SVS is one of those companies that established themselves in this “new economy” with a direct-to-consumer, high value, business model that has grown to include a burgeoning retail footprint as more brick-and-mortar AV dealers recognize the value proposition and unique energy of the brand. I reviewed, and was very impressed with, the $998 a pair SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers. It had a smooth and sensual presentation, and it was built to a very high standard. SVS is now in their 16th year of business, and the loyal customer base continues to grow.SVS sells products through its web store, and offers a nice in-home audition period. Forty-five days to be exact, with no restocking or shipping fees. That is sign of some serious confidence in the products. They also offer a five-year warranty Over thirty North American dealers carry SVS, plus ...

Television soundbars are all the rage today, and for good reason. They allow you to enjoy high fidelity sound -- without a bank of front, right, center, and rear channel speakers -- in a tight space. Soundbar technology advancements have been significant as of late, taking them well beyond "lifestyle" products in their evolution.The market for soundbars seems rather obvious to me. They are tailor made for small urban apartments, bedrooms, and dens. As a matter of fact, my bedroom has a Vizio 42-inch TV, but despite the unit's subpar built-in speakers, there's certainly no space for a surround system. It was extremely timely, then, when Denon approached me to review their latest soundbar, the DHT-S514, which retails for $649.According the Denon, the unit, "features 175 watts of total system power, the DHT-S514 soundbar and wireless subwoofer together deliver true ...

U.K. speaker legends KEF have been front and center lately with cutting edge products like the flagship Blade and the 50th anniversary stand-mounted LS50. At $1500, the LS50 is a remarkable bargain for those with limited space. It certainly deserved much of the accolades the audio press bestowed upon it. KEF has an extensive, and impressive, array of product lines. The Uni-Q coaxial driver is at the heart of most of the designs, and rightly so. It is a remarkable driver that can be used in a variety of implementations. The LS50 is unique in that the Uni-Q was the only driver, which may have been the key to its magic. Other speakers in the KEF product take a different path. The KEF R Series of speakers are maybe the sweet spot, flanked by the top of the line Flagship ...

Genesis Advanced Technologies has roots that go back to 1991, when famed speaker designer Arnie Nudell founded Genesis Technologies. He developed a unique and groundbreaking circular ribbon tweeter, and launched the Genesis One model. Genesis continued to produce highly acclaimed speakers for years and in 2003, Gary Leonard Koh, the current owner and chief designer, established himself as a force to be reckoned with, producing even more technically advanced models, building on past successes. Current Genesis models have impressed me at audio shows, and I have been waiting for a time when schedules allowed for a review of one of Koh’s designs. The Genesis line is varied and includes the amazing and very expensive G1.2 flagship model, the G2.2, the G5-series, the G6-series, the more affordable G7 series, home theater products, and a number of subwoofers. Genesis also makes a ...

KEF, based in the U.K., enjoys status as one of the most respected, and long-lived, speaker manufacturers in high-end audio. The company has designed and sold some of the best-known speakers in the history of the hobby. They have multiple lines they sell direct and through an extensive worldwide dealer network. Their products range from statement, reference level speakers, to more modest home theater applications. Their economies of scale and engineering resources allow them to cover all bases. KEF is famously associated with the development of the British Broadcasting Corporations’ iconic LS3/5a two-way mini monitor. The BBC used KEF drivers to develop a compact speaker for location monitoring that could stand the rigors of professional use. The design was later licensed to a number of manufacturers including Rogers, Spendor, Harbeth, and others. I owned two pairs of Rogers LS3/5As; I ...