Accuvoice Stream S3 Speaker System Review

Wireless speakers are suddenly trendy, and in today's world, streaming music has become the norm for many audiophiles worldwide. Enter Accuvoice's new Stream S3 speaker system, which is one I have been looking forward to getting my hands on. I first heard about them in a press release, and I loved the look and design, especially the front array, which houses 2 midrange drivers above and below the tweeter. I previously owned the KEF LS50 wireless speakers and loved them, but this design is completely different: it is a 3-way active speaker system with a streaming hub.

Streaming music is big business not only for the music industry but also for the HiFi industry, and nearly all new integrated amplifiers now include built-in streamers. Some audiophiles also demand minimalist design and fewer cables, so having everything built into a speaker is very appealing to this group. The new Accuvoice Stream S3 speakers certainly have that to their advantage, but instead of the speakers doing all the work, they use a separate streaming hub that streams audio wirelessly to the speakers.

Accuvoice is a Swedish company whose founder and designer, Anders WiJK, has 30+ years of experience in the speaker industry, dating back to 1994, when he founded WiJK Acoustics and had great success with his now-vintage Wizard speakers, which audiophiles still use today. They even still make upgrade kits. Later, he joined Audio Pro to design and build wireless speakers, so he has a strong understanding of the concept and a feel for the market as a passionate audiophile himself.

Build Quality and Features

The build quality of the new Accuvoice Stream S3 speakers is stunning, with a well-engineered cabinet that houses the five-driver arrangement. The front baffle features 2 x 130 mm mid-bass drivers, which sit directly above and below the 29mm soft dome tweeter mounted on its own aluminium plate. This kind of driver configuration is called a d'Appolito array or MTM, which helps to minimise reflections and allows better dispersion of the sound. The sides of the cabinets feature 2 x 120mm bass drivers in a force-cancelling arrangement that helps reduce internal resonances and cabinet vibrations. The rear of the speakers has a very clean, flush look, with an amplifier plate that has only the mains power input and a single XLR connection if you want to use a preamp and run them as active speakers rather than wirelessly. A USB input is for maintenance use only, and a + or - 6db gain switch adjusts the speaker levels. Each speaker has a massive 600 watts of amplification built into it and a fully active crossover, for 1.2kW total from these 3-way designs. This delivers effortless dynamics and power from these relatively compact stand mounts. Inakustik makes all the internal wiring, a renowned German company known for high-end cables and accessories, and it shows the quality and attention to detail Accuvoice has put into these speakers.

Their design differs from most wireless speakers, as WiJK incorporated the WISA Association (Wireless Speakers and Audio) standard into the Accuvoice Stream S3 speakers and uses a hub with all the key connections that wirelessly transmits the audio signal to each speaker at up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. This is a brilliant approach: you can place the hub anywhere in your room and hide the connections and wires. It offers multiple options with USB, Optical, Coaxial, HDMI, and RCA analogue inputs, plus a subwoofer output, with all bass management handled in the DSP and controlled via the app used with the Accuvoice speakers and for calibration. It also features Room EQ, and you can use your iPhone's built-in microphone; if you have Android, you will need the optional Zen microphone, which you can buy or, if you ask your dealership, maybe borrow. I was lucky, as Sound Design Distribution, the UK distributor who installed the speakers for me here at The Speaker Shack and showed me all the features and setup, lent me their Zen microphone, as they say it offers better results. Either way, it is a simple, easy process, and the app lets you see the curve before EQ and after correcting any problems your room may have. The app is easy and intuitive to use, making setup quick and painless, with settings you can adjust on the fly.

Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, plus Bluetooth 5.2, support a long list of streaming services, making music access easy. My only gripe, albeit a very small one, is that it would be nice if the app allowed you to access your music library if it's stored on a NAS drive, but I was able to stream my own music through VLC media player and Chromecast. I also have a LUMIN streamer, which I could use through one of the digital inputs into the WISA hub. It's not a major problem.

I love the remote that is supplied with the Stream S3 speakers; it is a sleek aluminium remote that lets you control everything from the comfort of your armchair. Another plus point is that it doesn't require batteries, as they are built in, and with a USB-C port on one end which allows for charging, I wish all companies would make their remote controls like this.

Setting up the Accuvoice speakers is straightforward, and the user guide on the Accuvoice site walks you through each step. I connected my Denon turntable, which goes through my Whest Audio Phonostage, to the hub's analogue inputs for vinyl playback via RCA cables, then connected my Cyrus CD player via the optical input for my CD collection, and I am all set. Running the EQ with the additional Zen microphone takes about a minute, and you can immediately see the results once the EQ and DSP work their magic dealing with any room issues; positioned where my ProAc speakers were originally placed with some very slight toe, which has given excellent results.

Sound Quality and Performance

My first album is one I listen to regularly when testing new equipment and speakers: Patricia Barber's 1998 album Modern Cool on CD. It's one of the best-sounding discs I own on CD; it is an excellent recording, and I also own a DSD64 high-resolution version that's just as good. I would not be without my CD player. It plugs into the Accuvoice hub via optical and then transmits wirelessly, which has certainly impressed me with how good it sounds through the new Stream S3 speakers. The whole album has some great tracks, but like any album, you have your favourites, and my first track has dynamics and great resolution by the bucket load. 

Track 7, Company, sounds every bit as good on the Accuvoice speakers, with stunning dynamics and clarity. The image presented is vast and spreads out across my room. I love the MTM arrangement, as this configuration gives the speakers a wide, spacious sound with superb imaging, instrument separation, and placement. Bass is super fast thanks to the opposing bass drivers, and surprisingly they dig deep for a standmount. Patricia Barber's vocals sit centre stage and sound perfectly natural. The double bass also has some wonderful texture with every note that is played and an almost tangible feel to the sound; the snap from the drums is incredibly fast, and it's not long before my feet are tapping away with delight to the music that I am hearing. The Accuvoice don't lack power, and you can turn up the volume to very loud levels without the speakers breaking a sweat or sounding strained. At 2 min 45 sec, there is one of my favourite drumming solos, and when I turn it up to what some may think is silly, the Stream S3 speakers just love it, and it leaves me with a huge grin on my face.

Track 11, Post Modern Blues, is another great track and a favourite of mine, and those bongos sound so delicate with every strike but perfectly defined, which cover the whole width of the soundstage. At the same time, Patricia Barber's vocals sit well within the soundstage, with excellent depth to the image in front of me. Piano notes strike with excellent definition and sound well-rounded, while the double bass twang off to the left of the stage sounds magnificent, with lush, layered low notes, and the cymbals shimmer in the background. This album belongs in everyone's collection. I have also been streaming this album in high resolution, and it is equally impressive through the Accuvoice Stream S3 speakers.

For my next album, I am spinning vinyl on my Denon turntable and through my Whest Audio phono stage, plugged into the line-in on the Accuvoice WISA hub. It is a release from Paisley Park and Prince's estate, featuring some archived recordings that were never released until now, plus the new album, aptly named Timeless. Some of the music reminds me of his very early releases, and one album comes to mind: Dirty Mind, which I had on cassette back in the early 80s; other tracks also resemble the 90s and Diamonds and Pearls recordings. I have also been streaming this album on Qobuz in high resolution, which sounds really good, and that is what urged me to pick up a vinyl copy. 

Track 1, I am You, is one of my favourites and so typically Prince, which reminds me of his earlier music, the 'Dirty Mind' album. The Accuvoice speakers sound superb, with audio transmitted wirelessly, and they are certainly the best I have heard from a wireless speaker, especially since they stream music from the hub to the speakers. The MTM layout delivers an expansive soundstage by reducing reflections and providing stunning clarity and soundstaging, no matter the source. The speakers have a frequency roll-off around 35 Hz, so bass reproduction is excellent for a sealed cabinet design; in my room it certainly feels lower, with plenty of weight, and it gives the speakers a punchy, very dynamic sound.

Track 5, With This Tear, is very reminiscent of the Diamonds and Pearls album and era, another favourite of mine from this album; the very first notes of the piano make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, as it is such a beautiful piece of music, and the Accuvoice speakers portray the music perfectly; Prince's vocals are placed centre stage, and the orchestral arrangement gives the sound a rich and satisfying performance and just adds to the scale of this track; the bass hits hard with excellent definition. It really surpasses what I expected from a wireless speaker, especially when streaming my vinyl. Listening to this track via Qobuz, I'd say the sound improves at higher resolution, with more precise imaging and clarity. Still, the vinyl is impressive. 

I have also been watching TV and films with the Accuvoice connected via HDMI (ARC) and the Audio Return Channel, and again, it makes TV and Film viewing more pleasurable when connected from the TV to the WISA hub. The versatile hub gives you the flexibility and choice in how and what you want to listen to or watch. You can place the hub anywhere in your room, and hide all cables if you want a minimalist look with no cables showing. You can also use a wired connection via the XLR from your preamp and use them solely as active speakers, allowing you to get even more performance in this purist mode.

Conclusions and Final Thoughts

My time with the Accuvoice Stream S3 speakers has shown how well wireless speakers can perform and deliver great sound, no matter the source. Without a doubt, these are the most capable wireless speakers I have ever tested and reviewed here at The Speaker Shack. If you want a minimalist approach and a high-performing system, look no further than the new Accuvoice Stream S3 speakers, which deliver seriously good sound from a system that can do it all. For me, the streaming hub is the game-changer, letting you connect so many components and use multiple different sources.

The Speaker Shack awards the new Accuvoice Stream S3 Speakers with an Editor's Choice award and stamp of approval.

Price at time of review: £6,000

Web - https://accuvoice.se/