Kudos has long been known for making some of the classier speaker stands around. The company was taken over by Neat Acoustics a few years back, but has become an independent entity again and is now headed by ex-Neat designer Derek Gilligan

KEF's Uni-Q technology is one of the two keys to the iQ1 system, as it has been for other KEF systems over many years. But this system is not just another retread of a familiar (if proprietary) technology.

A relative newcomer, information about JAS Audio and its products is limited, on both the company's own website and via UK importer Shadow Audio. A company statement tells us it's a: "Hong Kong based Hi-End Hi Fi equipment design house

The Chorus models have long been Focal's (budget) entry-level range. In introducing the third generation, this leading French manufacturer has adopted a new initiative.

This new speaker completes the ALR Jordan Classic model range, and that means that it has a hefty dose of added Karl-Heinz Fink. The doyen of European speaker design voiced this speaker, along with the entire ALR range.

Twenty years ago, Ruark gave the world loudspeakers named after ancient armaments: the Broadsword and the Sabre. The latter morphed into 'MkII' form in the late 1980s, then ten years back it quietly went out of production

How many drive units does it take to change a light bulb? Alvin Gold has no idea, but he does wonder if Eclipse can get away with only one in each of its speakers.If this system looks unlike any you have encountered in the past, that's because it is.

Sumiko is the company that bought REL a little while back, and even though this subwoofer series has development history going back three years - with many attempts at designing the components before Sumiko was happy - this may well be the first real post- 'golden goose' REL.

If you remember the classic Monty Python fish-slapping sketch, you can imagine the surprise this set of speakers delivered unto us. All reviewers worth their salt like to think they are impartial and unbiased

Greece practically invented modern civilization. But, in the world of home cinema, the country has been notably behind the technology curve. Until Crystal Audio's SmArt 4 that is: the SmArt 4 is a THX Select speaker system...

When it comes to HD, flatscreens offer better visuals than old-style CRT displays. But they do have a generic weakness - audio performance. The feature that makes flatscreens so attractive is what impedes them when reproducing sound.

When UK distributor Armour wanted a loudspeaker brand they could sell at modest prices, they engaged one of the best European designers and gave him a clean sheet brief. The result is the Q Acoustics 1000 series

Leema Acoustics was founded in 1998, with the initial intention of re-inventing the miniature loudspeaker in the form of a tiny metal-encased sub-miniature called the Xen

Ferguson Hill made a splash when it introduced its first product: an enormous pair of acrylic horn speakers, dubbed FH001.

AVI is a company that makes electronics and speakers - the two had to combine, one day. The company recently announced its Amp-Pak, a power amp module that 'bolts' onto the back of its popular Neutron IV or Pro-Nine-Plus...

Velodyne adds DSP-based room EQ to its new entry-level range. But beware - this tiny box goes LOUD!

We put Ruark the Lionheart and his band of loudspeaker drive units to the sword

This little speaker is as cheap as it is tiny. Can something so small deliver true hi-fi sound?

Castle's latest tower speaker turns in a performance that isn't going to be stormed by a usurper

As the world leader in hi-fi loudspeakers, Worthing-based B&W hasbeen particularly adept at finding and/or creating niche-filling modelsat a wide variety of prices

The typical comment made by industry insiders was "they can't possiblywork!" when they saw these hang-on-the-wall PMC speakers. They were wrong: the Wafer 2 most certainly is a real hi-fi speaker, even thoughit looks unlike the stereotypes.

Focal has been making some radical changes to its entry-level loudspeakers. France's biggest speaker maker has divided Chorus V in two, creating the entry-level 700V range and the 800V 'affordable luxury' alternative

Since its first egg-shaped TD512 Time Domain speaker, Eclipse has promised us a subwoofer fully in keeping with the thinking behind the company's satellites

Gone are the SCM12, 20 and 35, and in come the SCM11, 19 and 40; only one original model number remains, although the new SCM7 bears little similarity to its predecessor.

Goodmans' GHC4200PRO is a budget way to upgrade to a 5.1 surround sound system in one easy step. This package is clearly aimed at the budget end of the market, but it looks surprisingly good