They say you cannot judge a book by its cover—but I can. If a paperback’s title is spelled out in raised letters, I steer clear. Of course, attempting to boost the sales of Moby Dick in airport bookstores by placing the title in relief and depicting Captain Ahab as an open-shirted Fabio look-alike would in no way diminish Melville’s prose. But that won’t happen; they reserve the bumpy letters for the likes of Danielle Steel and Anne Rice. Call me cynical.

I also apply this philosophy to speakers. When I see a slim on-wall speaker, I assume it will struggle to reproduce low notes. I take for granted that the manufacturer’s bass response specifications will be either wildly optimistic or stated so deceptively that only an engineering professor could spot the subterfuge. I might even be so bold as to bet the president of the company—on a trade show floor, in full view of his employees—that his speaker cannot perform as promised.

Krell’s “string” grille is made from more than 70 rubber cords; it has very little effect on the sound. (Click image to enlarge)

This is exactly what happens when Krell CEO Dan D’Agostino tells me that the bass response of his new Resolution 4 on-wall speaker extends to 45 hertz. What am I supposed to think when I hear such a claim? Why should I believe that a speaker with a single 6.5-inch-diameter woofer mounted in a 5-inch-deep cabinet could reproduce the third-lowest note on a bass guitar? Even some bass guitar amps cannot do that. So I scoff, I sneer, and I make the bet.Three months later, as I hear the opening bass notes of singer Holly Cole’s “Train Song” emerge from a set of Resolution 4s freshly mounted on the walls of my listening room, I withdraw a dollar from my wallet, place it in an envelope, and address it to D’Agostino.

I doubt my dollar will make much difference to the financial well-being of Krell Industries, but the Resolution 4 might. The trend in speakers these days is toward in-wall and on-wall models that take up no floor space, and either disappear visually or look like part of a room’s decor. Most of these speakers are designed at least as much for looks as for sound quality, although we have found models from such manufacturers as MartinLogan and Thiel that sound excellent. Krell brings something new to this product category, though—an on-wall speaker designed not only to look good, not only to perform well, but also to sound as full and robust as a typical full-size freestanding speaker. I cannot speculate on the size of the market for such a speaker, but it seems certain to me that someone out there must want a diminutive wall-mounted speaker that sounds full and rich.

Mind you, the Resolution 4 does not mount flush into a wall or look like part of a plasma TV. Thanks to Krell’s dark finishes (cherry veneer or black), the woofer’s readily visible magnesium cone, and the captivating grille made from more than 70 rubber cords, the Resolution 4 commands attention. Of course, in some homes its look will be too ostentatious to pass muster. I think, though, that most people will regard the Resolution 4 as a fascinating, mysterious high-end accoutrement. It certainly complements the luxurious look of my listening room.It also brings luxurious sound to my listening room. The bass, as I have hinted, rocks the room; many listeners will not feel the need to add a subwoofer. With all of the jazz recordings and most of the rock recordings I play, the Resolution 4’s bass sounds both full and articulate. To my surprise, the Resolution 4 even reproduces deep bass notes; it only falls short when presented with the deep, deep, deep bass that can emerge from synthesizers and large pipe organs. However, in its lowest range—the bottom six or seven notes of the electric bass, for example—the Resolution 4 sounds rather boomy. Pairing it with a good subwoofer will eliminate this flaw entirely.

Use of pricey drivers and a robust crossover circuit aids the Resolution 4’s performance. (Click image to enlarge)

Like the Resolution 1 tower speaker I reviewed in our September/October 2004 issue, the Resolution 4 begs to be played loud. I spend one particularly enjoyable night dredging up old pop and rock CDs, turning the system way up, and marveling at how expansive the sound from these little speakers seems. This quality makes the Resolution 4 a shoo-in for use in home theater systems, too. But the highest and best use I find for this speaker is to give voice to my jazz CDs; I can recommend an afternoon with the Resolution 4, a good amplifier and CD player, and the complete works of Rahsaan Roland Kirk as a surefire cure for practically any emotional ailment.

The Resolution 4 is not a Resolution 1 in a petite package; without the wonderful 4-inch midrange driver that graces the larger speaker, the 4’s midrange is not as smooth or as clear. However, it delivers most of the flavor of the Resolution 1 in a dramatically more practical form. As the basis of a living-room-friendly stereo system or as a partner for plasma TVs, the Resolution 4 has few, if any, peers.
DESCRIPTION
On-wall speaker for use in a stereo music system, and front and/or surround speakers in a surround-sound system. Subwoofer optional

COMPONENTS
6.5-inch magnesium-cone woofer, 1-inch dual concentric-ring tweeter

CONNECTIONS
Five-way binding posts; accept bare wire, pins, spade connectors, banana plugs, and dual banana plugs

DIMENSIONS
16.9 x 9.7 x 5 inches (hwd); grilles add 1.6 inches depth

PRICE/CONTACT
PRICE: $3,000 per pair
CONTACT: 203.799.9954, www.krellonline.com