Jamo A407 HCS12 review

Jamo clearly isn't a company to try its hand at different things.

A glance at the Danish manufacturer's website shows all manner of different speakers, from its top-of-the-range Reference series right down to the more meagre A100 series of small-room solutions.

This package sits somewhere in the middle, offering a step-up in size and price over the A405HCS5, which we tested in June.

The eagle-eyed will have noticed this is the only option on test here featuring floorstanding speakers at the front, Jamo's A407s, which attractively screw into a triangular base plate.

This pair, along with the smaller, wall-mountable A402 speakers and the A400 CEN, have microscopic binding points, so kiss goodbye to banana plugs and drag out some bare wire for connection. The neat A400 sub completes the package.

We test out the Jamo system with a few bristling scenes from our Blu-ray copy of Letters of Iwo Jima, and we like what we hear.

The front three provide a formidable mass of detailed, dynamic sound, those floorstanders helping to ensure an expansive front end that throws gunfire into the corners of the room, while the centre channel is clear and solid.

Integration with the rears isn't quite as cohesive as others here, the smaller satellites struggling to involve themselves, but we're still left with a big sound for the size and money, no small part due to the impressively imposing subwoofer.

Treble costs Jamo a fifth star
We switch to Batman Begins on Blu-ray and again enjoy the Jamo's excitement, while also detecting an edge to the top end. As Batman flings himself on to a steel stairway, the clang of the treble sounds hard and harsh. Those teeth-grating winces, while far from unforgivable, will grate over time.

There's plenty to like here – it sounds punchy and fast with multichannel and stereo music – but we'd choose something a little smoother on top and more balanced at the back if push came to shove.