Paul McGowan from PS Audio writes: “The FR5 is what many of us affectionately refer to as a bookshelf speaker, though I detest the term—preferring stand-mount speaker instead. Why the distinction? Well, to me, a bookshelf speaker is one you actually might consider placing into a bookshelf.
Horrors! Nothing personal, but I do hope no one actually places these beauties in a bookshelf. Never mind that the rear of the FR5 has a huge passive radiator (that allows it to get down into the 30Hz regions). And never mind that you would lose most of the speaker’s amazing imaging and soundstage.
No, the bottom line for me is respecting this amazing work of art and giving it the space to blow you away with its performance.
Ok, I will now step down off my high horse and share with you my first feelings of this remarkable achievement.
“So, when I took a moment out of my hectic day, grabbed the iPad and went to our playlist on Qobuz, selected a Norah Jones classic, imagine my surprise when it sounded like the larger FR20s were actually attached.
Have a look at this picture I shot from my listening position.
Chris just smiled.
This was wicked sorcery on a level that should be illegal. The entire room came alive with a soundstage as big, wide, and deep as anything I have ever heard in that room including the Infinity IRSV.
I kept shaking my head in disbelief. I know the FR5s reach down into the 30’ish Hz region. I know it has the same tweeter as the 10s, 20s and 30s. But dammit! Take a look at the thing!
There’s nothing there! It’s a tiny stand-mounted white box with two drivers.
The only way I could make sense of what I was hearing was to close my eyes—remove the image that couldn’t make sense.
Track after track—all my favorites, from Octave to the classics, this pair of little boxes simply stunned me. Set me back on my heels. Had my head shaking in disbelief.”
The only downside to this? The FR5s won’t be available until early summer. I know. That’s a long time to wait.