Xero: high-end hi-fi, high-street prices
Ex-BBC team at Leema Acoustics launch bargain standmount
The ex-BBC engineers behind Leema Acoustics are credited with making some of the finest loudspeakers on the market.
The Welshpool-based manufacturer's latest offering, the Xero standmount, is priced at just £670 and borrows heavily from the brand's celebrated Xen loudspeaker, which is priced at £1,300.
A little Xen moment
The tiny Xero is a development of the Xen with the 'home user' in mind. Whilst based on the Xen, it has a slightly larger wood-based cabinet, a bass/mid drive unit based on Leema's Xone model (£2,250), plus the Xen's ferrofluid-damped 'Tymphany' fabric tweeter.
The engineering team has modified the crossover to accommodate the slightly larger cabinet and new bass/mid driver. They're given the speaker a single, rear-mounted bass port to provide extra bass reinforcement when used in close-wall placement settings.
Whilst sensitivity is fairly low at 85.5db, the Xero is rated at up to 200 watts, so it's not afraid to play loud. It's also wife/partner-friendly, with its compact dimensions and choice of five real-wood finishes. Considering the Xero's design heritage, at £670 it could well turn out to be the peach of the Leema Acoustics' loudspeaker line-up.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.