What Hi-Fi? Verdict
A serious achievement, these stunning speakers should be on any high-end auditioning list
Pros
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Among the most realistic-sounding speakers we’ve heard
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look stunning
Cons
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Demand top-notch partnering equipment
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that’s it
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Let's cut to the chase: the Performance 6s are among the most realistic sounding speakers we have ever heard. The way they deliver Massive Attack's Future Proof makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, while Sinéad O'Connor's guest vocals on A Prayer for England leave no hair unstraightened in their emotional power. The 6s really are that good.
The key to this realism is found in the Performance 6s' midrange. A 100mm driver handles middle frequencies and, like the two bass drivers beneath, uses a third-generation CPC (Continuous Profile Cone) design.
No room for monster bass
Lower frequencies are taut, and always remain controlled and musical. They delve deep but at just 37cm deep these are not the biggest cabinets, so don't expect the monster bass of, say, a similarly priced PMC pair of speakers. The Performance 6s also deliver extremely impressive treble.
However, all this frequency excellence is nothing without great integration. Too often we come across speakers that deliver the individual sections of a tune, but fail to knit everything together. However, the Performance 6s integrate better than a small child's chin and a melting ice-cream cone.
And there's more: these speakers look and feel gorgeous. The Performance 6s are the result of a three-year research and development programme – we reckon it was time well-spent.
