Steve Farley

Over the past forty-five years, I have had the opportunity to listen to an extraordinary range of loudspeaker designs, including planar, electrostatic, and dynamic systems. For many years, two-way monitors served as my reference because of their imaging, soundstaging, and coherence. However, I remained curious about the potential of full-range single-driver loudspeakers.

That curiosity led me to Charney Audio in New Jersey, where I auditioned the Companion loudspeaker equipped with the Lowther DX-55 driver.

My first impression was the exceptional craftsmanship. The cabinets are beautifully built, impeccably finished, and unlike anything else I had encountered. The design is both visually striking and highly distinctive.

Then the music began.

Within the first few notes of a Pat Metheny live recording, I knew I was hearing something extraordinary. The Companion delivered a level of realism, dynamics, and musical engagement unlike any loudspeaker I had previously experienced.

Its dimensionality, tonal accuracy, coherence, and overall musicality surpassed my expectations in every way. Bass extended effortlessly into the 30Hz range, treble reached with remarkable openness and air, and the midrange possessed a lightness, speed, and sense of life that made performances feel completely authentic.

What impressed me most was how naturally everything came together. Rather than sounding like a collection of individual strengths, the speaker presented music as a seamless and emotionally engaging whole.

The Companion is a true sonic tour de force and one of the most memorable loudspeakers I have encountered in more than four decades of listening.

For anyone passionate about high-end audio, this is a speaker that deserves to be heard.

Bravo, Mr. Brian Charney.