Cinema Grand
Three great systems for a thousand and change
For decades, you could walk into most electronics stores and find speakers that were small and good, or small and cheap — but rarely all three. Times have changed. With advances in acoustics and the advent of computer-aided design for speaker drivers and enclosures, today you can get great sound from plenty of small, inexpensive speakers.
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What We Think
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| System 120 | Diamond Series | Intimus 532 System |
| This compact, attractive system offers a canny mix of sonic qualities that’s great for both music and movies. | The front L/R satellites win the ribbon for musical excellence, but the center and sub could better complement the whole. | A closely matched system that’s a strong performer — especially on stereo music — and an excellent value. |
To prove that, we’ve drummed up a trio of home theater sextets, 5.1-channel systems that do the job for around $1,400 — and do it quite well indeed. Now, $1,400 might not qualify as “cheap” to many, but with “mid-line” surround systems from the glamour brands running as much as $3,000 to $4,000 for a full setup, these three represent some of today’s best values.
