Loudspeakers

Our V12 is in its alternate white satin finish, which obviously isn't a match for the LCR750 and SUR55T models, but would no doubt fit with some of M&K Sound's other speakers (such as its M Series models).

Cost-Effective Concoction
The V12 isn't the only member of the M&K lineup to grace my reference system, I also have three S150 speakers at the front, and a pair of S150T surround speakers at the sides. As a result I'm well positioned to compare the 750 Series with the exact same model to which it's supposed to offer a more cost-effective alternative.

In testing, the system was controlled by a Lyngdorf MP-60 AV processor, and the speakers driven with an Emotiva XPA-11 power amplifier – so precision and headroom certainly weren't an issue. This combination also provided a solid platform for evaluating the neutrality, tonal balance and dynamic range of the speakers.

It was immediately apparent that despite the price differential, the 750 Series has managed to retain everything that's great about the more professionally-oriented S150 speakers. There's an undeniable transparency to the delivery, combined with some simply exceptional detail retrieval. The three main speakers produce a highly cohesive front soundstage, although as a purist I'd suggest installing the centre speaker vertically so it precisely matches the left and right speakers, if your setup allows.

The soundtrack of Le Mans '66 (4K Blu-ray) gives the M&K package a thorough sonic shakedown, with its extensive steering of sound effects from channel to channel as preposterously fast cars screech around the race track. It proves very revealing of the overall tonal balance and cohesion in play here; there's no obvious shift in the aural signature as cars zoom from speaker to speaker, where less uniform setups might struggle to maintain those purring engines. At the same time, the appropriately named V12 subwoofer meshes well with all five passive speakers, vital as these models can't compete with towering floorstanders when it comes to bass. Setup with an 80Hz crossover (the THX standard), the V12 picks up where the cabinets leave off – and the don't roll off a cliff as they reach their lower end – weaving in an undercurrent of low-frequencies to give the turbo-charged engines a deep and throaty roar.

The overall even-handed delivery and precision of these speakers draws out layers of detail within the soundtrack, whether it's the unique acoustic signature of different engines or the doppler shift of sounds moving towards or away from you. The speakers also reveal the subtle atmospherics of the grease-stained factories, resulting in fantastically evocative soundscapes.

Doing The Fandango
This ability to capture the ambience of a scene is again in evidence with the 1080p Blu-ray platter of Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen's first gig is a smallscale affair, with the band squeezed on to what barely qualifies as a stage. The soundmix enhances these cramped surroundings, from Freddie's nervous and breathy introduction to the feedback created by the band's instruments.

There are plenty of succinctly placed audio cues to envelope you, with the SUR55T speakers picking out the chink of beer glasses with a delicious high-frequency hit, and the murmur of the less-than-approving audience. Simultaneously, the tripole design spreads the sounds along my room's side and rear walls to create a greater sense of immersion. The result is an experience so intimate you can almost smell the beer.

At the other end of the spectrum, the band's stadium-sized heroics at Live Aid are delivered with all the gusto and epic scale you'd expect, despite the relatively compact nature of these speakers. The LCR channels locate each instrument within the mix, the high-frequency detail is exceptional, and the V12 subwoofer delivers a low end so tight and controlled that you can't get a credit card between the bass guitar and drums.

Freddie's vocals are rendered with operatic clarity, and there's a neutrality to the LCR750's delivery that simply reproduces the music as it's meant to be heard, without obvious colouration or excessive warmth. The SUR55Ts ensure the Wembley Stadium crowd spreads out like a sea of humanity, creating waves of voices that lap against the walls of the room. It's the perfect reminder of just how immersive a good 5.1 mix can be.

Joker (4K Blu-ray) comes across as a sonic experience as disturbing as the film's title character, with accurate, highly directional audio effects and Hildur Guðnadóttir's plaintive, cello-driven score given the grit and texture it demands. And there's a playfulness to the mix that again makes good use of the M&K system's transitional knack. When Joker imagines himself on The Murray Franklin Show and the camera moves around the studio, the house band moves with it, seamlessly passing from speaker to speaker. Dialogue is clear and well-integrated within the wider soundstage. There's very little action in the film, but the M&K array has the dynamic delivery to handle its unexpected moments of brutal violence.

Excess All Areas
M&K Sound is to be congratulated for producing a range of speakers that successfully combines the benefits of its S150 studio monitor with an overall package that's easier on the eye and the bank balance.

At £3,700, the upgraded 750 Series can't really be called 'budget' and entry-level is a very relative term, but there's no denying these speakers deliver a level of performance that's in excess of their price tag. The S150s still have the edge, but at less than half the price M&K's LCR750s give you a lot of acoustic bang for your hard-earned buck.

HCC Verdict

M&K Sound LCR750 5.1

Price:  £3,700
www.mksound.com

We say: This superb speaker package combines professional studio monitor levels of neutrality, balance and detail retrieval with a more consumer-friendly look and price.

Overall: 5/5

Specification

M&K Sound LCR750
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x 1in soft fabric dome tweeter; 2 x 5.25in fibreglass woofers
ENCLOSURE: Sealed FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 80Hz-20kHz
SENSITIVITY (CLAIMED): 90dB POWER HANDLING (CLAIMED): 80W
DIMENSIONS: 178(w) x 408(h) x 223(d)mm WEIGHT: 6.9kg

M&K Sound LCR750C
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x 1in soft fabric dome tweeter; 2 x 5.25in fibreglass woofers
ENCLOSURE: Sealed FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 80Hz-20kHz
SENSITIVITY (CLAIMED): 90dB POWER HANDLING (CLAIMED): 80W
DIMENSIONS: 408(w) x 178(h) x 223(d)mm WEIGHT: 6.9kg

M&K Sound SUR55T
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x 1in soft fabric dome tweeter; 2 x 5.25in fibreglass woofers;
2 x 3in paper pulp side-firing drivers ENCLOSURE: Sealed FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 80Hz-20kHz SENSITIVITY (CLAIMED): 85dB POWER HANDLING (CLAIMED): 55W DIMENSIONS: 178(w) x 259(h) x 221(d)mm WEIGHT: 4.7kg

M&K Sound V12 (subwoofer)
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x 12in forward-firing woofer ENCLOSURE: Sealed
FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 20Hz-200Hz ONBOARD POWER (CLAIMED):
300W (RMS)/500W (peak) REMOTE CONTROL: No DIMENSIONS: 360(w)
x 466(h) x 400(d)mm WEIGHT: 22kg FEATURES: LFE input; stereo line-level
phono input/output; volume, crossover and phase controls; THX EQ;
automatic standby