SMS1 Review - Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News
SMS1 - "Voices Sounded Genuinely Lifelike, with a Blessed Absence of Sibilance"
"There was no compromising of the vocals’ clarity, no clouding of the space."
"The SMS1 has a high crossover point, so the larger driver is acting as a true mid/bass unit. Suffice it to say, voices sounded genuinely lifelike, with a blessed absence of sibilance."
"What made it so involving was the way the harmonies meshed, the resolving power of the tweeter ensuring that each singer could not only be heard clearly, but defined in their own space."
"This classy monitor has a distinct character, leaning toward the rich at the bottom and the analytical at the top, rather than the totally neutral ‘studio’ sound I might have anticipated. If the balance suits your taste, you'll find it sounds bigger than a small two-way, it’s easy to drive and the perceived value suggests a price of at least a grand more."
- Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News
Also in Reviews
CAF 2025 Best of Show - Krix Home Theater - Powered by Benchmark
"The setup used ... ten Benchmark AHB2 amps, and a Storm Audio ISP Elite 24 MK3 surround processor."
"The system delivered serious punch and clarity."
"During the car chase and gunfight sequence from No Time to Die, the Krix setup managed to convey the intensity and scale of a far larger theater—tight, immersive, and controlled. Proof that with the right engineering and setup, even a small room can deliver big-cinema energy."
- Brian Mitchell, ecoustics.com
AHB2 - Stereophile 2025 Recommended Component - Power Amplifiers
AHB2 - Receives Stereophile's Top Rating for Power Amplifiers
"An extraordinary amplifier."
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KRIX 11.6.6 Home Theater - Powered by 10 Benchmark AHB2 Amplifiers - CAF 2025
"The final visual and audio results in this room were indeed spectacular."
"Complete and total immersion, with clean, clear sonics that were not fatiguing at all."
- Carlo Lo Raso, SECRETS of Home Theater and High Fidelity