a loudspeaker that ticks every box for audiophile pedigree—exquisite build, technical sophistication, and stunning sonic quality. But what truly sets it apart is an expressive exuberance that brings music to life.

This speaker isn’t one you simply admire from afar; it demands engagement, emotion, and yes, even a bit of fun. For those blessed with a $200k budget, the Ultime Two SX is a rare find that combines peerless Swiss engineering with a playful, dynamic spirit.

If you decide to bring a pair home, don’t be surprised if you find yourself closing the listening room door, surrendering to the music, and maybe even dancing along.

Specifications & Pricing

• Type: Three-way floorstanding loudspeaker
• Drivers: 2x 12″ woofers, 2x 6.5″ midrange drivers, 1″ dome tweeter
• Loading: Bass reflex, rear ported
• Cabinet: Solid aluminum with six independent internal chambers
• Frequency Response: 25Hz–35kHz
• Sensitivity: 95dB (half space)
• Power Handling: 400W continuous, 800W peak
• Impedance: 4 ohms
• Dimensions: 14.5″ W x 60.4″ H x 19.9″ D (speaker only, without platform)
• Weight: 509 lbs. each (586 lbs. with platform)
• Price: $179,500 pair; $199,800 with SX platform; SX platform standalone $28,500

Associated Equipment Used for Review

• Analog Source: Basis Audio A.J. Conti Transcendence turntable with SuperArm 12.5 tonearm, Air Tight Opus cartridge
• Digital Source: Wadax Reference DAC, Reference Server, Reference PSU, Reference Transport
• Amplification: CH Precision L10 linestage and CH Precision M10 power amplifiers (bi-amped)
• Cables: Crystal Cable monocrystal silver jumpers, AudioQuest interconnects and Dragon speaker cables
• Power Conditioning: Shunyata Everest 8000 conditioner and power cords
• Support: Critical Mass Systems racks and isolation devices
• Room: Purpose-built with acoustic treatments

FAQ

• What makes the Ultime Two SX stand out in terms of build?
  Its all-aluminum cabinet with six internal chambers and massive SX platform provide exceptional rigidity and vibration control.
• Is the speaker suitable for low-powered amplifiers?
  With a high sensitivity of 95dB, it pairs well with a range of amplifiers but shines brightest with high-quality, powerful units.
• Can I adjust the sound to fit my room?
  Yes, three rear-panel jumpers allow fine adjustments to bass, midrange, and treble to tailor the tonal balance.
• Does the lack of exotic driver materials affect sound quality?
  Stenheim’s coated paper-based diaphragms deliver a natural, organic sound that many find more musical and engaging.
• What genres benefit most from the Ultime Two SX?
  Thanks to its dynamic range and bass warmth, it excels with jazz, orchestral music, Latin jazz, blues, reggae, and piano recordings.

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