Introduction The days of floor-standing speakers are numbered. I’m sure this statement is going to be met with a barrage of e-mails to the contrary, but alas, it’s true. The end may not be tomorrow or the next day, but it is coming. When that day comes, there will be two schools of thought: embracing the growing trend of satellite/subwoofer or on-wall/in-wall speaker systems and not embracing it. To all those who haven’t gotten with the program: you’ll only have yourself to blame. And here’s why. While home theater is a booming business with seemingly everyone wanting and/or having some form of AV system in their homes, whether it’s a dedicated room or a living room system, one thing remains constant: it’s the more lifestyle-oriented products, specifically flat panel displays and pint-sized speakers, that are truly driving the marketplace. And why shouldn’t they? More often than not, satellite speakers are better-looking, more budget-friendly and fit ...

Introduction I started my journey in home theater some 10 years ago with the biggest home theater of them all, a 12-screen multiplex. I was a projectionist for the Colorado division of the famous Mann Theatres chain. Six days a week, I got to play with some of the coolest gear on the planet and at the heart of it all was none other than JBL. In fact, during all my years as a projectionist, every theater I worked for featured JBL sound systems. When it came time to build my own home theater some years ago, I went with what I knew. Since then, my system and tastes have gone through countless changes, from electrostatics to single-ended triodes. Yet, when I look back at my early days in home theater, what I remember most is the stupid grin on my face every time I fired up the JBLs. JBL is the brainchild ...

Introduction We’ve all sat and drooled over the pages of the latest industry mag at the sights and specifications of some master designer’s latest Herculean, not to mention expensive, efforts in speaker design. And why shouldn’t we? Often, these products represent what is the pinnacle of loudspeaker design, and while no trip to Everest is free, there are other mountains worth climbing, which are rewarding in their own right. Enter companies like Radiient and their new line, or should I say line-up, of speakers, starting with the Elara compact five-speaker system. Founded by David Buuck, formerly of DVDO, and Jano Banks, the co-creator of HDMI, Radiient is out to prove that great sound and quality craftsmanship don’t necessarily have to come at a steep price. In fact, they’re out to change the way you look at, listen to and buy speakers altogether. This is why you’ll only find their products sold direct through their website, ...

Introduction During my time as a reviewer for Audio Video Revolution, I’ve been fortunate enough to write about and enjoy many of today’s top home theater products from some of the most reputable manufacturers around. It’s a lot like being a kid in a candy store, really. So, when the call came in for my latest assignment, the VR-670 from Sherwood, I was more than happy to oblige. I’ve known about Sherwood for some time and, while I’ve never personally demoed any of their products, their reputation is such that I couldn’t wait for whatever was coming my way. You see, along with designing and manufacturing cutting-edge electronics under their own brand, Sherwood also manufactures several top of the line receivers for other companies as a part of their OEM (original equipment manufacturing) program. Naturally, my imagination began to run wild as I speculated about what balls-out receiver Sherwood had cooked up for little ol’ ...

Introduction Sound comes from the movement of air – short pulses of wind, so to speak. So it’s no surprise that the newest speaker line from the German speaker manufacturer, Canton, derives its name from the Italian word for wind: Vento. Four audiophiles founded Canton in 1973 with the mission of making the best speakers possible, and through the years they have remained dedicated to this principle. The Vento line employs technologies learned from experience, as well as computer modeling and extensive listening tests. The Vento 5.1 surround sound speaker system that I received for review consisted of a pair of Vento 809 DC floor-standing speakers that retail for $2,500 each, an 805 CM center channel with a retail price of $1,500, a pair of 802 compact speakers that retail for $2,000 and the AS 850 SC subwoofer that lists for $2,500, bringing the total system price to $11,000. They are available in a dark ...