
Part of growing up, so we are told, involves learning to stand on your own two feet - both physically and (later) practically. By that measure, the average floorstanding loudspeaker is a very grown-up specimen indeed.
For starters, most, by definition, provide their own means of support. Of course, most stand on four feet rather than two but, unlike their mounted cousins, none of them requires the addition of stands to function at their best. And the very nature of their large-cabinet design means that, regardless of their driver arrangement, they already have an advantage over their smaller cousins when it comes to delivering great sound.
The big plus here is weightier bass reproduction - something that standmounter speakers, with their smaller internal volume, find much more of a challenge. In addition, floorstanders are able to produce a sound of greater power and scale, and are therefore well suited to larger rooms, which most can comfortably fill - even at higher volumes.
For this round-up, we have entered premium floorstander territory, where prices fall between £1000 and £2000. In this price bracket, the hardware offers a big step up in quality and performance from the sub-£1000 arena. That is because manufacturers have that crucial amount more cash in their budgets to spend on highquality drive units, crossovers and other components. They can also pay more attention to the cabinet materials and all-round quality of build - all of which pays significant dividends for the buyer. In fact, this is arguably the sector that offers the best balance between performance and price.
Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av What Hi-Fi UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2024-utgaven av What Hi-Fi UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

WHAT HI-FI? AWARDS 2024
Presenting the very best hi-fi and home cinema gear you can buy right now - winners each and every one

RECORD PLAYERS ARE GETTING BETTER: IT JUST ISN'T OBVIOUS
Record replay continues to improve, but it does so in a subtle way, writes technical editor Ketan Bharadia

Hisense PX3-Pro
Gaming-focused UST projector that's great for films too

Cambridge Audio EXN100
Extensive features, refined performance

BenQ GS50
Prepare to be the talk of the campsite

Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2
An appealing turntable in looks and sound

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
How do you follow a three-time Award-winning soundbar? This is how

Rotel A8
It's no-frills’, but this amp hits the mark

Samsung Q8OD (QE55Q80D)
Even without Mini LEDs, this Samsung mid-ranger hits the mark

Epos ES-7N
Small box, flexible nature and a huge talent