Category Archives: loudspeakers
Wharfedale XP series
Wharfedale’s XP range surfaced in autumn 1975 – and went on to earn the company a great deal of respect, because each model had a pleasing tone, was well made and styled in an attractive way. It was hugely successful,
Wharfedale XP series
Wharfedale’s XP range surfaced in autumn 1975 – and went on to earn the company a great deal of respect, because each model had a pleasing tone, was well made and styled in an attractive way. It was hugely successful,
Wharfedale Chevin XP2
It is 1978 and the pop charts are dominated by the Bee Gees, and the other acts like Tavares and Yvonne Elliman appearing on Robert Stigwood’s magnum opus movie Saturday Night Fever. You are a cash-strapped aspiring audiophile, but can
Wharfedale Chevin XP2
It is 1978 and the pop charts are dominated by the Bee Gees, and the other acts like Tavares and Yvonne Elliman appearing on Robert Stigwood’s magnum opus movie Saturday Night Fever. You are a cash-strapped aspiring audiophile, but can
Realistic Minimus-7
“Little only in size, not in performance”, was how Realistic described its Minimus-7 ‘Metal Cabinet Speaker System” back in 1977. In 2021, it’s still surprisingly capable and relevant, as there have been precious few micro speakers released in the intervening
Realistic Minimus-7
“Little only in size, not in performance”, was how Realistic described its Minimus-7 ‘Metal Cabinet Speaker System” back in 1977. In 2021, it’s still surprisingly capable and relevant, as there have been precious few micro speakers released in the intervening
Monitor Audio Radius 90
Launched in 2014 at £350, Monitor Audio’s Radius 90 is one of my favourite super-small speakers. It measures just 198x125x140mm, weighs 2.1kg and has just 1.5 litres of useable volume inside. At the time of its launch it came in
Monitor Audio Radius 90
Launched in 2014 at £350, Monitor Audio’s Radius 90 is one of my favourite super-small speakers. It measures just 198x125x140mm, weighs 2.1kg and has just 1.5 litres of useable volume inside. At the time of its launch it came in
Sony SA-S1
Released in the UK in 1995, Sony’s La Scala 1 system cost around £1,500 at the time – although was discounted to a lot less. It comprised the CDP-S1 CD player, an optional MD-S1 MiniDisc recorder, the TC-S1 cassette deck,
Sony SA-S1
Released in the UK in 1995, Sony’s La Scala 1 system cost around £1,500 at the time – although was discounted to a lot less. It comprised the CDP-S1 CD player, an optional MD-S1 MiniDisc recorder, the TC-S1 cassette deck,
B&W Model 802 Series 80
From its inception in 1966, Bowers and Wilkins showed itself to be one of Britain’s great innovating loudspeaker manufacturers. It soon became famous for technologically interesting products, pushing forward the frontiers of design. This was crystallised in 1970 with the
B&W Model 802 Series 80
From its inception in 1966, Bowers and Wilkins showed itself to be one of Britain’s great innovating loudspeaker manufacturers. It soon became famous for technologically interesting products, pushing forward the frontiers of design. This was crystallised in 1970 with the
TDK Tremor S-150
Launched way back in 2001, TDK’s Tremor ‘multimedia loudspeaker system’ (as they used to call these then), was one of the most interesting designs of the decade, in my view. The first-ever speaker systems offered by TDK, a range of three was
TDK Tremor S-150
Launched way back in 2001, TDK’s Tremor ‘multimedia loudspeaker system’ (as they used to call these then), was one of the most interesting designs of the decade, in my view. The first-ever speaker systems offered by TDK, a range of three was
JBL L100 Classic
When the first JBL L100 was launched at CES 1970 in Chicago, few realised how popular it would be. A consumer version of the 4310/4311 professional monitors, it shared the same driver line-up, with strong Alnico V magnets. A simple
JBL L100 Classic
When the first JBL L100 was launched at CES 1970 in Chicago, few realised how popular it would be. A consumer version of the 4310/4311 professional monitors, it shared the same driver line-up, with strong Alnico V magnets. A simple
Wharfedale Linton Classic
Thirty years ago most audiophiles thought everything old was rubbish, and all we needed was modern technology and fresh thinking to shape our brave new world. Of course this was only true up to a point, and now we are
Wharfedale Linton Classic
Thirty years ago most audiophiles thought everything old was rubbish, and all we needed was modern technology and fresh thinking to shape our brave new world. Of course this was only true up to a point, and now we are
Videotone Minimax
The Videotone Minimax is the great little loudspeaker that history forgot. The story is all the more intriguing by the fact that Videotone was not – unlike about ninety nine percent of speakers back then – British. “Videotone” was the name
Videotone Minimax
The Videotone Minimax is the great little loudspeaker that history forgot. The story is all the more intriguing by the fact that Videotone was not – unlike about ninety nine percent of speakers back then – British. “Videotone” was the name
Yamaha NS-5000
If you’ve been paying attention over the past few decades, you’ll know about Yamaha’s iconic NS-1000M loudspeaker, launched back in 1978. Sporting highly innovative Beryllium midrange and treble dome drivers – which were a fraction of the weight of conventional designs
Yamaha NS-5000
If you’ve been paying attention over the past few decades, you’ll know about Yamaha’s iconic NS-1000M loudspeaker, launched back in 1978. Sporting highly innovative Beryllium midrange and treble dome drivers – which were a fraction of the weight of conventional designs
Wharfedale Glendale 3XP
Wharfedale is an iconic British loudspeaker brand whose heyday was arguably the nineteen seventies, at the peak of the British hi-fi boom when it was owned by the Rank Organisation. Founded by Gilbert Arthur Briggs in his Ilkley home in the
Wharfedale Glendale 3XP
Wharfedale is an iconic British loudspeaker brand whose heyday was arguably the nineteen seventies, at the peak of the British hi-fi boom when it was owned by the Rank Organisation. Founded by Gilbert Arthur Briggs in his Ilkley home in the
Leema Xen 2
Prior to starting Leema, Lee Taylor was the recipient of BAFTA and Palme d’Or awards for his work in recording and mixing for television, music and film, while Mallory Nichols had previously been involved in the manufacturing of MAGTRAX monitors
Leema Xen 2
Prior to starting Leema, Lee Taylor was the recipient of BAFTA and Palme d’Or awards for his work in recording and mixing for television, music and film, while Mallory Nichols had previously been involved in the manufacturing of MAGTRAX monitors
Zu Druid IV
Made in Ogden, Utah the Zu Druid is one of the more interesting floorstanding loudspeakers that I have come across. This, the 2006-vintage fourth generation version, is a particular favourite. The one-and-a-half way speaker has a full-range drive unit along with
Zu Druid IV
Made in Ogden, Utah the Zu Druid is one of the more interesting floorstanding loudspeakers that I have come across. This, the 2006-vintage fourth generation version, is a particular favourite. The one-and-a-half way speaker has a full-range drive unit along with
Sennheiser PXC-250
When Sennheiser’s PXC-250 portable headphone was launched back in 2005, noise-cancelling technology was nothing new, but here was an affordable, practical and elegant implementation of it. NoiseGard™ is the name that Sennheiser gives to its particular take on noise-cancelling. Essentially, the system
Sennheiser PXC-250
When Sennheiser’s PXC-250 portable headphone was launched back in 2005, noise-cancelling technology was nothing new, but here was an affordable, practical and elegant implementation of it. NoiseGard™ is the name that Sennheiser gives to its particular take on noise-cancelling. Essentially, the system
Realistic Optimus Pro LX5
From time to time we see interesting new variations on the loudspeaker theme; sometimes manufacturers come up with better cone materials for their mid/bass units, and occasionally interesting tweeters pop up. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in
Realistic Optimus Pro LX5
From time to time we see interesting new variations on the loudspeaker theme; sometimes manufacturers come up with better cone materials for their mid/bass units, and occasionally interesting tweeters pop up. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in
Sony SS-5050 Carbocon
The nineteen seventies was a fascinating time for loudspeakers. Most designs from that decade were invariably pretty crude, but there were still some breathtaking boxes on sale, using state-of-the-art technology. Indeed, there was a far larger gap between run-of-the-mill
Sony SS-5050 Carbocon
The nineteen seventies was a fascinating time for loudspeakers. Most designs from that decade were invariably pretty crude, but there were still some breathtaking boxes on sale, using state-of-the-art technology. Indeed, there was a far larger gap between run-of-the-mill
Spendor S3/5se
By the early part of the new millennium, ‘retro’ was all the rage and in hi-fi the revival of the BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker spearheaded the movement. The guilty truth was however that – even back then – this iconic little
Spendor S3/5se
By the early part of the new millennium, ‘retro’ was all the rage and in hi-fi the revival of the BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker spearheaded the movement. The guilty truth was however that – even back then – this iconic little
Quad ESL-989
Quad’s Peter Walker was absolutely right to seek a better way to make a loudspeaker. He was inspired by the failings of his flagship loudspeaker – the Quad CR Corner Ribbon – which was a bold hybrid design that used a ribbon
Quad ESL-989
Quad’s Peter Walker was absolutely right to seek a better way to make a loudspeaker. He was inspired by the failings of his flagship loudspeaker – the Quad CR Corner Ribbon – which was a bold hybrid design that used a ribbon
Monitor Audio Silver 1
A BMW 1-series in speaker terms? There’s absolutely no sign whatsoever that this £500 British-designed standmounter is a budget product, or indeed a mid-price one. The quality of the finish is so good that those who know nothing about hi-fi
Monitor Audio Silver 1
A BMW 1-series in speaker terms? There’s absolutely no sign whatsoever that this £500 British-designed standmounter is a budget product, or indeed a mid-price one. The quality of the finish is so good that those who know nothing about hi-fi
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