Leak's new Sandwich 150 and 250 are unashamedly inspired by the firm's classic speaker, which debuted in 1961. Bringing the, dare I say, 'crusty', design bang up-to-date Leak tells us that they've spread a healthy layer of state-of-the-art audio circuitry onto the latest iteration. OK, I'll wrap up my half-baked puns now.

In case it passed you by, the Cambridge-based company made a comeback in 2020 with the Leak Stereo 130 integrated and CDT CD Transport, which we, of course, reviewed, as we were keen to check out the brand's first new products since the 1970s.

The original Leak Sandwich took its name from the unique construction of its mid/bass drive unit. Although this approach is pretty standard now, it was a first for the industry. At the time, the sandwich consisted of expanded polystyrene foam between two sheets of aluminium foil. It resulted in a light yet stiff cone, reducing distortion and creating a more accurate sound.

The Sandwich 150 and 250 bring the concept into the 21st century and takes into consideration modern amplifiers as, back in the 60s, valve amps and vinyl were de rigueur. Today, it's more solid state power combined with extended frequency response thanks to digital recordings and sources. Today's sandwich, therefore, sees a stiff aluminium skin bonded to a core of aircraft-grade polymethacrylimide (PMI) structural foam for what Leak states as "immense rigidity."

The three-way Sandwich 250 (88.5dB sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m) and crosses over at 470Hz and 3.1kHz) is the larger of the two standmounts and stands 65.5cm tall. The two-way bookshelf-friendly Sandwich 150 (86.5dB sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m) crossing over at 2.4kHz ) measures 41.5cm in height. Both have a 30mm textile-dome tweeter, with the 250 marrying it to a 280mm bass and 108mm midrange driver. Meanwhile, the 150 adds a 170mm mid/bass driver to the tweeter. All the bass and mid/bass drivers feature Leak's trademark Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone.

Keeping the layered sandwich approach, the cabinets feature a special glue filling between an outer layer of MDF and an inner skin of high-density particle board that's said to scatter and dampen resonances. The speaker enclosures also benefit from spot bracing and a front-rear brace, echoing the original design.

Both cabinet sizes are dual-ported, and Leak tells us that the increased airflow helps with bass response. The 250 claims a 32Hz bass extension, while the 150 is said to manage 38Hz. They also look very much like a modern proposition thanks to the smart, hand-applied walnut veneer that complements the aluminium driver trims and inserts around the edge of the front baffle.

The new Leak Sandwiches are available from mid-February and start at £999 per matched mirror-imaged pair of the Sandwich 150. The 250 costs £1,999 per matched mirror-imaged pair. The 250 speakers and dedicated floor stand bundle is priced at £2,299.

Visit Leak for more information