KEF R100 5.1: $4,125
We were instantly excited when we unpacked
this gorgeous 5.1 KEF home cinema system. It looks stunning – the cabinets are
exquisitely built, with a finish that feels much costlier than its sub-$4500
asking price.
KEF
R100 5.1, the best traditional package $2,250-$4,500
The white gloss of our sample looks
incredibly stylish, especially with the contrasting shiny metal tweeter and
matte-black bass driver.
From explosive bloc busters to
dialogue-heavy classics, the KEF R100 will ensure that you’re completely
immersed
Love at first sound
Sometimes the journey from Frist Test to
Awards is a short one, and we knew this speaker package was a Shoon for top
honors the moment we listened to it.
The R100 speakers that make up the front
and rear channels are a firm favorite of ours. Their aluminum tweeter with its
‘tangerine’ wave guide is designed to disperse sound more evenly across the
room and it does so brilliantly. KEF’s trademark Uni-Q driver arrangement is
present in all the speakers (barring the subwoofer), which results in
stunningly smooth integration. As for that subwoofer, it might be a relatively
compact unit but it’s still remarkably powerful and agile.
These KEFs sound refreshingly clear and
crisp, with a particularly expressive midrange that suits stereo music as well
as it does 5.1 soundtracks. Play something cheerful and jaunty like This Love
by Maroon 5, and you’ll be wrapped up in the upbeat rhythms that sound suitably
punchy and refined. The balance between the sweet highs and weighty bass is
admirably judged, and it’s all tied together superbly by that agile and
detailed midrange.
The scale of the system is what really
impresses us – we certainly didn’t expect this kind of room-filling dynamics
from such relatively compact speakers. The wide soundstage is lush and
spacious, with easily locatable instruments and sound effects.
It’s a great system for playing stereo
music, but the KEF system is easily at its best when paired up with demanding
film soundtracks. From Spielberg’s explosive blockbusters to the Coen brothers’
dialogue-heavy classics, the R100 will ensure that you’re completely immersed
in whatever you’re watching. It’s a brilliantly designed package.
Best traditional package $4,500+
Bowers & Wilkins CM9 Theatre: $6,300
It’ll take quite a system to knock this
colossal cinema package off its throne. And while we wait in anticipation for
that fateful day, the Bowers & Wilkins CM9 Theatre system continues to be
staggeringly brilliant.
Living
with it: those silver tweeter domes are great to look at but also easily
damaged, so take care-especially if kids are in the house
There’s no escaping the obvious this is a
gigantic speaker system. The CM9 front speakers are imposing two towers that
measure over a meter high. And they need to, given that each cabinet houses
four drive units. The two CM5 rear Standmounters and the three-way CM Center 2
are appropriately hefty as well, which leaves the ASW 10CM subwoofer looking
rather subdued is such lofty company. But don’t be fooled with 500W powering
the 25cm driver, this subwoofer is anything but restrained.
It may be space-invading, but this
statuesque system is a visual statement as well. Beautifully crafted and
finished in glossy black or dark wood veneer, with magnetic grilles avoiding
the need for unsightly fixings on the baffle, these speakers are stunning. The
keyword is power. Looking at the sheer size of the speakers, it’ll hardly
surprise you that the sound this system emits is immense. It can effortlessly
first up a large room with great, vaulting dynamics and thundering sound.
Integration across all the channels is wonderful, the various elements working
in perfect unison to create an astounding sound field for music and movie
soundtracks alike. It has confidence and attack aplenty.
Integration across the channels is
wonderful, the elements working in perfect unison to forge an astounding sound field
Great with detail, too
It’s not just a powerhouse though the CM9
Theatre is as generous with dishing out details as it is with scale of sound.
Every subtle shift of dynamics and each nuanced detail, no matter how small or
fleeting, is delivered with precision and elegance.
If you’re lucky enough to have the space,
the cash and the hi-fi separates to partner this system, then you’ve got the
ultimate home cinema sound. It’s a confident, elegant, absolute beast of a
system – you might never have to queue for a cinema ticket again.
Best style package up to $900
Tannoy HTS-101: $750
When it comes to compact and affordable
home cinema packages, Tannoy’s got the answer for the second year in a row now.
The HTS-101 speaker package proves that you don’t have to go big, or dig deep
into your wallet, to get class-leading sound from your film collection and it
does it in style.
Top
tip: Avoid bright-sounding amplification with this system because, while the
Tannoys are excellent, the top-end performance can be pronounced
The Tannoy system looks fantastic: the
wooden cabinets are compact and sharp-edged, with a glossy finish that gives a
touch of elegant and modernity. Beneath the grilles of each speaker there’s a
19mm titanium-dome tweeter and a 75mm paper mid/bass driver (two for the center
channel unit), while the equally gleaming subwoofer is blessed with 200W
powering its 20cm driver.
They’re compact enough that they’re easily
positioned and hidden away, no matter what the size of your room. But this
diminutive system is not to be underestimated: the scale and detail of the
Tannoy’s sound is breathtaking. Even after a year, we’ve impressed by the
superb integration between the speakers and the subwoofer – a feat that some
more expensive rivals struggle to perfect.
The soundstage is staggeringly expansive,
with the subtle and effortless dynamic shifts being a highlight of the system.
Play Quantum of Solace, and you’ll be able to track all the crashes, shattering
glass and various sound effects around the room, while there’s a great sense of
tension and bite to accompany the action on the screen. The tonal balance is on
the lively side – the crisply detailed top-end coupled with a strong, punchy
bass means that there’s never any shortage of excitement. The detailed midrange
could be a bit more expressive, but it doesn’t diminish the force of M’s sharp
retorts or of Bond’s deadpan put charming dialogue.
This diminutive system is not to be
underestimated: the scale and detail of the Tannoy’s sound is breathtaking
Stirring stereo
The same attitude is applied to stereo
music, where the Tannoy zings through tracks with great timing, detail
definition, and plenty of emotional depth. Play Emeli Sandé Heaven, and you’ll
marvel at the openness of sound, and the eloquent texture of her voice.
Taken as a whole, there’s little to fault
on this speaker package and at this price, no rival has come close to
challenging its firm place as a budget winner. Stylish, small, and splendid
sound – the Tannoy HTS-101 has got it all.
