Tangent's Spectrum II X5 bookshelf speakers go wireless while adding more ports

Danish audio brand Tangent has announced a revamped version of its Spectrum II X5 compact bookshelf speakers, originally revealed last year. While the standard pair comes with wire binding posts as the only way to connect to an audio source, these new ones offer the flexibility of wireless playback through Bluetooth.

The Spectrum II X5 BT are active speakers and come with two 50W switching amplifiers built in, eliminating the need for a separate amp. In addition to Bluetooth 5.3, the pair also supports more modern forms of transmission, including optical and coaxial audio, RCA, HDMI ARC (not eARC), and even USB Type-C. That basically opens up support for connecting to multiple devices and ease of switching without physically touching or moving the speakers.

These changes are apparent on the back, while the front visuals remain largely unchanged, including the MDF cabinet and the two colors.

For audio, the speakers feature the same stack as before, including a 1-inch dome tweeter and a 5-inch woofer for bass and mid frequencies. Tangent claims a typical frequency response of 60Hz–20kHz, which is fairly reasonable for a speaker of its size, though you would encounter some sub-bass attenuation — you can always add a subwoofer too. For more dimension, the speakers support Qualcomm’s aptX HD Bluetooth codec for 24-bit Hi-Res output.

For additional convenience, Tangent adds a remote control. And if you’re planning to hook them to your TV, you can also use CEC.

All these upgrades come at a cost, with the Spectrum II X5 BT being priced at €549 (~$630), a steep hike over the passive variant, which costs €329 (~$375). These aren’t immediately available in the US, though you can expect them from the Canadian retailer Stereo Untypical, which currently lists the passive version.