New York-based audio company Master & Dynamic has finally brought its new MA770 sound system to the UK market.
Unlike its major competitors, such as Sonos and Bose, the firm has moved away from plastic-made speakers, opting for a different construction entirely.
The MA770's outer shell is crafted using a proprietary concrete composite, which Master & Dynamic says "provides a number of acoustic benefits" – including better durability and a reduction in resonance.
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While concrete is rarely found on premium home electronics, the design of the MA770 will make you wonder why it isn't used more often.
The speaker is incredibly smooth to the touch with cone-like styling that shows onlookers how the sound travels from the narrow rear-end to the tip of the speakers at the front. A thin metal grille covers the units dual 4ins (102mm) kevlar woofers and single 1.5ins (38mm) aluminium-made tweeter.
Sir David Adjaye, the product's designer, says he had to make several adjustments to the styling so that the magnets that hold the metal grille in place were not visible on the speaker's surface. It's a small touch that many won't notice, but it shows the attention to detail the New York firm has poured into the MA770.
The same meticulous care has evidently been applied to the system's sound quality, too.
Most wireless speakers play music brilliantly, with enough bass and volume to satisfy the majority of audiophiles. The MA770, however, is one of few products that will make listeners feel as though they are in the recording studio with the artist.
The speaker appears to handle most styles of music with ease, whether it's Kanye West's Black Skinhead or a church choir in full swing. The only disappointing songs we experienced were acoustic tracks, which sounded a little flat and dull.
Setting up the MA770 and controlling the music being played is done through a smartphone or tablet, which can also be used to pair two speakers together for a broader stereo sound.
The MA770 is arguably one of the best multiroom speakers on the market. It has a price tag of £1,600, which makes it more than a £1,000 more expensive than most of its rivals.
The price is high but for those looking for a premium audio system that makes most songs sound like a live performance, the MA770 is the speaker for you.
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