Stereo speakers come in pairs, and they are for people who really enjoy a great audio experience. Today's marketplace is flooded with surround sound speaker systems, but there are still plenty of great choices for traditional stereo speakers. The combination of quality and affordability is more prevalent than ever before, so whatever your price range and sonic requirements, good options are abound.
The advent of internet-direct sales is bringing numerous high-quality products to the marketplace at bargain prices. Without the overhead costs associated with traditional brick-and-mortar stores and marketing, these companies offer incredible speaker values. In addition to the internet, mass retailers as well as mom-and-pop stores also have familiar brands in all price ranges. Here are some of our favorite new stereo speakers.
Axiom M3
Axiom prices its M3 speakers at about $330 per pair, and this is a steal. These large bookshelf models use a two-way, rear-port design with 6-1/2-inch drivers, and they work best on open bookshelves or speaker stands. The unique wedge-shape cabinet suppresses internal resonance that can negatively color the sound, and it also makes for a unique look. The M3 speakers are available in black oak, Boston cherry, Mansfield beech and light maple finishes.
This is a fantastic all-around bookshelf speaker that sounds great on it's own for music, but it can also be used in a matched surround system with a subwoofer for incredible home theater performance. Reasonably priced, the Axiom M3 represents great value in a versatile bookshelf speaker.
 Axiom M3 speakers |
Jamo C 803
At around $900 per pair, the Jamo C 803's are some of the most expensive bookshelf speakers we have tested. They are also our favorites and are worth every penny. The C 803 is a large, rear-port, two-way speaker with a 7-inch woofer and 1-inch dome tweeter. The cabinet is gorgeous, with a sculpted and curvy shape that will garner attention from your guests. It is available in a black ash or dark apple finish.
This is a very high-quality speaker with excellent build quality, and it produced a very musical tone. When placed on stands in our listening room, the C 803's sounded better than many floorstanding tower speakers we have auditioned. They had a wide soundstage and reproduced music with astonishing detail and clarity. If your budget allows, the Jamo C 803 represents one of the best choices among bookshelf stereo speakers.
Polk Audio Monitor 60
Polk Audio's Monitor 60 tower speakers deliver solid stereo performance and would serve as a respectable foundation for a home theater system. Polk has a history of producing affordable, high-performance speakers, and the Monitor 60 continues that tradition with aplomb.
At about $650 for the pair, the floorstanding Monitor 60 speakers represent a great value. Each tall, slender speaker boasts three 5-1/4-inch drivers and a 1-inch dome tweeter, delivering powerful sound for both music and movies. Sonically they were full and rich, with a detailed soundstage that we would have expected from speakers costing hundreds more. If you are looking for full-size towers that will live up to Polk Audio's sterling reputation, check out the Monitor 60.
 Polk Audio Monitor 60 speakers |
AV123 x-ls
The AV123 x-ls is a large bookshelf speaker offered exclusively online at www.av123.com. This high-quality speaker has an entry-level suggested price of about $220 per pair, but it performs like a much more expensive model. The x-ls has a two-way, rear-port design with 6-1/2-inch drivers. Each cabinet is very heavy, relatively speaking, but that is a result of the quality construction. The exterior is offered in a satin black or white shadow maple (additional finishes will be available later in 2007), both of which are furniture-grade finishes that rival that of the most expensive speakers out there.
Although suitable for seating on open bookshelves, we achieved the best results from the x-ls speakers by placing them on 23-inch stands. They exhibited a fantastic soundstage no matter what genre of music we played. In fact, the x-ls performed better than speakers we have tested costing twice the price. The AV123 x-ls speakers are a fantastic value.
Pioneer Pure Malt (S-A4SPT-PM)
For a truly unique set of small speakers, Pioneer's Pure Malt bookshelf speakers are just the ticket. The Pure Malts are handcrafted from retired 50-year-old oak whiskey barrels, which are flattened and dried, then cut and assembled into speaker cabinets. The resulting finish has a beautiful and luxurious aged-oak look.
The Pure Malt speakers have 4-inch drivers, but they produced a remarkably full sound that could easily fill a small room or office. The aged hardwood contributed to a rich, mellow tone that was quite enjoyable at moderate volume levels, whether we were listening to pop, jazz, classical or acoustic music. Craftsmanship comes at price, and with a suggested price of $299 each (available only at www.pioneerelectronics.com), you should think of the Pioneer Pure Malts as both speakers and art.
http://products.howstuffworks.com/stereo-speakers-pair-down-the-choices-article.htm
