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The biggest differences are heard in the bass. While retaining a broadly similar sonic character, the 606 S2 Anniversary Editions prove significantly more capable than their predecessors. On the inside, there's an upgraded crossover that now features better-quality capacitors. #True sound reference speakers upgradeTo mark the 25-year anniversary of the 600 range (in 2020), B&W decided to upgrade the 606 (and the rest of the range) – and it proved to be a wise move.Ĭosmetically, there's not much new, but for an inscription on the tweeter surround and a new oak finish option. The original Bowers & Wilkins 606 speakers walked off with What Hi-Fi?’s top speaker award in 2019 but it seems there's always room for improvement. These are some of its finest, and for this money, they're nothing short of exceptional. ![]() In the midrange, they're a little lacking in warmth, but on the flip side, they're very well balanced and can make the best of any recording, regardless of audio quality.Įlac has been making speakers since the 1980s, with a fine heritage of products to its name. With a top-end response of 35kHz, the tweeter should do justice to those soaring highs. And it uses a different shape to improve stiffness and damping, reducing resonance. Inside is a 5.25cm mid/bass unit which uses a new blend of aramid fibres for the cone. So unlike some speakers, you won't have to build your room around them. They're not too precious when it comes to placement either. ![]() #True sound reference speakers plusPlus they sound wicked good whether they're hooked up to a standard or high-end system. They have the dynamic expression, detail and tonal sophistication to handle anything you can throw at them. If it's standmounted speakers you want, Elac's affordable B5.2s perform superbly for the money. #True sound reference speakers fullRead our full Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 review If you're looking for reasonably-priced floorstanders, the talented Wharfdale 12.3 are a superb buy and sound even better than the company's renowned 12.1 standmounters. The 12.3 are available in four finishes – black, walnut, white and a classy light oak – all of which belie their relatively modest price tag. Feed them a poor signal and they’ll round off rough edges and downplay unwanted aggression without sounding like they’re smothering the life out of the music.Īs for build quality, the cabinets are carefully crafted with a traditional straight-edge design and a tidy feet arrangement. Sonically, they're smooth, even-handed and wonderfully refined for the money. Indeed, we're so impressed by the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3's musical performance that it's now a two-time What Hi-Fi? Award winner.Īt 98cm tall, the Diamond 12.3 aren't a particularly imposing pair of floorstanders, so they'll fit into most spaces. Wharfedale's Diamond range now features a truly outstanding (and affordable) floorstander. We’ve loved the originals and the LS50 Meta takes the performance to a notably higher level. While the basic sonic character is instantly familiar, the Meta speakers have gained a level of clarity and finesse the originals only hinted at, sounding clean while still offering muscle and dynamics. MAT is KEF’s way of coping with the sound that comes off the back of the tweeter dome a plastic circular maze of tubes on the back promising greater absorption for cleaner, less distorted highs. #True sound reference speakers driverThe LS50’s Uni-Q driver array, where the tweeter sits in the throat of the mid/bass unit, has been thoroughly reworked, taking in all the refinements that KEF has developed over the past eight years and adding something new in the form of Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). And with the LS50 Meta they have delivered a worthy upgrade. The original LS50 speakers had little wrong with them but after eight years, KEF figured they deserved a fresh look. Check out our pick of the best active speakers if you're curious.įor a more detailed explanation of everything you should consider, check out our complete guide to choosing the right speakers. Active speakers with amplification (and sometimes DAC and streaming smarts) are increasingly popular and can connect straight to your source, no amp required, though they do require a connection to mains power. Most speakers are passive - they have no amplification inside, so require a separate amplifier to work. There's also the choice between passive and active speakers. ![]() Bigger speakers mean higher volumes but, again, you need the space. This is also a good time to consider whether you want bookshelf or floorstanding speakers. Most speakers require a degree of space to sound their best, so be sure not to buy speakers that are too big for your listening area. You also need to make sure your speakers fit your room. Your components should be evenly matched, both tonally and in terms of price, so consider this before breaking the bank on a new pair of speakers that the rest of your kit can't do justice. ![]()
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