Evolution Acoustics Model ONE Monitor Loudspeaker

Ye Olde Editor, near Masada and the Dead Sea, Israel, 2022(Photograph by John Robinson)

Those of you who have been following my writing and reviewing over the years know that I've been following the audio career of Kevin Malmgren of Evolution Acoustics from very near the beginning. Via our mutual, and lamented close friend, Jonathan Tinn of Blue Light Audio here in Portland, I came into constant contact with Kevin's brilliant design work, and followed it for many years.

Kevin and I would see each other in the Blue Light Audio room at shows. Each step of the way, year by year, I could hear the developments that he and Jonathan would display.

But shows weren't the only place that I hear Kevin's designs. Jonathan arranged for a number of extended stays for Kevin's speakers right in my listening room, giving me several years of extended experience with what he was doing.

Evolution Acoustics MM2 Loudspeaker with external EXACT crossover, powered by PASS Labs XS 150 monoblocks and power supply on Critical Mass Systems racks

Jonathan Tinn (foreground) and Din Johnson of GamuT/Gryphon Audio listening to the MM2 EXACT system before the Apertures arrived. PASS Labs XS 150 four-box amplification and Critical Mass Systems rack.

Jonathan passed away 2.5 years ago, though. Since then, Kevin has taken Evolution Acoustics to the next level of price-performance, with some very careful and intense work to achieve maximum audio experience.

The first iteration is his Model ONE monitor.

The Evolution Acoustics Model ONE monitor speaker (image courtesy of Evolution Acoustics)

This is Kevin's first-iteration monitor. He's seeking absolutely the maximum price-performance in its price range.

And I am sure that's he's done it!

MODEL ONE Specifications

Tweeter: 2" soft-pleat AMT
Midwoofer: 5.5" long throw ceramic matrix
Crossover: Exact constant voltage series @1.7kHz
Sensitivity: 85dB
Impedance: 4 ohms
Frequency response: 35Hz-45kHz -3dB
Recommended power: 50W (min) 500W (max)
Max SPL: 110dB
Dimensions: 11.5"H x 7.5"W x 11.5"D
Weight: 25 pounds

Amazing to me is the fact that Kevin has taken the older MM Micro One...

Evolution Acoustics original MM Micro One monitor loudspeaker with StillPoints Aperture first-reflection control system in my stereo reference room

...and made the design even more compact, more coherent, and more transparent than before.

The Evolution Acoustics Model ONE...a monitor with extraordinary range and crystalline properties....

I have spent a lot of time with the ONEs. Ultimately I paired them with the Mytek Digital GANFET stereo amp ($12,000).

At the ONE's 4 ohm nominal impedance, the GANFET generates 400-watts per channel. This turned out to be a solid pairing, technically. (Note that I am not recommending Mytek Digital at this time, due to apparent capitalization issues, chronic communication problems, and non-functional website presence at the current time. I hope that Mytek Digital will be able to recover its operations so that I can recommend them in the future, as I have in the past.)

For preamplification, I used the Gold Note P-1000 MKII Reference Preamp (typical retails for USD$9000-$12,000 in the USA).

The Gold Note P-1000 MKII Reference Preamplifier (image courtesy of Gold Note)

What the ONE in combination with the P-1000 MKII and GANFET revealed was a very striking ability to vanish into the music...to disappear. The ONE didn't feel "boxy" at all. Instead, it simply got out of the way, becoming quite transparent. I've never heard a mini-monitor perform this way. And I was surprised at the very wide frequency response (35Hz to 45kHz!) that Kevin had produced, at such an incredible price point.

Price-performance, in spades!

I'd love to try the ONEs with other reasonably price-matched electronics. The GANFET was very fine, but perhaps some monoblocks (which Mytek has been unable to supply) would take it to the next level. The Alberto Guerra GAN amps look quite tempting, and I love Alberto's sound. But I can't say with any certainty that Alberto Guerra would be a good combination without actually trying it.

Perhaps over time, there will be new options for well-matched pricing...I'll see.

Meanwhile, if you're on a budget, or looking for a real steal, then you'd be crazy not to go with the Model ONEs. Anybody can be an audiophile at this price point!