Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

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

  • Engaging, naturalistic presentation
  • The coaxial ribbon midrange and tweeter contribute to vocal transparency and distinctiveness
  • Robust bass foundation
  • Uncanny lack of cabinet resonance coloration
  • Connectivity options...

Product Considerations

  • The reviewer had difficulty reattaching the grilles after removing them
  • The brushed aluminum finish might suggest an icy sound signature that isn't accurate

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The 811s sometimes reminded the reviewer of the Raidho TD3.8s in their sound presentation

Takeaway: The Piega Coax 811 Gen2 speakers offer great vocal transparency and robust bass, making them enjoyable for critical listening. Their engaging and natural sound is worth the investment.

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

Coax Gen2 811

reviews

[{"title":"Piega Coax 811 Gen2 loudspeaker","link":"https://www.stereophile.com/content/piega-coax-811-gen2-loudspeaker","source":"Stereophile","datePublished":"2024"}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Recommended Amplifier Output: 20 – 250 watts
  • Sensitivity: 92 db/W/m
  • Impedance: 4 ohms
  • Frequency Range: 22 Hz – 50 kHz
  • Dimensions: H 48.82" x W 11.42" x D 16.54"
  • Weight: 138.5 lbs
  • Technology: 2 × 220 mm UHQD woofers, 2 × 220 mm UHQD passive radiators, 1 × C212+ coaxial ribbon
The Coax 811 stands as the flagship model in the PIEGA Coax series. An excellent choice for larger living areas, Its voluminous design is matched by its acoustic prowess. The speaker is equipped with the acclaimed coaxial ribbon, ensuring brilliant and detailed highs, along with silky, clear mids. This results in a sound image that fills the room, ideal for those seeking a comprehensive and immersive audio experience.
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:

  • Piega speakers are crafted with seamless, extruded aluminum enclosures, designed by Swiss architect Stephan Hürlemann, which minimizes vibrations and resonances.
  • They utilize custom-designed Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeters, manufactured in-house, known for their clarity, detail, and extended high-frequency response.
  • Piega offers a unique Wireless Spatial Sound (WiSa) technology in select models, allowing for cable-free stereo or multi-channel setups without compromising audio quality.
  • The brand incorporates Tension Improve Module (TIM) technology, including TIM2 in newer generations, which tensions internal components to further reduce cabinet resonance and improve sonic purity.

Ace Series

  • Positioning: The entry-level lineup in PIEGA's offerings, designed for compact spaces and affordability.
  • Description: Features the AMT-1 Air Motion Transformer for detailed sound. Compared to the Premium Series, offers a more compact and budget-friendly option, making it ideal for small rooms or those seeking portability. While it lacks the advanced ribbon technology of the Coax and Master Line Source series, it provides a balanced sound suitable for everyday listening.

Premium Loudspeakers

  • Positioning: Sits in the mid-range of PIEGA's lineup, offering a balance of performance and design.
  • Description: Known for its elegant design and advanced ribbon tweeter technology, providing clear and precise audio. Features a reinforced aluminum structure that enhances sound clarity, setting it apart from the Ace Series.

Coax Gen2

  • Positioning: A high-end offering, positioned just below the flagship Master Line Source series.
  • Description: Stands out with its proprietary coaxial ribbon technology, delivering exceptional clarity and balance. Uses advanced TIM2 modules to reduce cabinet vibrations, offering superior sound purity compared to the Premium Series.

Master Line Source Gen2

  • Positioning: The flagship series, representing the pinnacle of PIEGA's technological innovation.
  • Description: Features innovative Line Source ribbon technology, providing exceptional sound with authentic and coherent sound reproduction. Uses a unique dipole speaker design that fills the space with a coherent cylinder sound wave, surpassing the capabilities of the Coax Gen2.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$30,001-$40,000
Used For Sale
12
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
198
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
27
Founding Year
1986

Our take on the brand

PIEGA is a hifi speaker brand that uses aluminum cabinets and Air Motion Transformer tweeters to achieve better sound quality than traditional speaker designs. The brand is known for making compact speakers that perform like much larger ones, with their TMicro 40 model reaching deep bass notes down to 50Hz despite its small size.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

Our ribbon tweeters, especially the coaxial versions used in our Coax and Master Line models, deliver exceptional resolution and spatial imaging. What’s particularly noteworthy is that we have been developing these tweeters entirely in-house for over 40 years – and we still manufacture them by hand at our facility in Horgen, Switzerland. The quality is, in our view, outstanding – not only acoustically, but also in terms of technical precision and minimal unit-to-unit variance.

Our aluminum enclosures, combined with internal damping and sandwich construction, ensure distortion-free performance – even at high volumes – and are a unique feature both acoustically and visually.

What's your approach to customer support?

We generally recommend that customers first reach out to their dealer or national distributor for any questions or issues. These partners are trained and authorized to assist quickly and effectively. In more complex cases – or when customers contact us directly – we are, of course, committed to providing personal and dedicated support.

Additionally, we regularly invite customers to visit our headquarters in Horgen. During these visits – which include a tour of our production and personal consultation – very close relationships have developed, and in some cases, even real friendships have formed. We take pride in maintaining close and reliable contact, even after the purchase.

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

  • “Queen Mary” – Francine Thirteen: For dynamics and tight bass, excellent at high volume.
  • “Liberty” – Anette Askvik: For atmospheric depth and spaciousness.
  • “The Headless Horseman” – Bobby Bass: Great for vocals and evaluating seamless transitions between multi-way drivers.

What other products pair best with yours?

We experience excellent synergy with HiFi Rose electronics – both sonically and aesthetically. Setups with T+A or Cambridge Audio also pair beautifully with our speakers. And of course, there are no limits at the high end: just recently, I heard a large Burmester and McIntosh system driving our Coax 811 at a dealer – the result was absolutely stunning. 

From our interview with
Martin Bühler
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

Product image
Magico
S3
45500
45500
/
7
Reviews

Magico’s flagship loudspeaker, the incomparable M9, was as much a tour de forceengineering exercise as a finished product. The knowledge distilled and technological advances gained in the M9 development have been applied to the new S3 which reaps the rewards of those monumental efforts. With new state-of-the-art R&D capabilities, we set out to redesign the S3 Mk II loudspeaker to achieve audible improvements in every parameter. With new enclosure, drivers, and coupling system, the S3 accomplishes far more than the initial design brief. Page 1 of 6 The technologies and construction techniques leveraged in the new S3 achieve a purity of sound and measured performance that surpassed our expectations. The new Magico S3 shatters the boundaries of performance for a speaker in its class.

Magico is one of the leading American hifi brands, celebrated for its speakers' precision, clarity, and transparency. This reputation is built on the founder’s meticulous focus on eliminating vibrations, a design principle that customers claim significantly enhances sound quality. Their speakers incorporate carbon fiber and aluminum, along with custom-made drivers, to deliver a highly transparent listening experience. Magico’s sound is incredibly revealing, though some listeners may find it unforgiving with poorly recorded material. These speakers are favored by reviewers and audiophiles who prioritize transparency and accuracy above all else.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Beautifully finished cabinet constructed from heavy metal, using four extruded aluminum panels
  • Delivers a presentation that's vivid, refined, and compelling
  • Low distortion and an absence of cabinet resonance allows the listener to hear deeper into the music
  • Images like a point source, but has three-way midrange clarity and gut-punching bass
  • Extremely transparent and uncolored, making it very responsive to changes in upstream components

Product Considerations

  • May require careful system matching to avoid revealing flaws in the upstream components due to its high resolution
  • Bass response below 30Hz may not be particularly satisfying
  • Some reviewers noted that the grilles are sonically intrusive
  • Heavyweight hifi typically requires assistance in its unboxing and installation, given the weight and the sheer size of the wooden packing crate in which it's delivered

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to the Magico S3 MKII—the new S3 has been completely revised and re-engineered, using techniques and technologies developed for the M9 flagship, with a 30% quieter enclosure

Takeaway:

The Magico S3 delivers a pure and detailed sound, making music feel vibrant and dynamic, without adding its own color. If you want to really hear what your music and audio equipment can do, the S3 is a great pick.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Magico is one of the leading American hifi brands, celebrated for its speakers' precision, clarity, and transparency. This reputation is built on the founder’s meticulous focus on eliminating vibrations, a design principle that customers claim significantly enhances sound quality. Their speakers incorporate carbon fiber and aluminum, along with custom-made drivers, to deliver a highly transparent listening experience. Magico’s sound is incredibly revealing, though some listeners may find it unforgiving with poorly recorded material. These speakers are favored by reviewers and audiophiles who prioritize transparency and accuracy above all else.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Magico
S5 2024
51000
51000
/
2
Reviews
Magico is one of the leading American hifi brands, celebrated for its speakers' precision, clarity, and transparency. This reputation is built on the founder’s meticulous focus on eliminating vibrations, a design principle that customers claim significantly enhances sound quality. Their speakers incorporate carbon fiber and aluminum, along with custom-made drivers, to deliver a highly transparent listening experience. Magico’s sound is incredibly revealing, though some listeners may find it unforgiving with poorly recorded material. These speakers are favored by reviewers and audiophiles who prioritize transparency and accuracy above all else.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Especially revealing, setting a benchmark for revealing the details in recordings
  • Delivers dynamics, tonal balance, and harmonics of instruments, such as the piano, in a way that is very reminiscent of the real thing
  • Able to reproduce low bass to upper treble with a minimal sense that some frequency bands are peaky, emphasized, or depressed
  • Reduces loudspeaker error through comprehensive engineering efforts, including driver design, cabinet materials, and systems integration

Product Considerations

  • Does not radically change the task list of major audio problems like bass in real rooms, the flaws of stereo, or digital distortions
  • Will render some recordings harder to enjoy because those recordings are flawed
  • Some listeners may prefer more tone shaping than what is offered, such as a bass boost or frequency response adjustments

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to other speakers, draws clearer distinctions between the engineering of different recordings

Takeaway: The Magico S5 (2024) minimizes coloration to provide a revealing and accurate sound, allowing listeners to focus on the recording and the music itself. It is a great choice for audiophiles who want to hear what is truly on the recording, offering a potentially transformative listening experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Magico is one of the leading American hifi brands, celebrated for its speakers' precision, clarity, and transparency. This reputation is built on the founder’s meticulous focus on eliminating vibrations, a design principle that customers claim significantly enhances sound quality. Their speakers incorporate carbon fiber and aluminum, along with custom-made drivers, to deliver a highly transparent listening experience. Magico’s sound is incredibly revealing, though some listeners may find it unforgiving with poorly recorded material. These speakers are favored by reviewers and audiophiles who prioritize transparency and accuracy above all else.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
YG Acoustics
Hailey 3
63400
63400
/
2
Reviews

Our Reference range demonstrates the very best that can be achieved in accuracy and musicality. We are honored that these models are some of the most awarded loudspeakers in the world. They combine advanced materials with cutting edge science and engineering. They are designed without compromise, with the singular aim of transporting listeners into the heart of the music.

Hailey 3 delivers the life-like, natural sound which is the hallmark of YG, combined with an effortless sense of scale which is surprising for its compact size. This ultra-high-end loudspeaker mirrors the technologies of the Sonja 3 in a more compact cabinet. The result is an astonishing sonic performance combined with the best of engineering and craftsmanship.

The Reference speakers are structured from high-grade aerospace aluminum, machined in-house to an incredible precision. The speakers are meticulously hand-built by experts in our Colorado workshop.

The Reference 3 models include new technologies and design innovations based on novel theoretical models, detailed multi-domain simulations and thousands of hours of listening. The end result: loudspeakers which convey every nuance of emotion, each musical cue from the tiniest micro-detail to the visceral impact of the most thunderous crescendo.

An entirely new, hybrid Lattice tweeter uses a novel airframe in a specially-selected aerospace alloy, machined by YG Acoustics. It delivers exceptionally low distortion over a huge bandwidth, with wide angular dispersion to support a large sweet-spot.

Groundbreaking, third-generation Ultracoherent crossovers apply a deep understanding from simulation to deliver performance never before possible. Our BilletCore drivers use advanced motors and cones machined in-house from solid billet, offering some of the highest performance and lowest distortion in any driver available today.

YG Acoustics makes speakers with unique DualCoherent crossover technology that ensures both perfect frequency response and phase coherence, while their BilletCore drivers are machined from solid aluminum billets for enhanced precision. Their modular design allows users to upgrade and expand their systems over time, and they use proprietary software that optimizes both frequency and phase response, capabilities not commonly found in other hifi brands.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Delivers an immersive experience and are incredibly musical
  • Integration of the drivers create the feeling of one big full range speaker
  • High resolution and low distortion without ever feeling harsh, and value tonal accuracy
  • Effortless presentation comes from the low distortion and careful attention to maximizing phase coherence
  • Seamless clarity offers a musical experience that is not only realistic, but non-fatiguing

Product Considerations

  • The best cables and components are needed to get the most these speakers can deliver
  • The highly revealing nature is further emphasized during the setup process, when it was time to attach the jumpers between the three sets of binding posts on the rear of the speakers
  • The speaker lacked a certain warmth

Takeaway: The Hailey 3s create a massive soundfield with incredible coherence, which makes them a top-tier speaker. The speakers deliver engagement and musicality with the help of science without relinquishing what made YG Acoustics of the past special.

Video review

Our take on the brand

YG Acoustics makes speakers with unique DualCoherent crossover technology that ensures both perfect frequency response and phase coherence, while their BilletCore drivers are machined from solid aluminum billets for enhanced precision. Their modular design allows users to upgrade and expand their systems over time, and they use proprietary software that optimizes both frequency and phase response, capabilities not commonly found in other hifi brands.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Stenheim
Alumine Five SX
66900
66900
/
1
Reviews

For High End Munich 2024, Stenheim introduced its new Alumine Five platform for the Alumine Five models. This elegant aluminium plinth is machined from solid billet and achieves the same effect as the Reference Platform developed for the Reference series, increasing stability and making fine-tuning the set-up far simpler through increased adjustability of height and rake. These parameters are set via discrete allen bolts on top of the spikes, different sets of which can be selected to suit different floor types. Sound is also improved thanks to the superior vibration damping that the Alumine Five platform offers. The platform can be retrofitted to any Alumine Five 

The Alumine Five SX is derived from the award-winning Alumine Five SE, itself a version of the Alumine Five with increased specification (see above). The Alumine Five SX is additionally equipped with a room control panel on the rear, originally seen on the more expensive Reference Ultime Two model, which enables different bass-treble profiles to be selected to adjust for room specifics. Sound quality is yet further enhanced by a new grounding post which allows the speaker to be connected to a grounding system. The Alumine Five SX is immediately recognizable by its anodized tweeter horn and side bars. This phenomenal speaker is then set upon the Alumine Five plinth to complete the Alumine Five SX package 

Like all Stenheim speakers, the Alumine Five SX and Alumine Five LE are designed and hand-built to order in Switzerland. They are a 3-way design featuring crossovers engineered with the finest quality components from boutique suppliers such as Mundorf and Jantzen and are equipped with highly efficient custom-built drivers (94 dB) enabling a wide variety of amplification to be used. The Five SX and Five LE models are a further step in Stenheim's mission of providing the ultimate in loudspeaker performance for discerning music lovers, and top the Alumine range.

Stenheim is a hifi speaker brand known for its aluminum enclosures and minimalist, Bauhaus-inspired design that appeals to both audiophiles and art lovers. Their speakers feature high sensitivity for compatibility with low-powered tube amplifiers and use paper and fabric cone drivers for a natural sound, setting them apart from brands that use ceramic or metal drivers.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • High sensitivity and easy drivability
  • Clean performance without being sterile or colorless
  • Good at reproducing spatial information on stereo recordings
  • Elegant look and smaller size makes it easier to place and live with
  • Well-made PHL cone drivers

Product Considerations

  • The Alumine Five is very heavy
  • The Alumine Five is very expensive

Takeaway: The Alumine speakers are good quality speakers that have high sensitivity, are easy to drive, and can reproduce spatial information on stereo recordings well. They have an elegant look and will perform well in a home sound system.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Stenheim is a hifi speaker brand known for its aluminum enclosures and minimalist, Bauhaus-inspired design that appeals to both audiophiles and art lovers. Their speakers feature high sensitivity for compatibility with low-powered tube amplifiers and use paper and fabric cone drivers for a natural sound, setting them apart from brands that use ceramic or metal drivers.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

Kii
Three BXT
31155
/
Released
The Kii THREE BXT system is an exceptional upgrade designed to enhance any Kii THREE setup's acoustical accuracy and clarity. This system adds eight extra drivers and a powerful 2,000 watts of amplification per speaker (16 drivers and 7,000 watts total per pair) in a sleek floor-standing module. It extends the range and sound pressure level of the Kii THREE and preserves its unique room-friendly cardioid system for precise, proper directionality.
Check Amazon
Kii Audio's unique "Active Wave Focusing" technology creates a cardioid pattern that minimizes room reflections and directs sound energy forward, allowing their speakers to maintain consistent sound quality even when placed near walls or corners. Each Kii THREE speaker uses six custom Ncore amplifiers and multiple DACs with advanced DSP processing to deliver full-range sound from a compact design that outperforms much larger systems.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • When combined with the BXT module, the system delivers tight, dynamic, and nuanced bass reproduction
  • The addition of the BXT allows the system to reveal subtle details in the lower frequencies that are typically missed
  • The BXT system offers a balanced sound, with the midrange frequencies benefiting from the addition of the BXT module
  • Are relieved of some bass duties, letting them focus more on the mids
  • The combination with the BXT module creates a cardioid dispersion pattern, reducing reflections from side and rear walls—minimizing the influence of room acoustics
  • Ease of use is another strength of the concept

Product Considerations

  • Some perceive it as sounding 'too digital' or 'too analytical' on its own, lacking the warmth of other speakers, but the BXT module helps to address this
  • The display on the Kii Control is considered small, making it difficult to read in poor lighting conditions

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Versus ATC speakers, ATC speakers have a warmer, more colorful sound

Takeaway: The system, especially when paired with the BXT module, delivers exceptional sound quality with deep, controlled bass and reduced room interaction. For those wanting a system with great clarity and power, this could be a good pick.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Kii Audio's unique "Active Wave Focusing" technology creates a cardioid pattern that minimizes room reflections and directs sound energy forward, allowing their speakers to maintain consistent sound quality even when placed near walls or corners. Each Kii THREE speaker uses six custom Ncore amplifiers and multiple DACs with advanced DSP processing to deliver full-range sound from a compact design that outperforms much larger systems.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
YG Acoustics
Carmel 3
30374
/
Released
2023
Carmel 3 delivers the highest accuracy and musicality possible from a compact two-channel loudspeaker. We have applied many of our technologies from the XV, Sonja and Hailey to a compact form factor that is compatible with any room. Carmel 3 throws a huge sound-stage with effortless detail. Incredible delicacy is combined with huge power and authority.
Check Amazon
YG Acoustics makes speakers with unique DualCoherent crossover technology that ensures both perfect frequency response and phase coherence, while their BilletCore drivers are machined from solid aluminum billets for enhanced precision. Their modular design allows users to upgrade and expand their systems over time, and they use proprietary software that optimizes both frequency and phase response, capabilities not commonly found in other hifi brands.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Exceptional build quality with precision-machined aluminum alloy cabinets minimizing resonances
  • Striking dynamic punch and surprising low-end power for its size, with tight, controlled bass
  • Presents a vivid, lifelike midrange and highs with extraordinary detail, scalpel-sharp resolution, and refinement
  • Wide dispersion from the tweeter leads to seamless integration and a larger listening sweet spot
  • Tonally balanced with a pleasing, slightly colored sound that avoids harshness, making it versatile across genres

Product Considerations

  • Can be ultra-fussy about recording and system quality, highlighting deficiencies in less-than-perfect recordings
  • Requires high-quality partnering equipment to achieve peak performance and reveal its capabilities fully
  • While not particularly difficult to drive, it benefits from an amplifier with plenty of muscle

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The Carmel 3 surpasses the Magico S1MK2 as an absolute favorite two-way speaker
  • The Carmel 3 is more revealing of recording flaws, while the Audiovector R 6 Arreté smooths over some imperfections
  • Rivals such as Wilson Benesch reveal at least as much as the Carmel 3, including the odd hard edge to sound, but don't focus on it—YG seems to want to highlight every deficiency rather than give a more balanced view of the recording

Takeaway: The Carmel 3 is a compact yet powerful speaker that delivers exceptional detail and dynamic sound, making it a great fit for audiophiles who want a high-end listening experience in small- to medium-sized rooms. Its ability to reveal the nuances in music makes listening sessions consistently engaging and enjoyable.

Video review

Our take on the brand

YG Acoustics makes speakers with unique DualCoherent crossover technology that ensures both perfect frequency response and phase coherence, while their BilletCore drivers are machined from solid aluminum billets for enhanced precision. Their modular design allows users to upgrade and expand their systems over time, and they use proprietary software that optimizes both frequency and phase response, capabilities not commonly found in other hifi brands.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Bowers & Wilkins
802 D4
31000
/
Released
2021
Built to similar proportions as the flagship 801 D4, the 802 D4 offers much of the performance of its sibling, including the same Turbine™ Head enclosure for its midrange drive unit, yet is more affordable overall.
Check Amazon
Bowers & Wilkins pioneered the use of Kevlar fibers in speaker cones and developed the Matrix cabinet design, which significantly reduces cabinet resonance and sound coloration. Their Nautilus speaker, introduced in 1993, features the distinctive Nautilus tube tweeter design that minimizes sound resonance, while their dedicated Steyning Research facility has produced breakthroughs like the Continuum cone for improved audio transparency.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Exceptional build quality with meticulous sanding, polishing, and assembly
  • High level of detail reproduction with a clean and uncolored treble, thanks to the diamond tweeter
  • Stable and efficient design with a wide frequency range and high sensitivity
  • Iconic design with a teardrop-shaped cabinet to minimize diffraction and internal Matrix skeleton to reduce resonances
  • Delivers music with extremely low distortion, allowing complex passages to breathe freely

Product Considerations

  • Wheels underneath may mark parquet floors
  • May lack some punch and dynamics in the mid-bass for some listeners
  • Setup can benefit from careful physical adjustments for optimal performance
  • Grills may be compelling as toys for young children

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The 802 D4 is more musically compelling than the 802 D3
  • The 802 D4 delivers more accuracy, especially in the mids and highs, than the 800 D2/D3
  • The 802 D4 has an advantage in airiness, transparency and resolution, though the KEF Blade Two Meta has more brutal dynamics
  • The 802 D4 has less exaggerated sibilance, though the Focal Sopra No3 is more powerful in the midrange

Takeaway: The 802 D4 is an ultra high-end speaker that combines advanced technology and top-shelf materials, delivering exceptional detail and a clean soundstage for an immersive listening experience. It is a speaker that may fill the soul with music.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Bowers & Wilkins pioneered the use of Kevlar fibers in speaker cones and developed the Matrix cabinet design, which significantly reduces cabinet resonance and sound coloration. Their Nautilus speaker, introduced in 1993, features the distinctive Nautilus tube tweeter design that minimizes sound resonance, while their dedicated Steyning Research facility has produced breakthroughs like the Continuum cone for improved audio transparency.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Focal
Diva Utopia
39999
/
Released
2024
DIVA UTOPIA combines the best of Focal Acoustics and Naim Electronics. This active bass-reflex speaker offers high-quality sound, the latest wireless technologies, and extensive connectivity for exceptional listening experiences. Whether it's music, movies, or video games, it revolutionises home listening and frees you from all constraints. With DIVA UTOPIA and its unique design, simply plug in, connect, and enjoy the pure sound of Focal.
Check Amazon
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Excellent clarity, detail resolution, and agility in sound reproduction
  • Impressive bass definition and punch, delivering huge amounts of bass effortlessly
  • Combines muscularity, insight, scale, and attack for an engaging listening experience
  • Design is unique and striking, with impeccable build quality and a flawless finish
  • Offers extensive specification and numerous control options, all implemented expertly

Product Considerations

  • Sonic presentation might be a little too 'safe' or 'civilizing', potentially losing some of the vibrant energy in music
  • Lacks some features compared to competitors regarding connectivity and adjustability
  • Requires a large listening space to avoid overpowering the room
  • The provided remote casing feels cheap and insubstantial compared to the overall package
  • Room correction (ADAPT) is not as automated or precise as some other systems and the application may crash

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs KEF LS60 Wireless: KEF LS60 offers more flexibility, including a subwoofer output, but at higher volumes, Focal Diva is the clear winner
  • Vs Bang & Olufsen Beolab 90: Beolab 90 is in a league of its own and provides a more complete audio experience
  • Vs Scala Utopia Evo: Diva Utopia is cheaper in the long run, as the Scala Utopia Evo needs additional components, such as Naim Classic components
  • Vs Diablo Utopia Color Evos: The Color Evos may represent the ultimate Focal experience

Takeaway: The Diva Utopia is an all-in-one speaker with impressive sound that expertly combines performance and design. It offers a unique blend of luxury and high-end audio quality that can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a simplified audiophile experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Klipsch
Jubilee
35998
/
Released
2022
The Klipsch Jubilee is founder Paul W. Klipsch's (PWK) final project. His dream was to create a loudspeaker to satisfy even the most ardent audiophiles. Originally intended to be the successor to the Klipschorn, PWK soon realized it was much more than that.
Check Amazon
Klipsch is renowned for its pioneering use of horn-loaded technology in speakers, which enhances efficiency and reduces distortion through their signature Tractrix Horn design. The brand's distinctive "Klipsch sound" is characterized by a bright, dynamic audio profile that some find exhilarating.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Extraordinary bass response that goes down to 18 hertz
  • They play quietly very well, maintaining detail and presence even at low volumes
  • The sound is dynamic and powerful, with an effortless quality
  • They don't sound like horns
  • Wide soundstage, and imaging is precise and focused

Product Considerations

  • At $36,000 a pair, the Jubilee speakers represent a significant financial investment
  • The DSP has the potential for problems
  • A larger room where the speakers can be placed further apart and further away would improve the sound further
  • The speaker is large, which may pose aesthetic or practical challenges for some rooms

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The Jubilee is considered a step up from the Klipschorn
  • The Jubilee is a whole different thing than the Klipsch Cornwall
  • Jubilee tends to have better bottom end and better top end than the Klipschorn

Takeaway: The Klipsch Jubilee is a unique speaker that sounds great and can fill a large room with ease. It offers a powerful and dynamic listening experience that is different from other speakers.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Klipsch is renowned for its pioneering use of horn-loaded technology in speakers, which enhances efficiency and reduces distortion through their signature Tractrix Horn design. The brand's distinctive "Klipsch sound" is characterized by a bright, dynamic audio profile that some find exhilarating.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

How to buy

Speakers

Search all hifi products

Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.