Category Archives: loudspeakers
Eclipse TD712z/2
Fujitsu Ten is a huge manufacturer of automotive audio with over four thousand employees and a vast wealth of electronic and mechanical engineering resources. It’s an ideal parent company for Eclipse TD, one of the world’s most quirky yet accomplished loudspeaker
Eclipse TD712z/2
Fujitsu Ten is a huge manufacturer of automotive audio with over four thousand employees and a vast wealth of electronic and mechanical engineering resources. It’s an ideal parent company for Eclipse TD, one of the world’s most quirky yet accomplished loudspeaker
KEF LS50
One of the universal laws of hi-fi is that a loudspeaker’s sonic ability is in inverse proportion to its aesthetic beauty. True, the Holy hi-fi provider has granted several high end panel speakers a special exemption to this rule, but
KEF LS50
One of the universal laws of hi-fi is that a loudspeaker’s sonic ability is in inverse proportion to its aesthetic beauty. True, the Holy hi-fi provider has granted several high end panel speakers a special exemption to this rule, but
Wharfedale Diamond
The first Wharfedale Diamond was famously said to be derived from research undertaken for the company’s high end TSR102 project, but in truth it was simply its treble and midrange unit in a tiny, bespoke bass reflex box. The result
Wharfedale Diamond
The first Wharfedale Diamond was famously said to be derived from research undertaken for the company’s high end TSR102 project, but in truth it was simply its treble and midrange unit in a tiny, bespoke bass reflex box. The result
Onkyo D-TK10
Fascinating. This little box breaks all the rules about loudspeaker cabinet design, the ones that say that boxes should be seen and not heard. Put ten speaker designers in the same room and while they’ll disagree on everything from the merits
Onkyo D-TK10
Fascinating. This little box breaks all the rules about loudspeaker cabinet design, the ones that say that boxes should be seen and not heard. Put ten speaker designers in the same room and while they’ll disagree on everything from the merits
Usher S-520
One of the best affordable small speakers of recent times is this. Predictably perhaps It’s a two-way reflex ported bookshelf design, although there the routine ends. It has an Usher UA25-10 25mm silk dome tweeter and KSW2-5029B 125mm mid/bass unit
Usher S-520
One of the best affordable small speakers of recent times is this. Predictably perhaps It’s a two-way reflex ported bookshelf design, although there the routine ends. It has an Usher UA25-10 25mm silk dome tweeter and KSW2-5029B 125mm mid/bass unit
Spendor SA1
The original Spendor SA1 was launched just before the BBC LS3/5a surfaced back in the early nineteen seventies, and many thought it was a better sounding loudspeaker than its more popular rival. But the SA1 you see here is a distant cousin, and
Spendor SA1
The original Spendor SA1 was launched just before the BBC LS3/5a surfaced back in the early nineteen seventies, and many thought it was a better sounding loudspeaker than its more popular rival. But the SA1 you see here is a distant cousin, and
Bose 901
The story of this decidedly peculiar product started when Armar G Bose decided that contemporary loudspeakers simply didn’t deliver. Fascinated by sound propagation, and an avowed fan of spatiality in sound, he thought the majority of designs on sale were too directional. He believed
Bose 901
The story of this decidedly peculiar product started when Armar G Bose decided that contemporary loudspeakers simply didn’t deliver. Fascinated by sound propagation, and an avowed fan of spatiality in sound, he thought the majority of designs on sale were too directional. He believed
KEF Coda 7
In 2014, this seems a rather dull, uninteresting and irrelevant loudspeaker, but in 1995 some saw it as nothing less than the future of budget hi-fi. Why? Because the Coda 7 was at the vanguard of a new generation of speakers that drew a clear
KEF Coda 7
In 2014, this seems a rather dull, uninteresting and irrelevant loudspeaker, but in 1995 some saw it as nothing less than the future of budget hi-fi. Why? Because the Coda 7 was at the vanguard of a new generation of speakers that drew a clear
Jays v-Jays
Soberly styled, these affordable portable Swedish cans are small and light (59g). Considering their low price, build quality is excellent – easily as good as anything from Sennheiser at or anywhere near their £50 retail price. Their design is also semi-foldable (with
Jays v-Jays
Soberly styled, these affordable portable Swedish cans are small and light (59g). Considering their low price, build quality is excellent – easily as good as anything from Sennheiser at or anywhere near their £50 retail price. Their design is also semi-foldable (with
Acoustic Energy AE1
One of the most iconic hi-fi loudspeakers of the nineteen eighties, the AE1 sits alongside the Celestion SL6 and the Wharfedale Diamond in the great pantheon of boxes that rewrote the rule book. The BBC LS3/5a and Spendor SA1 aside,
Acoustic Energy AE1
One of the most iconic hi-fi loudspeakers of the nineteen eighties, the AE1 sits alongside the Celestion SL6 and the Wharfedale Diamond in the great pantheon of boxes that rewrote the rule book. The BBC LS3/5a and Spendor SA1 aside,
Tannoy Westminster Royal
Surely one of the most striking things ever to make a noise, other manufacturers’ top-of-the-range designs look small and flimsy by comparison. The king of Tannoy’s Prestige Range, this product is truly remarkable, however you look at it. Intimidating physical presence
Tannoy Westminster Royal
Surely one of the most striking things ever to make a noise, other manufacturers’ top-of-the-range designs look small and flimsy by comparison. The king of Tannoy’s Prestige Range, this product is truly remarkable, however you look at it. Intimidating physical presence
ATC SCM19
If ever there was a loudspeaker company with its heart and soul in the professional audio market, it is ATC. Started in 1974 by Billy Woodman to produce drive units for broadcast and recording studios, its first design was a
ATC SCM19
If ever there was a loudspeaker company with its heart and soul in the professional audio market, it is ATC. Started in 1974 by Billy Woodman to produce drive units for broadcast and recording studios, its first design was a
Quad ESL-57
Fifty seven years after development work first began, there is still something magical about this iconic electrostatic. Thanks to its combination of superb sound quality and elegant styling, the ESL-57 offered outstanding clarity compared to other loudspeakers of its day.
Quad ESL-57
Fifty seven years after development work first began, there is still something magical about this iconic electrostatic. Thanks to its combination of superb sound quality and elegant styling, the ESL-57 offered outstanding clarity compared to other loudspeakers of its day.
Monitor Audio PL100
Monitor Audio was to be congratulated for its decision to use ribbon tweeters in its flagship Platinum series, launched back in 2007. The PL100 – which cost £2,300 – ran a very nice ceramic coated aluminium/magnesium ribbon HF unit riding shotgun with
Monitor Audio PL100
Monitor Audio was to be congratulated for its decision to use ribbon tweeters in its flagship Platinum series, launched back in 2007. The PL100 – which cost £2,300 – ran a very nice ceramic coated aluminium/magnesium ribbon HF unit riding shotgun with
Gale GS401A
Funny how some products cause a huge splash early on in their lives, yet go on to sink into relative obsolescence after they are discontinued. The Gale GS401 speaker is just such a design, having won the prestigious CES Design and
Gale GS401A
Funny how some products cause a huge splash early on in their lives, yet go on to sink into relative obsolescence after they are discontinued. The Gale GS401 speaker is just such a design, having won the prestigious CES Design and
Wharfedale E70
There were never that many great nineteen seventies loudspeakers. Possibly because the wisdom of the time was that big, muscular transistor power amps were the way ahead, speakers became increasingly complex and power-hungry. Multi-driver designs using heavy polypropylene and Bextrene cones
Wharfedale E70
There were never that many great nineteen seventies loudspeakers. Possibly because the wisdom of the time was that big, muscular transistor power amps were the way ahead, speakers became increasingly complex and power-hungry. Multi-driver designs using heavy polypropylene and Bextrene cones
Celestion SL6
If ever there was a hi-fi product that drew an invisible line under the nineteen seventies, as if to say, ‘this chapter is now closed’, it was Celestion’s SL6 standmounting loudspeaker. It’s hard to describe just how modern it seemed
Celestion SL6
If ever there was a hi-fi product that drew an invisible line under the nineteen seventies, as if to say, ‘this chapter is now closed’, it was Celestion’s SL6 standmounting loudspeaker. It’s hard to describe just how modern it seemed
Yamaha Soavo-1
Small specialist manufacturers have a great deal to offer. Their products are often more creative, more focused and more appropriate to the needs of a rapidly changing market. But big companies can do just as well, if not better, in
Yamaha Soavo-1
Small specialist manufacturers have a great deal to offer. Their products are often more creative, more focused and more appropriate to the needs of a rapidly changing market. But big companies can do just as well, if not better, in
Spendor BC1
Loudspeaker design isn’t the black art its practitioners often claim. Speakers aren’t above and beyond the laws of physics; indeed, it is precisely these that determine the sound of any given product. Put simply, there’s the cabinets to get right,
Spendor BC1
Loudspeaker design isn’t the black art its practitioners often claim. Speakers aren’t above and beyond the laws of physics; indeed, it is precisely these that determine the sound of any given product. Put simply, there’s the cabinets to get right,
Mission 752
One of the nicest and most interesting affordable floorstanding loudspeakers of the nineteen nineties, the Mission 752 had a wonderfully smooth, open and easy sound in a world of hard, harsh and spitty budget boxes. One of the reasons for this
Mission 752
One of the nicest and most interesting affordable floorstanding loudspeakers of the nineteen nineties, the Mission 752 had a wonderfully smooth, open and easy sound in a world of hard, harsh and spitty budget boxes. One of the reasons for this
zStereo 