Most people associate wireless speakers with Bluetooth and a democratic price range that the majority can identify with. That doesn’t mean there are no wireless speakers for a narrower market and in a completely different price range. Just look at Bang & Olufsen’s superb Beolab 28, which impressed in our test. The heavy price tag …
No soundbar can beat a pair of stereo speakers for realistic music production. And neither can Bluetooth speakers. Not even the unique Naim Mu-so 2. Two speakers add an extra dimension to music that soundbars and desktop speakers lack. This becomes very clear when you plug in KEF’s new LSX II, which looks very similar …
Two active – and wireless – speakers with everything built in is really all you need. Even if you have audio sources you need to connect with cables, like a TV or a turntable. They come in all price ranges, from the very budget-friendly Argon Audio Fenris A5 to the amazing KEF LS60 Wireless. Somewhere …
If you can’ t get it loud enough, it’ s because you have too small a speaker. Try something bigger than a table speaker next time, and I guarantee your guests will fill the dance floor in seconds. Just ask a DJ. Music is everything, yet nothing if the speakers don’t get people engaged. That’s …
Coming in from under the radar is a loudspeaker manufacturer. Kerr Acoustic was a complete unknown until I suddenly saw a picture of a Kerr speaker on social media. The floorstander reminded me of a PMC speaker, only with a ribbon tweeter instead of a 25 mm dome tweeter. The open port at the bottom …
The smallest portable speakers all have one problem: they don’t play very loud, and they have almost no bass. That’s why we usually recommend buying a bigger speaker than you might have intended. But that’s not practical for everyone, at least not for those who want a speaker they can easily take on the road. …
After Bose surprised us earlier with what turned out to be a capable Soundbar 700, expectations are high for the successor, Smart Soundbar 900. The Soundbar 700 is still as good as it ever was, and with HDMI ARC it can be used with any TV. But the time has come for Bose too to …
“Iconic” is a misused term. But when it comes to Bowers & Wilkins’ Zeppelin desktop speaker, it’s entirely justified. Very few speakers are as recognisable as it. Or as long-lived. The airship-shaped speaker made its debut in 2007 as a dock for the Apple iPod Touch (which has just recently been retired after 21 years …
Ray is the cheapest Sonos soundbar yet. The American manufacturer has previously impressed us with models like the Beam and Arc, both of which are among the most popular soundbars on the market today. It’s no wonder Sonos has done so well. One reason is their unique interface, which lets you control the products as …
Bowers & Wilkins needs no further introduction. The English manufacturer is famous for their well-made loudspeakers, not least the stylish 800 series, which is highly appreciated by studio engineers and discerning hi-fi enthusiasts alike. B&W hasn’t made as much of a name for itself on the soundbar front, but we were impressed by the high-end …
Finnish Genelec are best known for their studio monitors, speakers for professional studios, but some of the models are so “civilized” that they can be used at home without the professional equipment totally dominating the decor. The Genelec 6040R is one such speaker. An active two-way design that can be called either a floorstander or …
It’s only been a few months since we had the top-of-the-range 801 D4 from UK-based Bowers & Wilkins in for review. I was pretty quick to crown the speakers the best I’d heard. Perhaps a little too quickly … There’s nothing to criticise about the B&Ws when it comes to engineering and distortion-free sound reproduction, …
The original was launched in 1957 and was intended as a centre speaker (!) between a par of other Klipsch speakers, such as the huge Klipschorn. Maybe that’s why it didn’t get a name; it was just called Klipsch H. A bit shocking, when other models had cool names like Klipschorn and Cornwall. It wasn’t …
When you mention Technics, most people probably think of turntables. Maybe amplifiers, after all they have made many really good amplifiers. Tape recorders should also be mentioned, although most people have forgotten what they are and many have probably never seen one. But loudspeakers are hardly something you associate with Technics. They have struggled to …
Lack of space usually means small speakers with limited bass and sound pressure. The most ardent enthusiasts will buy a good subwoofer to minimise the problem, but it doesn’t always solve the whole equation. At least not if the speakers lack dynamic capabilities and start to fizzle like an overheated light bulb when you turn …