If you are on the market for a dynamic pair of compact speakers with a high Spouse Acceptance Factor (SAF), dynamic audio performance on par with speakers twice their price, and an ability to create a sound image nearly on par with full sized speakers, than I urge you to consider these speakers seriously. They are not perfect mind you, as they do tend toward harshness in challenging audio passages that straddle the crossover point possibly making some female vocalists sound almost over mic’d or poorly mixed. That sensation was mostly fleeting however as only certain passages exhibited this behavior, and only for brief durations. On the upside, they are gorgeous, with the piano gloss center section and beautiful wood side panels, and would be right at home in a medium sized den with a tube amplifier softening that hard edge while sipping a 20 year old brandy. While I am a single man, every one of my lady friends remarked at the wonderful addition the speakers made in my warmly colored listening room, and with my full towers tucked in the back corners of the room during the review, an immediate comparison was made that earned the Be-718’s the enviable nickname “Mighty Mites” because of their significantly smaller size and equal or superior performance to my reference speakers. The only additional investment I would recommend is a subwoofer that can extend down below 35Hz, just to bolster the substantial but not earth shattering bass response. The one other issue I would like to draw attention to, and it’s a minor one, Piano Gloss Black shows very quickly how often you dust in your listening room! I am an obsessive swiffer’er and if I was out for a day or two, it appeared as though the top of the speakers was a vaguely grayish and dull shade of black instead of the rich deep gloss I had known prior. While it’s not a nit I’d normally pick, I had to find something else to say to bring balance to the overwhelmingly positive experience I’ve had with these miniscule minueters!

The Be-718 Tiny Dancer’s are not without peer, as there are other bookshelves, not the least of which is the aforementioned Concertino’s, and even some floor standing speakers that perform admirably at or near this price point, but the combination of sturdy construction, excellent engineering, innovative tweeter design and implementation, and performance per dollar spent put these substantial sound boxes into the “if this is your price range, put these on your short list of speakers to audition” checkbox. It was truly my pleasure to review these speakers and I hope that in some small way I’ve helped you if you’re in the market for a highly capable pair of speakers with décor friendly appeal, and musicality nearly beyond reproach.

Usher Audio
Usher Audio BE-718 Bookshelf Speaker System $2,795/pair
http://www.usheraudiousa.com/

Phone: 214.638.3500 or 214.704.6082
Fax: 214.722.0325
E-mail: info@musikmatters.com
Address: 1303 Motor Street, Dallas, Texas 75207