Best new stereo speakers: Bristol Sound & Vision Show 2014

Bristol Show 2014: Best new stereo speakers
This year's Bristol Sound & Vision Show was once again the best place to see the latest and greatest hi-fi and home cinema kit, and as ever there were a wealth of new speakers on show.
Best stereo speakers 2014:
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Acoustic Energy was showing off its new entry-level speaker range, the 1 Series. This line-up aims to bring the performance of the company's 3-Series and higher-end ranges to a more affordable price point. The 1-Series starts with the £275 101 bookshelf speakers, which are joined by a floorstander, centre and sub.
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One of the most exciting launches at the show is the new B&W 600 Series, which the company claims represents a "dramatic improvement" on its existing ranges. There are six new speakers in total, including standmounts and floorstanders, centre channels and subs, and two complete cinema packages.
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Dynaudio's Confidence Platinum speakers certainly sound imposing and the Platinum overhaul, borrowed from the flagship Evidence range, makes them hard to miss. The speakers use Dynaudio's Esotar2 tweeter and the company's Directivity Control technology, which aims to make light of any issues with your room acoustics.
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ELAC is a German speaker brand with plenty of pedigree and it was showing off its new AIR-X active wireless speakers at this year's show. Also new is the Air-X Base station, which allows you to play multiple sources in multiple rooms making them an intriguingly flexible, high-end multiroom option.
PMC meanwhile had the latest addition to the twenty series on show, the twenty.26. The speaker joins the existing five PMC twenty models as the largest of the range.
Talking of expanding ranges, Q Acoustics took the wraps off its new Concept 40 floorstander. Yours for £1000 a pair, the speakers promise "an unparalleled soundstage, dynamics and sheer musicality" -- we can't wait to get them in for review.
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Quadral was showing its new Rondo aktiv speakers, a pair of desktop speakers that support wireless Bluetooth sound and have a USB input. There was also another addition to the growing soundbase market in the form the Magique.
Tannoy's room is sure to be one of the most popular this year thanks to a rare public appearance for the new Prestige Gold Reference. A whole host of new technology is inside the speakers and on the outside the eagle-eyed amongst you will note the return of Tannoy's famous lightning strike logo.
Last but not least, Wharfedale was showing off its first soundbar, the Vista 100, plus the new DS-1 speakers. They may look like a traditional speaker but inside this active design is aptX Bluetooth wireless and NFC connectivity, making another addition to the growing number of active wireless speakers on the market.
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