Some folks say they want a revolution--but not many are actually part of one. Wharfedale's LoudPanel wall speakers (also available with black wood frames) let you rid your home of obtrusive box-design speakers. A little more than an inch thick, the LoudPanels look exactly like a pair of picture frames and hang directly on the wall--you can even decorate them with your own images, whether paintings or commercial art prints. The package also comes with a small yet butt-kicking passive subwoofer that, to our admitted surprise, sounds mighty fine.
Flat speakers themselves are nothing particularly new--electrostatic and planar magnetic types have been around for ages. Like conventional cone drivers, those technologies act like pistons, pushing back and forth to create sound. (Electrostatics and planar magnetics, like conventional speakers, also need space to breathe, usually requiring at least three feet between speaker and wall.)
NXT, the company that developed the technology for Wharfedale's LoudPanel, has invented something entirely new--a speaker that, much like a piano, acts as a vibrating soundboard. Also like a piano, the LoudPanel is nondirectional, which means that room placement and seating arrangements are not especially critical when compared to normal speakers.
Finally, because random energy is emitted from both sides of the panels, the panels need no enclosure to contain the sound-killing out-of-phase air, making for very thin structures that can be placed right against the wall.
Hooking up this three-piece system is a cakewalk. Any concerns about the LoudPanels' sound quality were quickly addressed: the sound is remarkably clear rather than muddy, the high frequencies present and accounted for (though the treble isn't quite as extended as that from most conventional tweeters). And dynamic range? Very good, if less explosive than some box designs.
The LoudPanel's sonic strengths are its spacious presentation, fine detail, textural clarity, and the even balance between its panels and subwoofer. (The sub, in fact, can be tucked away in a corner or under a coffee table.) The LoudPanel is not quite as airy sounding as most conventional systems, but then most conventional speakers dominate whatever room they're in. And keep in mind that the LoudPanel sounds as good as or better than most comparably priced in-wall speakers.
The bottom line: If you hate having speakers in your room (or simply don't have room for speakers) but love music and home theater, Wharfedale's LoudPanel system has your name all over it. --Wayne Garcia
Pros:
- Picture-frame cosmetics disappear in a room
- Can be decorated with art of your choosing
- Clear, spacious, nonlocalized sound
- Subwoofer packs plenty of wallop
- 5-year warranty
Cons:
- Works best in a reflective room (not too much carpet or furniture)
- High frequencies are slightly attenuated
- Dynamic range not as explosive as some conventional designs
