Lyngdorf Cue-100 Speaker Review – HiFiReport
During my recent visit to Ruida Hi-Fi, I had the opportunity to thoroughly audition the newly launched Lyngdorf Cue-100 speakers. This experience not only showcased Lyngdorf’s profound technical prowess and the formidable performance of Purifi drivers but also provided valuable insights from Mr. Xie Jianfeng, the owner of Ruida Hi-Fi. I learned a great deal about network setup, computer playback, power conditioning, and the practical application of RoomPerfect, making it a truly rewarding visit.
Network and Power Foundation
Ruida Hi-Fi is situated in Qingshui District. Mr. Xie Jianfeng, a local resident, has turned his passion for audio into reality by converting his family home into a listening space. He seamlessly blends his hobby, business, and lifestyle. The ground floor serves as a welcoming tea area and a semi-open listening space, while the fourth floor boasts a dedicated, independent listening room. Immersed daily in the realms of both two-channel and multi-channel audio, he is truly in his element.
Before diving into the Lyngdorf Cue-100 audition, Mr. Xie meticulously detailed some crucial “background” information.
He explained that the sound I was about to experience was not solely attributed to the Cue-100 speakers paired with Lyngdorf’s own TDAI-3400 streaming integrated amplifier and RoomPerfect room correction. It was also the result of his years of dedicated research and implementation in three fundamental areas: optimized network environment, computer power optimization, and power conditioning.
He generously shared his knowledge, unafraid of me divulging these secrets.
Cost-Effective Network Optimization
Let’s begin with the network environment at his store.
Mr. Xie has been using JRiver for music playback and ripping CDs for over a decade, making him one of the pioneers of streaming among audio retailers in the country.
Currently, streaming is Mr. Xie’s primary method of listening, making network optimization paramount to playback quality.
His approach, while not unconventional in principle, involves using SFP fiber optic network interfaces for optical-electrical conversion to isolate noise in the transmission path. However, his implementation differs slightly in placement. Typically, SFP interfaces are positioned as close as possible to the streaming player. Mr. Xie, however, places them further upstream.
The network signal, after exiting the Chunghwa Telecom modem (the “small turtle” as it’s colloquially known in Taiwan), first passes through a router for routing distribution before undergoing optical isolation.
He employs two Cisco commercial-grade switches equipped with SFP fiber optic interfaces, one for input and one for output. This setup effectively isolates noise originating from the modem. The signal is then distributed via four network cables to the first through fourth floors.
Remarkably, the modem, router, and both Cisco switches are powered not by their original power supplies but by a Zhenhua 550W computer ATX power supply. Mr. Xie discovered through experimentation that ATX power supplies are remarkably effective, offering multiple output rails, affordability, and sufficient power quality. Zhenhua power supplies, in particular, stood out. A unit costing just over two thousand NTD can power several network devices.
Upon reaching the listening room on the fourth floor, the network cable connects directly to an LHY Audio SW-8 network switch. All streaming-related devices are connected to this SW-8 switch.
Mr. Xie mentioned that he didn’t implement another layer of optical-electrical isolation on the fourth floor. This is because the fourth floor benefits from comprehensive power conditioning, resulting in cleaner power. Furthermore, the SW-8’s excellent performance provides a robust network environment. The combination of these factors delivers exceptional overall results. Adding another layer of optical isolation, he believes, would actually be detrimental.
On the ground floor, where the SW-8 is not used, the additional optical isolation step is necessary to achieve satisfactory network quality.
PC-Based Music Server
How does Mr. Xie optimize computer power? His preferred music server software includes Roon and JRiver, both indispensable to him. A PC server fulfills his needs. However, he opts for a custom-built PC over Intel NUC mini-PCs. Through comparisons, he found that while NUCs offer cleaner sound, their sonic scale is inferior to PCs. Although PCs are inherently noisier, with proper handling, one can achieve both sonic scale and quietness.
His solution? Power.
He experimented extensively with power supplies and discovered a simple yet effective method: utilizing two high-wattage ATX power supplies, again from Zhenhua, to independently power the motherboard and CPU. He also custom-makes high-quality ATX power cables.
Additionally, he uses JCAT network and USB cards, powered by external LHY Audio linear power supplies instead of the ATX PSU. This segregated power distribution minimizes mutual interference and effectively reduces noise.
Mr. Xie advises against noise filtering as a primary noise reduction method. Based on his experience, filters can inadvertently remove musical signal details along with noise. Separate power zones avoid this issue.
For cooling, since the computer functions solely as a music server with low power consumption (using a 6th generation Intel CPU, compared to the current 13th generation), heat generation is minimal. A large passive heatsink is sufficient, eliminating the need for fans. Zhenhua ATX power supplies feature a fan switch, allowing fan deactivation, resulting in a completely fanless computer, thus avoiding fan-induced vibration and noise.
The operating system is a streamlined Windows Server 2019, rather than standard Windows.
This configuration is the result of years of iterative experimentation and refinement. Mr. Xie believes it delivers exceptional results at a reasonable cost, making it a worthwhile endeavor for enthusiasts.
Power conditioning in the listening room is, of course, also essential.
Mr. Xie’s approach here is also unconventional. He introduces a dedicated 220V power line and utilizes isolation transformers to both isolate and step down the voltage to 110V for equipment use.
He employs four isolation transformers with capacities of 650 VA, 1,000 VA, and two 3,000 VA units, allowing devices with different characteristics and power requirements to draw power separately, minimizing mutual interference.
Home-Oriented High-Performance Speaker
With the “background” covered, it was time to focus on the main subject—the Cue-100 speakers.
The Cue-100 is Lyngdorf’s latest offering, launched this year. Unlike previous models often designed for on-wall, in-wall, or in-cabinet placement, the Cue-100 is genuinely designed to be “placed” in a home environment.
While appearing as a two-way bookshelf speaker, it employs a passive radiator design. The unique triangular cabinet houses not only a front-firing mid-bass driver but also two passive radiators on the rear angled panels. Combined with a generous cabinet volume, this design enables a frequency response extending down to an impressive 35Hz (-3dB), rivaling many floor-standing speakers. High-frequency extension is handled by Lyngdorf’s proprietary Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter, effortlessly reaching 22kHz.
The mid-bass driver in the Cue-100 is particularly noteworthy—the highly acclaimed Purifi Audio driver.
What is Purifi Audio? It’s a company founded by Peter Lyngdorf, the founder of Dali and Lyngdorf, along with two other industry luminaries: Bruno Putzeys and Lars Risbo.
Bruno Putzeys is a guru in the field of Class D amplifiers. Hypex NCore and UcD modules are his creations. Lars Risbo specializes in digital amplifiers, with the renowned TacT Millennium being one of his designs.
Another key figure at Purifi Audio is Carsten Tinggaard, who previously held positions at major Danish driver manufacturers such as Danish Sound Technology and Tymphany Denmark. Drivers produced by these companies are widely used by prominent speaker brands globally.
This formidable lineup indicates that Purifi Audio is no ordinary company. However, Purifi Audio doesn’t produce finished audio products. Instead, they focus on Class D amplifier modules and speaker drivers, catering to the global audio industry and DIY enthusiasts, a much larger market.
Currently, Purifi Audio’s product portfolio includes Eigentakt Class D amplifier modules and Purifi drivers. Purifi drivers are available in sizes ranging from 4 inches to 10 inches, covering the mid-range to bass frequencies, with a diverse selection of specifications and characteristics. The 6.5-inch aluminum cone mid-bass driver used in the Cue-100 is one of them.
Purifi Driver: Ultra-Low Distortion
What makes Purifi drivers special? They excel in various specifications, including extended excursion, ultra-low harmonic distortion, ultra-low intermodulation distortion, smoother frequency response, and improved dispersion, setting them apart from many conventional drivers.
This exceptional performance stems from several innovative technologies unique to Purifi Audio. The most visually striking is the seemingly irregular, ridged surround, dubbed Purifi NeutralSurround. Its unique shape ensures that the surround maintains the same radiating area regardless of whether the diaphragm moves inward or outward, effectively reducing surround radiation distortion.
Another key innovation is the Purifi PureDrive motor system, incorporating a unique variable winding voice coil, Purifi TopHat, Purifi In-gap shorting ring, Purifi PermanentCore, and a non-inductive fiberglass voice coil former. These designs effectively address Force Factor Modulation (FFM) and hysteresis distortion, resulting in improved linearity and overall near-imperceptible distortion levels.
The Cue-100 utilizes not only a 6.5-inch aluminum cone Purifi driver for the front-firing mid-bass but also employs the same Purifi driver specification for the two rear-firing passive radiators. While passive radiators don’t utilize the motor system, they still benefit from the low-distortion advantages of the ridged surround.
Optional Fabric Grilles
For the cabinet construction, the Cue-100 employs MDF up to 35mm thick, shaped in a near-triangular form factor. This design aids in reducing cabinet resonance and minimizing internal standing waves.
The cabinet base is crafted from solid oak or MDF, CNC-machined, and can accommodate three wooden legs. Alternatively, it can be placed directly on furniture or stands using cones or pads without the legs.
To seamlessly integrate into various home décor styles, the Cue-100 offers some aesthetic flexibility.
The three wooden legs are standard oak. However, the triangular cabinet and base are available in four color combinations: “Black-Black,” “White-White,” “Black-Oak,” and “White-Oak.”
The Cue-100 doesn’t come with a standard dust cover but offers optional fabric grilles in five standard colors. These grilles are manufactured by Danish textile giant Gabriel and are designed to be acoustically transparent.
RoomPerfect is Essential
The amplifier used for the audition was the Lyngdorf TDAI-3400. I had previously reviewed this amplifier at Yu Xiang Audio. Readers interested can refer to that review for more details. Here, I’d like to focus more on Mr. Xie’s experience with Lyngdorf RoomPerfect room correction.
Mr. Xie has used room correction features from various surround sound receivers. Based on his extensive experience, he considers RoomPerfect the best. He praises its exceptional spatial 3D imaging, sonic balance, and, importantly, its ability to maintain a sense of liveliness and musicality.
Even in Mr. Xie’s listening room, which is already acoustically well-treated with large dimensions (5.6 meters × 12 meters, approximately 20 ping or 700 sq ft), good proportions, ample height, and acoustic treatments, he still chooses to employ RoomPerfect. He believes RoomPerfect effectively distributes sound energy, achieving superb balance. This ensures listening comfort even during extended or high-volume sessions, without any strain.
Furthermore, he emphasizes that RoomPerfect benefits not only problematic rooms but also well-treated spaces and optimized speaker placement, yielding even more significant improvements.
RoomPerfect is also practical for retailers like Ruida Hi-Fi.
Mr. Xie’s store showcases both multi-channel and two-channel systems, with multiple speaker pairs on display. He creates separate RoomPerfect profiles for each system or speaker set. When a customer wants to audition a specific system or speaker, he simply loads the corresponding RoomPerfect setting.
Effortless Listening Experience
After Mr. Xie’s extensive sharing on network optimization, power conditioning, and RoomPerfect, I was eager to finally listen to music. However, once seated, I realized the listening space was indeed quite large, and the Cue-100 speakers were positioned rather far from my listening position. Would the energy and detail be sufficient? Mr. Xie started with some of his frequently played tracks. The moment the music began, my concerns vanished. The sonic fluidity was excellent, with effortless and natural extension at both ends of the frequency spectrum. The sound was remarkably natural and comfortable. There was no sense of strain whatsoever. Even at low volumes, the sound remained vibrant. It was clear that even at a distance in this large space, the Cue-100’s energy and detail were more than adequate.
Ruida Hi-Fi’s listening room is inherently quiet, and the system’s clean sonic foundation allowed details to emerge effortlessly, highlighting the richness of timbre. Crucially, there was no harshness or sharp edginess, with a very appropriate sense of body. Vocal reproduction was also just right—full-bodied but never bloated.
Complex musical passages posed no challenge for the Cue-100. Large-scale orchestral pieces sounded remarkably organized, never chaotic. Structure and layering were excellent—impressive for a bookshelf speaker.
While dynamic range might not be as explosive as larger systems, for speakers of this size, the dynamics were exceptional. I attribute this not only to the outstanding performance of the AMT tweeter and Purifi mid-bass drivers in the Cue-100 but also to Mr. Xie’s meticulous noise reduction efforts.
Moreover, the soundstage, as he mentioned, possessed an exceptional 3D quality and a very balanced frequency distribution. The sound was not only relaxed and smooth but also remarkably focused.
I believe this exemplifies what he described earlier: starting with a good room and speaker placement, minimizing background noise, and then applying RoomPerfect room correction to achieve a sound that is both focused and expansive.
Clarity, Precision, and Comfort
Next, I listened to music I brought myself. I plugged a USB drive into the back of the TDAI-3400 and controlled playback using the Lyngdorf app.
Playing Quatuor Ebene’s “Fiction,” which primarily features string quartets with piano or drums, I noticed exceptional smoothness through the Cue-100.
In the past, when listening to this album, I would often adjust the volume, as the more intense passages could easily become harsh, hard, and edgy. However, this time, there was none of that. The violins had a rich texture and a pleasing, slightly viscous quality, resembling real violins. It was easy to increase the volume without fatigue.
If you associate AMT tweeters or Purifi drivers, known for ultra-low distortion and high performance, with a potentially sharp sound, I can confidently say that the Cue-100 is not like that at all. With proper system matching and meticulous tuning like Mr. Xie’s, it can deliver a sound that is clear, precise, and comfortable.
Soundstage Master
Moving on to the 2017 Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show commemorative CD, featuring selections from Steinway & Sons recordings.
From track 2, Prokofiev’s “Sinfonia Concertante: Third Movement,” the Cue-100’s strengths in sonic imaging, layering, and separation became even more apparent. Each section of the orchestra was distinctly rendered, clearly defined, yet maintaining excellent harmony and flow.
The bass frequencies were richly layered, taut yet powerful, with clear lines, lending both grandeur and vitality to the music.
This compilation also includes several piano solo pieces. Through the Cue-100, the natural reverberation and room ambience were vividly conveyed, clearly delineating the spatial characteristics, as if a stage unfolded before me, creating a strong sense of atmosphere.
Furthermore, the piano’s image and scale were realistic, with tangible note definition. The sonic density wasn’t overly high, but the key strikes were clearly articulated, demonstrating consistent speed across all frequency ranges.
During passages with forceful strikes on the lower piano keys, the lower frequency scale was appropriately sized. Bass quantity was sufficient, and extension was very natural.
As I listened, closing my eyes, I felt transported to a concert hall, experiencing a live performance. The scale was realistic, detailed, and intimate. Was this truly the sound of bookshelf speakers? Finally, playing “Tutti!”, particularly track 6, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, Andante, I experienced how the Cue-100, in conjunction with the TDAI-3400 and Lyngdorf’s exceptional RoomPerfect technology, fully unleashed the advantages of soundstage presentation. The soundstage was not only deep and expansive but also differentiated the scale and distance of various instrument sections. The piano had excellent focus. Despite having heard this piece countless times, I’d never experienced it quite like this.
Similarly, in track 8, Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9, Scherzo, the Cue-100 effortlessly rendered the complex orchestration and clearly presented the image outline of the timpani in the far distance, with excellent elasticity, once again demonstrating the Purifi driver’s superior performance.
All-Round Excellence
In Ruida Hi-Fi’s spacious 700 sq ft room, the Cue-100 and TDAI-3400 combination still delivered a full and substantial sonic foundation with precise balance. Most home listening spaces are less than half this size, or even a third. The fullness and energy achievable with the Cue-100 in typical homes are therefore readily apparent. This explains why Lyngdorf designed the Cue-100 to be “large enough”—because it truly is.
Functionally, the TDAI-3400 is equally impressive. Besides supporting Tidal Connect and UPnP/DLNA streaming for high-resolution Tidal or Qobuz playback, it also features HDMI ARC for TV connectivity, making it convenient for movies and TV shows.
It can also be paired with subwoofers to create 2.1 or 2.2 channel systems for a more impactful movie experience.
The Cue-100 + TDAI-3400 combination is undoubtedly not inexpensive. However, it represents a streamlined yet high-performance, high-fidelity, and aesthetically pleasing solution. Wives will appreciate the looks, and husbands won’t have to compromise on performance and sound quality. With rich features and powerful room correction, simply subscribing to Tidal or Qobuz unlocks endless high-quality music. Finally, with Mr. Xie’s expertise in optimizing home network environments, the system becomes truly exceptional!
Store Information
Ruida Hi-Fi Address: No. 2-3, Qingshui St., Qingshui Dist., Taichung City, Taiwan
Phone: 04-2622-8408
Specifications
* Type: 4-driver, 2-way passive radiator loudspeaker
* Drivers: Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter × 1, 6.5-inch Purifi aluminum cone mid-bass driver × 1, 6.5-inch Purifi aluminum cone passive radiator × 2
* Power Handling: 250 Watts
* Frequency Response: 35Hz – 22kHz / -3dB
* Impedance: 4 Ohms
* Sensitivity: 83dB
* Crossover Frequency: 2.3kHz
* Dimensions (including stand): 1,196 × 597 × 520 mm (H×W×D)
* Weight (including stand): 16.2 kg
