Hannah Reid
Loudspeakers & Acoustics Editor
Based in Melbourne, VIC
Hi, I'm Hannah. Speakers are my thing — specifically, the conversation between a speaker and the room it's in, which is where most systems are won or lost. I did acoustics at uni and never quite got it out of my system. I'll measure your room's bass response and then gently break the news that the $20,000 speakers aren't the problem, the untreated wall behind your sofa is. Stand-mounts on good stands are criminally underrated and I will die on that hill.
38 published articles · most recent September 17, 2026
Hi, I'm Hannah. Speakers are my thing — specifically, the conversation between a speaker and the room it's in, which is where most systems are won or lost.
I did acoustics at uni and never quite got it out of my system. I'll measure your room's bass response and then gently break the news that the $20,000 speakers aren't the problem — the untreated wall behind your sofa is.
Stand-mounts on good stands are criminally underrated, and I will die on that hill.
Articles by Hannah Reid
First reflections: finding them, and what to actually do about themThe mirror trick still finds first reflection points better than any app. Here's how to locate them and what treatment actually earns its keep.
Headphone soundstage: why some pairs sound "wide" and others don'tSoundstage in headphones isn't magic or marketing. It comes from crossfeed, driver geometry and pad depth — here's what's actually happening and what you can change.- Turntable wall shelves versus stands: what actually kills footfall bassFootfall bass in vinyl playback usually isn't the turntable's fault. It's the floor. Here's how to work out whether a wall shelf or a proper stand fixes it.
Why your amplifier struggles below 4 ohms (and when to actually worry)Impedance dips scare buyers more than they should. Here's how to read a speaker's impedance curve and match it to an amp that won't run out of puff.- Subwoofer placement: the crawl test still beats any appRoom-correction apps are handy, but the old carpet-crawl method still finds the seat-by-seat bass problems software glosses over.
- Plinth-to-wall distance: the turntable spec nobody checksWhere you put the turntable on the rack matters as much as the rack itself. Here's how boundary distance and shared surfaces feed feedback into the cartridge.
- Corner bass traps: how many you actually need before diminishing returns kick inTwo traps help, four help more, but the eighth one rarely does much. Here's how to work out where your room's bass treatment budget stops paying off.
Rear-wall distance: the standmount spec nobody puts on the boxStandmount bass depends on how far the cabinet sits from the wall behind it, not just the drivers inside it. Here's how to actually find the right distance.- The subwoofer crossover setting most people leave wrongYour AVR's 80Hz default isn't a law of physics. Here's how the subwoofer crossover frequency actually works, and why the wrong one wrecks integration.
- Sealed vs ported subs in small rooms: why the "better" spec often losesPorted subs measure deeper and louder on paper. In a small, real Australian room, the sealed box often wins. Here's the acoustics behind why.
- Open-back headphones on a desk: why the "room" still mattersOpen-back headphones don't seal you off from the room. Here's why your desk, walls and even your monitor are still part of the sound.
- Turntable isolation: why footfall and feedback matter more than the plinthSuspended floors, speaker vibration and footfall do more damage to vinyl playback than plinth material. Here's how to actually isolate a turntable.
Why your streamer's output stage still shapes the sound at the speakerBits are bits, but the analogue stage after the DAC chip in your streamer still colours what your speakers do. Here's what actually matters.- Subwoofer size versus number: why two small subs beat one big oneA 10-inch sub in two spots usually beats a 15-inch sub in one. Here's the room-mode maths behind why, and when a single big box still wins.
- Toe-in angle: the free speaker upgrade nobody bothers measuringToe-in angle changes your speakers' tonal balance and imaging more than most upgrades. Here's how to actually find the right angle for your room.
- Speaker stands and boundary distance: the invisible spec on your spec sheetStand height, mass and distance from walls change a standmount's measured bass and imaging more than most upgrades. Here's how to get it right.
- Where you put the DAC in the signal chain (and why it changes the sound)DAC before or after the preamp, streamer or separate box: where the conversion happens in your chain affects noise, volume control and cable runs more than the chip inside it.
- Why room correction can't fix your DAC, and your DAC can't fix your roomSplitting out what a DAC upgrade genuinely changes from what only acoustic treatment and correction software can fix, so you spend on the right layer first.
Atmos speaker placement: why height channels fail in most roomsMost Atmos height channels underperform because of placement, not gear. Here's how to actually get overhead sound working in a real room.
Bass management in stereo systems: what your AV receiver manual doesn't explainMost stereo listeners ignore bass management entirely, or get it badly wrong. Hannah Reid explains what it actually does, and why getting it right transforms your system.- Standmount speakers on the wrong stands: why the support matters as much as the speakerYour standmount speakers are only as good as what they sit on. Hannah Reid explains how stand height, mass, coupling and decoupling change what you actually hear.
DAC/amp combos vs separates for headphones: when the stack is worth itOne box or two? Hannah Reid cuts through the marketing to explain when a combined DAC/amp unit is smart and when separates genuinely pull ahead.- Noise isolation vs sound quality: what closed-back headphones actually cost youClosed-back headphones promise isolation, but the acoustic trade-offs are real. Hannah Reid explains what you're giving up — and when it's worth it.
- When to upgrade your amplifier versus your speakers: where the money actually goesSpeakers or amplifier — it's the oldest argument in hi-fi. Hannah Reid breaks down where each dollar genuinely moves the needle, and when the room is the real answer.
- Subwoofer integration: how to match level, phase and delay to your main speakersGetting a subwoofer to truly disappear into your system is harder than it looks. Here's how to dial in level, phase and time alignment so the bass sounds like it's coming from everywhere and nowhere.
- Streaming to passive speakers: how to build a network audio chain that actually worksNetwork streamers, DACs, amplifiers and passive speakers can work brilliantly together — if you understand where the chain can break. Hannah Reid explains how to get it right.
- Bit depth vs sample rate: which actually matters for sound quality?More digits and higher numbers don't automatically mean better sound. Here's what bit depth and sample rate actually do — and where the real gains stop.
- Where to spend your speaker budget: a room-first guide to diminishing returnsSpending more on speakers rarely solves the problem you actually have. Hannah Reid maps where every dollar earns its keep — and where it quietly disappears.
- How to position standmount speakers for the best sound in any roomPlacement does more for standmount sound than almost any upgrade. Hannah Reid explains the geometry, the compromises, and what actually moves the needle.
ProAc Response DB1R: smallest ribbon-tweeter standmountThe ProAc Response DB1R revives a British classic with a ribbon tweeter and alnico magnet. Here is what Australian buyers need to know before auditioning.
Cambridge Audio L/R Series: first active wireless speakersThe Cambridge Audio L/R Series is the brand's first active wireless speaker range: three models, AU$549 to AU$2,299 a pair, and a flagship aimed at KEF.
JBL Summit Ama review: $20,000 standmount with pro-audio DNAThe JBL Summit Ama pairs horn-loaded compression-driver engineering with a high-end standmount cabinet. Does it justify roughly AU$30,000 in Australia?
SVS 3000 R|Evolution subwoofers: AU pricing and specsThe SVS 3000 R|Evolution subwoofers bring a new 1,200W amp and DSP. Here are the specs, the sealed vs ported choice and Australian pricing explained.
SVS soundbar: Dolby Atmos R|Evolution and 600W subThe first SVS soundbar pairs Dolby Atmos with a 600W wireless sub, and the 3000 Micro R|Evolution is already available in Australia through Interdyn.
REL Planar: A Wall-Mounted Subwoofer for Tight SpacesREL's Planar PL-1 and PL-2 bring a wall-mounted subwoofer to tight spaces at just 5.7 inches deep. Here is what Australian buyers should know.
KEF's two new THX-certified in-wall speakersKEF's Ci5120QLM-THX and Ci3120QLM-THX bring Uni-Q with MAT and THX certification to in-wall speakers. Here is what Australian buyers need to know.
Active versus passive in 2026: amplifier inside the speakerActive versus passive speakers in 2026: why the amplifier is moving inside the cabinet, what you gain and give up, and who should still buy passive.
WiSA E goes full-stack: cable-free multichannel vs HDMIWiSA E now spans three modules, a self-certification program and a shipping 5.1.4 system. Here's what it means for wireless home theatre in Australia.