LEAK Sandwich 250 Loudspeakers - Walnut w/Stands - Pair

The 1961 Sandwich Cone, Rebuilt at Full Scale

The Sandwich 250 is the largest speaker in LEAK's revived Sandwich range. It is a three-way standmount with an 11-inch bass driver, a 4.25-inch midrange and a 1.2-inch coated textile dome tweeter. The cabinet is nearly 26 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 and 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. Both the bass and midrange drivers use it. The tweeter has a damped rear chamber that pulls its resonance below the 3.1 kHz crossover.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

LEAK quotes 42 Hz to 26 kHz within 3 dB, with bass extension to 32 Hz at minus 6 dB. Sensitivity is 88.5 dB and impedance is 6 ohms nominal with a 4 ohm minimum. LEAK recommends 25 to 250 watts, and peak output is rated at 112 dB.

How Much Room It Takes

Each cabinet is 14.6 inches wide, 25.8 tall and 13 deep with terminals, and weighs 60 pounds, which is floorstander weight in a standmount. The finish is real walnut veneer with aluminum trim, and a cloth grille and rubber feet are included. Binding posts come with links fitted.

About the Stand

LEAK's matching stand is about 15 inches tall, with a top plate sized to the cabinet and a veneered plinth. The manual says the 250 should not be used on the floor or without a stand. We offer the speakers alone or with the LEAK stands.

What Reviewers Are Saying

What Hi-Fi? introduced the Sandwich 150 and 250 on February 5, 2024, as a classic 1961 design "injected with plenty of modern technology to make what looks like a very tasty treat."

Andrew Robinson made the Sandwich 250 a Best Speaker 2024 nominee on his YouTube channel in June 2024. Five days later, in a follow-up episode, he named it his best vintage-inspired speaker of the year.

TechRadar's Becky Scarrott headlined her February 2024 preview: "I've waited 63 years for a Sandwich – but Leak speakers are always worth the wait."

Who Is This Bookshelf Speaker Best For?

• You want floorstander scale without a floorstander — an 11-inch woofer in a 45.5-liter cabinet reaches 32 Hz and moves real air in a large room
• You love the 1960s look and want it done properly — walnut veneer, aluminum trim and the countersunk rear screws of the original, built by the company that made it
• You have, or want, a LEAK system — the LEAK Stereo 230 sits in the recommended power range and shares the walnut and aluminum styling
• Your amplifier is comfortable with 4 ohms — 88.5 dB sensitivity is easy, but the 4 ohm minimum means a receiver rated only for 8 ohms is not the right partner
• Your room is small — this is a big speaker on a big stand; the two-way Sandwich 150 gives the same cone and tweeter in half the size

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 the stands, away from the wall behind the rear port. LEAK's manual warns that placing them too close to a wall makes the bass boomy and suggests toe-in of up to 30 percent. Leave the grilles on, since LEAK says they aid dispersion.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most Sandwich 250 owners shop next.

• LEAK Stereo 230 — LEAK's more powerful integrated amplifier, in matching walnut
• LEAK TruStream network player — streaming source in the same LEAK styling
• LEAK CDT CD transport — the matching CD transport
• Speaker cables — a heavier gauge for the 4 ohm minimum and long runs to wide-spaced speakers

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Sandwich 250 sold as a pair?

Yes. The price is for two speakers, mirror-imaged left and right, with grilles and rubber feet. Choose the version with LEAK stands if you do not already have stands rated for 60 pounds each.

Do I need the LEAK stands?

You need a stand of some kind. LEAK says not to use the 250 on the floor or without a stand. Most standard stands are too small for a cabinet this wide and heavy, so the matching stand is the safe choice.

How much amplifier do they need?

LEAK recommends 25 to 250 watts. Sensitivity is high at 88.5 dB, so modest power plays loud. The impedance dips to 4 ohms, so choose an amplifier rated for 4 ohm loads.

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 the driver dispersion is better with them on. Removing them changes the balance.

How is the 250 different from the Sandwich 150?

The 250 is a three-way with an 11-inch woofer and a separate midrange. The 150 is a two-way with a 6.5-inch mid-bass driver. The 250 goes deeper, plays louder and needs a larger room and stand.

See It in Action

Andrew Robinson reviews the Sandwich 250:

Andrew Robinson's best vintage-inspired speaker of 2024:

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