Verdict
There's a growing trend of active speakers on the market, but immediate rivals to the Dynaudio Xeo 10s are hard to find.
One option is the KEF LSX (£1000), which are more stylish and pack in more streaming features, but the Dynaudios deliver greater scale and genuine bass weight. Another is the Award-winning Acoustic Energy AE1 Active (£1000), which, don't have the features of the Xeo 10s but do offer a performance that's more comparable with traditional hi-fi separates.
The Dynaudios are pricier than both of these options, but not to the detriment of their star rating. If you want a versatile, great-sounding pair of speakers that don't compromise performance over convenience, they're definitely worth considering.
SCORES
- Sound 5
- Features 4
- Build 4
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Dynaudio Xeo 6 – Design and Connections
The Xeo 6's looks and build quality are simply stunning, which should come as no surprise given the price. The floorstanding speakers come in a Satin White or black Lacquer finish, which not only looks classy but also makes them smooth and luxurious to the touch.
There's a satisfying heft to the speakers, and they're supported by adjustable metal feet that provide a wide, stable base with a choice of rubber pads or spikes on the bottom. The speakers' 854mm x 170mm measurements are more compact than the Xeo 5, and their graceful styling means they don't seem imposing at all.
Taking their design cue from Dynaudio's Excite range, Xeo 6 has incorporated gorgeous touches such as the new grey magnetic speaker grilles, thick driver surrounds and angled front corners. An interface has been added to the Xeo 6, housed in a small box on top of the cabinet. It sports three buttons and a front display panel showing the volume level and power status. Volume is represented by a row of lights that stretches the width of the panel, while a tiny LED glows blue when active and red in standby. The two speakers are linked, so when you make adjustments to one speaker the other follows through as well.
This interface, which has been added in response to comments about the Xeo 5's lack of a display panel, certainly comes in handy. However, the black box catches the eye too easily on the white version, slightly spoiling its clean, elegant look.
Dynaudio Xeo 6 – Performance
The layout of our listening space meant that the Xeo 6 speakers couldn't be placed against a rear wall or corner, making the Neutral EQ setting a no-brainer, but they certainly don't need any such reinforcement to deliver a powerful, room-filling performance. Even in open space their muscular, enveloping sound comes at you like a sonic tsunami.
Fed into the Hub from a laptop via USB, “Unstoppable” by Lianne La Havas lives up to its title through these powerhouse speakers. The booming kick drum thumps tightly and purposefully, while string and choral arrangements swoop around the Xeo's spacious stage, reaching the epic proportions for which its producers were clearly striving.
La Havas' vocal takes centre stage, never struggling to be heard over the busy backdrop, while the open hi hats, harp chords and plinky piano stand out clearly alongside the beefy drums and bass. It's this irresistible combination of force and finesse that makes the Xeo 6 system such an enjoyable listen.
Switching to Coldplay's “Sky Full of Stars”, the Dynaudio brings the requisite scale and energy to this unashamed stadium anthem. It handles the song's energetic arrangements with effortless control and composure, and every sonic element – from Chris Martin's reverb-drenched vocal to the rousing piano chords and driving kick drum – is beautifully organised. The song comes at you as a cohesive whole, giving the impression that Dynaudio's chosen drivers and amps are perfectly matched and all pull in the same direction.
As we plunder our gamut of test tracks, including hi-res fodder such as Daft Punk's “Random Access Memories” and David Benoit's “2 In Love”, we also revel in the Dynaudio's articulate, full-bodied handling of solo instruments and vocals, the crisp leading edge on snare drums and guitars and its refined high frequencies. Most impressive is its bass output, which is muscular and fleet-footed – but never bloated.
Connect your TV to the Hub and the Xeos' outstanding power and clarity makes them perfect for viewing movies. Huge, slamming bass notes lend a sense of scale and depth to action scenes, while dialogue is authoritative and detailed. Gunshots and explosions hit hard within the roomy soundstage, which makes you feel strangely immersed even in a two-channel setup.
Should I buy the Dynaudio Xeo 6?
As wonderful as Xeo 6 is, most people reading this review probably won't see past the expensive price tag. And while we agree that £2,700 is a major outlay (plus £225 for the Hub, of course) let's put it into context. Not only are you getting a pair of luxurious, audiophile-grade wireless speakers, but since everything is built into the cabinets you're also eliminating the cost of amplifiers, cables and DACs.
But it's the Xeo 6's phenomenal performance that justifies the expense over and above anything else. Remarkably powerful, detailed and cohesive, these speakers will blow you away whether you're listening to an album or blasting out a Blu-ray disc. Dynaudio has improved on the impressive Xeo 3 and Xeo 5 with a bunch of nifty new features, something for which the Danish brand should be applauded.
The only downside is the lack of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This isn't a deal-breaker, since you can connect your smartphone or laptop to the Hub, but we think it would have made sense on a system such as this – as well as making that price tag a little easier to swallow.
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Features & connections
If you want more inputs and wireless features, the Dynaudio Connect box offers extra inputs along with DLNA streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz and Spotify Connect. It will cost you an extra £295, however.
The Xeo 10s are two-way actives, with each driver powered by a dedicated 65W amplifier. Dynaudio says this configuration allows it to fine tune the amplifier to match the drivers, and have greater control over the performance.
While the Xeo 10s keep their predecessor's 28mm soft dome tweeter, their 14cm MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) mid/bass driver has been reworked. The DSP crossover has been re-tuned, too, to improve dispersion, as well as performance at high volumes.
The speakers don't have a wire connecting them to each other (you just need to connect each to the mains), so there's more freedom in where you place them. A switch at the back of each enclosure optimises the Xeo's output for specific positions — close to a wall, in a corner, or out in free space — so the sound can be balanced accordingly.
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Just like on the older Xeo 2s, connections include a pair of line level inputs, a 3.5mm jack and an optical input that supports 24-bit/96kHz files. You also get Bluetooth – a big part of the Xeo 10s' appeal is being able to connect a wide variety of sources to it. You can easily use the Xeo 10s with your hi-fi sources, or your laptop and smartphone, or even use them as TV speakers. They're a versatile pair.
Two LEDs on each speaker indicate they're turned on and connected, while the touch sensitive controls on top of the speakers are simple to operate. We do end up using the neat remote control for changing volume and inputs more regularly, though.
Dynaudio Xeo 6 – Features
The brains of the operation is Dynaudio's upgraded Xeo Hub, which has to be purchased separately for a hefty £225. This compact black box sports a tactile rubberised finish and fetching curved corners, while at the back sit a generous bank of connections.
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However, there is support for high-resolution audio playback up to 96kHz/24-bit through the Hub's optical, coaxial and USB inputs – a talent not offered by the Xeo 5.
Xeo 6 uses the same driver array as its predecessor: a 27mm soft dome tweeter and two 5in MSP woofers. They're driven by three 50W amplifiers (increased from two in the Xeo 5), the sort of muscle that makes them suitable for use in larger rooms. DSP fine tuning gets the two speakers working together in harmony.
Dynaudio Xeo 6 – Operation
The Hub sets up its own wireless connection with the speakers through a switch on the back, which lets you choose from three wireless bands (2.4GHz, 5.2GHz or 5.8GHz, as opposed to just 2.4GHz on the previous Hub) to ensure the most stable and reliable signal. Add more Xeo speakers and the Hub will also beam music to them as part of a multiroom system.
The Hub has a range of 50m in a typical home or 100m in open space. But if your speakers are out of range then you can extend their reach with the optional Xeo Extender (£135). Alternatively, the £135 Xeo Link receives the wireless signal from the Xeo Hub and makes it available on its analogue and digital outputs, allowing you to add active speakers or a subwoofer to your system.
Setting up the Xeo 6 is a straightforward process. Place and power up the speakers, hook up your source(s) to the Xeo Hub, flick the relevant switches on the back and press play – the Hub's Auto Play feature detects the signal and switches to it automatically.
What is the Dynaudio Xeo 6?
Xeo 6 is a wireless floorstanding speaker system that aims to deliver audiophile sound quality while keeping clutter to a minimum. Connect your sources to the Xeo Hub and it transmits sound signals to the active speakers using proprietary wireless technology, giving you a clean, stylish setup with no need for external amplifiers or metres of messy cable.
This speaker system will no doubt appeal to style-conscious listeners who don't want to compromise on sound quality. As the successor to the Danish brand's Xeo 5 system (the floorstanding version of Xeo 3, which we reviewed in 2013), there's a wide range of new features and upgrades that push its performance capabilities even further. But at £2,700 for the speakers alone it's not cheap, so we're expecting nothing short of a spellbinding performance.
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Build quality
The Xeo 10s have had a cosmetic revamp over their predecessors: a new aluminium baffle finish has been introduced with not a single screw in sight, giving the speakers a cleaner and more minimalist look.
The dimensions remain the same: they're a compact pair that will be at home on a desktop or bookshelf if you're short on space. The Xeos come in satin black or satin white and build quality remains sturdy.
We're less taken with the aesthetics though. The plastic moulded cabinet (especially the back panel) and aluminium front are nicely made, but don't feel as luxurious as they should for speakers costing £1300.
There's a utilitarian feel to the Xeo 10s, which is fine if you're placing them in brackets but it doesn't immediately feel like you've had your money's worth.
We noted that the previous Xeo 2s also left us feeling shortchanged in this regard and it's hard not to feel more so given the £300 price hike.
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Sound quality
That feeling dissipates once you start playing music through the Dynaudios, as they sound fantastic. They have the same spirit as their predecessors – namely, a do-it-all attitude that's confident with every element of delivering music – but it's level of clarity and scale that really stands out.
For small speakers, they sure belt out a large and spacious soundstage. These boxes have no problem going loud: they remain clean and don't harden up when pushed to high volume levels, which is very impressive for speakers of their kind.
There's authority to the sound, too – every strand of Girlfriend by Christine and the Queens is delivered with utmost clarity and confidence.
Nothing trips them up. These speakers time well, keeping up with the song's funky rhythms and charge through the tune with an energy that's infectious and endlessly listenable. The sound is agile and speedy; the tonal balance even. The leading edges of notes are clean and precise, but never sound clinical.
Dynaudio Xeo 10 tech specs
Inputs RCA, 3.5mm, optical digital
Bluetooth Yes
Remote Yes
Dimensions (hwd) 25.5 x 17 x 15cm
Weight 4kg
Finishes 2 (black satin, white satin)
There's a good deal of satisfying weight and grunt to the low end – again surprising because of their size. But the thundering drums and raucous guitars of A Perfect Circle's Judith have plenty of wallop. The basslines on Fleetwood Mac's Dreams are punchy and are pulled taut. Voices are projected clearly and with ample detail – every lyric and vocal nuance is enunciated clearly.
In fact, we have so much fun listening to the Xeo 10s that we forget that we've been streaming songs over Bluetooth for most of the time. Wireless is usually a compromise, but the Xeo 10s' Bluetooth presentation enjoys a sophistication that is unrivalled in most other audio products. It's worth noting that we do occasionally experience stutters when streaming from a smartphone and laptop, but it's not too sustained an interruption.
Switching to the line level inputs grounds the music even further. There's that bit more grip, solidity and detail compared with streaming via Bluetooth. The overall presentation remains the same across the inputs.
