What Hi-Fi? Verdict
The Lite is a well-made, good-looking package at a very sensible price
Pros
- +
Great build
- +
price
- +
sound shows good integration and detail…
Cons
- -
...but lacks the slam of the best packages
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.
This is the entry-level offering in Tannoy's well-established Arena range, using similar, distinctive-looking satellites to the higher-end Arenas – basically, if you think owls look cool, you'll love these.
The major difference between this and the standard Arena system is the subwoofer, with this system supplied with the 300w TS10 bassbin. This is a four-star product in its own right, offering very decent value for money. The build of the sub is impressive, though not quite up to the fit and finish of the sats – some feat considering the price.
In action, the performance of the system mostly lives up to expectations. The system offers an incredible degree of refinement and clarity when fed the right sonic stream. Indeed, there's a vast reservoir of detail available to the keen listener, and it's a doddle to pick out the subtleties on the Blu-ray disc of Ratatouille.
Can sound a little thin
If there is a problem with the system, it's that it sounds a little thin, lacking the punch and slam of the best – we blame the sub for this. Other than this weakness, this system boasts many of the good points of its Award-winning siblings, with good integration across the broad soundfield, and a decent room-filling experience.
The centre unit might be a different size to the four corner sats, but shares the same sonic characteristics as its sibling, but with just enough extra body to give dialogue the right gravitas.
Tannoy's past mastery with music is very much in evidence here, and the Arena Lite is good with tunes. The previously mentioned amounts of detail are much in evidence with the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack of Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense. Again, though, the sub fails to match the best.
Overall, apart from the slightly iffy upper bass, this is a great system, but one calling out for a better sub. When it comes to styling, build and affordability, it's well worth a proper audition.
