CATEGORIES

Q Acoustics Q Active 200

Balanced Mode Radiators are not a gimmick; they’re the result of decades of research and a spin-off from military research stretching back many decades.

Cabasse Pearl Akoya

Easily one of the most striking wireless speaker designs going, this has a retro-futuristic sense of glamour to it. Cabasse would argue that form follows function; its rivals’ boxy fibreboard cabinets being far from ideal sonically.

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo

Although passive speakers make up about 80 percent of B&W’s business, there’s no doubt that it places much importance on its newer concepts such as the Formation Duo. Effectively the company’s best wireless offering, it’s a platform upon which future products may be based.

Eclipse TD307MK3

NEW FOR THE MK3 is a 65mm full-range fibre-glass driver, said to benefit from greater responsiveness, fewer vibrational artefacts, a wider dynamic range and lower noise floor.

AirPulse A80

KEY TO THE A80’s neat melding of approaches rests with the power and sophistication of its 16-core XMOS XU216 digital signal processor, which uses XMOS xCore200 architecture.

System Audio Legend 7.2 Silverback

There is a limbo-land, somewhere between traditional audiophilia and custom install’s convenient disappearing act where on-wall speakers live in quiet solitude.

Simaudio MOON Voice 22

MOON might be just a brand name, but it looks kind of cool spread out in capitals across the bottom of an otherwise nondescript, if distinctly chunky, two-way, rear-ported. standmount speaker.

Rogers LS3/5A SE

Rogers has done the unthinkable - taken a deep breath and improved the iconic LS3/5A. Time to check in with the Special Edition

Q Acoustics Concept 30

Q Acoustics bridges the gap between its affordable and premium ranges - borrowing from both. But does life really begin at 30?

Neat Acoustics Majistra

Neat Acoustics' Majistra is one of very few isobaric speakers you can buy using a novel approach to getting more bass out of a cabinet than its internal volume would suggest. Then there's the true ribbon tweeter, which is virtually unique when used together with the aforementioned isobaric driver complement.

JBL L52 Classic

JBL's re-released Classic ♫ series channels the design language of its Seventies models and the L52 brings all the principles of the series down to a size where they'll fit into most spaces.

Fyne Audio F500SP

A relative of the standard F500 HFC 457), the F500SP is absolutely not the same speaker made in a different place. The characteristics are the same, though.

ELAC Concentro S 503

This standmount's beguiling design makes it appear far slimmer than it really is. The S 503 comes in at £6,500 for the glossy black or white versions, while the glorious varnished walnut cabinet pictured here will set you back an additional £500.

Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4

The smallest addition to the 800 Series has some refinements not seen before at this level. Time to judge the results

AVID HiFi Reference Four

While most speakers do very nicely with variations on the wooden box theme, the Reference Four opts for all-alloy cabinets, with panels up to 15mm-thick, sitting on six 'risers' attached to a thick alloy baseplate. Hence why each of these relatively compact speakers weighs a hefty 25kg.

Acoustic Energy AE100²

One key design aim for the AE100² was to make it sensitive, and O reasonably the quoted 87dB shows that this has just about been achieved.

Wharfedale Diamond 12.3

For this 12th-generation Diamond makeover, Peter Comeau (parent company IAG's design director) handed the reins to freelance 'gun for hire' Karl-Heinz Fink, boss of Fink team and consultant to Tannoy, Mission, Q Acoustics and Naim among others. So, a clean sheet, a fresh pair of ears and a new set of design sensibilities.

Triangle Antal 40th Anniversary Edition

As part of its 40th Birthday celebrations, Triangle has upgraded its iconic Antal floor-stander. Time to crash the party...

System Audio saxo 40

A two-way floor-stander, the saxo 40’s stated aim is: big sound without big speakers”. The result is by far the most diminutive tower speaker that’s ever graced our listening room.

Q Acoustics Concept 50

Acoustics didn’t exactly rush into the 1,0002,000 speaker segment, but when the Concept 30 did break cover it more than met expectations.

Ophidian Voodoo

There are small loudspeakers, tall speakers and speakers like the Voodoo which just make you stop and stare...

Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4

The smallest floor stander in the company’s illustrious flagship range steps up to the plate and impresses in so many ways

Acoustic Energy AE320

Two or so years ago, the hi-fi press was waxing lyrical about Acoustic Energy’s (then) new top-end 500 series. The 509 was a good floor stander, but its cost has gone up and that has left a gap in the mid-price market into which the AE320 steps.

Acoustic Energy AE109²

Acoustic Energy’s smallest floor stander has received a full reworking, but does the new design add up to fun squared?

Polly Jean Harvey – 50Ft Queenie

Not content unless she's pushing herself out of her comfort zone, PJ Harvey is truly one of a kind. Nigel Williamson celebrates the majesty of Polly Jean

That sync-ing feeling

Nigel Williamson worries about the way songs that are used in movies and TV shows is starting to clutter up the charts with oldies

Bang tidy

The flagship true wireless from Bang & Olufsen carries a premium price. Ed Selley finds out if it offers a high-end experience

Cash conscious

As the latest wave of true-wireless earbuds land in the HFC test lab fresh from Japan, CliffJoseph counts his pennies

Katch of the day

DALI updates its stylish portable to keep it competitive. Ed Selley finds out if it still delivers the goods

Rock harder

For those about to rock, Nick Tate salutes you as he samples this punchy new wireless active mini-monitor with a Seventies vibe