Floorstanding loudspeakers
Floorstanders often don’t take up any more space than standmount speakers on their stands, yet the extra cabinet volume and drivers can deliver more energy to the room, and more depth. At the higher prices you’re not only getting state-of-the-art sound and technology, but also objects of true beauty, often bringing artisan craftsmanship to your home.
Q ACOUSTICS 3050i
W2019 / $1599 / www.busisoft.com.au
The value here is remarkable given the quality of styling and finish plus a sound with detail and tone that allows a close intimacy when required, but also full, weighty and driving when given power.
DYNAUDIO EVOKE 50
W2020 / $7499 / www.busisoft.com.au
A fine Dynaudio model which hits the modern slimline aesthetic yet they sound way bigger, with these true three-ways bringing extended and effortless bass, superb midrange and transparent highs.
REVEL PERFORMA3 F208
W2019 / $9995 / www.convoy.com.au
These Revels are gorgeous speakers to look at, but its their sound that won our award — energy without aggression, so accurate, so musical, so naturalsounding that we were captivated.
FOCAL KANTA NO.3
HC2020 / $20,500 / www.busisoft.com.au
The French folk at Focal deliver some amazing designs, available here with coloured or wood veneer baffles, and we loved the sound from the beryllium inverted dome tweeters and flax sandwich drivers.
RICHTER HARLEQUIN S6
W2021 / $1899 / www.richter.com.au
The latest Aussiedesigned Harlequins deliver Richter’s signature size and quality of sound with precision and accuracy from a stylish and usefully compact floorstander; outstanding value.
JBL SYNTHESIS HDI-3600
W2021 / $7999 / www.convoy.com.au
Magnificent imaging and tonally integrated with great JBL bass, a smooth fluid midrange and extended highs from the compression drivers with High Definition Imaging (HDI) waveguides: wonderful speakers.
VIVID AUDIO KAYA 25
W2021 / $15,500 / www.avation.com.au
Standing like modern sculptures of sound, the junior floorstander of Vivid’s Kaya range exploits the company’s driver expertise and curved cabinets all in the service of sound, the Kaya 25s fully energising a room.
REVEL PERFORMA F228BE
W2020 / $21,495 / www.convoy.com.au
Revel was on a roll with back-to-back floorstander awards in 2019 and 2020, here for the berylliumtweetered F228Be, a work of art in both design and neutral, extended performance.
PARADIGM PREMIER 800F
W2021 / $3499 / www.audioactive.com.au
Superb Canadianbuilt value, with the overall frequency balance just perfect, a natural sound serving all genres of music beautifully, assisted by tech including PPA lenses over both tweeter and midrange.
Q ACOUSTICS CONCEPT 500
W2018 / $7999 / www.busisoft.com.au
A third entry by Q Acoustics in these pages confirms their ability to deliver value at multiple levels, especially at their favourable pricing here in Australia. Glorious premium performance.
GOLDENEAR TRITON REFERENCE
W2019 / $18,500 / nationalavsolutions.com.au
Hand-rubbed piano-gloss towers that include 1800W of amplification to drive the bass drivers, while the mid/treble is conventionally powered. The results are magnificent.
BOWERS & WILKINS 800 D3
W2018 / $43,900 / bowerswilkins.com/en-au
A reference among references — you really shouldn’t buy at this price without at least auditioning the 800 D3, with its diamond tweeter dome and studiosanctioned sound.