Opus Series

Melbourne Herald Sun, Connect

It’s a familiar theme: Dad brings home a new DVD player and widescreen TV and before you can say Dolby Digital, he wants better sound.
Problem is that while the picture quality is top-notch, the sound is pretty much low-end.

But when you’re on a tight budget, the only affordable models seem to be cheap bangers made in a tin shed…not so good when what Dad is really after are quality speakers.
Many smart buyers are now finding value for money in Australian-made speakers.

Whatmough Monitors’ new Opus range offers buyers all the features they’ve come to expect from top Aussie speaker brands. They’re solidly built, they sound good and the price is competitive.
The Opus Series comprises a choice of rear-effects, small centre, large centre, bookshelf, floor-standing and large floor-standing speakers. There’s also a powered subwoofer, which is a bass speaker with its own built in amplifier.

Prices range from $799 for the Opus FX Rear Effects speakers to $1799 for the large floorstanding model, the Opus 30.

The range comes in a choice of three-finishes – rosewood, black and my favourite, Bubinga (African rosewood) – and each is a genuine timber veneer.

Along with the exemplary finish on the cabinets, the Opus speakers offer all the traditional qualities of the Whatmough brand. Tweeters to handle the treble frequencies were sourced from Vifa, while the 17cm bass/midrange drivers come from Son Audax. Internally, the crossover circuit which splits the sound signal and directs it to the relevant driver is one of Colin Whatmough’s best efforts to date.

After listening sessions using Connect’s range of reference equipment, including Pioneer’s brutishly powerful AX10i audio-video receiver, Sony’s 3000 SACD player and the Vincent SDV2 DVD player, it was clear the Opus range delivers far more than the price indicates. The sound was neither dull nor bright, simply neutral. This indicates the Opus speakers were adding or subtracting very little to the music or movie soundtracks being played.
The Opus speakers are accurate. So accurate, that during an audition you’ll hear the tonal differences between receivers and amplifiers used to power them.

Within their price range, the Opus speakers are clearly amazing value. So good, that home cinema buyers should slot a set at the top of their “must audition” list.