Reproduced from What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision June 2015 issue | www.whathifi.com

TEST WINNER

When there are great soundbases out there for £250, it can be hard to see the benefit in spending an extra £300 on the Geneva. But it takes only a quick comparison to make it

Geneva Model Cinema £550 ★★★★★

Rating ★★★★ ★FOR Big, authoritative sound; clear dialogue; expressive and insightful delivery; agile; well built; stylish design

AGAINST No HDMI connections

VERDICT It might be pricey, but this is the best soundbase experience money can buy right now

SOUNDBASES SUPERTEST

We’ve always found ourselves fond of products from Geneva, and the company’s first soundbase isn’t about to break that trend. At £550 there’s no doubt this is one of the priciest soundbases we’ve tested, but spend a few minutes in its company and it’s easy to see where the money has been spent.

For a start, the build quality is a notch above some of its cheaper rivals. The cabinet is built from MDF but with a smooth metallic finish in a choice or black or white.

A stylish matching metal grille adorns the front of the unit, while a simple silver logo and a number of touch-sensitive controls sit along the top.

A suitably stylish remote is included in the box too, offering volume and tone controls (we left the default settings, but it’s worth playing with them to suit your room), input selection, power, some EQ settings and a Bluetooth pairing button.

It’s well built and clearly labelled, plus the buttons have a reassuring click to them with every push. Sometimes, it’s the small things.

Behind the grille, there are five drivers in three acoustic chambers – four 5cm tweeter/mid-range units and one 13cm woofer, driven by a total of 120W of power.

There’s also a handy LCD display hidden behind the grille in the top corner, to display some information to support your remote commands. This will adjust itself automatically to suit the room’s lighting conditions so it can always be seen clearly.

We’re finding it a bit of habit, even at this price, for soundbases to go pretty basic on their inputs, and there are no HDMI ports available here. Instead there’s one each of optical and coaxial, a pair of analogue ins and a 3.5mm jack for attaching a portable device. There’s also Bluetooth A2DP for streaming from a phone, tablet or laptop.

Sound and Fury signifying a lotSettle in for the final battle scene in Fury and you realise the scale the Geneva is capable of. It’s a big, wide sound from a box that measures just 70cm across, with a level of authority unlike any soundbase we’ve heard. In one breath it’s powerful and full-bodied, and the next, subtle and considered. Dynamically it puts much of the competition to shame, remaining nimble enough on its feet to deliver the tension in a demanding soundtrack.

The midrange is open and spacious. It offers an expressive, agile performance

and there’s stunning clarity through dialogue – voices are filled with depth and texture. There’s no thinness at the top end either, and even at volume the Geneva remains composed, with a clear treble that isn’t put under pressure by the constant zinging of gunfire.

Attention to detailDetail levels are top-notch too, and we’re impressed at the precision with which the Geneva organises its soundfield. In short, it brings together most of our favourite things in the competition into one, and doesn’t compromise.

When there are great soundbases out there for £250, it can be hard to see the benefit in spending an extra £300 on the Geneva. But it takes only a quick comparison to make it clear.

The whole experience here is just a notch above the rest. Yes it’s pricey, but you’ll hear the difference every time you use it. If you can stretch to it, the Geneva Model Cinema will transform your TV sound better than any soundbase we’ve tested. An easy five stars.

Geneva’s decision to enter the premium end of the market has paid off in spades