All three speakers in the line share a high sensitivity D'appolito configuration (94dB), with a reflex port, a nominal impedance of 6 ohms and power handling of 100 watts.

The cabinets are a room-friendly 104/22/28 cms., wrapped in book matched premium veneers. Cabinets are made of 750 density hardwood composite, selected for its superior sound characteristics, with a stiff triple bracing. Living Voice crossovers feature simple designs, mechanically isolated with components toleranced to two decimal places.

In the Avatar and Avatar OBX Living Voice uses the best of breed components including: Hoveland discrete film and foil capacitors (Musicaps), Clarostat non-inductive wire-wound resistors, hand made air cored inductors, and Scanspeak tweeters.

The Avatar features the Scanspeak D950000 high frequency unit, while the Avatar OBX receives the top-of-the-line Scanspeak Revalator D990000. Crossovers are star earthed, and in the OBX the crossovers are suspended in two external cases allowing the ideal component orientation, spacing and isolation.

According to Kevin Scott, chief designer at Definitive Audio "The Auditorium loudspeaker reproduces music with believable scale and dynamic contrast. The vivid, engaging presentation captures the life and immediacy of the concert hall. A large, coherent picture is painted with confidence and freedom whilst the fine low level resolution develops tonal shade and colour to the fullest and most natural extent."

Many reviewers agree. For example, when awarding the Auditorium their Best Buy award, Hi-Fi Choice wrote "This is an exceptionally subtle loudspeaker, maintaining fundamentally correct acoustic perspectives and tonality, alongside a lively expressiveness and considerable delicacy and transparency."

When awarding the Avatar OBX its Editor's Choice award, (Hi-Fi Choice December 1999), Jason Kennedy wrote "it's ability to reproduce complex material is quite remarkable. This coupled with a degree of transparency rarely encountered, puts this speaker in competition with a good many highly regarded and priced alternatives."

Living Voice, of Nottingham, England, has been manufacturing hand built loudspeakers for over ten years. During this time they have received considerable acclaim from numerous audio publications including three "Best Buy" awards, two "Editor's Choice" awards and one "Product Of The Year" award.

• Venus Hi-Fi