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Sonique Model 5.5 SE
Hi-fi and home theatre front speakers
Recommended retail price: $2495 per pair
(inc. GST)
REFERENCE PRODUCT
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Reviewer: Richard Morgan
In late 1992 Steve Lund and Greg Walden set-up shop in an Adelaide garage to make and market fine speaker systems under the Sonique brand name. A short while later the garage was replaced by facilities designed for and dedicated to the development of speakers systems, the Sonique product was represented in every major Australian metropolis and eight overseas countries.
 It's almost a decade down the track Sonique has become one of Australia's finest audio products manufacturers and one of the most acclaimed speaker brands both here and in overseas markets. There are two speakers ranges (for home theatre and hi-fi applications) and a range of valve amplifiers that people rave about.
The 5.5 speaker is one of the brand's success stories. A mid-market hi-fi model (that works brilliantly as the front speaker system in a home theatre set-up), that epitomises the philosophy at Sonique. I once said that if a speaker is the sum of its parts, then the 5.5 is a mathematical triumph, and this applies as much now to the current model 5.5 as it did when I conjured that snappy but absolutely relevant line about the original model.
The basic version of the 5.5 is the Mk III ($1995) itself an exceptional product, but my review pair is the 5.5 Special Edition version of the product ($2495), which is 10mm higher and 20mm wider than its standard counterpart, includes all the Special Edition improvements, along with an ultra-inert cabinet that is both lead lined and mineral (sand) filled. It also has specially selected drivers and crossovers with extremely tight tolerances (down to only 0.5 percent variation or less).
This is a tower-style speaker with slim front appearance. It's neither too big nor too small and to these eyes is the ideal enclosure package. There's no doubt this is a high end product, Sonique manages to generate value for money while putting a tonne of technology into the 5.5SE.
There's silver internal wiring to minimise signal transfer loss and cable degradation and the enclosure has undergone some extreme development. The cabinet is a made almost inert thanks to MDF construction up to 43mm thick in some areas, lead lining, heavy internal bracing, wood veneer on both sides of the cabinet walls and a separate sub enclosure. There's also some special internal damping material to absorb sound reflections.
The more inert the cabinet the better the speaker can recreate the performance because the sound signal is not coloured by reflections vibrations and reverberations. Filling the sub enclosure with sand improves the stability of the speaker when it's working and assists in a clean podium from which to operate. It all rests on adjustable spikes (which have been designed for all applications).
The sound of the 5.5 will appeal to people who prefer honest, accurate sound that's fairly unadulterated by the effects of colouration and distortion. Bass is deep and superbly controlled and there's no upper bass bloat to mar the stunning detail in and the cadence of bass dynamics. Midrange is clear and articulate, with no stridency in stringed instruments, where French horns sound golden, not brassy or aggressive … the list goes on. Treble is a pure delight detailed and transparent but certainly not lightweight or transitory.
The 5.5 will belt out Radiohead, Tea Party or Robert Johnson as well as does the likes Vivaldi and Rachmaninov, Brubeck and Ellington. The important thing to remember is that with these speakers you'll find yourself visiting or discovering these and other performers more often than with other lesser, simply because you'll be getting much more enjoyment from the experiences.
When it comes to home theatre, DVD technology is allowed to max out with these as the front pair. Everything they bring to music applies to surround sound, perhaps more so. You see, these speakers are literally superb at creating sound fields (sonic imaging) that provide instruments (and surround sound effects) and vocals (or dialogue) with life and space around them, as well as excellent tri-axial location information. This and the superb sonics mean you'll really enjoy new movies and take pleasure in re-discovering ones you've already seen.
In essence it means the 5.5 will bring more home entertainment, more enjoyment and more pleasure to your life … and isn't that what it's all about?
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