Bringing The Stage To Life: Three Speakers That You Must Listen To

/ Audio T Southampton/

Here at Audio T Southampton we’ve had the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of systems and speakers — from the exceptionally large to the most petite and compact, not to mention everything in between. For this month’s blog, we’ve reflected on those experiences and, despite how difficult it was, each of us has chosen one standout speaker that we personally believe to be simply phenomenal — a must-hear.

So, let’s dive in…

Beauty is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder

As we all know, speakers are a key component in any hi-fi system, and choosing the right pair can be a daunting task. That’s why at Audio T, we offer both in-store and home demonstrations, allowing you to try before you buy and compare different options. But unlike this blog, it’s not just about how good they sound; your room size and interior style also need to be taken into account when making a decision.

The speakers featured here may not be to everyone’s taste (or within everyone’s budget), but each one is exceptional in its own way — whether that’s the level of bass and control on offer, their crystal-clear detail, or even their striking looks.

Tiago’s Top Pick

If you’ve met me, it will come as no shock that I am a huge fan of rock and metal music, but I also stray into more unconventional territory with bands like Wardruna and Faun, who mix electronic and alternative whilst drawing on the traditional music of their homelands of Norway and Germany respectively.

One thing these bands all have in common is a deep appreciation for bass — whether it’s punchy drum beats or booming low notes. These low-end frequencies can be difficult to reproduce, especially when they come as a constant drone or heavy thump. Fortunately, there’s one pair of speakers that blew me away the moment I heard them: the fantastic Harbeth NLE-3 Digital stand-mounted speakers.

(image courtesy of Harbeth audio ltd. price £22,950)

The First Experience

The first time I heard these monsters was during the Bristol Hi-Fi Show in 2024. Stepping into one of Harbeth’s rooms, I didn’t know what to expect. The lights were dimmed, there were plenty of chairs to sit in, and I spotted more than a few valve amplifiers. But as soon as I sat down and closed my eyes, the sound hit me — and I wasn’t prepared in the slightest. Soft, detailed highs and clear, powerful vocals filled the room, underpinned by a low, rolling bass note in the background. Paired with Harbeth’s signature warm and nuanced presentation, I was in awe.

Plenty of tracks were played, and every single one sounded outstanding from the first second to the last. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay longer and had to get back to work — but that experience fundamentally changed my perception of what speakers can do. Yes, the speakers were huge, but the moment the music began, they completely disappeared.

If you get the chance, I highly recommend giving them a proper listen.

Wayne’s Top Choice

After over seven years working in the hi-fi industry, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to some of the best speakers money can buy — but none have impressed me quite as much as the ATC SCM50ASL speakers. While they may not be the most expensive or widely celebrated speakers in the world, I quickly fell in love with their presentation and engaging sound.

I listen to all kinds of music, but I generally gravitate towards anything with guitars. And the SCM50 honestly shocked me. Not only are they more than capable of handling even the most demanding tracks, but they also create a dynamic soundstage brimming with detail and warmth.

First Experience

The first time I heard the ATC SCM50ASLs was during a customer installation. I was immediately taken aback by their size — I hadn’t expected them to be quite so large — but their scale and weight weren’t a drawback at all. They had a lovely presence in the room, and even today, their distinctive retro styling still holds real charm. But what truly stood out was the sound.

Paired with a Chord Electronics CPA 300 preamp and a Linn Sondek LP12 fitted with a Troika cartridge, these speakers really sang. They filled the space with a beautifully warm, immersive sound, and I found myself wishing I could stay just a bit longer to enjoy it.

Since then, I’ve finally managed to get a pair into our store — and they perform every bit as well as they did back then, if not better. Out of all the amazing speakers I’ve ever listened to, these are easily among the best when it comes to balancing performance, price, and presence.

Nick’s Choice

I’ve been involved in the hi-fi world as a consumer for many many years, which has given me the opportunity to hear a huge range of systems and speakers. Choosing just one standout speaker was no easy task — but after much deliberation, I’ve decided on the Dynaudio Confidence 50. Despite their slim but towering design, these speakers simply disappeared into the room when playing. Smooth and detailed, yet with enough bass to keep things engaging, they were nothing short of extraordinary.

First Experience

The first time I listened to these speakers was in-store at Southampton — and I can’t overstate how large they really are. I’m fairly tall myself, but these were nearly eye level! Still, I wasn’t expecting them to perform quite as brilliantly as they did.

At first glance, they seemed far too big for our demo room. They were being driven by a Chord Electronics Ultima 6 power amp, a Chord Electronics Ultima Pre 3 preamp, and an Auralic Vega G2.1 streaming preamp. But the moment the first note hit, I knew we were in for something special. They filled our fairly modest demo room with ease — but crucially, they never overwhelmed the space. In fact, they offered an impressive sense of stage and depth, reproducing every note with clarity and poise. Each instrument was clearly defined and beautifully placed, while the vocals were simply divine.

They were genuinely remarkable, and I’d highly recommend giving them a proper listen if you get the chance.

Wrapping Up

And that brings us to the end of this month’s blog! It’s always a challenge to narrow down to just one favourite speaker each — especially when we’re surrounded by so many incredible options on a daily basis — but we hope our choices have sparked some interest and curiosity.

Of course, as with all things hi-fi, personal preference plays a huge role. Don’t just take our word for it — the best way to know if a speaker is right for you is to come and hear it for yourself. Whether it’s the detail and dynamics of the Harbeth NLE-3, the punch and presence of the ATC SCM50ASL, or the sheer scale and refinement of the Dynaudio Confidence 50, each of these models offers something truly special.

If any of the speakers have caught your attention, we’d be delighted to arrange a demonstration — either in our store or, where possible, in the comfort of your own home. Just get in touch with us here at Audio T Southampton, and we’ll be happy to find a date and time that works for you.

Until next time — happy listening!

Thanks for reading

Wayne, Tiago & Nick - Audio T Southampton

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other hi-fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs, and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…

Harbeth can be found at the following Audio T stores

ATC Loudspeakers can be found at the following Audio T stores

Dynaudio can be found at the following Audio T stores

*All prices, credit terms and interest rates quoted are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. E&OE

Staff System Upgrade: The REL T/7x Sub-Bass System

/ Audio T Swansea/

Working in the big-person toyshop as we do, it’s all too easy to have our heads turned by the latest shiny thing – and this big person frequently does. My second system (the one in my kitchen-diner) is the one that sees the most music played through it at home. My primary system is usually reserved for films, gritty crime series, and sport. No coincidence, then, that I’m always quietly on the lookout for a performance improvement for the kitchen setup.

TYPICALLY ARTY SHOT OF A rel t/7x, showing of how very shiny it is. YOU DIDN’Y REALLY EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE, DID YOU?

As space is at a premium, I’ve got a Bluesound Powernode amp/streamer tucked away on top of the fridge-freezer, and a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 707 compact loudspeakers perched on top of the kitchen cupboards, isolated with IsoAcoustic Orea Bronze isolation pucks.

The source components of my system. Bluesound powernode and the rel arrow signal sender unit

This setup was perfectly enjoyable, but I felt it sounded somewhat anaemic and lacking in scale, so I added a REL T/7i subwoofer to support the lower octaves. The result was a very worthwhile improvement, but I could hear the T/7i struggling to load the room effectively—what with the double French windows and the single Welsh (?) window eating most of the available bass.

BOWERS AND WILKINS 707 S3’S ON THEIR DEDICATED STANDS. COULDN’T GET A GOOD PHOTO OF THEM IN-SITU SO HAD TO REVERT TO STOCK. THEY ARE VERY LOVELY.

I’ve always fancied running a second subwoofer in my home cinema system (typically, we use the second REL to support the centre speaker, having set the centre channel to full-range in the AV processor), ever since I heard one in a demo at REL’s HQ in sunny Bridgend, South Wales. I’ve convinced many customers to do the same and have installed plenty of centre-channel-supporting REL’s in my career, but I’ve never quite managed to get round to installing one at home. The mechanic’s car and all that, I suppose. More on that in a later blog…

Favourable circumstances led me to acquire a shiny new REL T/7x. The latest REL T-Series are now much more like a miniaturised S Series, rather than simply a beefed-up T/5–7–9i, and they’re rather more premium than before. The T/7x features a front-firing 250mm long-throw active driver, powered by a 200W Class AB amplifier. The familiar Neutrik speaker-level connector remains alongside the regular line-level inputs and the clever wireless “Arrow” system input. A downward-firing passive radiator (in this case, a 200mm long-throw unit) is installed in its base. T/x Series cabinets are no longer equal-sided cubes; they’ve been given a more discreet look, helped by those radiused corners that seem to appear on just about everything these days. It isn’t just decorative—we’re reliably informed that the cabinets are now stiffer, and although they look smaller, internal volumes have been slightly enlarged compared to previous models.

AN EVEN ARTSIER IMAGE OF A REL T7X WITH the rel ARROW SIGNAL RECEIVER PEEKING OVER ITS BACK.

The new three-strong Serie T/x range represents a fresh starting point for subwoofer experts REL, and the Serie T/7x (sitting between the T/9x and T/5x) hits something of a sweet spot: a good balance between price and performance that made it the right choice for me. Mine nestles out of sight, between the shoe cupboard and the cat’s basket. Don’t fret—she never uses it when I’m playing music, curiously enough.

THAT REL ARROW V3 WIRELESS KIT IN ALL ITS GLORY. AN ABSOLUTE DODDLE TO SET UP AND USE, even with multiple units. one of my customers has three wireless rels running in his astonishing home theatre..

A subwoofer in an audio setting has to balance bass depth, speed, and integration with the rest of the loudspeaker sound. This differs from the requirements of a traditional home cinema setup, where the subwoofer is considered a channel in its own right, rather than a reinforcement of a pair of speakers. REL subwoofers are designed to do both. Typically, a REL unit will deliver the LFE channel while also providing bass support for the front left and right speakers—freeing the processor from the task of apportioning bass away from those speakers and to the sub. The result? More bass detail and a sensation of “freeing up” the soundstage. It’s one more veil removed from between the audience and the original soundtrack.

Set-up remains the same as with the T/7i. You can either use the Speakon cable and high-level input—wiring the cables to the left and right positive terminals and a single negative terminal on your amplifier—or, as in my case, use REL’s proprietary Arrow wireless system. It connects to the amplifier in the same way as the Speakon 3-cable method, but uses a very short cable that attaches to a sender unit. This unit pairs with its receiving mate, which is bolted to the subwoofer via a 9-pin plug. I’m happy to report the pairing process is a doddle. Play a simple vocal recording with the T/7x’s gain and crossover controls initially set too high, then dial them down until the sub is just past the point of audibility. Confirm everything’s working with a track featuring a good bass player—‘We Supply’ by Stanley Clarke, perhaps?

THE CLASSIC REL SPEAKON CONNECTION, AMPLIFIER END. NOTE THE TWO POSITIVE SIGNALS WITH ONLY ONE RETURN (NEGATIVE) REQUIRED. THE FULL-BANDWIDTH SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM THE AMPLIFIER IS SAMPLED AND SUMMED INTO A MONO SIGNAL THAT THE SUBWOOFER CAN REPRODUCE.

Get it right in audio, and it’s like you’ve given the main speakers the freedom to be themselves—opening out the soundstage, offering better midrange clarity, and focusing the sound more tightly and accurately. You’ll know, because your body will instinctively start shaking various parts of itself in time with the rhythm. Get it wrong, and you end up with a speaker that slows the music and booms along with the song, undermining everything that made your system sound good in the first place. Happily, REL has always batted well above average when it comes to making a subwoofer that integrates beautifully into a domestic audio system.

After setup, I played music as normal—although if I favoured a bit of Reggae Dancehall and M’darlinghoneybunny’s workout playlist while stir-frying our dinners, I’m sure you’ll forgive me. A week later, I put my technician’s head back on, turned the T/7x down a notch or two, and voilà! What the T/7x does is introduce a bit of extra speed and a lot of solidity to the bass—the sort of performance you’d normally expect from more upmarket models in the range. Weight is a tricky subject, because the Serie T/7x doesn’t make a small speaker seem simply ‘weightier’, but instead ‘bigger’—and, more importantly, ‘better’—across the midrange, and much, much more satisfying.

honestly, it’ll scare the living daylights out of you. heaven knows what she’s getting up to to this.

‘Hypermusic’ by Björk is appropriately room-filling, Yo-Yo Ma’s Soul of the Tango album is impossible to stay still to, and ‘Gunfinger’ by IRAH feat. Chase & Status (courtesy of the aforementioned workout playlist) is absolutely terrifying.

Compared to my previous REL T/7i, the new T/7x offers both more substance and form, with less intrusion into the sound of the speakers. The speed of the Serie T/7x is its standout feature. Few subwoofers deliver both bass depth and bass speed like this one does—especially at anything close to this price—and for that alone, it deserves very high praise. It means the T/7x can keep up with fast musical transients played through equally fast and reactive loudspeakers, like my 707s. Add in the kind of depth that can fill out floorstanders in this category, and it becomes an exciting addition to our audio armoury.

Thanks, Rob! (You know who you are.)

Thanks for reading.

Words by Adrian, images by Nic, tea by Andy at Audio T Swansea

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us

If you’ve enjoyed this, why not go ahead and read some more of our other blogs and be sure to follow us on our social media channels below…