Review: Waterfall Audio Serio Speakers and EVO subwoofer

Let's face it, guys like big speakers, lots of power, deep bass and wires that handle tons of current. Girls don't. Girls prefer entertainment systems that fit in a room without taking over the space. Sound is important, but so is style and how well it fits with the room décor, and what works in a man cave doesn't usually belong in the living room. The solution to this age-old problem may be the Waterfall Audio Serio, a compact satellite/subwoofer system.

The Serio system is available as a 2.1 channel stereo system or 5.1-channels for home theater. The satellites can be used on stands, a bookshelf or wall-mounted with the supplied bracket. Regardless, they are small enough to virtually disappear, but with their contemporary style you may want them in full view. Waterfall Audio calls the Serio "the key to a successful minimalistic installation".

Its 3-inch driver is housed in an aluminum enclosure framed by a ¼" piece of glass that forms the baffle. The driver is coupled to the aluminum enclosure using Waterfall's patented Heatstream process to improve power handling and durability.

The Serio speaker stands have a thick glass base that provides good stability for the speaker. The speaker wires run in a channel from the floor to the back of the satellites.

If wall-mounting them for a flat panel television, the bracket allows the speaker to be aimed into the listening area. The Serio is available in black, white or silver with black or white grilles.

The Serios are matched with the equally discreet High Force 1 Evo active subwoofer with a 9-inch woofer and 150-watt amplifier. The 10" x 10" cube subwoofer is a solid, well built component and small enough to tuck away under a chair or table.

The Waterfall Audio brand, based in France, includes floorstanding, bookshelf and in-wall speakers all designed around a glass theme. The Krystaline series are floorstanding speakers with glass enclosures and the Ultra Flat Line series, which includes the Serio are bookshelf or wall-mounted speakers with glass accent trim.

Small speakers such as the 3-inch drivers in the Serio satellites have inherent sound advantages. A small speaker behaves closer to a point-source driver where sound radiates in a 360-degree pattern around the speaker. In this case they deliver excellent center imaging particularly with vocals. Quick transient response is another characteristic of small speakers because of their lower mass. Percussion instruments benefit from swift transient response.

Pinpoint vocal imaging and a snappy-sounding guitar made Maria Gomez' "Lucia" come alive (CD, Chesky Records). The accordian in this song, a seemingly uncommon musical instrument, sounded sweet and natural. The satellites seemed to blend seamlessly with the subwoofer.

The Serios have good detail resolution as I heard in Anjani's "No One After You" (CD, Columbia Records). Vocal clarity and imaging stood out again as a strong point of the Serios.

As I listened, it became clear that the Serio speakers are most comfortable with music containing lots of well-recorded detail. They sound best at moderate volumes but have no trouble handling dynamic peaks when needed - a good blend of performance and style.

So guys, you'll still want big speakers in the man cave, but with the Waterfall Audio Serio in the living room, den or office you get a speaker system with balanced sound quality, solid imaging and clean details that integrates neatly with the room. Girls will like it, too. Satisfy your inner ear and her eye for style at the same time.

Serio

• Driver: 3-inch
• Recommended power: 30 - 80 watts
• Peak Power: 150 watts
• Impedance: 4 - 8 ohms
• Sensitivity: 87 dB
• Frequency response: 180 Hz - 20 kHz
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 125 x 85 x 125
• Weight: 1 Kg
• Available in black, white and silver
• Speaker Stands: optional

High Force 1 Evo Subwoofer

• Enclosure: closed box
• Driver: 8-inch
• Amplifier: 150 watts (peak power 250 watts)
• Frequency response: 38 Hz - 150 Hz
• Crossover: Adjustable 12, 24 dB/octave or LFE
• Phase: variable 0 - 180 degrees
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 10" x 11" x 10"
• Weight: 33 lbs.
• Available in black or white
• System price as tested (2.1 channel): $1,799
• Contact: www.waterfallaudiousa.com