LEAK Sandwich 150 Loudspeakers - Walnut - Pair

The 1961 Sandwich Cone in a Two-Way

The Sandwich 150 is the mid-size model in LEAK's revived Sandwich range. A 6.5-inch mid-bass driver with an aluminum-skinned foam-core cone sits below a 1.2-inch coated textile dome tweeter. The cabinet is 16.3 inches tall, and the speakers are sold as a mirror-imaged pair.

LEAK introduced the original Sandwich in 1961. Its cone bonded two aluminum skins to a foam core, an idea borrowed from aircraft construction, and it was far stiffer than the paper cones of the day. The new cone keeps that idea with a core of PMI structural foam.

Why a Stiff Cone Matters

A cone that flexes adds distortion. LEAK says the Sandwich cone moves as one piece across its range, free from mechanical break-up. The tweeter has a damped rear chamber that pulls its resonance below the 2.4 kHz crossover, so the two drivers blend without heavy correction.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

LEAK quotes 44 Hz to 26 kHz within 3 dB, with bass extension to 38 Hz at minus 6 dB. Sensitivity is 86.5 dB and impedance is 6 ohms nominal with a 4 ohm minimum. LEAK recommends 25 to 150 watts, and peak output is rated at 106 dB.

How Much Room It Takes

Each cabinet is 9.8 inches wide, 16.3 tall on its plinth and 12.4 deep with terminals, and weighs 27 pounds. The finish is real walnut veneer with aluminum trim. A cloth grille and rubber feet are included, and the binding posts come with links fitted.

The cabinet is a sandwich too. An outer layer of MDF and an inner layer of high-density particle board are bonded with a damping glue. LEAK adds spot bracing and the front-to-back brace with the countersunk rear screw that marked the original.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Paul Rigby's June 6, 2024 review for The Audiophile Man concluded: "One of the most exciting, rousing and dramatic speaker designs I've heard in some time, the Leak 150 speakers – for that price point – provide a sensational performance."

On the treble: "They excite, they wow, they will have you dancing around the room." Rigby found the grilles tamed the top end at very high volume, and preferred a little less toe-in with them off.

Andrew Dewhirst reviewed them for Future Audiophile on December 25, 2024: "The LEAK Sandwich 150 bring a lot of bass for such a small bookshelf speaker." He also praised the seamless crossover.

Who Is This Bookshelf Speaker Best For?

• You want a lively, big-hearted sound — both reviewers heard bold bass and an open, energetic treble, not a polite one
• You want real bass from a standmount — 38 Hz extension from a 19.6-liter cabinet covers most music without a subwoofer
• You love the 1960s look — walnut veneer, aluminum trim and the offset tweeter of the original, built by the company that made it
• You have, or want, a LEAK system — the LEAK Stereo 130 and LEAK Stereo 230 sit in the recommended power range and share the styling
• You want strict neutrality — Future Audiophile said "they definitely have a sound"; if you want a speaker with no character, this is not it

How Do They Connect to Your System?

Speaker cable runs from your amplifier to the binding posts on each cabinet, red to red and black to black. Leave the terminal links in place for a normal single run. These are passive speakers, so there is nothing else to power.

Put them on stands with the tweeter near ear height, away from the wall behind the rear port. LEAK's manual warns that placing them too close to a wall makes the bass boomy. Leave the grilles on. LEAK says they aid dispersion.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most Sandwich 150 owners shop next.

• LEAK Stereo 130 — LEAK's integrated amplifier with phono stage, DAC and Bluetooth, in matching walnut
• LEAK TruStream network player — streaming source in the same LEAK styling
• Speaker stands — 24 inches puts the tweeter at ear height
• LEAK Sandwich 250 — the three-way step up, with an 11-inch woofer and a separate midrange

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Sandwich 150 sold as a pair?

Yes. The price is for two speakers, mirror-imaged left and right, with grilles and rubber feet in the box.

Do they need stands?

LEAK says they can sit on a sturdy shelf or side table, but stands are recommended for the best sound. Each speaker weighs 27 pounds, so choose a solid stand.

How much amplifier do they need?

LEAK recommends 25 to 150 watts. Sensitivity is 86.5 dB and the impedance dips to 4 ohms, so a good integrated amplifier of 40 watts or more is a comfortable match.

What is a sandwich cone?

A cone built like an aircraft panel. Two thin aluminum skins are bonded to a light, stiff foam core. The result is far more rigid than a paper or plastic cone of the same weight, so it moves as one piece instead of flexing.

Should I use the grilles?

Yes. LEAK designed the grilles as part of the speaker and says driver dispersion is better with them on. Paul Rigby found they also soften the treble at very high volume.

How does the 150 compare with the Sandwich 100 and 250?

The Sandwich 100 is a smaller two-way for compact rooms. The 250 is a much larger three-way. The 150 is the middle path, with real bass in a cabinet that still fits a normal stand.

See It in Action

Paul Rigby of The Audiophile Man reviews the Sandwich 150:

LEAK introduces the Sandwich 150 and 250:

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