Gauder Akustik Arcona 100 MKII SD

Overview

The Gauder Akustik Arcona 100 MKII SD is the largest floorstanding loudspeaker in the ARCONA MKII SD line, the more attainable of the two Gauder ranges. It is a passive multi-driver design that pairs Gauder's patented XPulse cone bass and midrange drivers with a silk soft-dome tweeter, delivering a full-range presentation with authority in the low end and a natural, unforced top octave. Because Gauder Akustik builds only loudspeakers, this model needs a separate amplifier to make sound.

At the heart of every Gauder design is an ultra-steep, symmetrical crossover with slopes around 50dB per octave, far steeper than conventional designs. This almost eliminates overlap between drivers, keeping each transition phase-accurate and coherent so the speaker resolves fine detail and images with precision. The drop-shaped cabinet, built from 22mm MDF with a teardrop cross-section, controls internal standing waves and reduces cabinet colouration, while WBT-Nextgen terminals and an adjustable bass extension let you tune the low frequency balance to your room.

The Arcona 100 MKII SD suits listeners with larger rooms who want scale, dynamic ease and the phase coherence that defines the Gauder house sound. It rewards resolving, well-controlled amplification and a clean source, making it a foundation for a serious two-channel system. Made in Germany.

Key Features

• Largest floorstander in the ARCONA MKII SD line for full-range scale and dynamics
• XPulse cone bass and midrange drivers for low distortion and fast transient response
• Silk soft-dome tweeter for a natural, refined high frequency presentation
• Ultra-steep symmetrical crossover with slopes around 50dB per octave for phase-accurate driver transitions
• Drop-shaped 22mm MDF cabinet with teardrop cross-section to control resonance and standing waves
• WBT-Nextgen terminals for a secure, high-quality speaker cable connection
• Adjustable bass extension to tune low frequency balance to your room
• Passive design that scales with high-quality amplification
• Made in Germany by Gauder Akustik

How the Arcona 100 Compares

Gauder Arcona 100 MKII SD vs Gauder Akustik Arcona 80 MKII SD

Both share the Arcona MKII SD design language, XPulse cone drivers, soft-dome tweeter and the ultra-steep symmetrical crossover. The Arcona 100 is the larger floorstander in the line, offering more low frequency scale and effortless dynamics that suit bigger rooms. The Arcona 80 is a slightly more compact floorstander for rooms where the 100 would be more than needed. See the Gauder Akustik Arcona 80 MKII SD.

Gauder Arcona 100 MKII SD vs Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV

The Arcona 100 belongs to the attainable Arcona line with a silk soft-dome tweeter, while the Capello 80 DV sits in the higher Capello range with an aluminum tweeter that is upgradeable to beryllium plus Time Delay Control. The DV suffix adds finely selected Mundorf crossover parts, upgraded internal wiring and top WBT terminals with rhodium-plated bi-wiring bridges. Choose the Arcona 100 for its full-range Arcona character, or the Capello for the higher line's added resolution. See the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV.

Gauder Arcona 100 MKII SD vs Spendor D9.2

Both are full-range floorstanders aimed at serious two-channel listening. The Arcona 100 emphasises phase coherence through its ultra-steep symmetrical crossover and drop-shaped cabinet, giving a precise, revealing character. The Spendor D9.2 offers its own voicing rooted in the British monitor tradition, so the choice comes down to which tonal character suits your taste and room. See the Spendor D9.2.

Recommended Amplification and Source

The Arcona 100 MKII SD is a passive, resolving speaker that needs a separate amplifier, and Gauder Akustik makes only loudspeakers. These pairings scale with the speaker and complete the system with a quality source.

• Accuphase E-700 Integrated Amplifier A Class-A integrated with the control and refinement to bring out the phase coherence and detail of this speaker, and enough current to drive it with ease in larger rooms.
• Luxman L-509Z Integrated Amplifier A flagship integrated that pairs high power with a smooth, resolving character, matching the Arcona 100's revealing nature while keeping the system to a single box.
• Accuphase C-2300 Preamplifier For a separates approach, this precision preamplifier offers transparent control that lets the speaker's coherence shine through when paired with a matching power amplifier.
• Accuphase P-4600 Power Amplifier A stable, high-current stereo power amplifier that grips the XPulse bass drivers for authoritative, well-controlled low frequencies in bigger rooms.
• Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre Streamer, DAC & Preamp A flagship streaming source and DAC that feeds the system with high-resolution detail, complementing the speaker's ability to resolve fine musical information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Arcona 100 MKII SD an active or passive speaker?
It is a passive loudspeaker, so it requires a separate amplifier to make sound. Gauder Akustik builds only loudspeakers, not electronics.

Where does the Arcona 100 sit in the Gauder lineup?
It is the largest floorstander in the ARCONA MKII SD line, the more attainable of the two ranges we carry, above the Arcona 80 within that line.

What tweeter does the Arcona 100 MKII SD use?
It uses a silk soft-dome tweeter, which is the tweeter type for the Arcona line. It is not a diamond tweeter.

What are XPulse drivers?
XPulse is Gauder's patented cone driver technology used for the bass and midrange in the Arcona line, designed for low distortion and fast transient response.

What makes Gauder's crossover unusual?
Gauder uses an ultra-steep, symmetrical crossover with slopes around 50dB per octave, far steeper than typical designs, which almost eliminates driver overlap for phase-accurate, coherent sound.

What is the cabinet made from?
The cabinet is a drop-shaped design with a teardrop cross-section built from 22mm MDF, which helps control internal standing waves and reduce colouration.

What are WBT-Nextgen terminals?
They are high-quality binding posts used on this model for a secure and low-loss connection to your speaker cables.

What is the adjustable bass extension?
It is a feature that lets you tune the low frequency balance to better suit your room and placement.

Does the DV suffix apply to this model?
No. DV means Double Vision and refers to an upgraded components package found in the higher Capello line. The Arcona 100 MKII SD is part of the Arcona line.

Does this speaker have a diamond tweeter?
No. The Arcona line uses a silk soft-dome tweeter. Diamond tweeters are not part of the Gauder ranges we carry.

What size room suits the Arcona 100 MKII SD?
As the largest Arcona floorstander, it suits larger rooms where its scale and dynamic ease can be fully realised. For smaller spaces, the Arcona 80 may be a better fit.

What amplifier should I use?
A high-quality integrated or a separate preamplifier and power amplifier that scales with this resolving speaker. See our Recommended Amplification and Source section for suitable options.

Does it need Gauder stands?
No. The Arcona 100 is a floorstanding model, so it does not require stands. Only the Arcona stand mount models need the matching Gauder aluminum stands.

Is bi-wiring supported?
This model uses WBT-Nextgen terminals. Please confirm the exact connection configuration with us before ordering cables.

Where is it made?
The Arcona 100 MKII SD is made in Germany by Gauder Akustik.

How does it compare to the Arcona 80 MKII SD?
Both share the same Arcona MKII SD design and technology. The Arcona 100 is the larger floorstander with more low frequency scale, while the Arcona 80 is slightly more compact for smaller rooms.

Can I use it in a home theatre system?
Yes. It can serve as front left and right speakers, and Gauder offers a matching center for a coherent multichannel front stage.

Is the speaker sold as a pair or individually?
Floorstanding speakers are typically sold as a pair. Please confirm quantity with us at the time of order.

What warranty does it carry?
The Arcona 100 MKII SD carries a 10 year parts and labor warranty from Gauder Akustik for the original owner.

Why buy from All Elite Audio?
All Elite Audio is an authorized Gauder Akustik dealer in MD, so you receive a genuine product with full manufacturer warranty support and expert guidance on system matching.