Loudspeakers

There is no Piega Ace subwoofer. Indeed, the company doesn't seem that interested in dedicated subs, offering just two models, one of which – the TMicro – is intended for use in a 2.1 system (it has an onboard stereo amplifier). So Ace buyers will have to choose their own.

Quite A Character
Set up with my Arcam AVR750 and – to continue the discreet vibe – a compact Q Acoustics subwoofer, this good-looking five-pack engineered an impressively characterful, unfatiguing sound. Piega's tweeters deliver on their smooth-yet-detailed promise, and there's a solid and always well-controlled bass performance coming from the Ace 50s in particular.

You could almost call it easy-listening, but that would do this system a disservice, because while there's little-to-no trace of high-frequency strain or brittleness, these speakers don't obfuscate tiny soundmix nuances.

What is lacking is a sense of high-energy attack and room-filling scale. The latter shouldn't be expected from cabinets that have clearly been engineered for small/medium environments, but the former might put of those who want their domestic home cinema system to rival the dynamics of their local multiplex. These Piegas trade snap, crackle and pop for subtlety and elegance.

The opening of Wonder Woman 1984 (4K Blu-ray), with its orchestral score and voiceover narration, told me a lot about what this Ace bundle could do. The front L/R speakers deliver a weighty, even-handed bass that worked well with the low strings, and the Ace Centre found plenty of insight and detail in Diana's nostalgic monologue. In fact, this speaker's ability to bring a real life-like feel to male and female speech, rather than simply throwing it out there, is a standout trait of the package as a whole.

Patty Jenkins' camera flies over forests and mountains and we arrive at some sort of Themysciran sports day, complete with an arena of cheering fans. Here, the Ace 30s enter the fray, showing the same knack for resolving fine details but doing it with a lush tonality that never grows tiring. A gong is struck, its deep, metallic sound decaying smoothly away, and then Diana leaps into action. There are more Foley effects now, as Amazonians scale ropes and feet slam down on the assault course apparatus. A moment where our young heroine ducks to avoid a swinging battering ram delivers a full-bodied sound effect that pans across and away from the LCR stage.

Later, when Diana and Steve face off against Max's goons in the White House, the fight's gunshots and fizzing blades benefit from the Ace's joined-up soundfield and zippy steering ability, albeit without hooligan levels of sheer punch. But while I've heard these weapons discharge with greater impact, that doesn't mean the sequence wasn't anything other than enjoyable.

Swapping to Top Gun (4K Blu-ray), the Piega speakers had a blast with Harold Faltermeyer's synth-laden score, the swoosh of the fighter jets and the distinct texture of the in-cockpit dialogue.

Yet it was the arrival of Berlin's ballad Take My Breath Away that reminded me that Piega is admired as a high-end hi-fi brand. The Ace 50s are musical to a level that you'd hope for at the price, and have that silky treble that many rivals don't. It's that this is joined by a mid-range and bass performance of real ability, from a cabinet so svelte, that's most surprising.

Out Of Left-Field
To sum up, this 5.0 set, with its aluminium cabinets, pleated tweeters and grilles that are practically impossible to remove, comes a little from left-field. Its sound performance is somewhat different to the competition too – a lot of floorstanders around this price major on big, exuberant bass and a crowd-pleasing sense of energy. Piega instead focuses on low-end control, exceptional detailing and a refined treble. A little safe-sounding? Possibly. But the fact these cabinets are so easy to install is a major bonus. Definitely worth grabbing a listen.

HCC Verdict

Piega Ace Series 5.0

Price: £3,550
www.piega.ch

We say: Unusually slender loudspeakers with an unusually smooth and unfatiguing sound. The Ace's treble subtlety and balanced bass makes up for the lack of attack.

Overall: 4/5

Specifications

Ace 50
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x AMT-1 Air Motion Transformer tweeter; 1 x 4.75in MDS mid-range; 2 x 4.75in MDS woofers ENCLOSURE: Front-ported three-way floorstander FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 45Hz-40kHz SENSITIVITY (claimed): 90dB POWER HANDLING (claimed): 150W DIMENSIONS: 1,040(h) x 140(w) x 160(d)mm WEIGHT: 12kg

Ace 30
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x AMT-1 tweeter; 1 x 4.75in MDS bass/mid driver ENCLOSURE: Sealed two-way bookshelf FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 50Hz-40kHz SENSITIVITY (claimed): 87dB POWER HANDLING (claimed): 150W DIMENSIONS: 220(h) x 140(w) x 160(d)mm WEIGHT: 3kg

Ace Centre
DRIVE UNITS: 1 x AMT-1 Air Motion Transformer tweeter; 2 x 4.75in MDS bass/mid ENCLOSURE: Sealed two-way centre FREQUENCY RESPONSE (CLAIMED): 45Hz-40kHz SENSITIVITY (claimed): 87dB POWER HANDLING (claimed): 150W DIMENSIONS: 140(h) x 340(w) x 160(d)mm WEIGHT: 4kg