by Steve Metcalf, Gibson Sound & Vision
Waterloo Chronicle,
JULY 2010
HEARD AND NOT SEEN
It used to be, that when shopping for a big screen
TV it had to be accompanied with a formidable
audio system. After all, the whole point is to re-create
the theatre experience in the home right? This
trend started to lose momentum when cumbersome
speakers and complicated racks of equipment started
to edge in on valuable living space. The problem is
that movies just arent the same without a good audio
system.
What people are
demanding is a speaker
system that looks good
in the home, but does
not sacrif ice performance.
Flat panel televisions
have had great success
in making the decorator
and the movie buff
equally content. So what
about speaker systems?
Many different concepts
have been tried,
with varying degrees of success. Has a solution truly
eluded us?
Tiny satellite speakers have been a popular solution
for years. They look great in most applications,
but leave the audiophile wanting for more substance.
In wall and in ceiling speakers are great solutions
aesthetically, but you still have to cut a hole in your
wall. Finding a place for your tower speakers is like
finding a parking spot in downtown Toronto, and of
course bookshelf speakers are not really supposed to
sit on a bookshelf. It seems like a hopeless circle
that leads us back to 1978, some kind of bad dream
where you are trapped in a giant walnut box with an
oxblood grillecloth.
Flat panel speakers are a great option and to me,
they seem to be the best blend. Perhaps even the saviour
solution for those who will accept nothing less
than aesthetic perfection and sonic realism. There is
a wide range of flat panel speakers available. I would
like to introduce you to three great products from
three great brands.
First, the Suono 300s
from Angstrom Loudspeakers.
Reasonably
priced, smooth sounding
and classic good looks
from a Canadian manufacturer
based in
Markham. Available in
many colours.
Next up, the P450 on
wall from Boston
Acoustics. Tight and
punchy sounding with a
fantastic modern appearance. Mid level price point,
black finish.
Lastly the KHT6000ACE from Historic british
speaker icon KEF. This is a high tech design bringing
you tower speaker sound from a much smaller
package. For those who appreciate good audio, but
cant give up the real estate for a conventional system
look no further. Silver or black.
At Gibson Sound and Vision, we have the experience
and the selection to satisfy any audio requirement.
Come in to our store and experience the way
that speaker systems are changing today.
What people are
demanding is a speaker
system that looks good
in the home, but does
not sacrif ice performance.