From Nov '03 issue.

BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS:

1. Cambridge Soundworks Newton Series M80, $400 Excellent, with long (10-yr.) warranty. Vinyl cabinet.

2. Sony SS-MB350H, $100 Excellent and well-priced, but short (1-yr.) warranty.

3. BIC America Venturi DV62si, $200 Excellent.

4. Bose 201 Series V, $220 Excellent. Asymmetrical; designed specifically for left or right position. Easy to wall-mount. May cause video interference near a TV.

5. Boston Acoustics CR75, $300 Excellent overall, but avoid if you play bass-heavy music very loud. Easy to wall-mount.

6. Cambridge Soundworks Model Six, $150 Well-priced, excellent speakers with long (10-yr.) warranty. May cause video interference near a TV.

7. Boston Acoustics VR-M50, $700 Excellent but expensive; not the best choice if you play bass-heavy music very loud. Easy to wall-mount.

8. Cambridge Soundworks Newton Series M60, $300 Excellent, with long (10-yr.) warranty, but not the best choice if you play bass-heavy music very loud. Vinyl cabinet.

9. PSB Image 2B, $370 Excellent. 5-yr. warranty only if card mailed in; otherwise 1-yr.

10. Pioneer S-DF1-K, $200 Very good.

11. Pioneer S-DF2-K, $260 Very good.

12. Boston Acoustics CR85, $400 Very good. Easy to wall-mount.

13 Bose 301 Series V, $330 Very good. Easy to wall-mount. Asymmetrical; designed specifically for left or right position. May cause video interference near a TV.

14. Bose 141, $100 Very good overall. Small, light, and well-priced. Compact, gray vinyl cabinet. May cause video interference near a TV.

15 Sony SS-X30ED, $500 Very good. Short (1-yr.) warranty.

16. Polk Audio R20, $150 Very good. Easy to wall-mount. Asymmetrical; designed specifically for left or right position.

17. KLH 911B, $85 Very good, lightweight speakers at a low price, but short (1-yr.) warranty.

18. Klipsch Synergy SB-3 Monitor, $450 OK overall, with excellent bass handling.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLOOR-STANDING SPEAKERS:

1. Sony SS-MF750H, $280 Excellent, but short (1-yr.) warranty.

2. Cerwin Vega E-710, $300 Excellent, though may cause video interference near a TV.

3. Polk Audio R30, $300 Excellent and well-priced.

4. Jensen Champion Series C-5, $180 Very good and well-priced.

5. Polk Audio R50, $400 Very good.

6. Bose 601 Series IV, $600 Very good. Asymmetrical; designed specifically for left or right position. May cause video interference near a TV.

7. Bose 701 Series II, $700 Very good. Has tone controls. Asymmetrical; designed specifically for left or right position. May cause video interference near a TV.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REAR SURROUND SPEAKERS:

1. Cambridge Soundworks Newton Series, MC100, $140 Excellent and lightweight. Long (10-yr.) warranty.

2. Infinity OWS-1, $275 Very good, but larger than most. Not stable on a horizontal surface.

3. Bose 161, $160 Very good and lightweight, but not stable on a horizontal surface.

4. Pioneer S-H052S-K, $120 Very good and lightweight, but not stable on a horizontal surface.

5. NHT SB1, $300 Very good, but may cause video interference near a TV.

6. JBL Northridge Series N24 II, $200 Very good.

7. B&W LM1, $350 Very good.

9. Polk Audio RTi28, $280 Good.