Every day, in audio/video superstores across this great land, the same scenario plays out with frightening regularity. Someone, lusting after high-definition TV, spends thousands of dollars on the set of his dreams. And then, having been turned on to surround sound by hearing his buddy’s home theater, he asks the salesman to recommend a speaker system. The salesman steers the pour soul to a $500 home-theater-in-a-box (HTiB), telling him that its tiny speakers and bass module will give him all the surround sound he needs. And, the guy, with the price of the TV still dancing in his head, buys the system.

Blame it on low-fidelity MP3 or on the hefty price tags for the early flat-panel TVs, but somewhere along the way the scales tipped heavily from audio toward video. People used to spend about the same amount of money on their sound systems as they did on their TVs, but today the scenario of a $5,000 plasma display paired with a $500 HTiB is all too common. That’s like finishing off a beautiful Armani suit with a polyester tie you pulled out of a bin at Goodwill, or throwing some bald tires on your new Ferrari. It’s just not right!

Don’t cheat yourself. Budget at least $1,000 for a 5.1-channel speaker system that can give you immersive, theaterlike sound worthy of your new HDTV. But when you go out in search of the right system, you’ll quickly find that there is an overwhelming number to choose from. To give you a hand, here are some suggestions to consider for systems in the $1,000 to $2,499, $2,500 to $4,999, and $5,000-plus price ranges. While these systems yield greater dividends the more you spend, each holds the promise of terrific surround sound that will put almost any HTiB to shame.

Small systems can still deliver the sonic goods ($1,000 to $2,499)
Step on up to towers, bigger subwoofers, and more ($2,500 to $4,999)
The very best — with looks and sound to prove it ($5,000 and up)

Small systems can still deliver the sonic goods
$1,000 to $2,499

Compared with entry-level HTiB packages, speaker systems in this range tend to have larger drivers capable of delivering louder, more cinematic playback levels. Of greater significance, they usually have more robust subwoofers, which help create the emotional impact that makes home theater so enthralling.

Nearly every speaker manufacturer offers a system in this competitive price range. These tend to be “baby brothers” to the companies’ flagship systems, receiving trickle-down design features from their siblings, and delivering sound that belies their price tags. Small satellite speakers dominate the category and offer a variety of placement options: on a bookshelf, on stands, or mounted on the wall alongside that new flat-panel TV.

For a bookshelf-size system that doesn’t skimp on performance, check out the Super Audio line from NHT (nhthifi.com). With the SB3 speaker front and rear, an SC2 center speaker, and a 12-inch, 250-watt SW12 subwoofer ($2,350), all in high-gloss black, you might never go out to the movies again.

The System 1200 is new to the Atlantic Technology (atlantictechnology.com) lineup. Consisting of five Model 1200 LR two-way satellites and a 125-watt, 10-inch 212 SB subwoofer, it will surround you in sound for $1,200 with maple-finish side panels, or $1,320 with plasma-chic gloss black or matte silver side panels. (You can replace the panels if you change your décor.

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The Klipsch Cinema 10 system ($1,545), reviewed in December 2003.

Known for its horn-loaded tweeters, Klipsch (www.klipsch.com) stayed true to its roots when creating the space-friendly Cinema 10 system (click to read the December 2003 review). With four RSX-5 satellites, an RCX-4 center speaker, and a 10-inch, 200-watt RW-10 subwoofer, the system sells for $1,545.

You might not expect real wood finishes at these prices, but the RTi6 system from Polk Audio (polkaudio.com) offers just that. With a pair of RTi6 speakers in the front, a CSi3 center speaker, a pair of RTi4 surrounds, and a 100-watt, 8-inch PSW303 subwoofer, it lists for $1,380. But with the front L/R and surround speakers finished in cherry or black oak veneer, it looks like it should cost twice that.

Proving that nice-sounding things can come in small packages, the wedge-shaped cabinet of the Bravo satellite (reviewed in our January 2002 issue) from Boston Acoustics (bostonacoustics.com) allows you to mount it in tight places where other speakers can only dream of going. At only $1,400 for four Bravos, a matching Bravo Center, and a 10-inch, 100-watt PV500 sub, you might think you’re dreaming.


The Mirage Omnisat 6 system ($1,700), reviewed in May 2003.

Both the look and design of the Mirage (miragespeakers.com) Omnisat 6 system are unconventional (click to read the May 2003 review). Mirage believes that using 70% reflected sound and 30% direct sound delivers the kind of diffuse effect necessary for convincing sound reproduction. To achieve this, the drivers in the Omnisat speakers point up at a 30° angle. You can get five Omnisats and a 10-inch, 150-watt LF-150 sub for $1,700.

B&W (www.bwspeakers.com) probably doesn’t even come to mind when you think of this price range, but its third-generation 600 Series 3 speakers share technology gleaned from the cost-no-object Nautilus model at a fraction of the price. A system consisting of two DM602 S3 front L/R speakers, an LCR60 S3 center speaker, two DM601 S3 surrounds, and a 10-inch, 150-watt ASW600 subwoofer runs $1,900 and comes in black ash or light oak. (Click to read the April 2003 review.)

When it comes to appeasing the wife, smaller is definitely better, and you won’t find much smaller speakers than the direct/reflecting, jewel-cube arrays from Bose (bose.com). The $1,299 Acoustimass 15 Series II system includes five tiny cubes and a redesigned Acoustimass powered bass module.

You can even find systems with traditional, floor-standing front speakers at these prices. The sleek Euro styling and silver finish of the Jamo (jamo.com) A355PDD system, with its A 355 towers, A 3CEN.5 center, A 325 surrounds, and 9-inch, 100-watt A 3SUB.5 subwoofer will make your plasma TV look even cooler. And at $1,199, it’ll leave some guilders in your pocket.

JBL (jbl.com) offers three laminate finishes — black ash, beech, and cherry — to complement its Northridge E Series. You can net four E80 towers for the front and rear L/R positions, an EC35 center, and a 12-inch, 250-watt E250P sub for $1,944.

Another tower option is the LE200 Series from Canton (cantonusa.com). With LE 207 tower speakers for the front L/R, the LE 205 CM center speaker, LE 202 surrounds, and a 9-inch, 120-watt ASD 220 SC subwoofer, you’ll have a system that promises to sound as good as it looks for $2,146.

Step on up to towers, bigger subwoofers, and more
$2,500 to $4,999

Allocating a bit more to your budget will take you to speakers offering next-level performance. While weight doesn’t tell the whole story, a speaker’s heft can indicate a lot about how well it’s made. Speakers in this price range often have cabinets constructed of finer materials with heavy internal bracing and may come in a wide variety of finishes. They can also include large rare-earth magnets and more elaborate driver arrays designed to produce a more accurate and detailed audio image. Having a little more money to work with will also allow you to consider adding back surround speakers for a more enveloping surround experience.

Nothing fills a room with sound like a full-size speaker, and the new Beta series from Infinity (infinitysystems.com) won’t break the bank. Two Model 50 towers in front, a C360 center speaker, and the versatile ES250 surrounds — which can be set for monopole, bipole, or dipole operation, or to simultaneously produce two discrete channels — should produce cinematic volume levels in all but the largest rooms. The powerful 10-inch, 650-watt CSW-10 sub uses Infinity’s exclusive Room Adaptive Bass Optimization System (R.A.B.O.S.) to help you get the bass dialed in. This $3,094 package is available in black, beech, and cherry woodgrain finishes.

Well aware that a connoisseur is a discerning judge of the best, Energy (energy-speakers.com) offers up the Connoisseur series. The flagship is the C-9 tower speaker, which is said to produce solid bass down to 31 Hz. Combine a pair with a C-C3 center speaker, C-R3 surrounds, and a 12-inch, 150-watt e:XL-S12 subwoofer, and you’ll have a $3,200 system that will make any plasma proud.

The M&K Designer Series system with CS-35 Column Surrounds ($3,896), reviewed in May 2003.

Recording studios and mix rooms around the world have long used powered monitors from M&K Sound (mksound.com) for critical playback. To experience this kind of performance at home, consider M&K’s Designer Series (reviewed in May 2003). The front LCR-850/851 speakers, the Center-850/851, and the 12-inch, 125-watt V-850/851 sub are available finished in light maple or medium cherry wood veneer, gloss black, white, or titanium silver, while the tripolar CS-35 Column Surround comes in black or white. For $3,896, you can have a system that puts you on par with the pros.


The Paradigm Reference Studio 40 v. 3 system ($4,720), reviewed in February/March 2004.

If you want the sound of a large speaker without the large speaker, the Paradigm Reference (paradigm.com) Studio 40 v.3 might be the perfect fit (click to read the February/March 2004 review). It packs the same driver complement as the floor-standing Studio 60 into a smaller cabinet, which comes finished in sycamore, cherry, rosenut, or black ash. Mate it with the CC-570 v.3 center speaker, the dipolar ADP-470 v.3 surrounds, and the 12-inch, 1,200-watt Seismic subwoofer for a $4,720 system that can do justice to any DVD.

Just because a speaker is designed to be “plasma friendly” doesn’t mean it can’t sound good. Consider the Mythos series from Definitive Technology (definitivetech.com). Sitting on their ultra-cool glass bases, the Mythos One Towers, mated with the wall-mounted Mythos Three center speaker and Mythos Two surrounds (all finished in polished aluminum or gloss black), do much more than just look pretty. The mighty SuperCube 1 sub hitches a 1,500-watt amp to a 10-inch woofer and two 10-inch passive radiators to round out a $4,294 package that puts you in the middle of the action. (Click to read the January 2004 review, “Speaker, Speaker on the Wall.”)

When there’s just no room for a traditional speaker, custom installers have long turned to Triad (triadspeakers.com) to provide high-quality sound in out-of-the-ordinary places. In the Bronze series, the InRoom LCR can sit on a shelf or stand, the InWall 4 LCR tucks into a standard wall cavity, the OnWall LCR can be mounted next to a flat-panel TV, and the InCeiling 8 LCR has drivers on an angled baffle behind a flush grille. Triad offers an extensive array of paint or veneer finishes to blend into your décor and will custom-paint the grilles for you. Add a 10-inch, 250-watt PowerSub (available as a typical in-room model or in three in-wall depths) and the Bronze Surrounds for a $3,400 to $4,500 system, depending on the configuration.

Hailing from the Great White North, PSB Speakers (psbspeakers.com) has retooled its Image line for 2004, offering a softer, more stylized look available finished in maple or black ash. Pairing T65 towers with a C60 center speaker up front and adding the bipolar S50 surrounds and the 12-inch, 225-watt SubSonic 61 subwoofer will result in a $2,996 system that will have you saying “G’day, eh!” every day.

The very best — with looks and sound to prove it
$5,000 and up

At these prices, you are into the crème de la crème of speaker systems, with models made of the finest materials, typically with furniture-grade cabinets finished in matched woods and using exotic technologies. These systems incorporate the most powerful subwoofers, for the tightest, deepest bass, and some even come with multiple subs for smoother bass response.


The MartinLogan Fresco system ($5,970), reviewed in January 2004.

Very few full-size speakers share the flat-panel cool of plasma TVs, but MartinLogan (martinlogan.com) doesn’t manufacture just any speaker. Its new on-wall Fresco (click to read the January 2004 review, “Speaker, Speaker on the Wall.”) features an Advanced Thin Film driver to create sound meant to be exceeded only by its appearance. Wall mount five of them, throw in a 10-inch, 250-watt Grotto subwoofer, and be the envy of the neighborhood for $5,970.

THX standards were established to ensure that what you hear in the movie theater and in your home theater is consistent with what the filmmakers heard in the mixing room. The Atlantic Technology System 6200 (atlantictechnology.com) is THX Select-certified to deliver this level of performance. The 6200 LR left/right front speakers, the 6200 C center speaker, and the 12-inch, 300-watt 642 SB subwoofer come in a standard black finish but can be customized with maple, cherry, or gloss black. Add the 6200 SR switchable bipolar/dipolar surrounds, and you’ll bring the movies home for $5,720 to $7,020, depending on trim.

If your room measures over 3,000 cubic feet, consider Jamo’s (jamo.com) THX Ultra2-certified D 7PTX suite ($6,399). Three D 7LCR speakers handle the front channels, while the D 7SUR speakers handle the surround channels, leaving the deep-bass duties to the 15-inch, 400-watt D 7SUB.

The new on-wall speakers from KEF (kef.com) use Acoustic Compliance Enhancement to achieve a depth of bass normally found only in much larger speakers. The unique mounting system for the KHT 9000ACE allows full height adjustment, and when it’s mounted on a wall, a filter automatically engages to compensate for the wall’s effect on the sound. Five identical 9000ACE speakers paired with a 12-inch, 500-watt PSW 4000 sub run $6,500.


The JBL HT-Series system ($6,550), reviewed in September 2003.

More commercial movie theaters use JBL (jbl.com) speakers than any other brand. Its HT — Home Theater — Series is all about bringing that level of performance home. Build your own cinema with two HT4V L/R speakers, an HT4H center speaker, two HT5 surrounds, and two THX-certified HTPS-400 subs that each house a 12-inch driver and a 1,000-watt amp. Price of admission: $6,550. (See the review in “Sonic Signatures,” September 2003.)

The B&W (www.bwspeakers.com) 700 Series speakers feature wood cabinets in five finishes — maple, cherry, walnut, rosenut, and black ash — that you’ll want to proudly display. Use the Model 703 towers with the HTM7 center speakers and the DS7 surrounds, which can be switched from monopole to dipole operation via a 12-volt trigger. The 1,000-watt, 12-inch ASW750 sub shares the same cabinetry and rounds out the $6,850 package.


The Definitive Technology BP7001SC system ($5,695), reviewed in July/August 2003.

Definitive Technology (definitivetech.com) is practically synonymous with tower speakers with built-in powered subs. The SC series uses the new SuperCube subwoofer design for louder, tighter, more punishing bass. Make sure your house is well secured to its foundation when you connect the BP 7001SC towers (which each include the same 1,500-watt, three-driver complement found in a standalone SuperCube 1 sub), the CLR3000 center speaker (which also includes a 10-inch, 150-watt sub), and the BPVX surrounds. That’s 3,150 watts of bass and a whole lot more for $5,695. (See the July/August 2003 review on our Web site.)

The eXpanding Array drivers in the XA System from Snell (snellacoustics.com) are designed to control vertical dispersion while allowing a broad horizontal image, producing what reviewer Daniel Kumin called “terrifically dynamic, high-definition sound” (“Sonic Signatures,” September 2003). Whether it’s movies or music, the XA60 towers, SA55CR center speaker, SR30THX surrounds, and 10-inch, 330-watt PS.10mk2 sub should be up to the task. Pay $7,250, and your ears will thank you.