Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Dialogue is clear, powerful, and articulate through the R2 Meta center speaker
- The R Series Meta cabinets can be boisterous and muscular, detailed and sweet, all at the same time
- KEF speakers tend to be all-rounders rather than idiosyncratic
Takeaway: The R2 Meta center speaker delivers clear and powerful dialogue, making it great for movies. It provides a versatile and enjoyable sound that will enhance a home cinema.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
R2 Meta
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Design: Three-way closed box
- Drive Units: Uni-Q Driver Array: HF: 25mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT, MF: 125mm (5 in.) aluminium cone, LF: 2 x 130mm (5.25 in.) hybrid aluminium cone
- Crossover Frequency: 560 Hz, 2.5 kHz
- Frequency Range (-6dB): 58 Hz - 50 kHz
- Frequency Response (±3dB): 67 Hz - 28 kHz
- Maximum Output: 110 dB
- Amplifier Requirements: 15 - 200W
- Nominal Impedance: 4 Ω (min. 3.2 Ω)
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 87 dB
- Weight: 15.4 kg (34.0 lbs)
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 175 x 550 x 309 mm (6.9 x 21.7 x 12.2 in.)
Description
Designed to match any R Series floorstanding speakers, the R2 Meta boasts the 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array with MAT™ and two 5.25” hybrid aluminium bass drivers. It is compact enough to use in smaller rooms while being capable of high-quality sound with even the most dynamic music and movies. This design is highly versatile and can be used in an LCR (Left-Centre-Right) configuration.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- KEF's designs prioritize a "Single Apparent Source" through coaxial driver technology, aiming for a coherent soundstage where frequencies appear to originate from a single point, enhancing realism and spatial accuracy.
- The brand incorporates "Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT)" into its drivers, utilizing a maze-like structure to absorb unwanted sound waves from the rear of the driver, resulting in cleaner and more defined output.
- They offer a wide range of streaming and connectivity options, with their powered loudspeakers responding to the proprietary KEF Connect app, which delivers multiple streaming services and facilitates setup and customization.
- KEF frequently collaborates with renowned industrial designers to create visually striking products that seamlessly blend into modern living spaces, balancing aesthetic appeal with acoustic performance.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Nearly every KEF speaker is built around the Uni-Q driver, which puts the tweeter in the center of the woofer. In the Q Series, the Q1 Meta has a 5.25 inch driver, the Q3 Meta moves to 6.5 inches, the Q7 Meta is a floorstander with two 6.5 inch bass drivers, and the Q11 Meta has three. The Kube subwoofers grow from an 8 inch driver to 15 inches.
- Start here. The Q1 Meta is a compact bookshelf speaker for a first system or a small room, with Metamaterial Absorption Technology included.
- Sweet spot. The Q3 Meta suits a mid-size living room, and reviewers praise its wide soundstage and neutral balance.
- All in. The Q11 Meta is the flagship floorstander for a large room or home theater, and the Kube 15 Mie adds deep bass to match.
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Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
594
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
1
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
95
Founding Year
1961
Our take on the brand
KEF's idea is the Uni-Q driver, which puts the tweeter in the center of the woofer so every frequency leaves from the same point and the stereo image holds together. The British company, founded in 1961 by former BBC engineer Raymond Cooke, builds almost its whole range around it. Recent models add Metamaterial Absorption Technology, a maze-like structure that absorbs the sound coming off the back of the driver, and the LS50 Wireless II and LS60 Wireless put Uni-Q in a powered cabinet with streaming built in.
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KEF
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What if you spend more?
Arendal Sound
1528 Center 8
2900
2900
/
8
Reviews
Arendal Sound is a Norwegian speaker and subwoofer maker, started in 2015, that sells only direct. Its cabinets are high-density fiberboard with internal bracing, and many designs set the tweeter in a waveguide for controlled directivity and a smoother off-axis response. Its speaker series include the compact 1961, the THX Ultra certified 1723 and the 1528 flagship, with its 28mm lithium-magnesium tweeter and a Carbon-Graphene midrange. The 1723 S models use a 6.5-inch driver in place of the 8-inch for smaller rooms, and port plugs on many models let owners tune the bass.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers clear, dynamic, spacious, full-range sound that reveals every detail in a recording
- Exceptional styling and build quality
- Outstanding dynamic capabilities and tonal balance
- Wide dispersion and seamless integration across seating positions
- Versatile sealed/ported design for multiple room configurations
Product Considerations
- Large and heavy, requiring planning and effort for installation
- Requires high-quality amplification to reach its full potential, AV receivers are not ideal
- Cannot be auditioned before purchase due to direct-to-consumer model, with returns being a hassle due to size/weight
- May dominate smaller listening spaces, requiring a recommended listening distance of 13 feet
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- It has better low bass than Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 and Estelon Aura
- It holds its own against speakers like Perlisten R7t, Perlisten S7t, KEF Reference 5 Meta, Focal Kanta No.3, Focal Sopra 2, Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII, Paradigm Founder 120, and Revel PerformaBe F328Be
Takeaway: The Arendal 1528 Tower 8 loudspeaker is a great choice for people who want exceptional sound and build quality. These speakers are versatile for both music and movies, making listening a truly immersive experience
Video review
Our take on the brand
Arendal Sound is a Norwegian speaker and subwoofer maker, started in 2015, that sells only direct. Its cabinets are high-density fiberboard with internal bracing, and many designs set the tweeter in a waveguide for controlled directivity and a smoother off-axis response. Its speaker series include the compact 1961, the THX Ultra certified 1723 and the 1528 flagship, with its 28mm lithium-magnesium tweeter and a Carbon-Graphene midrange. The 1723 S models use a 6.5-inch driver in place of the 8-inch for smaller rooms, and port plugs on many models let owners tune the bass.
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Bowers & Wilkins
HTM71 S3 Signature
3300
3300
/
1
Reviews
Bowers & Wilkins develops many of its own components in pursuit of a speaker that adds nothing to a recording and takes nothing away. The British company, founded in 1966 by John Bowers, pioneered Kevlar cones and developed the Matrix cabinet to cut resonance. The flagship Nautilus, built for dedicated listening rooms, uses tapered damping tubes to lower distortion. The 606 S3 and 603 S3 open the range with a Titanium Dome tweeter, and the 700 Series adds a Carbon Dome tweeter and Continuum cones. The Zeppelin is on our Best Wireless Speakers list.
Expand Details
Product Strengths
- Exceptional sound quality with unparalleled clarity and detail
- Cutting-edge driver technologies are used for superior performance
- Stunning aesthetics with premium finish options (Datuk Gloss and Midnight Blue Metallic finishes)
- Versatile performance in both home theatre and hifi applications
- Robust construction with high-quality components
Product Considerations
- Premium pricing may not suit all budgets
- Substantial size requires adequate space for optimal placement
- May require high-quality amplification to reach its full potential
Takeaway: The Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 Signature Centre Speaker offers exceptional sound and build quality, making it a worthy addition to any audio system. It is a great choice for those seeking the ultimate center channel experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Bowers & Wilkins develops many of its own components in pursuit of a speaker that adds nothing to a recording and takes nothing away. The British company, founded in 1966 by John Bowers, pioneered Kevlar cones and developed the Matrix cabinet to cut resonance. The flagship Nautilus, built for dedicated listening rooms, uses tapered damping tubes to lower distortion. The 606 S3 and 603 S3 open the range with a Titanium Dome tweeter, and the 700 Series adds a Carbon Dome tweeter and Continuum cones. The Zeppelin is on our Best Wireless Speakers list.
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Perlisten
R5c
2995
2995
/
1
Reviews
The hardest working speaker in any home theater and yet the least appreciated. Natural, True vocals are never easy while maintaining super low distortion and extreme dynamics that movies demand is what sets the R-series apart. The same DPC control with clarity that make you forget you have speakers in your room at all and just enjoy yourself. Designed to be mounted on optional stand, or mounted to a wall with our tilt swivel bracket. Sharing “trickle-down” technology from our flagship S-Series, the DPC-Array here based on three 26mm domes, guarantees excellent directivity control and timbre matching with all R-Series speakers. The Silk diaphragms developed ground up, chosen specifically their smooth, effortless representation of midrange and treble. The 165mm woofers are made from our proprietary HPF pulp, two years in development, bringing new technology to one of the oldest materials used in loudspeaker design.
Perlisten is an American speaker and subwoofer maker, founded in 2016. Its speakers are built around the DPC (Directivity Pattern Control) array, a computer-modeled waveguide and driver arrangement that controls how sound spreads into the room, which reviewers credit for precise imaging. S-Series models pair a beryllium dome tweeter with thin-ply carbon diaphragm drivers. In 2020 Perlisten had the first products certified to THX Dominus, a standard for high output at low distortion in large rooms. The S5t is the tower for slightly smaller rooms, and the S7t is on our Best Floorstanding Speakers list.
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Product Strengths
- The R5c center channel speaker allows dialog to be clear and intelligible amid layers of effects sounds
- The R5c maintains performance and clarity even when listening decently off-axis
Product Considerations
- Impedance drops rather low, so more quality power on tap to use with these speakers is better
- Too much bass or upper bass was present
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Revel F228Be towers: Revels tended to make vocals and some instruments sound strangely "tall," whereas the Perlisten was far more of a point-source presentation with vocals and instruments being centered to the speaker
Takeaway: The R5c is great for listening to music or for home theaters. It ensures all voices can be heard clearly, even when there are a lot of other sounds.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Perlisten is an American speaker and subwoofer maker, founded in 2016. Its speakers are built around the DPC (Directivity Pattern Control) array, a computer-modeled waveguide and driver arrangement that controls how sound spreads into the room, which reviewers credit for precise imaging. S-Series models pair a beryllium dome tweeter with thin-ply carbon diaphragm drivers. In 2020 Perlisten had the first products certified to THX Dominus, a standard for high output at low distortion in large rooms. The S5t is the tower for slightly smaller rooms, and the S7t is on our Best Floorstanding Speakers list.
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Wharfedale
Elysian C
4995
4995
/
1
Reviews
ELYSIAN Centre brings a new dimension to the ELYSIAN series performance, tuning the application for mind-blowing home theatre settings. Each component part is engineered to the very highest standard. The drivers, the crossover, the cabinet – every aspect has been developed in harmony and without cost constraint to push the project to its performance limit. This thorough and no-compromise approach has led the Wharfedale engineers to create a benchmark in affordable, audiophile-grade luxury loudspeakers. Cutting-edge design and class-leading technology are combined to deliver musical reproduction that will proudly challenge the world’s finest loudspeakers.
Wharfedale is a British speaker maker, founded in 1932 by Gilbert Arthur Briggs. Its Heritage Series recreates famous models from its past, such as the Linton Heritage and Denton 85, rebuilt with modern materials in real wood veneer. Technology from the flagship Elysian series, including AMT tweeters and slot-loaded bass ports, carries down into the Aura and Evo4 ranges. The speakers are voiced to sit fairly close to a wall, which suits smaller rooms, and reviewers hear a warm, easygoing sound. The Evo4.2 is on our Best Bookshelf Speakers list.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Unrivalled audio clarity and detail across a vast frequency spectrum
- Dynamic three‐way design delivers immersive, lifelike sound
- Innovative AMT tweeter produces crisp, sparkling highs
- Robust bass reflex technology for deep, resonant low frequencies
- Exquisite hand‐polished finishes that double as statement décor
- Flexible placement providing consistent performance throughout the room
Product Considerations
- A premium investment best suited to the discerning audiophile, where professional setup is recommended to fully exploit its potential
Takeaway: The Elysian C delivers immersive, lifelike sound with clarity and detail. Its design will enhance any living space and provide consistent performance throughout the room.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Wharfedale is a British speaker maker, founded in 1932 by Gilbert Arthur Briggs. Its Heritage Series recreates famous models from its past, such as the Linton Heritage and Denton 85, rebuilt with modern materials in real wood veneer. Technology from the flagship Elysian series, including AMT tweeters and slot-loaded bass ports, carries down into the Aura and Evo4 ranges. The speakers are voiced to sit fairly close to a wall, which suits smaller rooms, and reviewers hear a warm, easygoing sound. The Evo4.2 is on our Best Bookshelf Speakers list.
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What competes at this price?
KEF
R6 Meta
1990
/
Released
2023
Featuring the same 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array with MAT™ as the R Series stereo models for perfect tonal matching, and two powerful 6.5'' hybrid aluminium bass drivers, the R6 Meta delivers an immersive listening experience that brings movies vividly to life. It is highly versatile and can be used in an LCR (Left-Centre-Right) configuration.
KEF's idea is the Uni-Q driver, which puts the tweeter in the center of the woofer so every frequency leaves from the same point and the stereo image holds together. The British company, founded in 1961 by former BBC engineer Raymond Cooke, builds almost its whole range around it. Recent models add Metamaterial Absorption Technology, a maze-like structure that absorbs the sound coming off the back of the driver, and the LS50 Wireless II and LS60 Wireless put Uni-Q in a powered cabinet with streaming built in.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Clearer, louder, and crisper sound compared to the KEF R2C
- More prominent and distinct mid-range due to the dedicated mid-range driver
- The Meta material absorbs sound emanating towards the back of the cabinet, resulting in a cleaner, purer treble performance
- Nice wide dispersion, which makes it suitable to be used as a center channel in a horizontal orientation
- Superior nuance and detail in music compared to other speakers in the same environment
Product Considerations
- Limited bass extension; a subwoofer is recommended for deeper bass
- Larger footprint compared to the R2C, which may present placement challenges, such as blocking the TV sensor
- As a sealed box, it does not compete as well with ported speakers in bass extension
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. KEF Q150: More detail, nuance, and clarity across the entire frequency range—the R6 Meta is more forward in its presentation
- Vs. KEF R2C: Clearer and louder sound with greater impact, thanks to its larger drivers
Takeaway: The R6 Meta is a fantastic speaker, especially for music, providing detail and nuance. Three of them can give a seamless front soundstage.
Video review
Our take on the brand
KEF's idea is the Uni-Q driver, which puts the tweeter in the center of the woofer so every frequency leaves from the same point and the stereo image holds together. The British company, founded in 1961 by former BBC engineer Raymond Cooke, builds almost its whole range around it. Recent models add Metamaterial Absorption Technology, a maze-like structure that absorbs the sound coming off the back of the driver, and the LS50 Wireless II and LS60 Wireless put Uni-Q in a powered cabinet with streaming built in.
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Totem
Bison Center
1600
/
Released
2022
The Bison Center is a center channel speaker made entirely in Canada. It provides tremendous articulation, rhythm, and dynamics that bring lifelike vibrancy to multi-channel audio systems. Its convenient dimensions allow it to fit into just about any AV furniture. It can also be comfortably perched atop a console cabinet or table in rooms where the TV is installed on the wall.
Totem Acoustic is a Canadian speaker maker in Montreal, founded in 1987. Founder Vince Bruzzese, once a high school math teacher, designs from Totem's proprietary formulas and keeps as few components in the signal path as possible. Crossovers are often first order or left out of the mid/woofer path, and the Element Metal V2 uses its Torrent woofers without a crossover. Cabinets are handmade with lock-mitered joints and veneers inside and out. Compact models such as the Bison Monitor are known for deep bass for their size, and the slim Arro suits small rooms.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Small compared to others in its price range, making it suitable for smaller spaces and those with aesthetic constraints
- Capable of expansive staging, creating a holographic presentation with good depth and dimensionality, regardless of the amplifier used
- Delivers refined treble regardless of the price of the amplifier connected
- Spacious sound space and large sound stage
Product Considerations
- The claws that come with the Totem Bison are not adjustable
- Totem recommends zero toe-in, and this seems to be a good recommendation
- Sound may vary, based on personal height
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Totem Bison has forward side of neutral treble versus neutral to dark treble of the Buchardt S400 Mark II; the Bison is slightly warm in the midrange versus the Buchardt being warmer overall; the Bison has tonally richer bass, but the Buchardt has more bass overall
- The Totem Bison has forward side of neutral treble versus neutral to dark treble of the KEF R3 Meta; imaging on the Bison can be the same or slightly better; the Bison has tonally richer bass, but the R3 Meta has more bass overall
- Both the Totem Bison and Focal Aria 906 are on the forward side of neutral with treble, but the Bison's treble attack is slightly soft whereas the Aria 906's is slightly sharp; the Bison has a fuller midrange sound and slightly warmer tone, and the Bison's bass is juicier, more organic, and richer overall
- The PSB Alpha T20s are very similar in size to the Totem Bison Towers (32.5 inches tall), thus they are smaller audiophile floorstanding speakers
Takeaway: The Totem Bison offers attributes found in many top speakers and is a good option for those with size constraints who still want great treble refinement and a holographic midrange. It can be paired with both expensive and affordable amplifiers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Totem Acoustic is a Canadian speaker maker in Montreal, founded in 1987. Founder Vince Bruzzese, once a high school math teacher, designs from Totem's proprietary formulas and keeps as few components in the signal path as possible. Crossovers are often first order or left out of the mid/woofer path, and the Element Metal V2 uses its Torrent woofers without a crossover. Cabinets are handmade with lock-mitered joints and veneers inside and out. Compact models such as the Bison Monitor are known for deep bass for their size, and the slim Arro suits small rooms.
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Focal
Aria Evo X
1458
/
Released
2024
This center speaker is the perfect complement to the Aria Evo X line of floorstanding speakers for a home theater installation. Particular care has been taken in its design to match the timbres, guaranteeing uniformity and coherence of sound in all configurations. Focal innovations, compactness and elegant finishes come together in this speaker that's as discreet as it is powerful.
Focal's idea is the inverted dome tweeter, in aluminum and magnesium or, higher up the range, beryllium, shaped for wide dispersion and low distortion. The French company has made speakers since 1979 and builds its top models in Saint-Étienne, with cabinets from its own workshop in Bourbon-Lancy. Many of its mid-bass drivers use light, rigid flax or W composite sandwich cones. The range climbs from Theva through Aria Evo X, Kanta and Sopra to the Utopia line. Listeners who want a studio monitor at home can start with the Shape 65.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Impactful bass moves air and adds visceral depth to music and movie effects, even without a subwoofer
- Seamless and engaging sound makes every album feel fresh and enthralling, maintaining consistent, pleasing audio without causing listener fatigue
- Vocal presence allows for relaxed listening and renders music in a way that encourages sharing with others
- Attractive design blends technical prowess with stylish aesthetics, with options for different finishes like Moss Green
- Wide dispersion offers a broad soundstage and an enveloping soundfield
Product Considerations
- Expense relative to its capabilities is a potential consideration
- In small rooms, performance could suffer due to the high-mounted tweeter and narrow vertical dispersion window
- When pushed, the 'No. 2' tower center channel model, being a 2-way, may run out of headroom before the No. 2 towers
- A slight lack of dynamics in the bass and high mids around the vocal sweet spot was noted
- Edgy, crisp, and definitive resolution evokes excitement, though these may not be the right choice for all listeners
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to RBH Sound 61-SFM/R, the RBH digs deeper and has its tweeter at a more typical listening height, however, the Aria Evo X No.4 is undeniably better looking
- Compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacles, the Ultra Evolution Pinnacles have deeper and more powerful bass, although its overall frequency response isn't as neutral
- Compared to JBL HDI-3800, the JBL boasts a very wide dynamic range, having a narrower dispersion but more even off-axis response
- Compared to Arendal Sound 1723 Tower, the 1723 Towers have a bit more elevated treble on-axis, but the build quality is certainly a step above the Aria Evo X No.4 or pretty much anything at their pricing, and they can dig deeper in bass
Takeaway: The Focal Aria Evo X is a stylish speaker that sounds great, making it a good option for people who care about both aesthetics and audio quality. It offers powerful performance with seamless sound, bringing music to life.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Focal's idea is the inverted dome tweeter, in aluminum and magnesium or, higher up the range, beryllium, shaped for wide dispersion and low distortion. The French company has made speakers since 1979 and builds its top models in Saint-Étienne, with cabinets from its own workshop in Bourbon-Lancy. Many of its mid-bass drivers use light, rigid flax or W composite sandwich cones. The range climbs from Theva through Aria Evo X, Kanta and Sopra to the Utopia line. Listeners who want a studio monitor at home can start with the Shape 65.
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Sonus faber
Sonetto Center G2
2499
/
Released
2024
At the core of the home theater setup, the Sonetto Center elevates the listener into a completely immersive experience. The Sonetto Center brings decades of technological advancements from the Sonus faber development team into your home theater system. It introduces a fresh approach to voices reproduction for a speaker that will not be overlooked.
Sonus Faber builds speakers like string instruments, with lute-shaped cabinets in solid walnut and other woods, finished in leather, and every finished speaker tuned by ear. The Italian company, founded in 1983 and based outside Vicenza, puts modern drivers inside those cabinets, and the Sonetto VIII carries the cork midrange chamber first used in the Suprema flagship. The house sound is rich and full without being tiring over a long evening. The Lumina series opens the range, and the Sonetto and Olympica ranges cover the middle.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Lute-shaped cabinets improve sound dispersion characteristics, and help them sonically disappear in the room
- Models like the Sonetto 5G2, 8G2, and Center G2 feature a Camellia midrange driver, which avoids resonances associated with round-shaped midrange drivers
- The woofers and mid-woofers feature a paper-pulp sandwich cone to ensure a natural tone, and a precise and dynamic bass response
- The DAD lens in the tweeter fixes phase issues, allowing the soft dome tweeters to perform linearly all the way out to 40 kHz
- The new concrete base provides more stability, and better vibration management
Product Considerations
- The Sonetto I G2 and Sonetto II G2 bookshelf speakers need good current to show their best, due to their sensitivity (86 dB and 87 dB respectively)
- High quality power amplification is recommended for all Sonus Faber speakers to showcase their improvements
- Careful attention to setup of the Sonetto speakers will reward the listener greatly
- Some models use a downward-firing reflex port, which provides placement flexibility, but careful attention to placement is still needed
Takeaway: The Sonetto speakers offer a smooth, musical sound with detailed clarity and tonal accuracy for both music and movies. They bring high-end design and technology from Sonus Faber's flagship models to a more accessible price point.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Sonus Faber builds speakers like string instruments, with lute-shaped cabinets in solid walnut and other woods, finished in leather, and every finished speaker tuned by ear. The Italian company, founded in 1983 and based outside Vicenza, puts modern drivers inside those cabinets, and the Sonetto VIII carries the cork midrange chamber first used in the Suprema flagship. The house sound is rich and full without being tiring over a long evening. The Lumina series opens the range, and the Sonetto and Olympica ranges cover the middle.
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Paradigm
Founder 70LCR
1529
/
Released
2021
Precision. Control. Dynamics. These are the pillars the Founder Series was built on. Fire and ice, oil and water, Yankees and Mets fans. Some things just don't mix. But what if form and function could? Every once in a while, something special comes along and changes the rules. The perfect blend of technology, design, and performance. At the start of the development, we knew one thing, when Art Embraces Science anything is possible, and we exceeded our wildest expectations.
Paradigm's idea was to design speakers from scientific research and build them locally at prices most listeners could reach. The Canadian company was started in 1982 by Jerry VanderMarel and Scott Bagby and still designs and builds its speakers outside Toronto. It makes its own drivers, including beryllium units in the Persona series, and many models put Perforated Phase-Aligning lenses over the tweeter and midrange, which Paradigm says smooth and widen dispersion. The Founder 120H has powered bass with a built-in amplifier, for owners who want deep bass from a pair of towers.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Vocals are rendered with rich detail and precise holographic imaging
- Excellent dynamic range and can handle a large room if given enough power
- Exceptional build quality with braced, inert cabinet construction
- Cutting-edge loudspeaker design, with proprietary technologies like the AL-MAC tweeter and CARBON-X woofers
- Gorgeous aesthetics and are available in various finishes, making them suitable for high-end interior décor
Product Considerations
- Some unevenness in its measured response, though this may not be readily audible in a typical listening environment
- Some upper treble raggedness, mostly in the on-axis response
- Needed to be positioned further back for the sweet spot to properly 'open up'
- Spiked feet can be hazardous to hard flooring if not handled carefully
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Founder Series draws on innovations from Paradigm's Persona range, but adds new technologies
Takeaway: The Founder speakers offer great sound quality and luxurious design, making them a worthwhile investment for audiophiles. The 100F is an excellent choice for larger rooms, while the 70LCR offers versatility as a center or front speaker.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Paradigm's idea was to design speakers from scientific research and build them locally at prices most listeners could reach. The Canadian company was started in 1982 by Jerry VanderMarel and Scott Bagby and still designs and builds its speakers outside Toronto. It makes its own drivers, including beryllium units in the Persona series, and many models put Perforated Phase-Aligning lenses over the tweeter and midrange, which Paradigm says smooth and widen dispersion. The Founder 120H has powered bass with a built-in amplifier, for owners who want deep bass from a pair of towers.
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