★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Just buy a pair

by Lisa C. Arcoleo

After 72 hours with my new Vanatoo Zero system I offer this initial response…hopefully another after a month or two.

If this active speaker system offers the overall specs you are seeking, just buy a pair and consider yourself lucky you found them. Don’t go for anything else before hearing these little hot potatoes.

My past includes many years designing, prototyping, producing world-class Loudspeakers for some of the most famous high-end audio companies. I’ve been blessed to have been knee deep in high-end analogue audio in its heyday 80/90’s. This was the time the digital format came into existence in audio applications, it was a wild time technologically in audio. I was building some unbelievable loudspeaker systems & developing new technology with some of the best audio engineers in the world. We had a blast.

I place very high value on “value for your dollar” as most do. So when I went looking for a new set of monitors for our computer area I looked at everything out there. I was willing to go to $450-500 but size of the speakers (on the small side) was a serious consideration. The Zero’s caught my eye then my interest after checking its specs…impressive I thought. $299 buys you what in my opinion, is an unbeatable combination of versatility, ease of use coupled with utterly fantastic audiophile performance. Pretty damn cool in my book.

What they are: sonically superb, physically attractive & very solid, moderately small allows diverse installation, handsomely powered, clearly solid engineering, technically head of the pack, input/output for almost any need including built-in Bluetooth Aptx. Now how cool is that?

What they are not: Not for those seeking high volumes and/or bass simulation beyond design spec.

How they sound (not broken in only 72h): balanced, neutral leaning to warm yet crystal clear, very coherent at low AND higher volume (uncommon in small monitors). The soundstage produced by the Zero’s in uncanny. In our install the speakers flank an iMac, one speaker left/right of the screen. This is a narrow separation yet prssnt a deep soundstage extending nicely beyond each speaker, very stable, does not wander or become vague. Also uncommon for a mini bookshelf such as these. Highs are very spacious & smooth offering excellent detail. The mid/bass driver & passive radiator are the real surprise for me. D2Audio amp circuit, It works and works well. Solid, tight and again “smooth” yet crisp. Yes, there may be competing speakers that go lower BUT in my humble opinion also at the expense of clarity, punch & dynamic speed. The drivers are clearly quality and perfectly matched supplying very enjoyable music in all genre we've heard from them

The Vanatoo Zero’s replaced my well used KEF Piccoforte powered desktop speakers, probably going on 8 years old now. A wonderful speaker system that excelled at many things….lower mid/upper bass not one of them yet the KEF’s were as good as anything I have heard for mid level volume music for under $200 (back then). The Zero’s bring a quantum level increase in performance in every sonic parameter. Pretty darn cool.

Hey, evaluating audio reproduction is entirely subjective. Buy whatever you like but don’t kick your self in the ass if you buy something else and don’t first audition these beauties...

I currently us the Zero's with an 8” $159 Pioneer subdesigned by Andrew Jones the Pioneer gets you excellent performance and a decent bottom end that matches the Vanatoos well so far.

Will try to submit a final review in a month or two

Btw...never met anyone at Vanatoo, know nothing of their business.

Blessings to all

KLN