Introduction Home theater enthusiasts never had it so good. It used to be that the choices for a good 5.1 speaker package were either far beyond most people’s means, or so inexpensive that you had to wonder how the manufacturer could ever make money selling them. Then there are speaker packages (you know the which ones I am talking about) which have incredible marketing behind spectacularly mediocre products that the unenlightened seem to be enamored of due to the diminutive size of the items. High-end manufacturers over the past few years have heard the cry from folks begging to step up to higher-performance speakers, questioning why products have to cost so much to sound so good. When the companies trickle down their very expensive technologies into more affordable products, they offer an opportunity for the masses to expose themselves to the high-end performance arena. NHT is one of those companies, and their latest effort is ...

Introduction When selecting a speaker for your music or home entertainment system, there are so many critical variables to consider including size, aesthetics, price and, lastly but surely not least, performance. Some buyers make their decisions based on looks alone, others select based on performance somewhere near their target price range. Due to the fact that many (or at least spouses of many) prefer not to have their speakers as a visual centerpiece in their living rooms, small speakers are dominant in the AV retail environment. Some hardcore AV enthusiasts are scared away from smaller speakers by their perception bigger is better. There is no denying that bigger speakers can provide more bass and in many cases more dynamics, yet there are advantages to smaller speakers, as smaller cabinets are less expensive to produce. Therefore, the manufacturers can afford to use better materials and or better cabinet bracing. Smaller cabinets tend to interact less and ...

Introduction The goal of a home theater system is much greater than to merely reproduce what is recorded on your DVDs. Its job is to transport you to the event being depicted in the film, an achievement known as suspension of disbelief. Movie producers go to great measures to create a hyper-realistic sense of impact, both visually and sonically. In movies with even the slightest amount of action, you will find that no other component in your theater sound system compares to the subwoofer for impact, verisimilitude and ability to involve you in the movie. It is an essential ingredient to every home theater system. A subwoofer’s mission is to supply the lowest frequency information with ample sound pressure, which can fill your room with realistic and powerful low-frequency energy. It can often make your home theater experience more involving than that of your local theatrical release cinema complex. No home theater is complete ...

Introduction The CM4 ($1,500) is the top-of-the-line speaker in B&W’s new moderately-priced CM line. The CM line consists of three speakers: the stand-mounted CM2, the CMC center channel and the floor-standing CM4 reviewed here. The CM4 speaker weighs in at 40 pounds and is fairly compact at 35.8 inches high, 7.8 inches wide and 11.5 inches deep. The CM4 has a very compact, clean and modern appearance. The well-executed cabinet comes with a real wood veneer of either maple or rosenut. The review samples were a light maple. Upon first glance, it is immediately evident that the design team paid attention to aesthetics. The speaker starts out as a tall, narrow, well-finished maple box with a simple black cloth grille. Once the grille is removed, things get exciting. Beneath the grille is an aluminum baffle with three drivers. The tweeter is on top. Directly beneath the tweeter is the telltale yellow Kevlar midrange with a ...

Introduction When purchasing your audio/video system, there is no component that better defines its character than your speaker system. Speakers define both the sonic and aesthetic personality of your sound system. With the better part of the audiophile era behind us, a time when a good-sounding product in a hideous package seemed acceptable, the importance of combining performance with an attractive look has never been greater. Several months back, I approached RBH about reviewing their loudspeaker systems. RBH is hardly a newcomer to the audio/video industry having just celebrated their 25th anniversary. Having seen and heard their speakers at CES 2001, I was intrigued with their products, as they appeared to perform very well in an environment that is less than optimal, and because their speakers looked to be well-built at an affordable price. Finding products of value is a high priority for AudioRevolution.com. After speaking with RBH, we selected a speaker system that was felt to ...