Elipson Planet L review

Charming in many ways, but don't do big bass or big volume Tested at £600

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Stylish and Charming in many ways, and great alternatives to plain speaker cabinets for some

Pros

  • +

    Considerable style

  • +

    good fit and finish

  • +

    strong imaging and midrange transparency

Cons

  • -

    Don’t like big bass, big rooms or big volume levels

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Who says loudspeakers have to be plain old wooden cabinets? French company Elipson certainly wants you to think outside the box with its Planet L, one of the most striking designs we've tested in recent years.

Roughly the size of a medicine ball and finished in a striking high-gloss red (black or white finishes are also available) these dramatic speakers are a break from the norm in every sense.

Transparent and uncluttered
The latest in a long line of spherical speakers – Elipson has been keen on the idea for years – the Planet Ls come supplied with simple metal supporting rings that can be placed on your desk or atop a conventional speaker stand.

Alternatively, elegant polished-metal floorstands are also available, at a pricey £200 per pair.

To preserve the smooth lines of the speakers themselves, each grille features a magnetic attachment mechanism that lets you remove them without leaving unsightly mounting holes in place.

The Drive units are less exotic, with a 25mm soft-dome tweeter mounted at the heart of a 16.5cm paper-cone mid/bass driver, while the enclosure is ported to the rear.

Smooth treble, broad soundstage
And sound quality? It's largely fine, the Planet Ls combining smooth treble with a broad, sweeping soundstage and the ability to generate excellent imaging and focus.

They can 'hang' voices between the two speakers with unerring ease, and
their midrange remains transparent and uncluttered even with complex beats.

Some rivals can be more revealing in absolute terms (both for better and, depending on the recording, for worse) but there's plenty to like here all the same.

However, the Planet Ls are less comfortable with deep bass – as you'd expect, perhaps – and don't particularly relish large rooms or high volume.

If that's what you have in mind, the more conventional KEF Q300s will serve you better, as will the more expensive Tannoy DC6T floorstanders.

But of course, those relatively plain-jane speakers are unlikely to sway someone smitten by the Elipson's style - which is why we can see the Planet Ls making many friends in the months to come.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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