Pay attention to the price. For this money you can buy excellent speakers. It can be with a big name, it can be without. Whether or not to pay for it, everyone will decide for themselves. We'll just do the test. Participants in the test are acoustics costing from 35,800 to 50,000 rubles.
Criteria for evaluation
In today's test we will try to evaluate several things. Firstly, these are the sound advantages of the design; they are largely determined by the hardware. Secondly, let's try to find out the sound character of our today's contenders. And finally, thirdly, which is the most difficult thing, we will try to evaluate the musical abilities of the contestants, which, rather, is the materialization of the thoughts and feelings of the developer, this is something that cannot be objectively, let alone instrumentally assessed.
No. 9 – YAMAHA NS-555
YAMAHA NS-555 is a passive speaker system with a rated power of 200W. It is classified as premium acoustics. The amplifier will have to be purchased separately, and it must match the level of the system.
YAMAHA NS-555 has advanced magnetic shielding. This allows you to place speakers close to equipment without fear that the devices may harm each other. The acoustics operate in three bands, its frequency range is 35-35000 Hz.
Each speaker in the system has four speakers. This provides balanced sound. The device produces excellent mids and is generally very versatile in terms of sound. Special attention should be paid to the design - it looks very stylish and beautiful.
№1 – Monitor Audio Radius R270
Price: 23095 rubles
This model managed to get to the first place in our top thanks to the combination of high quality and relatively low price. For a system of this level, it is really very cheap. The Monitor Audio Radius R270 tweeter is made of aluminum, ceramic coating and gold. Thanks to special HiVe ports, the flow of air to low-frequency emitters is significantly accelerated. This allows you to optimize the rise and fall parameters. As a result, the bass is very dynamic.
#6 – Monitor Audio Bronze BX6
Monitor Audio Bronze BX6 is a modern Hi-Fi speaker system, which is made in an original design and can offer the user wide functionality, a lot of connection options and excellent sound quality. First of all, it is worth noting the remarkable design of the device. It will look great with various interior designs and will simply decorate your room.
Monitor Audio Bronze BX6 is extremely easy to install. The speakers provide smooth and high-quality sound, quite universal in character. This system can be used both to create a stereo system for listening to music, and as a component of a home theater.
No. 3 - Canton GLE 496
Price: 37860 rubles
The Canton GLE 496 wireless model is a representative of one of the most popular acoustic lines in Europe. At least that's what the manufacturer claims. And this is quite similar to the truth, because it is not for nothing that this system opens the top three of our ratings. This acoustics consists of two elements, which, when properly positioned, can provide surround sound of maximum quality and complete immersion for the listener. The device provides excellent, deep bass reproduction that literally takes your breath away.
Yes, this model is a little expensive, but it can satisfy almost all user needs. And the design in which the elements of the system are made is generally a separate work of art. The acoustics look very status.
How to choose the right acoustics
For home cinema, complete immersion in a computer game or enjoying your favorite tunes, you need to choose high-quality speakers.
Criteria for selecting speaker systems:
- Which type - active or passive - is preferable to a particular user. Whether an amplifier will be used additionally, or whether the owner of the speaker is going to do without it, influences the choice of the type of equipment.
- The number of bands an electrical device has is of great importance for sound quality. Two bands are responsible for low and high frequencies. Three bands provide a plus for the clarity of the mid frequencies. “Four-way speakers,” as the manufacturers promise, will allow you to plunge into a sound world where every note, part of every instrument is transparently audible.
- Another important point is the power of the equipment. The product characteristics always contain data about this parameter. The greater the power, the more square meters the sound will “cover.” It is believed that for standard rooms in average apartments, speakers with low power - up to 70 W - are sufficient. Spacious halls will require much more powerful equipment.
- When studying the features of speakers, you should pay attention to the sensitivity, which is responsible for the sound volume at a specific power. Average sensitivity parameters are within 89-92 dB. Below 88 is low, above 94 is high.
- Range. The most convenient models are universal, with a frequency of 20 to 30 thousand Hz and higher.
- Nice interface. The best choice is electronics with an XLR, professional connector. TRS is quite convenient. The latter interface is necessary for concert equipment.
- For what purpose will the acoustics be used? What position will the speakers take: will they stand as a rear channel - for enveloping sound - or as a central channel - for the main transmission of sound and music. The specifications indicate the purpose of the device; special attention should be paid to this.
- Color. Loudspeakers are available in various colors. You need to choose the one that is more harmonious with the design of the room.
Music in every detail
The test began with the well-known, seemingly no longer capable of surprising, composition “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk. And she played devastatingly well. It's been a long time since I've seen such a combination of musicality and detail. On the one hand, each instrument, each individual sound can be clearly heard - you can count the voices singing in chorus in a verse. On the other hand, the vocals sound vibrant, every shade in the voice is clear, the slightest intonation gives you goosebumps. What can we say about the more melodic and soulful things from this album! “Give Life Back To Music”, “Touch” and of course “Giorgio by Moroder” are guaranteed to give you goosebumps. Quite a lot of goosebumps, I tell you. Harder and more complex intellectual electronic music, as well as less complex, but no less driving EDM played perfectly. So Daft Punk in this case turned out to be the tip of a huge iceberg, after studying which I moved on to higher matters.
The proprietary waveguide of the HF emitter works efficiently
The jazz standard “Take Five” performed by the Dave Brubeck Quartet pleased with its detailed, detailed sound, combined with exceptional ease and naturalness of the music. On Elvis's 1974 recording of Fever, as on Take Five, fine details were clearly audible; the finger clicks sounded especially realistic; Every movement and breath of the King was heard as if he was standing right there in the listening room, a couple of meters away from you. And just as clearly, I heard the background noise of the recording equipment, which in no way interfered with the perception, but rather added atmosphere, like the rustling of a needle in the groove of a vinyl record.
A pair of woofers have aluminum diffusers
An excellent effect of presence was demonstrated by the vocals of Janis Ian, sounding in absolute silence at the beginning of the song “Breaking Silence”. In the composition “Heart” by Bo Stief Dream Machine (which, by the way, I listened to with pleasure for the first time from beginning to end), the shaker sounded natural, the bass did not seem particularly deep, but it filled the room well, and most importantly, it was controlled throughout the entire range.
Not a single test of mine is complete without “Blackstar” by David Bowie - this composition is very indicative and makes it possible to evaluate the system in many ways at once. This time I noticed how soulful Bowie's voice was in the central part of the composition. I liked how the acoustics built the stage, and it was hard not to notice the rhythmicity and controllability of the sound throughout the entire range.
Polyurethane foam suspensions dampen parasitic vibrations well
Before I had time to recover from listening to the 9-minute hit of the Great and the Terrible, it came to the “Muddy Waters” LP, and again goosebumps the size of a well-fed hippopotamus ran through my body. The LP itself with its specific vocal delivery, the large-scale sound of the choir with the rhythm section, and the convincing realism of the sound as a whole, when it seems that if you want, you can count exactly how many people clapped their hands, are to blame for this.
I listen to “Peacock” by Inna Zhelannaya mainly to hear how the six-string bass of Sergei Kalachev plays, who plays notes in the double bass register, but with a very rich and powerful electric character of the sound. And performed by AE309, I'm ready to listen to it again and again. All the notes are in place, nothing is smeared or buzzing, the controllability is simply impeccable, the sound is rich and rich. After that, the traditional Rage Against The Machine bass sounded, of course, more modest, but no less tasty. In general, the AE309 was knocked down by its energy: the guitars sounded very clearly and clearly, and the hits on the drums were extremely sharp. I would have loved to listen to the first album on this system from beginning to end, but I had to limit myself to a couple of hits.
The bass reflex port is located at the very top
“Up All Night” by Alex Clare sounded bright, which is quite consistent with its original sound, while I was not only able to hear every instrumental part, but also noticed inserts of a drum'n'bass rhythm in the middle of the song, which was previously lost in the general background. In anticipation of a great time, I switched to pure metal, but Amon Amarth and Rage sounded offensively ordinary. The intelligibility of the guitars and rhythm section was exactly what it usually is from speakers for this money. It seems that in general everything is clear, but the clarity and precision that I heard in other music was not there - there was a good quality and in some ways even quite audiophile mush. I can’t say for sure whether the speakers have finally reached their limit, or whether the amplifier should have been even more vigorous, something powerful in class D.
The spikes are included, and the hulls are already filled with ballast!
The set was completely rehabilitated at the moment when it came to classical music. Scale, detail, emotion - everything was in abundance. Anne-Sophie Mutter's violin sounded very textured and realistic during the performance of Carmen's Fantasia, and the symphony orchestra provided a voluminous and lively background from which one did not want to isolate individual sounds and planes, although the resolution made it quite possible to follow not only the solo instrument, but also behind individual parts of the orchestration. Luciano Pavarotti’s voice in the famous “Caruso” was captivating from the first phrase, and it was only possible to remember how to breathe when the composition stopped playing. And almost every recording from my collection of classics produced a similar effect.
Which speaker system is better to buy?
If you plan to use the speaker not only at home, but also outdoors or in the countryside, then the EUROPORT MPA40BT from the BEHRINGER brand would be an ideal option. The German brand also offers Eurolive B115D - a universal option for home, school, club, and other tasks. To choose the best floorstanding speaker system for your home, you should first decide on your budget. HECO will offer the optimal price-power ratio. YAMAHA would also be a good option. Monitor Audio and DALI stand out from the premium segment. If your budget is larger, then buy B&W acoustics.
No. 8 - JBL Arena 180
Price: 27980 rubles
The professional bass reflex model JBL Arena 180 has a total power of 225 W and boasts its high-quality bass. The maximum frequency of the reproduced signal is 40,000 Hz. The JBL Arena 180 has a closed cabinet and a dome tweeter.
These are component acoustics that are ideal for creating a personal home theater. As the owner of this model, you will be able to fully experience the pure and powerful sound. Even in very large rooms, the JBL Arena 180 is capable of providing high-quality audio playback at all frequencies. The appearance of the speakers is made in the spirit of minimalism, which allows them to harmoniously fit into any interior. JBL Arena 180 will look harmonious either in an ordinary room or on the stage of a large theater.
Similarity of shapes
If you put the AE109 and AE309 floorstanders side by side, and even choose the same colors, you might think that these are two models from the same series, with only slightly different dimensions. And indeed: the enclosures have an identical and traditional shape for Acoustic Energy - narrow, deep, with rounded edges and a slotted bass reflex port. They are made from 18 mm MDF boards and have a number of spacers and partitions inside to dampen unwanted resonances. The housing has a compartment for ballast, which is filled at the factory, and spikes are included for vibration decoupling from the floor. Thus, the speakers fall into the hands of the user fully prepared; all that remains is to install them correctly.
At first glance, the speakers of the AE109 and AE309 models are also no different. But this is only at first glance. It is they who make the models completely different, because completely different materials are used in their construction. The tweeter does not have a fabric dome, like the AE109 model, but an aluminum dome. At the same time, the increased caliber, 28 mm, and the proprietary WDT design with a wide horn, which makes the high-frequency radiation less directional, remained unchanged.
The design of the new AE309 fits well into a modern interior
The midrange/bass driver diffusers are made of ceramic-coated aluminum. As with the tweeter, this made it possible to make the diffuser rigid and light at the same time. The long-throw drivers provide maximum output with their small diagonal of 130 mm. The diffuser suspension is made of foamed polymer, which has its advantages in terms of precision of diffuser movement and dampening of parasitic vibrations, but can have a negative impact on speed and attack. However, this is a purely rhetorical question for now, we need to listen.
