Q I know you prefer bookshelf speakers over tiny speakers because the latter sound thin. But my room demands I use small speakers, something bigger than the Bose cubes, but definitely not bookshelf-sized. Anything you can recommend?
DAWN WALTON, NORFOLK, VA.
A I recently reviewed some small speakers and found two standouts that are easy to recommend.
Definitive Technology's ProCinema 800 speakers are much smaller than bookshelf models, but pack a punch that avoids the thin sound that plagues so many similarly sized products.
It isn't magic, but clever engineering. With most speakers, the top surface is just a hard panel. The ProCinema 800 speakers incorporate an extra driver called a passive radiator into the top surface. A passive radiator is a diaphragm that resonates with the changes in air pressure in the speaker box, extending the bass response down into the bookshelf speaker range.
They sound satisfying and full, even without a subwoofer hooked up. The sound is crisp, detailed and natural with everything from movies to classical music, Blu-ray to vinyl.
A complete ProCinema 800 system sells for about $900. Definitive Technology speakers are available only at specialty stores. You can find a dealer and learn more at www.definitivetech.com.
If you have less in your speaker budget, but still want great-sounding small speakers from one of the best brands in the business, check out the Cinema 70 system from Paradigm. The entire system retails for $499 and delivers wonderfully, crisp, clean, detailed and natural sound. These dramatically outperform the Bose cubes in sound and workmanship, while costing much less. Like Definitive Technology, Paradigm products are available only at specialty shops. Learn more at www.paradigm.com.
