Audiovector might not be one of the larger Danish loudspeaker companys to participate in the global hi-fi scene, but it does create models that bristle with original and interesting ideas.

We've reviewed some half-a-dozen examples to date, but these have been spread across a 15-year timespan, and the current distributor, South Yorkshire dealer Mayflower Sounds, is the fourth operation to take on the company during that time.

In truth, Audiovector finds UK distribution no more difficult than any other overseas brand, but over the years, very few non-UK firms have managed to get themselves properly established here.

Yet few deserve UK success more than Audiovector, which has a string of mostly worthwhile USPs to shout about. The most interesting of these is, perhaps, the upgradeability concept.

The four S3 models in the S-series are identical in size and configuration, but purchasers can start with the base model and subsequently upgrade its performance.

S3 super

This £2,600 S3 Super is just one rung up the ladder from the 'standard' S3, while above it the Signature and Avant-garde models include superior components at higher cost, with the option to move up the ladder, if desired.

The basic ingredients of the S3 Super appear to be conventional enough: two 165mm main drivers, plus a solitary tweeter housed in a very attractively presented and reasonably compact floorstanding enclosure. The two sides are curved towards a narrower back to minimise internal standing wave focusing and the enclosure is mostly decorated in a smooth and very nicely finished real-wood veneer.

It was cherry for our samples, with black, rosewood, maple or silk-finished silver the options. This Super variation features an extra silver painted half-baffle and thick back panel for additional stiffening, with exposed magnets holding the optional grille in place.

A matching moulded plinth tilts the base slightly at the back (again to reduce standing wave focusing), and supplies an outlet for the port. This plinth accommodates the spikes securely and does also extend the footprint, but only slightly, so physical stability remains rather marginal.

The promotional brochure is quite nostalgic, identifying a whole string of features with a whole string of mostly unmemorable initials, some or all of which apply to the S3 Super (the brochure is a little vague on which feature applies to which model).

Certainly, it has the SEC (Soundstage Enhancement Concept) treble system, and the DFF (Dynamic Feed Forward) and NCS (Natural Crystal Structure) from cryogenic treatment crossover.

Optional ARA (Audiovector Room Adaptation), LCC (Low Compression Concept) technology, and IUC (Individual Upgrade Concept) future Proof might (or might not) also be part of the mix.

Such technobabble notwithstanding, the S3 Super does incorporate several features worth further examination. The main drivers' cast frames have three-point fixing to ensure firm and accurate contact and use 120mm diameter cones formed from a woven carbon fibre and Nomex sandwich.

The tweeter has a 30mm fabric dome, the rear of which is vented through two holes at the top of the rear panel – the SEC treble system, which adds some extra high-frequency airiness via room reflections.

Possibly, the most interesting feature doesn't seem to have found its way into the documentation. There's a little switch between the three pairs of terminals labelled 'on/off'. Experiment revealed that this switches in or out a high pass filter feeding the upper main driver, so that the speaker may be converted between three-way and two-and-a-half-way operation. The latter is the 'normal' setting and supplies substantially more bass output.

Sound quality