Angelic Sound One (9) Finished Product
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (9) Finished Product

I am thrilled to share that the completion of the Angelic Sound One assembly! In the coming days, Fire Wolf will carry out final quality control checks through recording sessions.

They look stunning, and I can't wait to hearing how they sound!

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Angelic Sound One (8) Crossover
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (8) Crossover

One of the most crucial aspects of speaker design is the crossover. The crossover acts like a conductor for the speaker, directing different frequencies to the various driver units to ensure they work together in harmony.

With Fire Wolf's expertise in crossover design, I am confident that the crossover design process is in capable hands.

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Angelic Sound One (7) Engineering
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (7) Engineering

The speaker's engineering design is progressing smoothly, with Fire Wolf taking a central role in driving the process forward. For now, I’m content to step back and observe, watching Fire Wolf’s expertise and creativity come to life.

(Photo: Fire Wolf in his anechoic chamber)

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Angelic Sound One (6): Cabinetry Work
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (6): Cabinetry Work

I’m thrilled to share that the cabinetry work for Angelic Sound One is well underway!

We’ve also chosen American chestnut timber veneer for the finish. Once lacquered, it’s going to look stunning.

I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!

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Angelic Sound One (5): Finalise the Design
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (5): Finalise the Design

After refining the concept, we finalized a design including driver unit selection that incorporates key elements of a high-quality speaker system.

It’s an exciting step forward, and I’m looking forward to seeing (and hearing) how it all comes together.

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Angelic Sound One (4): Concept Design
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (4): Concept Design

Designing the Angelic Sound One required careful planning and collaboration. The goal was to create a speaker system that delivers exceptional sound quality, comparable to speakers priced over $200,000, but at a fraction of the cost. After rounds of discussions and sketches, we settled on a design that balances performance, practicality, manufacturability and cost.

The excitement is building rapidly.

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Angelic Sound One (3): Enter the Fire Wolf
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (3): Enter the Fire Wolf

I found a wolf - a Fire Wolf.

When I turned my attention to China, the manufacturing powerhouse, I discovered a promising path forward. Over the past 30 years, China has undergone a remarkable transformation. What once was a low-cost manufacturing hub is now home to specialized services and high-quality products at competitive prices. Think Apple iPhones and Teslas, both of which rely on Chinese expertise for critical components.

With Fire Wolf’s expertise and collaborative spirit, the dream of Angelic Sound One feels closer than ever.

(Photo courtesy of Angelic Sound and Fire Wolf Audio Lab)

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Angelic Sound One (2): There is a Problem
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (2): There is a Problem

“If you spend enough time on a problem, you will solve it.”

This advice from Bruce Grundy, has stayed with me over the years. His words became a guiding principle, helping me tackle not only academic challenges but also broader obstacles in life. To me, it all boils down to grit - or, in another word, doggedness - when facing a difficult problem.

With that mindset, I embarked on a research journey to solve my speaker challenge. Along the way, I considered numerous options and undertook a rigorous selection process.

(Photo courtesy of Eton, Accuton, BlieSMa, Scanspeak, Seas & Morel)

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Angelic Sound One (1): I have a Dream
Sam Zhuang Sam Zhuang

Angelic Sound One (1): I have a Dream

As a self-described "practical audiophile", I’ve long dreamed of developing a pair of high-performance reference speakers that are also affordable. But what exactly defines "high-performance," and what counts as "affordable"?

To me, high-performance speakers should provide an immersive listening experience, one as close as possible to the feeling of being in a real-life setting. Affordability, on the other hand, means the speakers should cost no more than a quarter of what similar commercial, off-the-shelf models typically go for.

I’ve named the reference speaker ‘Angelic Sound One’.

(Photo: A performance by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra in the Rudolfinum in Prague, Conductor Renaud Capuçon)

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