Floorstanders

The D9.2 is quite possibly the finest loudspeaker Spendor have ever made. The D9 is a different kind of beast having cutting edge dynamics and resolution that the un-braced cabinet designs of the Classic series do not approach.

We have found this to be the end run for those we call the seeker clients. That is that select group of dedicated audiophile clients who may take literally years to hunt down and find their particular loudspeaker nirvana. This is like that hunt for the holy grail of loudspeaker that gives all the detail and all the emotion. These very dedicated people will take years to find their perfect loudspeaker. Several of them have purchased the Spendor D9.2 ...

An elegant, modern, 3-way loudspeaker, the D9 delivers music with exceptional resolution and a vibrant realism with any genre. Easy to drive and highly efficient, the D9 is also remarkably flexible and can be placed in any living environment.

 way, full para-aperiodic vented box “Stealth Ultraflex”, floorstanding loudspeaker system.

The brand new Platinum PL200 3G sports significant improvements over and above the previous PL200. 

New driver designs have meant less distortion and better consistency, new crossovers go to help its consistency as well.

We have the PL100 3G and the big PL300 3G on display ready to listen to.

This is the top of the Sonetto range and is one of those awesome-at-everything loudspeakers ...

Full blooded deep bass with that romantic and seductive treble nature that characterises the Sonus faber range. The Sonetto VIII offers house party levels on an appropriate amplifier, but retains a smooth treble presence and warmth and depth when being played quietly as well.

Run these on a McIntosh MA352 amplifier and experience bliss

The brand new Acoustic Energy Coriniums are now on demonstration at Carlton Audio Visual

Acoustic Energy was founded in 1987 and its ethos has always been about bringing high-end sound to an affordable level. The Corinium, however, is taking this further. This time Acoustic Energy has developed its own high-end loudspeaker.

Acoustic Energy has always been clear on what its sound is. For each new speaker design, Acoustic Energy have their team listening and referencing their old speakers to match the sound and then go in with acute measuring devices to verify what they're hearing.

The goal was to continue the hallmark Acoustic Energy sound yet add another two levels of performance on their current reference speakers. 

This meant an excruciating years long process to find the perfect driver materials that would exactly match their criteria. 

The bass drivers are Carbon like the 500 series but don't let this fool you, they have been redesigned behind those cones so that they are faster and less coloured than their little brothers.

The tweeter has been completely redesigned. Now using a Tetoron driver which holds its shape under extreme excursion but also has the signature Acoustic Energy warmth and engagement.

The last interesting piece of this design I'll mention, although there are many that you can read about here, is the front baffle design. It is made of two materials: mdf housing the bass and mid drivers and an aluminium front baffle which holds the tweeter isolating the tweeter from any unwanted infractions from the mid and bass.

All in all, the Coriniums are a beautiful and thoughtfully made set of speakers. Still not extravagantly expensive...although this is all relative of course. 

 Stereonet on the Acoustic Energy Corinium November 2023 

The D7.2 is an unusual synthesis of absolute trad cabinetry and artisanship in woodwork allied to one of the most sophisticated high frequency drive units we have seen. They are aesthetically understated in a way that doesn't translate to imagery but draws people to them in the flesh.

Even the shipping carton is unlike that of other brands. It is made out of a stiff unlabled very high quality cardboard that itself feels like it has ben made by hand to survive a journey through time. Honestly it feels the way they used to make boxes for Hi fi gear in the seventies..

Hi Fi Choice on the Spendor D7.2

A beautifully finished tall floorstanding loudspeaker built like a high end musical instrument. These are the newest release incorporating the Yamaha harmonious design principle wherein all the drive units are made of the same material being a mix of high tech zylon and original Spruce pulp.

Yamaha NS2000A loudspeaker official site

"Soundstage Australia" on the Yamaha NS2000 The Manager of Yamaha Audio Japan who runs the design team for the loudspeakers came to visit us at Carlton Audio Visual and I made this little video of him discussing the inception of the Ns2000a. His English is a little broken but was very interesting:

Krix is renowned for manufacturing speakers for High-end commercial cinemas all around the world. They are still a family owned business operating out of Adelaide and I often find them underappreciated in their home market when they're such a force overseas.

Their range of Home Theatre speakers is exceptional and the MX-10 is no exception. Perfect for a small to meduim sized room, it provides ultimate in dynamics control and clarity to your home theatre experience.

The Big Reds are a no compromise design by Dr Rod Crawford. With amplifiers built in that perfectly match not only the speaker but each individual driver. Normally, when we build up HiFi systems that use a separate amplifier to power each driver, you're looking at a price tag of 10s of thousands of dollars. In this case you can get all of those benefits and more.

These Big Reds also boast an active crossover design that is handled by a separate box, the DEQX. This smart little box also adjusts for any discrepancies of each individual driver as well as those inherent in your listening room.

In whatever situation these end up in, they are sure to astound!

 We have always seen the Monitor Audio Gold range as where the Audiophile High-End really starts. The realism that these uniquely designed Micro Pleated Diaphragm tweeters produces are extraordinary.These tweeters work like an accordion to rapidly squeeze and pull out a thin bit of metal that is folded over itself. This technology was once reserved for the Platinum series but has found its way now into the Gold range. The 300s are the big boys of the Gold range and as such have that rubbling low-end extension. London Grammar 'Hey Now' is a shop favourite to show off what these bad boys can do.

The SP stands for Special Production or as we like to put it, Scottish Production as these are the sets not only specially designed with extra goodies but made in the U.K. in the Scottish factory. 

Unlike the ordinary F501s, these have the IsoFlare Drive. A dual concentric driver that delivers incredible detail and responsiveness. You can see in this driver design the influence of Tannoy where many of the designers came from. Back in the day when Tannoy was completely Scottish owned and made. Tannoy also used Dual Concentric Drivers.

Additional features over the F501s are upgraded crossovers and an aluminium sandwich plinth. All features of the pricier F700 series.

Do you like leather? We do and evidently Sonus Faber does as well!

That's one reason why people love Sonus Faber speakers. Leather trim on top of a swanky curved wood veneer. The other is that they sound so good! Rich and warm, never harsh. Big and enveloping, the sound feels like it washes over you and fills every corner of the room. And don't worry, the don't lack for detail and clarity either.

Read more about the Sonetto Vs on the official Sonus Faber site here

And a Review of the Sonetto Vs here from Home Theatre HiFi 

These are very sought after pure British loudspeakers ... the A7 has been an outstanding success as an allrounder in conservative fine wooden clothing. The pictures do not do the cabinet quality justice and sound quality and tonality means that these are loudspeakers that you will keep for a generation.

The A7 floorstanding models are the largest models in the A series range that has been engineered to deliver dynamic, open and exhilarating sounds within realistic domestic spaces proving you don't need a huge room or vast budget to enjoy a highly entertaining musical performance.

 "What Hi Fi?" on the Spendor A7 

 "Sterephile" on the Spendor A7 

Krix although it's very well known in cinema circles overseas is surprisingly underappreciated in its home Australian market. In 40 years, what started as a band of brothers making stereo speakers in an Adelaide garage has turned into one of the biggest players for speakers in the international commercial cinema market. And they're still made in Adelaide...although their garage has expanded considerably.

Krix do eyewatering High-End commercial theatre fitouts in places like the Middle East and China in a range of gear that is not really seen in commercial theatres in Australia. They've kitted out all of the Village Gold class theatres and many of the larger cinema chains and independent theatres choose Krix for the same reason our clients choose Krix...great value and fantastic sound.

Krix has adapted the 'speakers behind the screen' approach found in commercial theatres for the home with their MX series. Three speakers; Left, right and centre and two subwoofers either side of the centre make up the array. With the larger MX20 and MX30 systems, you really do need to build them in behind a screen. The beauty of the little MX5 system is that it can feasibly sit around a screen on the floor avoiding a costly rebuild of your whole wall and a new Acoutically Transparent Screen.

And even though it's little, boy does the MX5 deliver. Big dynamics, big room pressurisation and high impact. All with that warmth and depth of sound that never has you reaching to turn the volume down.

We find pairing a Krix system with a Marantz Receiver/amplifier gives the best results. We have the MX5 set up alongside the MX30 in our home theatre demo room. Come by for a demo!

A more traditional, modern chassis in the Atalante range of speakers that have been going for a very retro feel.

The same gorgeous wood finish but presented in a slim floorstander.

Revival Audio are the new kid on the block. Two chaps from Dynaudio who have broken out on their own and making speakers in a factory in France.

These are fantastic quality. You can tell that their engineers and design team know how to make a good speaker. Their sound is tight and controlled but relaxed as well. There isn't any shrillness to the sound just a nice easy listening quality. 

Very balanced and consistent accross the frequency sweep as well.

These 3 way extreme speakers deliver an incredibly dynamic and effortless performance. Utilising commercial cinema technology, the dual woofer Cinematix are capable of producing even higher sound pressure levels with pristine fidelity and extremely low distortion. A dedicated midrange driver enhances performance and ensures superior vocal intelligibility.

The configuration and performance of these Acoustic Energy AE520s remind me of the original Mission 753 line array loudspeaker that was so loved in the 1990's. However this takes that now iconic slim front baffle with line array of drivers and adds steroids to the design. 

Although each of the five mid bass drivers are small in are these carbon fibre cones have a motor magnet behind them the same size as each cone ... so their their motor to cone ratio is higher than any other speaker in their class. 

The narrow front baffle makes for an excellent holographic portrayal of space and radically minimises the visual footprint of the AE520s.

The respected Australian originated review site Stereonet have awarded the AE520 "Product of the Year" for 2020

StereoNet on the Acoustic Energy AE520 

"Reveiwary on the Acoustic Energy AE520 

"Hi Fi +" on the Acoustic Energy AE520 

The smallest floor-standing loudspeaker, surprisingly powerful.

Sonus faber always found its inspiration in the highest Italian culture. This time we entrusted the history of our Literature for representing the new Sonetto Collection.
The Sonetto (Sonnet) is the most ancient Italian Poetic structure. Originally it meant ``Sound, Melody``and was traditionally used to accompany music performances. The first step in the Sonus faber world brings the name of the foundations of Literature history in Italy and in the rest of the world.