Surprisingly capable in its performance, dialogue intelligibility is excellent, which makes this system a compelling alternative to traditional soundbars when paired with a TV. When used over HDMI ARC, voices are crisp, centered, and never muddy, even at lower volumes. The bass integration is seamless. Many sub/sat systems struggle with an audible disconnect between the subwoofer and satellite speakers, but not here. Xscace has clearly invested in getting the crossover and DSP right. The transition between the Cane speakers and Acacia sub is smooth, lending a cohesive sense of scale to the presentation.
That said, there are limits. While the system can reach satisfying SPL levels for casual music listening and TV viewing, it doesn’t deliver the same room-filling energy or imaging depth of a traditional bookshelf or floorstanding speaker setup. Soundstage width is respectable, but height and depth are limited by the size and orientation of the drivers. Still, tonal balance is excellent. The system never sounds harsh or tinny, even at higher volumes. The voicing is rich and smooth, with just enough sparkle to keep things lively. You won’t get earth-shaking bass, but you will get a tight, musical low-end that’s perfectly suited for most modern living rooms. And perhaps most importantly, it’s fatigue-free. Not surprising, since the Cane measures almost flat from 100Hz all the way to 10kHz! Add the unique dispersion characteristics of the line array configuration and you fill up a large space without significant reduction in output as you start moving away from the speaker. You can listen to this system for hours without feeling like your ears need a break. That’s a rare trait these days, especially in compact systems trying to punch above their weight.