This bumper review covers two of the five new stereo pairs in Epos’ M-series. Distinguished from their predecessors by an ‘i’ (for ‘improved’) suffix, the overall outline of each model looks very similar to its predecessor, even though a considerable number of detail changes have been implemented to improve both the appearance and the performance

Mordaunt-Short has long been known, first and foremost, for its high-value budget loudspeakers, a tradition that current owners Audio Partnership has rigorously maintained. However, developing an upmarket ‘flagship’ range makes good sense, as it provides a technology test bed for new ideas that can subsequently ‘trickle down’ into more affordable models.

Vienna Acoustics have been making loudspeakers since 1989, and have produced a variety of often striking designs. None, though, have been as aesthetically jaw-dropping as the Schönberg range.

Those of you familiar with German car marques will know the respectable, even sensible Audi A4 and you probably know about the wolf in sheep’s clothing that is the Audi RS4, a car with similar looks but a rather more powerful engine. Its this variation on a theme that seems to have inspired the WSE version of Focal’s Chorus 816 V.

Exclusive It must be difficult to be a brand like Tannoy. As with Xerox, Hoover and Sellotape, its name has become a label that now applies to a whole category of stuff. But if you thought that all its loudspeakers could handle were raspy announcements up and down supermarket aisles, then you’re much mistaken.

Having celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2007, Wharfedale is the quintessential traditional name in British hi-fi speakers, with a history that extends back to the very birth of the product.

Triangle is very individualistic – some would say somewhat idiosyncratic – in its approach to hi-fi loudspeaker design.

As France’s leading speaker manufacturer until 2004, Focal used to market its complete loudspeaker systems under the JMLab brand. It has since reverted to its original name (which used to be reserved for raw drive unit and in-car sales).

At the end of last year we reviewed the Aurousal A1 loudspeaker. What distinguished the A1 from most (if not all) of its immediate competition was that it was a based on a single full-range drive unit, an approach that has certain unique advantages as well as unavoidable limitations.

A relatively new name on the hi-fi scene, Advance Acoustics was founded in Toulouse, France in 1995, to design, develop and out source manufacturing of high-quality stereo hi-fi components.

Although it’s currently owned by Danish ProAudio operation TC Electronic, Tannoy remains one of the Grand Old Names of British hi-fi (and ProAudio) loudspeakers, retaining its own entirely individual and unique approach to product design and development.

Founded back in the 1960s, KEF (an acronym for Kent Engineering Foundries) has long operated at the leading edge of hi-fi loudspeaker design. Even though the company has undergone numerous changes, its approach to design and technology has remained remarkably consistent throughout.

Vibe has been the recipient of several recommendations for its home cinema subs, and has cultivated an enviable reputation for making ported boxes that rock, having already carved a similar niche in the automotive market.

It’s less than four years since we first encountered the PMC GB1. Certainly our first and overwhelming impression was of an open, engaging and communicative sound quality, notably free from boxy effects and with fine focus and spacious imaging.

Surprisingly, Spendor’s ‘Classic’ S3/5 loudspeaker has been around for more than a decade, quietly filling the gap made when the evergreen BBC-designed LS3/5a speaker became hard to pin down. Why ‘surprisingly’? Because the UK company hardly sold any of these small standmount monitors in the home country.

Since Audio Partnership (AP) bought Mordaunt-Short a decade ago, most of its efforts have concentrated on developing and refining the budget price Avant models, but it also found time to create the hi-tech Performance models with several advanced features. Now some Performance initiatives have ‘trickled down’ in rather more affordable form in a new Mezzo range.

Audica's CX Series loudspeakers are gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that I've been suffering palpitations. There are compromises in terms of sonic welly, but these should be balanced by the A-grade aesthetics. Ideal, then, for those with limited space, and/or close proximity to neighbours.

The concept is now familiar. Soundstage 5.1 is designed to hang on the wall below your TV, reducing your speaker system to a single unit and delivering pseudo-surround, using fifteen drivers and some tricksy audio processing. The styling is slick, with a piano black finish and smooth corners, and it weighs a bracket-testing 18kg, so it feels like you're getting a lot for your money

If you thought all soundbars offered pseudo-surround, then you’re in for a shock. Boston Acoustics’ refreshingly simple and effective take on the soundbar genre, its TVee Model Two, sticks with bona-fide stereo audio.

When it comes to speakers at least, the words "boxy" or "squat" usually shamble into view, even though the actual sound that's produced is more than adequate. Edifier's M3200 speaker set falls between two stools, at least on the design front. The two satellites that'll be on permanent view resemble elegant flower vases and would stand out from the majority of speaker models at this price point.

Gamut is one of the smaller and more specialist Danish operations, but no less interesting for that. Founded decades back by Ole Lund Christensen, the original company became known for a classically simple, but powerful amplifier.

Sonus Faber is a bit like a swan: refined and graceful on the outside, these Italian products are subtly different from generation to generation. Yet, underneath, there's a lot of paddling going on, because the changes to the sound are huge. And so it is with the new Cremona Auditor M (for Modified) standmount speaker.

No one is going to win a design award for these clunky box-like speakers, but don't let that fool you into thinking they are no good. We really enjoyed having these around. For a start, they're powered, so they work standalone with or without a stereo

The Aegos are a good choice if you want a superior 2:1 set-up for under a ton. They're loud, and a much better choice than budget 2.1 systems, as the bass is tight and easily controlled - you can choose from three levels

This famous name is differentiating its 5.1 rig from Creative's and Logitech's by giving it a USB as well as analogue input. The advantage of USB is that you don't need a 5.1 sound card for six-channel surround sound