High End 2014 • Hot Product

Last year Cambridge Audio debuted its Aero loudspeaker series in Munich, their key feature being a BMR (balanced mode radiator) wideband drive unit. This derivative of NXT technology is used in the Naim Ovator models at relatively high prices and covers both midrange and treble frequencies. The Aero models are a lot of speaker for the money, but ultimately limited by the nature of cabinets at £350 and £650 per pair for the stand-mounted Aero 2 and floorstanding Aero 6, respectively.

This year Cambridge has addressed this with the Aeromax range. These have extra internal bracing to lock the drivers in place from behind, upgraded crossovers and better cabling and terminals. The Aeromax models also have a fourth- rather than third-generation BMR driver with twice the excursion, the same 250Hz-to-20kHz bandwidth and "a more isotropic nature" -- meaning wider dispersion. The BMRs have a flat panel, which in this instance is made of a honeycomb material that has directionality in its construction. Cambridge has reduced the degree of directionality by making a less uniform honeycomb, and this is said to improve directionality and thus imaging.

The Aeromax 2 (above) is $749/pair. . .

. . .and the floorstanding Aeromax 6 is $1499/pair. Both come in rather nicer finishes than their brethren. If the Aero standard is anything to go by, Aeromax could be a giant slayer.