Speakers are the most important part of a stereo or home theater system and the key to determining the overall sound from your system. Speakers can be floorstanding, bookshelf, in-wall, on-wall or a satellite system with a subwoofer. They come in all sizes, shapes and finishes and the best way to choose speakers is to listen to several models before making a decision and using your personal tastes as a guide.
Paradigm is a Canadian manufacturer of high-quality floorstanding, in-wall, on-wall and bookshelf speakers. Their speakers range from the high end to very affordable. I recently reviewed the
Paradigm Mini Monitor stereo speaker system that sells for $399 per pair or about $1,700 for a 5.1 channel system. Paradigm speakers are an excellent value with great sound quality for movies and music. Full disclosure: I own a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 100 speakers that I use in my reference two-channel system.
Monitor is a UK manufacturer well known for its high end speaker systems, but they also make very affordable speakers as I found out when I reviewed their
Bronze Reference Series BR-5 floorstanding speaker system, which sell for $599 per pair, or under $2,000 for a full 5.1 channel system. The Bronze Series are affordable and offer excellent sound.
Cabasse is a French company that specializes in avant-garde speaker designs. Their
Eole speaker system is a 5.1 channel satellite/subwoofer speaker system that offers surprisingly big sound from the small ‘micro-sphere’ satellite speakers. The subwoofer fills in the low bass notes. They're small speakers and they take little space, so you can place them almost anywhere, on a shelf or on stands. In my review I noted their enveloping sound quality for movies and clean, high-end sound for music and the system sells for less than $2,400.
After you buy your new flat screen television, you’re going to need a pair of on-wall speakers to complete the package. Consider the
Totem Acoustic Tribe III speakers for screen sizes ranging from 60” or larger. The Tribe IIIs are outstanding for movies and music. They use Totem Acoustics’ new Torrent woofer, which provides good bass response even without a subwoofer, but for the most impact with movie sound, check our their selection of subwoofers. If you have a smaller screen, consider the Tribe I or Tribe II. Prices range from $1,500 for the Tribe III, and $750 and $950 each for the Tribe I and Tribe II models respectively.
Sunfire offers the
Cinema Ribbon Series of bookshelf and on-wall speakers that use advanced ribbon midrange and high-frequency drivers that offer true high-end sound quality. The Cinema Ribbon Duos (model CRM-2) are small, stealth-looking speakers that have a clean, clear sound quality that I really enjoyed. The larger model, the CRS-3 Trios are also a great choice for on-wall speakers to accompany a flat-panel television, especially when used with the CRS-3C center channel speaker. Prices range from $1,000 each for the CRS-3, $1,250 each for the CRS-3C center channel speaker and $800 each for the CRM-2 Cinema Ribbon Duos.
