$54,200 ~ standard finish ~ high polish black or white polyester
$60,400 ~ premium finish ~ high polish veneer
$65,800 ~ premium finish ~ carbon fiber
Borderland MK IV
Originally introduced in 1992, the Borderland was our first flagship model and has since provided the inspiration for the current Unlimited and HRS-130 models. Now in its MK IV form, the Borderland remains our most popular loudspeaker. It combines our unique carbon fiber DDD driver with a downward firing 12-inch woofer and a sophisticated new crossover network. Housed in an extremely rigid octagonal cabinet, it sets impressively high standards for stereo imaging, transparency, and musicality.
The Borderland MK IV loudspeaker uses a single carbon fiber German Physiks DDD driver mounted on top of a slim, octagonal, floor standing cabinet, with a downward firing 12-inch woofer set in its base.
Improved Bass, Resolution and Dynamics
The Borderland MK IV has always been an exceptional performer. The latest version has a new crossover design that provides significantly better bass, with improved integration with the DDD driver, resulting in exceptional top to bottom coherence. The resolution and dynamics have also been noticeably improved, removing another veil between the listener and the music. All these improvements come together to produce a sound that is truly effortless.
Extended Bass with Low Distortion
The Borderland Mk IV uses a single 12-inch woofer of the same type used in our prestige Loreley model. This provides the Borderland Mk IV with a degree of bass extension normally associated with high quality component sub-woofers. Most impressive is that this is achieved with a cabinet of relatively modest dimensions, making this a loudspeaker that is easy to live with.
The bass driver is located at the bottom of the cabinet and works in a “sealed” enclosure. This enclosure is linked via a small opening to a smaller cavity located at the top of the cabinet. This cavity acts as a Helmholtz Resonator and is tuned to the resonant frequency of the main bass enclosure and ensures a smoother bass response.
The heart of all German Physiks loudspeakers is the unique omnidirectional DDD driver
The German Physiks DDD driver uses a cone made of extremely thin (0.15mm) carbon fiber. This is very light, but also very rigid. Each driver is hand-built by a skilled technician in our factory in Germany. This is a painstaking process that takes 6 hours. After assembly, each driver undergoes a series of rigorous tests. It is then subject to a 96-hour pre-aging process, playing specially selected music at high level. Finally, it is retested and put together with another driver to form a matched pair.
The DDD driver has two key distinguishing features:
- It is omnidirectional, meaning that it radiates the sound evenly around it
- It has an exceptionally wide operating range
- In the Borderland MK IV, it covers the range from 190Hz up to 24kHz, almost 7 octaves
This extremely wide range is achieved by the use of 3 modes of radiation:
Pistonic radiation
Bending wave radiation
Modal radiation
By comparison, most loudspeakers use drivers that only use pistonic radiation. These have a much narrower operating range and as the frequency rises, they tend to concentrate their energy into a progressively narrowing beam.
The DDD driver’s omnidirectional radiation characteristic and its very wide operating range, together with several other key features give the following important advantages to all German Physiks designs and is what sets them apart:
- Exceptionally coherent and natural sound
- Realistic stereo images more like those you experience in the concert hall
- Stereo imaging enjoyable in almost all positions in the room
- Exceptional dynamics
- Accurate portrayal of musical instruments tonal characteristics
- Quick and easy to set up
- The DDD driver is less likely to excite cabinet vibrations
- Physically extremely rugged
- High Quality Input Terminals
- Adjustable High Frequency Output
- Low Resonance Cabinet Design Enhances Transparency
Designed for a Lifetime of Listening Pleasure
As you would expect from a German product, the quality of construction and reliability are first class. We use the same quality of parts in the Borderland MK IV as in our reference products, where we design for a minimum life expectancy of 25 years.
For this reason, we have selected highly corrosion resistant V4 grade stainless steel for the DDD driver support pillars, terminal mounting plates and all the screws.
Meticulous care and attention are paid during the manufacture of the Borderland MK IV. Prior to assembly all components and materials are subject to a rigorous inspection. We also carry out detailed inspections at each stage of the manufacturing process. We can afford to do this as we build our products by hand in small batches. After assembly, the performance of each loudspeaker is measured. Then it is burnt in for at least 12 hours and measured again. Once the burn process is complete each loudspeaker is given a final detailed physical inspection before being packed.
Hand Finished For Ultimate Quality
Because the look of our products is as important as the sound, all cabinets are hand built and finished in Germany by skilled cabinet makers for the best possible furniture grade finish. They are built in small batches, so that they can maintain a consistently high level of quality. Nothing is rushed.