Review of Dynaudio Xeo 4 Wireless Bookshelf Speakers
What Hi-Fi? Verdict
The Xeo 4s serve up great-quality, convenient, versatile wireless sound
Pros
- +
Revealing
- +
Tonally balanced delivery
- +
Upgrades available
- +
Loftier-res audio support
- +
Multi-room capability
Cons
- -
Display could be better integrated
- -
No 192kHz capability
When it comes to wireless speakers, sound quality is often traded for convenience. Dynaudio is ane of the few manufacturers to buck that trend, achieving bang-up wireless sound in 2012 when information technology introduced its wireless hullo-fi speaker range, Xeo.
Now the Xeo has been updated, and the stand-mounted Xeo 4s are the commencement to be tested.
And so how do they work? The Xeo 4 active speakers take built-in amplifiers – one driving the tweeter and some other the mid/bass commuter. The supplied Xeo Hub wireless transmitter connects directly to the source and sends a wireless bespeak to the speakers to achieve playback. All you need to build a consummate arrangement is a pair of Xeo speakers and a source. That's the dazzler of it.
Sound
The Xeo 4s accept plenty more than in their armory than just convenience and versatility, though. Similar their predecessors, they sound fantastic. Effortlessly musical, these are hugely revealing and rhythmically adept speakers. We claw the transmitter up to our Naim network player, and are up and running in seconds thanks to the speakers' automatic signal-detection.
Jump direct in with a 24-scrap/96kHz WAV file of Paul Simon's Dazzling Blue and the medley of instruments is delivered with precision and insight, each well imaged across a spacious soundstage. The rhythmic pattering of talking drums is spot-on, and well sustained equally Simon's vocals step in.
Tonal residual holds the eye ground nicely, and there's no shortage of dial to make upbeat tracks like Drake'due south Accept Care exciting. The song's thumping bassline has attack and tautness, while pounding piano attack has aplenty force behind it. The Metropolis of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra's The Fellowship from The Lord Of The Rings OST brings our examination to a sweetness terminate, only confirming the speakers' stunning detail and dynamics.
Woodwinds have a nice breathy texture and soar in the climatic moments. Dynamically active, they move freely up and down the composition and don't get flustered during quick tempo changes. It's this fusion that gives the rail a sense of seamless menstruum.
Connections
Information technology may be a wireless set-up but, as usual, wires aren't out of the equation. Both speakers require external ability (and thus two power-points within range). Source and Xeo Hub also require a wired connection.
The odd-looking zipper atop each cabinet has a basic dot-light display and tiny buttons to control ability and volume. Ultimately, we'd similar ameliorate integration. This is a versatile organization – nearly whatsoever source can be hooked up to information technology, with as many as iv able to connect at once.
It has optical, coaxial and USB inputs, all of which support high-res sound files up to 24-flake/ 96kHz, plus stereo RCA and 3.5mm inputs.
Multi-room
Splash out on a few pairs of Xeo 4s and you have a multi-room marvel. Whether they're placed in 1 room or several, multiple pairs of speakers tin play from the same source simultaneously, or be individually controlled by 'zones' (Carmine, Blueish and Greenish).
It's easy to aspect speakers to certain zones: simply moving picture the switch at the dorsum of the cabinets to the correct colour. It's certainly an expensive multi-room pick, but it's a price worth paying if you're after a high-end organisation throughout the firm.
Design
The Xeo iv largely borrows from the aesthetics of the company's Excite speaker range, with a polish, satin-lacquer finish (available in blackness or white), magnetic grilles and – perhaps a slight blemish in appearance - rather obvious screws bordering the drivers.
The 28cm-tall, 25cm-deep cabinets are conveniently compact, solidly-congenital and will sit down pretty on a skillful pair of speaker stands similar the Q Acoustics Concept 20s (£200). Nosotros like the speaker'southward bold, polished presentation, though whether it reflects their price is questionable.
The odd-looking attachment atop each cabinet, which acts every bit a basic dot-light display and features tiny buttons to control ability and volume, does nothing for its aesthetic entreatment and looks tacked on. The supplied remote control is slim and nice to use – it's surprisingly uncluttered, with a thoughtful button arrangement.
Every bit for the Xeo Hub, it's black, roughly passport-size and piece of cake to tuck out of the way. Placement shouldn't be much of a bother: it tin sit upwards to 50m from the speakers – though the addition of a Xeo Extender (£135) will boost that wireless range. The Xeo Link (also £135) is another handy accessory, and can add actress components like a subwoofer or headphone amp to the set up-up.
Verdict
It's condom to say that Dynaudio'south Xeo range continues to wow with this next-gen model. These speakers certainly aren't cheap, but they offer hassle-free set-up plus insightful and musical sound from well-nigh whatsoever source.
More than: ix things to look from the new Dynaudio
Source: https://www.whathifi.com/dynaudio/xeo-4/review
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