Speakers Worth Considering: A Practical Guide for Different Setups

Focal’s On Wall 300 series is intended for listeners who want a wall-mounted speaker system with a restrained visual footprint.

Positioned by its developers as the successor to the company’s Focal 1000 built-in range, it combines updated hardware with Flax drivers that incorporate real linen.

The drivers sit behind magnetically attached metal grilles, while satin black and gloss white finishes provide options for contrasting or blending with a room.

The Pearl Keshi packages a complete 2.1 system into a pair of 8 cm spherical satellites and a 22 cm subwoofer.

Its satellites use Cabasse’s Dom55 broadband drivers, while the subwoofer contains a proprietary 17 cm Held driver.

Cabasse specifies a 30 Hz to 23 kHz frequency range and up to 115 dB peak output. Automatic CRCS room correction, StreamControl multi-room integration and a DAC capable of handling streams up to 32-bit/768 kHz make this the most self-contained streaming system in the selection.

Formation Bass uses a barrel-shaped enclosure intended to reduce internal standing waves and unwanted cabinet resonance.

Two opposing 6.5-inch drivers with layered paper, Kevlar and aluminum cones operate together to balance forces on the cabinet and promote more uniform bass distribution.

A 250-watt IcePower Class D amplifier, DSP control and dynamic equalization support a specified operating range of 20 Hz to 150 Hz, while wireless communication connects the subwoofer to matching speakers.

Velodyne’s MicroVee X is designed to deliver substantial amplifier output from a compact metal enclosure.

Its redesigned 6.5-inch driver uses a carbon-composite diaphragm, nitrile rubber surround and two-inch copper voice coil, assisted by two passive cones.

The Class A/B amplifier is rated at 300 watts RMS and 800 watts peak. Analog Devices DSP allows phase, volume and crossover settings to be adjusted from the listening position through the Remote Eye controller, while RCA, loop-through and LFE connections support stereo and multichannel integration.

Linn’s 360 family provides a choice between the 360 Exakt Integrated and 360 Exakt Passive with Aktiv Bass configurations.

Both follow a four-way design built around a 19 mm beryllium-dome tweeter, a 64 mm woven carbon-fiber dome midrange driver, a 190 mm upper-bass driver and a 220 mm low-frequency driver.

The two bass drivers use aluminum-magnesium alloy cones for high rigidity. Linn says the tweeter and midrange designs move their inherent resonances and distortion beyond the audible range.

Grand Horizon is a made-to-order horn loudspeaker rather than a standardized off-the-shelf design.

LiveHorn installs and configures each system in the owner’s home, with materials, finish colors and source components open to discussion during ordering.

Network, vinyl and CD playback can be incorporated, as can home-theater integration. A digital processor allows the completed system to be adapted to the acoustic characteristics of the listening room, while high-efficiency dynamic drivers and acoustic horns form the core of the design.

The Radiotehnika S-20M is an active nearfield monitor intended for desks, home studios and compact listening areas.

It is optimized for rooms of approximately 15 to 20 square metres, where short listening distances place a premium on stable imaging and controlled output.

Separate 50-watt RMS low-frequency and 20-watt RMS high-frequency amplifier sections provide bi-amplified operation, while the specified maximum sound-pressure level is 108 dB. DSP control and flexible connectivity complete its creator-oriented feature set.

Emotiva’s Nostala LB12 applies a deliberately retro appearance to a modern three-way floorstanding design.

A one-inch silk-dome tweeter handles high frequencies, the company’s HyperDome driver covers the midrange and a large 12-inch paper-cone woofer provides the low-frequency foundation.

Dual front-firing bass-reflex ports are intended to reinforce bass while allowing more flexibility in room placement. The cabinet uses rigid HDF panels and a natural walnut finish to support the traditional big-box aesthetic.

The Reference 5 occupies the middle of Canton’s Reference range and translates the family’s design into a more room-friendly floorstander.

Its proportions, driver layout and sculpted silhouette closely follow the larger Reference 2 and Reference 3, but the cabinet volume and driver dimensions are adjusted for more realistic living spaces.

This makes the Reference 5 particularly relevant to listeners who appreciate the visual coherence and cabinet finishing of the Reference line but do not need one of its larger models.

Sonus faber’s Omnia is a 490-watt, DSP-optimized, seven-speaker home audio system built around broad wired and wireless compatibility.

AirPlay 2, Chromecast Built-in, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Bluetooth aptX HD and Roon support cover its principal streaming options.

Ethernet and HDMI ARC accommodate network and television connections, while a switchable RCA input includes a moving-magnet phono stage for a turntable or another analog source. The touch-sensitive SENSO panel displays mode, input and volume information through illuminated lines, and the wood-topped cabinet is offered in walnut or graphite finishes.