Price Paid:  $70.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
I bought these speakers to replace some Kef Coda sevens. Being a rock fan I found them too harsh in the mid to high frequencies unless played at particuraly low volumes. I think the tweeters are more aggresive than the silk dome type found on the coda's which are now a lot more commonplace on contemporary speakers. I found soundstaging and precision pretty good, bass weak, but not surprising for their size. being rear ported you do have to avoid confining them to corners and close too walls (at least a couple of feet away) unless you want over the top boomy bass that drowns everything else out. So not good for small rooms like studys and small bedrooms. Overall ok for low volume listening. But not enough presence for complex rock and pop.

Strengths:
Good value for money
Bi-wireable
gold plated binding posts
nice sound at ambient volumes
good build quality

Weaknesses:
Over trebley
vague bass
unrefined looks
far too aggressive loud

DWW

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $80.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
Good value speakers that do more than enough to justify the asking price. Build quality is OK but styling is a little grim. Do bi-wire if you're hooking these up to a decent amplifier/mini system - there is definite sharpening and tightening to the sound. Bass is perfectly fine for late night in the kitchen type listening. On the whole, the Gales are capable, solid enough, maybe a little bright, but do a good job if you're not into spending bizarre amounts of cash on your kit. Too small for rooms of size.

twistedvine

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.80 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Without the finances to become an audiophile I've been striving for bargain speakers for some time. I came across these speakers and they seemd well built and good enough. Although one grille pin is missing, there was no other damage to these speakers. Very position conscious, the bass can easily become overdominant. The dispersion of the treble is very poor, when listening within close proximity the higher frequencies can be lost all together. Image staging is acceptable for the price when positioned ideally, the speakers set around eye level. Severe colouration spoils these speakers as cheap seconds, familiar vocals become deep nasal renditions! These will not suit complex music, for instance NIN or Smashing Pumpkins, whilst soundscapes such as Enya or Sigur Ros seem to compliment the speakers quite well. Ideal for the bedroom whilst home from uni!

Strengths:
Sturdy and well built (except grille pins!)

Weaknesses:
Positioning, colouration and dispersion! Overpriced when new, and sold second hand for comparable prices to Tannoy's and Monitor Audio's - much more competant speakers for the size and money!

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy Mercury M20 Gold Sony plastic numbers... Musical Fidelity MC2s Tannoy M2s

Price Paid:  $90.00 from Richer Sounds

Summary:
I bought these little speakers as a pair to use in my home office, connected to an old Quad 303/33/FM3 system which I had in the loft. The size was perfect and the beech finish went well with everything else in the room. Previously, I had had the system connected to JR149's (c. 1978!) and once run-in they have performed consistently well. I have bi-wired them which makes all the difference and placed them about 10cms from the wall on Blu-tack blobs. Overall, I was and am very impressed with the quality of the stereo image and range from these speakers and in a relatively small room (5m x 3m)the bass is plenty.I am tempted to use them in an 5.1 set up in the lounge, after reading some of the other reviews!!

Strengths:
Excellent value for money as a second speaker set or as a replacement for a mini-system pair of plastic box speakers. Tight bass, especially good with vocals and classical music, but these can rock with metal, trance whatever. Rear connectors are extremely high quality, compared with more expensive speakers and when used with Gale's banana plugs and XL-315 cable - brilliant.

Weaknesses:
None really for the money - a bit trebly on some pieces of music, but not too bad - works well with "warm" sounding equipment like the Quad and Denon amps.

Similar Products Used:
JR149 speakers

Price Paid:  $99.00 from Richersounds Brighto

Summary:
The speakers at the all round produce a excellent sound and have a very deep bass when placed correctly.These speakers are a very good buy.

Strengths:
They have a punchy bass and a very clear and detaled sound ,

Weaknesses:
There is only 1 weakness and that is the overall look of the loudspeakers