Saltwood Sounds The Finisterre 14º-9′ Series
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
94/100
Value for Money
89/100
The Finisterre 14°-9′ Series pairs exceptionally clean, extended bass with low-distortion speed and precise, atmospheric imaging. Hifi Pig admired its fast transients, vocal clarity and controlled scale, while HIFI HUNTERS highlighted its balanced presentation and unusually unclouded low end. Solid walnut, birch ply and the LEV base complete a strikingly crafted high-end floorstander.
Pros
Exceptionally clean, deep and controlled bass remains composed on demanding material.
Fast transients, low distortion and confident dynamics deliver detailed, energetic playback at both low and high levels.
Precise image placement and convincing live-recording atmosphere enhance spacious recordings.
Excellent, substantial cabinet construction with handsome woodwork and effective isolation support.
Cons
It rewards a fast, powerful, well-controlled amplifier; less suitable partnering can soften the treble, bass definition and soundstage depth.
Its premium price and substantial 40kg-per-speaker weight make it a specialist high-end purchase.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers found the Finisterre notably balanced, low in distortion and capable of unusually clean, extended bass. It combines precise placement and a convincing sense of atmosphere with fast, energetic delivery, although its presentation can be lighter and less dense than some alternatives and amplifier choice affects the top end and stage depth.
Bass
96/100
Low frequencies drew the strongest and most consistent praise. Hifi Pig heard deep, detailed and controlled bass with palpable room pressure on drum material reaching toward 20Hz, while HIFI HUNTERS called the low end exceptionally clean and free of the muddiness that can obscure other frequencies.
Mid
89/100
Hifi Pig described guitar and vocals as accurate and musical, and found the speaker highly detailed with rock and pop even at high levels. HIFI HUNTERS also praised its overall balance, though they felt the presentation had less density than some speakers, and one valve-amplifier setup made bass and cymbals less clean.
Treble
88/100
The upper range is described as open and bright, with Hifi Pig hearing a better top end and tighter piano through the Krell amplifier. That amplifier dependence matters: the same reviewer found cymbals less clean with the valve amplifier, suggesting the Finisterre rewards a suitably controlled partnering system.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Reviewers heard clear positional definition, including easily distinguished orchestral players and lead and backing vocals placed at different depths and off to the sides. HIFI HUNTERS also praised its ability to convey the atmosphere of a live performance, though Hifi Pig found one Kate Bush recording less three-dimensional than expected with valve amplification.
Dynamics
93/100
Hifi Pig found the Finisterre fast, energetic and captivating, with clean transients, very low perceived distortion and the ability to play quietly or loudly with confidence. It handled demanding sound design, loud rock and pop, and large-scale orchestral material without apparently running out of composure.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
Construction receives emphatic praise: Hifi Pig calls it excellent and extremely sturdy, while HIFI HUNTERS describes a solid-walnut front, substantial 30mm birch-plywood structure and a reassuring 40kg-per-speaker mass. The terminals are also described as good quality, although the distinctive cabinet shape may not fit every room aesthetically.
Value for Money
89/100
At £17,500, Hifi Pig is clear that the Finisterre is a high-end purchase rather than an entry-level system. Nevertheless, the review considers it reasonably priced for listeners seeking its combination of broad frequency extension and low distortion, and reports that it worked very well with every amplifier tried.
Reviews & Sources
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Specifications
- Frequency response
- 30 Hz – 20,000 Hz (+/- 3 dB) 22 Hz (- 5 dB)
- Impedance
- 6 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 87 dB
- Recommended amplification
- 80 W – 250 W
- Woofer
- Purifi PTT8.0
- Tweeter
- Satori TW29B
- Dimensions
- 82/30/40 cm (h/w/d)
- Weight
- 40 kg per unit
- Sales unit
- Sold in pairs
Manufacturer's Description — Saltwood Sounds
Inspired by the adventurous Galician coast, these speakers combine the spirit of adventure with grounding presence of our ethos. The Finisterres are designed with both audio quality and aesthetics as the highest parameters.
The Finisterre from Saltwood Sounds is a mid-size floor standing ported two-way passive speaker (pair). Natural curves and solid woods define the aesthetics of Saltwood Sounds, and, acoustically, the clarity and power is achieved by 8" drivers which have an extended linear stroke range to enthral any audience. They have a natural curved shape and are warm to the touch.
The Finisterres are designed with our Saltwood principles and ethos in mind
Audio performance is the highest parameter. Good design is when nothing more can be taken away.
All the wood is solid wood protected with natural oils which bring out the natural colours and the natural sound.
We use a pattern language of design to ensure that design looks timeless, feels alive and can harmonise with your space.
Experienced craftsmanship is required transform our ethos into a beautiful and high-fidelity product.
The Finisterres are built with Birch and solid French Walnut. Matching pieces of wood (from the same tree) are used for the walnut fronts, which means that the speakers are truly a matching pair.
The solid walnut consists of two conjoined pieces to increase the structural integrity and long-lastingness. The wood is sustainably sourced and FCS approved.
And it's not just an audio experience. It is also a physical experience. Like the hull of a boat, or the bonnet of a classic car, these curves are an invitation to be held by the caring touch of a loving admirer.
Ultra low distortion extended woofer for an oversized sound from a mid-sized speaker.
Ushindi is the Swahili word for victory and was an inspiration for driver designers when they finally achieved victory over all forms of distortion.
The 8″ drivers employ a unique cone-geometry optimisation to mitigate edge breakups.
The drivers also tackle the challenge of extended stroke performance. In other words, the Finisterres are a mid-size speaker, but perform like a much larger speaker due to the technology of the small cone extended stroke.
Th ultra low harmonic distortion means that mid and low notes no longer overwhelm eachother (for example, when a drum kit warbles a delicate voice). This is the reason why you will hear new subtle aspects to your favourite music.
The outcome is accuracy, transparency and excellence and ultra low harmonic distortion.
Beryllium is a high quality material used in aerospace design and in high end speakers. Beryllium (atomic number 4) is an extremely rare material in the universe (1×10-7), making is precious and valuable.
These speakers deliver ultra-low distortion over their massive linear range, ensuring that every note, every sound is reproduced with unparalleled precision and clarity. When you choose our mid-sized floor-standing speakers, you're not just investing in audio equipment; you're embracing a piece of art that embodies Saltwood's ethos of purity and simplicity.
8″
Eight inch bass driver
+/- 3 dB
Frequency deviation
The 8″ bass driver is a state-of-the-art unit from Purifi Audio and has ultra-low distortion over its linear range – and produces extended bass. The beryllium tweeter shares the mids and handles the highs with exquisite clarity and poise. Its low resonance frequency supports a crossover at 1300Hz. The Finisterre has a frequency response deviation of +/- 3 dB, an F3 around 30 Hz and an F10 below 20 Hz (Figure 1).
Nominal impedance is 6 ohms, with a minimum of 5 ohms around 100 Hz. The majority of the impedance over the frequency range is above 8 ohms (Figure 2). Impedance matching of the amplifier is not a concern.
The phase of the woofer and tweeter match over the whole cross-over frequency range [600 – 2400 Hz], supporting the design of low-order filters and minimizing distortion (Figure 3). The woofer and the tweeter are balanced and supportive of each other where they work in unison. On inverting the cross-over, the powerful notch (Figure 1) confirms the phase alignment on intended polarity.
Directivity is maintained (≤ – 3 dB) at 30º off-set up to 10,000 Hz (Figure 4) confirming tolerance of the speakers to placement and a broad optimum listening zone.
For further technical specifications, download the product sheet.
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