Free Shipping on US orders above $49
Best Speaker Nominee 2024 - Andrew Robinson Reviews
The Best Vintage (Inspired) Speaker 2024 - Andrew Robinson Reviews
An "Heirloom-Quality Speaker You Can Have for Life"
History meets high-fidelity with the mew Leak Sandwich 250. This highly praised stand-mount speaker embodies Leak's commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio excellence.
As a beacon of innovation in the world of high-fidelity sound, the Sandwich 250 builds on a legacy that began in 1934, blending historical prowess with modern engineering to deliver an unmatched listening experience.
Like its smaller sibling, the Sandwich 150, the 250 boasts both 'sandwich' driver design and 'sandwich' cabinet construction. On the driver front, the 250 offers an 11" bass driver, a 4.25" mid-range driver, and a 1.2" tweeter. The sophisticated cabinet makes a significant contribution to the stellar audio quality.
These speakers can be ordered with or without the optional Leak Sandwich 250 Speaker Stands, which are purposefully designed for best audio performance with the 250 speakers.
Best Speaker 2024 Nominee
Calling the Sandwich 250 "a wonderful example of how to bring an old speaker into the modern era," Andrew Robinson honored it as "Best Speaker Nominee 2024" on his "Andrew Robinson Reviews" YouTube channel, June 23, 2024.
"The Leak has one of the most impressive and linear in-room responses I have ever seen on this channel… and that was shocking considering that vintage inspired speakers are usually voiced to trade on nostalgia and not precision."
"Large orchestral tracks like those on the Dune or Crimson Tide soundtracks were absolutely epic through the 250s. While I consider the 250s a larger speaker, they are nowhere near as big as the [Bowers & Wilkins] 801 Signatures, but that doesn't stop them from feeling nearly as big or playing with almost the same dynamic effortless sound, which is just high praise in my book."
Best Vintage Speaker 2024
In a June 23, 2024 video for his YouTube channel, Andrew Robinson went on to name the Leak Sandwich 250 as "The Best Vintage (Inspired) Speaker 2024."
"These are speakers that you can invest in today, and they will grow with you over time. These are speakers that can, in my opinion… become heirloom quality. They are speakers you can have for life. They're built that way, they look good, they're going to hold up."
"I think the 250s are definitely designed to harken back to that bygone era, but they are modern sounding, they are purpose built, and it is possible they will stand the test of time, and they could be someone's forever speaker despite looking 'older.'"
A Heritage of Audio Innovation
The Leak Sandwich 250 stands as a testament to decades of audio innovation, tracing its origins back to the era when Leak defined the very essence of high fidelity.
Drawing from the original Leak Sandwich pioneering speaker design in 1961, the Sandwich 250 elevates this tradition to new heights. It encapsulates the essence of Leak's foundational innovations – including the Leak Point One amplifier's introduction in 1945 and the groundbreaking sandwich cone diaphragm. It also embraces the advancements of the present day. This speaker not only honors its heritage but also redefines it, offering a sound that resonates with both its history and the future.
"A Serious Value Proposition"
"Oh my. This was a seriously good pair of speakers," notes reviewer AuroraVengeange via r/audiophile, reddit.com, June 23, 2024. "Driven by an audiolab 9000A amplifier, it presented a very coherent musical presentation that felt natural coupled with good width and depth soundstaging. And the bass extension was really good on these; it rendered double basses very convincingly… The 250 presents a serious value proposition."
"I've waited 63 years for a Sandwich – but Leak speakers are always worth the wait," observes Becky Scarrott, techradar.com, February, 2024.
"They Are Definitely Worth the Money"
"The original Leak Sandwich took its name from the unique construction of its mid/bass drive unit. Although this approach is pretty standard now, it was a first for the industry," reports stereonet.com, February 5, 2024. "At the time, the sandwich consisted of expanded polystyrene foam between two sheets of aluminum foil. It resulted in a light yet stiff cone, reducing distortion and creating a more accurate sound."
"Leak's new Sandwich 150 and 250 are unashamedly inspired by the firm's classic speaker, which debuted in 1961. Bringing the, dare I say, 'crusty', design bang up-to-date Leak tells us that they've spread a healthy layer of state-of-the-art audio circuitry onto the latest iteration," stereonet.com concludes.
"I bought the 250 without listening to them. I have them hooked up to my Emotiva XPA-2 and they are a solid pair of stand mount speakers for the price. The quality of the material is there and the sound is audiophile quality… They are definitely worth the money," notes KT88, in his July 27, 2024 post to forums.stevehoffman.tv.
The Evolution of the Sandwich Driver
Central to the Leak Sandwich 250's superior sound is its advanced sandwich driver technology. Designed with a stiff aluminum skin bonded to a core of polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam, this driver configuration achieves a balance of rigidity and lightness that is rare in the audio world.
The result is a speaker that delivers a wide-ranging frequency response with minimal distortion, ensuring every note and nuance is rendered with crystal-clear accuracy. The Sandwich 250's drivers, including a larger 11” low-frequency driver and a 4.25” mid-range driver, both employ this innovative sandwich structure. Also onboard is Leak's a 1.2" Coated Textile Dome Tweeter. This formidable driver complement delivers deep bass, rich midtones, and pristine highs.
Groundbreaking Cabinet Design for Acoustic Precision
The 250's cabinet is a masterpiece of acoustic and aesthetic design, reflecting over 60 years of evolution in speaker housing technology. Its construction uses a sophisticated 'sandwich' of high-quality materials. This ensures optimal strength and vibration damping, providing a solid foundation for the speaker's remarkable sound quality.
The cabinet's design, featuring precise front-to-rear bracing and Leak's signature rear countersunk screws, not only pays homage to the original Leak aesthetic, but it also significantly enhances the acoustic performance. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that the Sandwich 250 delivers a listening experience that is as visually striking as it is sonically profound.
Optional Leak Sandwich 250 Speaker Stands
You can order these speakers with or without the optional Leak Sandwich 250 Speaker Stands. Because of the Sandwich 250's large size, most stands on the market will not accommodate them properly. These Leak Sandwich 250 Stands are, or course, a perfect fit – both mechanically and aesthetically. To experience the 250s at their highest potential, they are highly recommended, if not a must for maximum enjoyment.
The beautiful furniture-grade wood and metal construction enhances the appearance of the speakers, just as their design enhances speaker performance. Purposely designed specifically for the Sandwich 250s, these stands elevate the speakers to the ideal height while also provide damping characteristics for vibration control.
A New Chapter in the Legacy of Leak
The Leak Sandwich 250 Loudspeaker is more than an audio device. It is a piece of history, reimagined for the contemporary listener who demands the pinnacle of sound quality. It stands as a symbol of Leak's enduring legacy in the high-fidelity audio space, offering audiophiles the chance to experience the future of sound through a lens of unparalleled heritage and innovation.
With its advanced technology, timeless design, and exceptional sound, the Leak Sandwich 250 is not just a loudspeaker. It's an invitation to explore the depths of music with clarity, depth, and emotion like never before.
