A/V Product Reviews

The price range between $1.5k and $2k seems to be a sweet spot for tower speakers from many of the major speaker manufacturers. There are hundreds if not thousands of choices in this range. Recently, Audioholics reviewed five of what we consider to be some of the better speakers in this category. In this article, we take an overview of these five speakers and look at what each one brings to the table. Read our round-up of tower speakers in this range and watch our related YouTube video discussion to see if one of these makes a good fit for you.

With CEDIA just around the corner, audio manufacturers are scrambling to get their newest products ready for fall releases. Denon has one upped them by not only releasing information on their newest receiver, the AVR-X3600H, but also that it's shipping now! At $1,100, the new AVR-X3600H has 9CH of amplification and 11CH of processing to do a full 7.1.4 speaker system with the addition of a 2CH external amplifier. This is one of the least expensive AVR's on the market with 11CH of processing making it a compelling product to use as an inexpensive prepro with all the latest in HD audio and video processing.

Monitor Audio has completely redesigned its MASS satellite/sub speaker system. The 5.1-channel package includes 5 diminutive satellite speakers and a compact subwoofer, all wrapped in stylish woven fabric. At $950 for the package, the MASS speaker system promises a more cinematic experience than the faux surround provided by sound bars. Does it have what it takes to live up to that claim? Read on to learn more.

The Integra DRX-4.3 AV receiver sports the latest in HD audio and video with 9 amplification channels on-board and the ability to add an external 2CH amplifier to run a full 7.1.4 speaker configuration. It's a feature laden AVR with some excellent custom integrated tools that help differentiate it from its Onkyo lineup counterpart. In this review, we bench tested the older DRX-4.2 AV receiver and tested its HDBaseT system by running HD audio and video to a different room in the Audioholics Showcase home. We looked at what the newer DRX-4.3 successor model offers in comparison and discussed any potential shortcomings of both products.

SVS has launched a new flagship of their Prime series in the new Prime Pinnacle tower speaker. The Prime Pinnacle is a beefy-looking three-way tower speaker that uses three 6.5" woofers and a glass fiber 5.25" midrange driver, and a 1" aluminum dome tweeter. This new speaker isn't just simply a more powerful version of the Prime towers; there is also some new innovations in the basic design that sets it apart from any other speaker SVS has released. Read our full review to see what surprises SVS's newest creation has in store.

Dayton Audio has followed up their enormously popular MK402 bookshelf speaker with a floor-standing speaker version: the MK442T. The MK442T is more than just the MK402 with an extra woofer and larger cabinet. Dayton Audio decided to try something different and has used a transmission line enclosure to shore up bass frequencies instead of the standard vented design used by virtually every other speaker in this category. Transmission line designs are not very common, and at Dayton Audio's asking price of $228/pair, totally unheard of. Read our full review of the MK442T to see how Dayton Audio managed to pull this off.

During the first ever Sound United North America Dealers Conference in New Orleans, Marantz announced the latest versions of its popular slimline AV receivers. The 5.2-channel NR1510 ($599) and 7.2-channel NR1710 ($749) both deliver a modest 50 watts of power per channel, limited no doubt by their compact chassis. New features for 2019 include Apple AirPlay 2 support, enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization (on the NR1710). Read on to learn more.

The small and elegant NAD M10 BluOS Streaming Amplifier is a streamer, dac, and an integrated amp all squeezed into one small and stylish package. The $2,747 M10 features an MQA-capable ESS Sabre DAC and a Hypex nCore amplifier stage delivering 100 real-world watts per channel. Built-in room correction via Dirac Live helps the M10 sound its best even in less than ideal acoustical environments. Read on to learn more.

The new Triad Distributed Audio Series in-ceiling and in-wall speakers offer what parent company Control4 calls “discreet, designer-friendly solutions for multi-room audio installations on any budget.” There are 14 models divided into three price/performance levels using different driver materials. Prices start at just $125 each and they look great. Read on to learn more.

Bowers & Wilkins 603 floor-standing speaker is a culmination of trickle-down technology and ideas from their cutting-edge flagship designs. The 603s are their least-expensive floor-standing speaker at $1,800/pr, but don't let its entry-level status fool you; there is some intensive R&D invested in these things that come from decades of engineering refinement. Read our full review of the 603 loudspeakers to see what Bowers & Wilkins can do at such an accessible price bracket.

At the recent High End show in Munich, Mark Levinson introduced a new “integrated audio media player” called the No. 5101. Expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2019, the No. 5101 is a CD/SACD player with built-in network streaming capabilities, digital inputs and outputs, and a “PrecisionLink II” DAC section derived from the company’s 5000 series integrated amplifiers. The new player is expected to sell for $5,500, making it one of the least expensive products in the current Mark Levinson lineup. Read on to learn more.

Chip-supplier, Qualcomm says its new QCS400 line of processors will not only make new devices run better with new and interesting features, but will introduce the best sound quality yet in the next-generation of wireless & smart speakers, soundbars and A/V receivers designed by many of your favorite brands. See what may be coming to these products.

Audio legend Bowers and Wilkins released details on their newest lifestyle products to hit the market. Officially called the "Formation Suite", the new lineup includes a wireless soundbar, bookshelf speaker pair, elliptical tabletop speaker, subwoofer, and wireless hub designed to add your existing system to the Formation Suite ecosystem. Like other B&W products, the Formation Suite isn't cheap, but are the products worth the price tag? Read on to find out.

Monoprice is at it again: trying to see how affordably they can produce a speaker that sounds legitimately good. In this review, we look at the MP-T65RT floor-standing speakers, a marvel of cost-conscious sound reproduction. This are floor-standing speakers that manage some really cool tricks at an astonishingly low-price of $140 per pair shipped. Read our full review of this intriguing speaker to see what high-fidelity sound looks like at such a modest cost.