Home Theater Speakers: Reviews

For those on the tightest of budgets, reports say the 5.1-channel Yamaha NS-SP1800 delivers decent surround-sound quality at a great price. Best for movies rather than music, the speakers can fill modestly large rooms… with sound. While the small-powered subwoofer won't loosen floorboards, bass is satisfying as long as expectations are kept reasonable. Audiophiles should certainly stay far, far away, but most say that sound quality easily out does what even the best built-in TV speakers can provide.

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The five-piece Fluance AVHTB+ lacks a subwoofer, so rumbling special effects won't have quite the impact of some other home theater speaker systems. Still, experts agree that the sound quality and build quality of these… speakers is shockingly good given their price. The speaker system is expandable, and you can add a subwoofer (*Est. $200) and additional rear-channel satellite speakers (*Est. $100 each) for a six- or seven-channel setup. The speakers feature solid-wood cabinets and are magnetically shielded.

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These amply sized speakers won't disappear into a room like some others, but they offer sound quality that belies the rock-bottom price. Helped along by a larger than normal 230-watt subwoofer, the Onkyo SKS-HT540 is… capable of rocking the house -- or at least a very large room -- without falling apart under the strain. Audiophiles might not be as impressed, but the system does a good job of handling music as well as bombastic movie sound tracks. Construction quality is impressive as well. Enough speakers are included for a full 7.1-channel system.

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The Klipsch HD Theater 500 uses horn speaker technology to create a more convincing surround-sound effect than any other speaker system in its class. Every sound is located precisely and with such realism that listeners… will be ducking for cover. Sound quality is also terrific with music and movies, besting even many more expensive systems according to one report. While some are smaller still, the 6-inch tall satellite speakers won't overwhelm a room. The biggest drawback is that while the Klipsch HD Theater 500 has plenty of pop for typically sized viewing rooms, the sound can quickly get lost in larger spaces.

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If getting speakers that can be heard but not seen is a priority, most will be hard-pressed to find a better sounding system than the Energy RC-Micro 5.1. Sound quality is enhanced by a subwoofer that's perfectly matched… to the rest of the system, avoiding the "thin" sound that afflicts many very small speaker systems. Reports say that movie sound tracks are clear and surround effects are realistic. Music performance is also good, though some reviewers find a few small faults. The amount of sound generated by the 4.7-inch tall satellites is impressive, but quality can suffer a bit if the speakers are driven to the absolute highest volume levels.

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While still expensive, experts say the Definitive Technology ProCinema 800 speaker system easily outperforms its price tag. The excellent subwoofer is aided by satellites that deliver much better bass than their small… cabinets would suggest. Movie lovers will love how the ProCinema 800 handles everything from booming special effects to soft, low-level dialog, and music performance is even better. Although the company markets the system as a home theater solution, it is sold only as separate components; $1,200 gets you the center-channel speaker, four satellites and a subwoofer.

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