Enceintes colonnes Indiana Line 550X

The Indiana Line Nota 550X speaker is the first floorstander in the Italian manufacturer's range. It was developed for small two-channel or multichannel Hi-Fi installations, and makes it possible to build a good, affordable little Hi-Fi system in medium-sized spaces between 15 and 25 m².

INDIANA LINE NOTA 550X: SPECIFICATIONS

This speaker is a two-and-a-half-way design. This means the bass driver works in wideband within its own enclosure. Bass is handled by a 135 mm driver with a polypropylene cone. The midrange is reproduced by a 135 mm driver, also fitted with a polypropylene cone, fairly similar to the bass driver but with a different motor. It is relayed in the treble by the fine 26 mm textile dome tweeter found across the manufacturer's Nota range.

The bass driver is loaded in bass reflex via a port that opens in the middle of the front panel. This is a sensible choice, as it lets you position the speaker fairly close to the wall and also avoids floor proximity effects that can colour the low end.

The crossover is simple, but it uses air-core inductors and polypropylene capacitors. It sets two crossover frequencies at 250 and 2800 Hz.

Internal damping is handled by a high-purity non-woven synthetic foam, known as an excellent absorber of internal resonances.

Connection to the amplifier is made via a single, high-quality gold-plated terminal. It accepts bare wire or banana plugs.

INDIANA LINE NOTA 550X: SETUP

We tested the Indiana Line Nota 550X with an amplifier delivering around fifty watts. We recommend spacing them 2.5 metres apart and keeping them at least 30 cm from the rear wall. Ideally, position them between 50 and 70 cm off the ground. They will be comfortable in rooms with a surface area between 15 and 25 m².

The benefit of a floorstander of this size is that you gain an extra octave in the bass and added body compared with the bookshelf model. This does, however, require an amplifier offering adequate current and power.

INDIANA LINE NOTA 550X: LISTENING TEST

From the very first notes, we are surprised by the quality these Indiana Line Nota 550X speakers deliver. You find the qualities of the Nota 260X, but with surprising bass impact. Bass drums are reproduced physically and are felt right into the body. The Nota 550X give a lot of weight, scale and depth to music.

The midrange seems more detailed, and voices enjoy better presence and finer depth than on the lower models. They are reproduced with a great deal of cleanliness and transparency. The midrange is dynamic and well defined, the various instruments perfectly legible and clearly outlined.

The tweeter delivers treble that is perfectly integrated with the other registers. It reproduces a great deal of detail without excessive brightness, but with lovely smoothness. Instrument separation is excellent, and on some tracks very impressive for a pair of speakers under 700 euros. You also notice that strings are detailed while offering excellent texture.

Whatever the style of music, they fill the room with ease and spontaneity. You find all the qualities of the Indiana Line Nota 260X, but with a more expansive sound, more impact and more body in the low end.

Their overall performance goes well beyond their price. They deliver a level of quality that is well above the average for products in this price bracket.

FAQ: Everything you need to know before buying the Indiana Line Nota 550X floorstanding speakers

What room size are these floorstanders recommended for?

We recommend the Indiana Line Nota 550X in medium rooms of 15 to 25 m², spaced 2.5 metres apart and at least 30 cm from the back wall, with the drivers 50 to 70 cm off the floor. Our amplifier and speaker packages show well-matched combinations.

What does the 2.5-way configuration bring over a classic 2-way?

The 135 mm bass driver works wideband in its own enclosure, joined by a similar 135 mm midrange with a different generator, then by the 26 mm textile-dome tweeter. This adds an extra octave of bass and more body than a bookshelf model such as the Nota 260X.

Which amplifier is needed to exploit these speakers well?

We tested them with an amplifier of around fifty watts; you need an amp able to deliver enough current and power to fully exploit the extra body and bass octave this floorstanding format offers. See our integrated amplifiers.

 What is the benefit over the bookshelf model?

Compared with the Nota 260X, the 550X offers an extra octave in the bass, more scale, depth and body, while keeping the same midrange and treble qualities.