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HI-FI+ GUIDE to LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 Sponsored by Raidho HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 Sponsored by Raidho GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 HI-FI+ XT-5 Making the best better Meet us on facebook Raidho_XT-5.indd 1 30/10/2017 10.34 HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 (Sponsored by Raidho) U NEED 2 KNOW EDITORS’ CHOICE CONTENTS New offerings in three important Our Editors’ Top 5 picks in each loudspeaker categories loudspeaker category • 61 new Floorstanding Loudspeakers • Premium-priced Floorstanding • 25 new Standmount & Bookshelf Loudspeakers Loudspeakers • Affordable & mid-priced Floorstanding • 6 new Subwoofers & Other Loudspeakers Loudspeaker types • Premium-priced Standmount Loudspeakers HI-FI+ INTERVIEW FIVE GIFTED • Affordable & mid-priced Standmount LOUDSPEAKER DESIGNERS Loudspeakers • Mads Klifoth of AudioVector • Daniel Emonts of Dynaudio FEATURES • Daryl Wilson of Wilson Audio Specialties • The Complete Guide to Loudspeakers • Craig Milnes of Wilson Benesch • Standmount Loudspeakers—The Basics • Yoav Geva of YG Acoustics LOUDSPEAKER LEXICON HI-FI+ REVIEW INDEXES FOR ALL Loudspeaker lingo explained in LOUDSPEAKER PRODUCTS FROM layman’s terms ISSUE 100 TO PRESENT: • Review Index: Desktop and Standmount Loudspeakers, and • Review Index: Floorstanding Loudspeakers and Subwoofers HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017: CONTENTS GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017: CONTENTS HI-FI+ EDITOR, HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 THE EDITORIAL OFFICE CAN BE PUBLISHER, HI-FI+ CONTACTED AT: Chris Martens Hi-Fi+ Editorial Tel: +1 (512) 419-1513 Office Absolute Multimedia (UK) Ltd Tel: +1 (512) 924-5728 Mobile Unit 3, Sandleheath Industrial Estate, Email: [email protected] Sandleheath, Hampshire SP6 1PA EDITOR, HI-FI+ MAGAZINE United Kingdom Alan Sircom Tel: +44 (0)1425 655255 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hifiplus.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Absolute Multimedia (UK) Ltd is a Alan Sircom subsidiary of TMM Holdings LLC, Jason Kennedy 2500 McHale Court Suite A Austin, Texas 78758, USA GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jenny Watson CHAIRMAN AND CEO Fonthill Creative, Salisbury Thomas B. Martin, Jr. All Rights Reserved. ADVERTISING Tom Hackforth Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Tel: +44 (0)1425 655255 Not one word of Hi-Fi+ may be reproduced Email: [email protected] without the written consent of the Publisher. We are perfectly happy to co-operate, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER but we don’t want quotations to appear Pete Collingwood-Trewin out of context. Tel: +44 (0)1425 655699 Email: [email protected] Hi-Fi+ product-themed Guides are published in digital format only, four times per year by: Absolute Multimedia (UK) Ltd. HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 HI-FI+ Welcome to the Hi-Fi+ Guide to scale. Some of the best new offerings we This Guide presents: FROM THE Loudspeakers 2017. This guide represents have heard are able to convey levels of deep a snapshot-like look at the world of high musical information that might have seemed • “U Need 2 Know” sections revealing a EDITOR performance loudspeakers circa the latter unthinkable just a few years ago. wealth of new loudspeaker products, part of 2017. • Talks with five gifted designers of high Value is Out There (if you know where to performance loudspeakers, My mother used to describe the toy look for it): While ultra high-priced top-tier • A section highlighting Hi-Fi+ loudspeaker catalogues put out by some stores around models continue to scale the performance reviews from issue 100 to present, Christmas-time as “wish books” and in a heights, today’s best affordable floorstanders • Feature articles on loudspeakers design in sense this guide is likewise a loudspeaker and standmount monitors are becoming general and on standmount loudspeaker wish book—a chance to see what’s available sonic overachievers of the first rank and in in particular, and now or coming soon, as well as a look at ways rarely seen before. In short, this is a • Loudspeaker Lexicon: An in-depth glossary some of the best loudspeakers Hi-Fi+ has golden era for those seeking great sound to explain acronyms and terminology. discovered over the past few years. As always on a budget. we’re guided by several key principles: As always, our goal is to help readers to Size Isn’t Everything: Large, floorstanders derive deeper satisfaction from the music The Proof is in the Listening: After certainly have their place, but in just the they love, while having great fun with loudspeaker measurements are taken and past few years well-designed and relatively carefully selected audio equipment and charts and graphs drawn, only one thing compact standmount monitors have music systems. We wish you the best in really matters—the perceived sound quality begun to deliver extraordinary amounts your quest for great loudspeakers, and a loudspeaker delivers to your ears and the of performance and sonic refinement for happy listening. musical satisfaction you derive from that their size and price, meaning bigger isn’t sound. Period. always better! Chris Martens Publisher, Hi-Fi+ The Best Get Better:The past year has seen a flurry of important and impressive releases at the very top end of the price/performance HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 HI-FI+ U NEED 2 KNOW FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKERS STANDMOUNT LOUDSPEAKERS SUBWOOFERS AND OTHERS SPONSORED BY DYNAUDIO HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017 HI-FI+ FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKERS Aequo Audio Ensis Aequo Audio Stilla The multi award winning Ensis speaker capabilities without ever becoming harsh A modest-sized and incredibly elegant @ 8 ohms nominal, it matches with almost (e.g., Best Speaker of the Year, “best ever or too analytical: fast, non-fatiguing, and floorstanding speaker, yet with super- every amp! The 5-inch driver is responsible to have had in listening room”, etc.) has highly involving. Some of the most musical impressive low frequency dynamics. The for very open, or pleasantly detailed, made some of the world’s most renowned emotion enabling speakers in the world, on-board analogue ARPEC system for room midrange frequencies without colouration. journalists rave on about how such small regardless of price. Includes many in- size and placement adjustments, tunes Highs are handled by the EHDL dispersion speakers can deliver such huge sound. This house developed technologies, like special the double 7-inch subwoofers’ roll-off— tweeter. All are time-aligned by the easy- includes taut and deep notes of the lowest composites, the EHDL dispersion and simulating a closed-box- into the lowest (!) to-use adjustable angle cabinet, and all octave by its 500watt powered subwoofer analog room-size and speaker-placement frequencies with 2×250watt amplification. are wideband phase-aligned by the first and a huge 3D soundstage with holographic adjustment system. Suitable for small and large rooms. Many order crossover, to deliver a spectacular, imaging. The most highlighted aspects components are directly derived from holographic soundstage. are the very detailed, high-resolution https://www.aequoaudio.com/ensis the Ensis loudspeaker; again, the mid/ high section remains passive with 90dB www.aequoaudio.com Technical Specifications Technical Specifications Type: Floorstanding loudspeakers Type: Floorstanding loudspeakers Driver complement: 3-way: Bass: 1 × 10-inch (active Ncore power) Driver complement: 3-way: Midrange: 1 × 5-inch Bass: 2 × 7-inch (2×250watt Ncore) High Frequency: 1× 1-inch Midrange: 1 × 5-inch Active mid/high is optional High Frequency: 1 × 1-inch Enclosure Type: Closed box Active mid/high is optional Frequency Response: 10Hz–40kHz Enclosure Type: Closed and special reflex (-3dB @ 16Hz in average room on xxl) loaded Impedance: 8 ohms nominal Frequency Response: 14Hz–35kHz (-3dB @ 17Hz in average room on xxl) Sensitivity: 90 dB Impedance: 8 ohms nominal Price: £24,000 per pair Sensitivity: 90 dB Availability: ultimate-fidelity.co.uk Price: £18,000 per pair Availability: ultimate-fidelity.co.uk HI-FI+ GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017: U NEED 2 KNOW – FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKERS GUIDE TO LOUDSPEAKERS 2017: U NEED 2 KNOW – FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKERS HI-FI+ Acoustic Insight Virtual Stage Floorstander Audiovector SR 3 Arreté Raw Surface Limited Edition Acoustic Insight shatters the mould of customisable top-end and unprecedented With a waxed concrete surface and the standard multi-way loudspeaker with quality bass extension. It also delivers an contrasting 24-karat gold-plated details, the Technical Specifications electronic crossover. uncompromised degree of imaging, clarity, look of the new SR 3 Arreté Raw Surface can Type: Floorstanding Loudspeaker transparency, and sheer musical accuracy be defined as exclusive and very unique. For a start we use the most advanced Jordan that must be heard to be appreciated, Just like the technical features and beautiful Driver complement: full range drive unit with its unprecedented plus impeccable dynamics and naturally sound of it. 1 × Avantgarde AMT 2.0 phase-coherent clarity across the whole integrated balance across the whole musical (Hand built Air Motion Transformer) musical spectrum without crossover. spectrum. These are just for starters. This model, limited to 100 sequentially 1 × Audiovector Evotech numbered pairs, uses a brand new coating High-Efficiency Driver The speaker offers uniquely optimised www.acousticinsight.co.uk technology to stabilize and stiffen the cabinet 1 × Audiovector Evotech Long-Throw elegant cabinet designs with fully to create the perfect foundation for our Driver advanced in-house Audiovector drivers. It Enclosure Type: 2 ½-way
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