Small speakers

Standmount speakers like those we recognise here are not simply a “poor man’s floorstander” — many audiophiles swear by the magic of the standmount speaker, the mini monitor in particular making up for any lack of low-end extension by providing unrivalled imaging, pinpoint instrumental focus and the proverbial ‘disappearing act’. More solid, less resonant — smaller speakers can provide a cleaner, therefore more accurate, bass response.

And here is a prime example, the VoiceBox S from longstanding Australian manufacturer Axis Loudspeakers. Founder John Reilly has recently established a new factory and engaged a new design partner in Brad Serhan, an engineer notable for many product successes from budget to high-end.

The resulting VoiceBox S mates a Fountek 50mm true ribbon driver for high frequencies, supported by a 133mm Nomex paper mid/bass driver, in a diminutive yet classy enclosure measuring just over 31cm high. It’s a spectacular combination, delivering an extraordinary sense of ‘being there’, and a sound far, far bigger than their stature would suggest. We tried them with modest electronics, which they drew the best from, even while totally outclassing them. They are capable of more, and they love and thrive on lots of power. They’ll more than impress in this regard with a 50–75-watt amplifier, but hook them to a 150–200-watt powerhouse and… well, look out!

Mating a very fast true ribbon tweeter to a dynamic bass/midrange driver while maintaining soundfield cohesiveness and frequency response uniformity demands a thoroughly well-engineered crossover and very patient, astute ears in prolonged listening sessions. Reilly and Serhan have manipulated what could have been a splashy treble-fest to create a resolute and beautifully-detailed presentation that seamlessly integrates with the very fast bass/midrange driver. The speakers re-create a soundfield with tremendous width, reasonable depth, and accurate image placement, melodious and pure enough to convey the beauty and poetry of any music, be it orchestral, chamber, rock, jazz… or whatever. You may not get the last couple of octaves — the VoiceBox will not defy the laws of physics — but what you do get is unadulterated sonic joy. Impeccable fit and finish, superlative performance, from an Australian design at $2495 — do audition them if you’re looking at this price. More info:

www.audiomarketing.com.au