HeadMania

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the avstore.ro showroom in Cotroceni, Bucharest, and I discovered a wonderful pair of speakers: the Apertura Edena Evolution.

These speakers were a fantastic surprise. They look stunning, sound incredible, and—considering how good they are—won’t break the bank. After all, you can easily spend the same amount on a set of high-end headphones these days.

Video Review Here

Demo Recording Here

Description and Specs

You can find the full specifications here.

I’m not yet deeply familiar with Apertura’s lineup, but I was thoroughly impressed by their Enigma MK2 speakers at the Munich 2024 High End Show. Incidentally, I recorded that demo room as well—check it out here:

This was a very pleasant surprise. It was my first encounter with the brands, but I was impressed by the sound of the speakers and the system. The sound presented good details, which were evident in the guitar plucks as well as the vocals. The midrange and treble sections were quick, with speedy but impactful transients. The bass seemed well-integrated, being fast enough with good extension. The vocals filled the room in a very pleasant and airy manner, and the overall sound presented a huge soundstage that enveloped you from all directions.

So, the Apertura Edena Evolution is the little brother to the Enigma MK2 but the improved version of the Edena.

The idea with Edena Evolution was to offer an improved version of the Edena while keeping a reasonable price difference.

With new high-performance tweeter and a brand new cross over, the result goes beyond our expectations.

We are happy to present this new speaker in 2018, the year we celebrate 35 years of Apertura. This new 2 ways – 2 drivers floor standing speaker maintains the tradition of her famous predecessors: Tanagra Signature and Variation.

This new tweeter, as well as all other new details of Edena Evolution, brings this new speaker one step further in terms of musical performance. An obvious resolution gain in the mid-high section compared with the basic version makes it a fully new model.

• Frequency range : 35-30 000Hz/ +-3dB
• Sensitivity : 89dB/2.83v/1m
• Impedance : 8Ω
• Load : bass-reflex
• Drive units : 22cm mid-woofer « Isotactic matrix » Ribbon tweeter 8x120mm
• Crossover frequency : 2,8 kHz
• Terminals : single wire binding posts (bananas or spades)
• Dimensions :  235 x 317 x 1110 mm (W x D x H), with metal stands : 328 x 317 x 1149 mm
• Weight : 22kg net – 32,4 kg (packed)

DRIVE UNITS

• 22cm mid/woofer « isotactic matrix » with a woven polypropylene composite cone. This material combines stiffness, lightness and good damping properties.
  Long voice coil for a high linear excursion.
• New generation of ribbon tweeter, using a flat metalized polymer diaphragm.
  Its emissive area is twice that of the Edena tweeter. A double surface will reduce the movements of the ribbon, and thus the distortion. The result is an increase dynamic capacity and a higher resolution.

CROSSOVER

• Proprietary « DRIM » structure with a triple attenuation slopes and phase control over the entire bandwidth.
• A brand new crossover for the Evolution.
  Selection of very high end capacitors.
• Each set of drive units (tweeter and mid/woofer) are individually measured and crossover values adjusted according to these sets measurements.
• Hand wiring on a 140 µm copper printed circuit board.
• Optimized crossover structure to avoid magnetic interference between components
• Binding post: Pure copper, silver -plated

ENCLOSURE

• This new model uses the Apertura very specific cabinet shape: two curved sides of different length and no parallel front and back panels.
• Laminar structure based on multiple thin layers pressure molded.
  Such process creates breaking modes and limit propagation of vibrations.
• Double thickness on the most critical panels
• Woofer frame mechanical locking
• Internal multi-cavity framework to stiffen the structure and create very specific areas where damping materials can be applied)
• Importance is given to damping treatment to cancel any standing waves. We are using 3 different types of dumping materials.
• Mechanical grounding : a central cone positioned on the axis of the center of gravity improves vibrations transfer to the floor.
• New aluminum stands and spikes available. Choice of 2 anodized colors: black or silver
• 2 different finishes available :
  • Satin : american walnut
  • High Gloss : figured maple, american walnut, rosewood, piano black, white cream (RAL 9010)

Listening Impressions and Tests

First of all, I have to thank AVStore for their hospitality. They gave me free rein of the demo room— I simply logged into my Tidal account on the mconnect iPhone app and streamed directly to the Rockna Wavedream Reference DAC. Before I knew it, I’d spent nearly 2 hours alone, completely absorbed in my own playlist.

System:

• Rockna Wavedream Reference (DAC)
• Aesthetix Calypso Signature (Preamplifier)
• Aesthetix Atlas Signature (Power Amplifier)
• Apertura Edena Evolution (Floor-standing Speakers)

Before I knew it, two hours had flown by. I liked these speakers from the start, but with every track I loved them more and more, and I kept queuing “just one more song.” I ended up nearly two hours later feeling as if time had completely flown by. AVStore got lucky I had other commitments that day; otherwise, I might have asked for the keys and camped in overnight! 😊

I tested them across the board—from lush classical passages to driving rave anthems. Everything sounded spectacular, but the ultimate stress-test was Scooter’s “God Save the Rave”—a notoriously punishing track for any audiophile setup. The Edena Evolutions aced it: I could almost hear the crowd chanting around me while the bass literally pounded in my chest. It was like being front-row at a live show.

Summary

Bass
One of the very first things you notice with the Apertura Edena Evolutions is their bass: incredibly punchy, fast, and deeply controlled. On 2Cellos’ “Mombasa,” the drum effect plunges into a huge, well-defined soundstage that gave me goosebumps. The lows hit you with authority, then pull you right back into the music—an absolute thrill to experience.

Midrange
The midrange is impeccably detailed and richly textured. Vocals envelop you: you can feel Leonard Cohen’s or Johnny Cash’s hoarse throat vibrations as if you’re hearing them live. Woodwinds breathe with visceral realism, and choirs resonate with life. Plucked instruments deliver explosive attack and tangible tactility.

Treble
The treble is nothing short of superb. Whether it’s classical or any other genre, the tweeter serves up pure, joyous detail with zero harshness—just smooth, airy extension that brings every note to life.

Imaging & Soundstage
The imaging is simply breathtaking—every leading edge is razor-sharp, and each note is crisply defined. You can lock onto any instrument with pinpoint precision. Even more impressive is the vast, three-dimensional soundstage: you get a vivid sense of the room and spatial cues for each performance. Paired with their dynamic drive, it really feels like a live show.

Details
No matter what I threw at them, these speakers revealed layer upon layer of detail without ever sounding harsh or fatiguing. The presentation is so polished that—even though it’s far from laid-back—it never overwhelms. Wherever you focus your ear, you’ll uncover micro-details. It’s like inspecting a high-resolution image: you might not notice every pixel at once, but as you zoom in, there’s always something new to discover.

Dynamics, PRaT & Transients
This is yet another realm where the Edena Evolutions truly excel. Their attack is explosive, and their decay is lightning-fast—one of the very first things I noticed. That translates into stunning micro- and macro-dynamics: from the faintest backing instrument at the rear of the stage to the drums up front that literally punch your chest. The PRaT (pace, rhythm, and timing) and sheer energy these speakers convey on this rig are incredible. They inject vibrancy and life into every note and track—everything just springs to life.

Conclusion

In the end, the Apertura Edena Evolution speakers deliver everything you could ask for in a high-end speakers: chest-thumping bass that never flubs the timing, an uncanny midrange that breathes with life, and treble that twinkles with crystal-clear detail—never harsh or fatiguing.. Their razor-sharp imaging and enormous 3D soundstage made me feel like I was front-and-center at every performance, whether it was a cello duet or a full-blast rave anthem. And thanks to their explosive attack and lightning-fast decay, every note—micro or macro—pops with electrifying energy.

At around €9 000 per pair, the Edena Evolution represents stellar value in today’s audiophile market. While some may crave a softer, more “romantic” signature, Apertura’s approach—musicality through precision, transparency, and dynamism—will captivate anyone who lives for raw, unfiltered emotion in their music. These speakers disappear, leaving nothing between you and your favorite tracks. Highly recommended for those who want to feel every beat and nuance, exactly as the artist intended.

👍 Pros

• Explosive Bass: Deep, punchy and controlled—goosebump-inducing low end.
• Lifelike Midrange: Detailed, textured vocals and instruments that draw you in.
• Superb Treble: Airy, superbly detailed and extended highs with zero harshness.
• Stunning Imaging & Soundstage: Pinpoint precision and a 3D stage that feels “live.”
• Electrifying Dynamics & PRaT: Explosive attack, quick decay, and addictive rhythm. It infuses each sound with life/energy
• Value at €9 000: World-class performance for the price—few competitors match this combo.

👎 Cons

• Forward Presentation: May feel too energetic or “in-your-face” for those who prefer a laid-back warmth/relaxed sound signature
• Room Requirements: Best results in a well-sized, treated listening space—small rooms might struggle.
• Large Footprint: Floor-standers with substantial depth and width that require space to breathe.