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Aperion Allaire front rmt1

Aperion Audio Allaire Bluetooth speaker review

Aperion Audio’s new Allaire speakers have all the right features in one place, including Bluetooth streaming, analog and digital inputs, and a sexy design. But do these little self-powered beauties pack a performance worthy of $400?
KEF V300 speakers front

KEF V300 review

KEF’s V300 system is a plug and play alternative designed to flank your television with flat-panel speakers rather than underscore it with a bulky sound bar. We dug deep to find out if KEF could deliver its signature sound from such a svelte system.
grace digital GDI BTSP207 Bluetooth speakers front top

Grace Digital GDI-BTSP201 Review

Grace Digital’s compact Bluetooth bookshelf speakers offer stereo separation and a more traditional driver arrangement than most single-cabinet options. But how’s the sound quality? We found out.
Klipsch Quintet front set angle

Klipsch Quintet review

As compact speaker systems go, it just doesn’t get much better than the latest iteration of Klipsch’s Qunitet system, where build quality, rich sound and impressive dynamics come together in an attractive and affordable package.
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Hands on: Logitech’s Z600 PC speakers go Bluetooth but not completely wireless

Logitech's touch-controlled, Z600 Bluetooth Speakers can pair up to three devices at once and require no special app, but are they worth the $150 price tag?
Axiom LFR1100 Floorstanding Speakers Boston Cherry front and back grilles

Axiom LFR-1100 with ADA-1500-4 review

Axiom’s all-out, no-apologies LFR1100 speakers, DPS 1100 and ADA-1500-4 amplifier are a formidable and harmonious combo capable of delivering some of the most satisfying sound we’ve heard from any system under $10,000
KEF X300 A review speakers angle

KEF X300A review

Call them computer speakers if you must, but the KEF X300A are some of the finest-sounding speakers available for the money. That they are self-amplified with USB digital inputs are just big bonuses for those seeking a digital audio speaker solution.

Boston Acoustics M-series System Review

We dig into one of Boston Acoustics’ most ambitious efforts to date: the M-Series speakers. As beautiful to look at as they are to hear, this series delivers the audio goods in a big way; but some weak surround speakers and a little bit of sticker shock temper our enthusiasm.

Joey Roth Ceramic Subwoofer Review

Nearly three years after the debut of the Joey Roth ceramic speakers comes the companion Ceramic Sub, and it’s just what the system needed.
omega speaker systems super 3t review front speakers

Omega Speaker Systems Super 3T Desktop Review

Hand-made in Connecticut, the beautifully finished Omega Super 3T Desktop are capable of creating a sound that’s remarkably similar to a pair of electrostatic speakers, but without the electrostatic price or space considerations.

Fluance XLHTB Review

Fluance delivers some outrageous bang-for-your-buck factor with the towers in its XLHTB system; however, a center channel that doesn’t deliver clear dialog is a big problem in our book, and the reason we had to reduce the score of this otherwise shockingly high-value speaker system.

Klipsch HD Theater 600 Review

Though Klipsch’s HD Theater 600 may be a bit finicky when it comes to placement, a little time and attention pays back with well-balanced, exciting sound delivered from a package that looks smart wherever you end up putting it.

Pioneer SP-PK52FS Review

Pioneer pulled in the help of high-end speaker designer Andrew Jones in an effort to pull its standard speaker line’s reputation out of the garage and into the great room. In our review, we find out if Pioneer’s tactic worked.

KEF T100-Series 5.1 Review

KEF’s T100 speaker system looks too thin to deserve a stamp of audiophile approval, but sounds bigger – and better – than plenty of much larger traditional speakers.
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SVS SB13-Ultra Subwoofer Review

The SVS SB13-Ultra floored us – and even the neighbors – by belting out the most perfectly reproduced bass we've ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Paradigm Millenia CT System Review

Paradigm's Millenia CT system puts most other compact, self-powered speaker systems to shame with supreme sound the defies its compact size.
Bowers & Wilkins Mini Theatre review audio

Bowers & Wilkins MT-60D Review

Bowers & Wilkins MT-60D speaker system pairs solid satellites with one of the most outstanding subwoofers we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing.
Sonos Sub review

Sonos Sub Review

Sonos finds some missing oomph with its Sub wireless subwoofer, a potent box of boom to round out the bottom of end of your Sonos system, no wires needed.
MartinLogan Dynamo 1000w subwoofer review

MartinLogan Dynamo 1000w Review

MartinLogan’s potent Dynamo 1000w subwoofer has no shortage of gut-scrambling power, yet still remains nimble and musical.
Samsung HT E6500W home theater review

Samsung HT-E6500W Review

Samsung raises the bar for home-theater-in-a-box systems with the HT-E6500W, an spendy but powerful and surprisingly well balanced 5.1-channel system.
Panasonic SC HTB250 review home theater system

Panasonic SC-HTB350 Review

The SC-HTB350 is an easily affordable, big-sounding solution with flexibility that is hard to match. For those not too picky about the minutiae of sound, this system will please with pounding bass, the ability to deliver audible dialog and more input options that competing devices.

Klipsch RF-62 II Review

Klipsch’s RF-62 II home theater system grabs listeners with rock-solid bass, wide-open midrange, tasty, detailed highs and a remarkably wide and seamless soundstage.
velodyne impact 12 subwoofer review

Velodyne Impact 12 Review

Velodyne delivers outstanding audio performance in an attractive, wallet-friendly subwoofer.

Fluance ESHTB Review

The Fluance ESHTB Higher Fidelity 5-speaker home theater system impresses up high, but disappoints down low with nearly nonexistent bass.

Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS Digital Cinema Review

The Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS Digital Cinema throws sound well beyond its tiny size, and looks good doing it.
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Martin Logan Motion LX16 Review

Martin Logan’s Motion LX16 bookshelf speakers distill the company’s signature technology down to a more compact, affordable package that still delivers big sound.
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Aperion Audio Verus Grand Tower Review

Aperion Audio’s Verus Grand tower speakers obliterate competitors priced at twice and three times as much, winning them a much-deserved Editor’s Choice award and a spot in our test labs.
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Monster Clarity HD Model One Review

Review: The Clarity HD Model One from Monster delivers big sound in a lightweight package, mixable inputs and a built-in iPod dock.
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Paradigm A2 Review

Review: Paradigm’s A2 speakers are a total knockout and, at about $500 a pair, a tremendous value, too.
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Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS SE Review

Review: The Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS SE cube speaker system looks sharp at an affordable price point, but the micro size leaves midrange lacking.
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Pioneer S-DJ05 Review

Review: The Pioneer S-DJ05 active speakers target DJs and audio professionals with tight, tonally accurate sound from a compact, portable package.
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Boston Acoustics CS 260 II Review

Boston Acoustics’ CS 260 II defies its $200 price tag by performing on par with speakers at twice the price, even if it can’t quite compete on looks.
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Hercules XPS 101 Review

Review: The Hercules XPS 101 multimedia speaker system dazzles with sharp design, but grates on music lovers with fatiguing highs and overly thumpy bass.
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Paradigm MilleniaOne 5.0 System with MilleniaSub Review

The Paradigm MilleniaOne 5.0 speakers and MilleniaSub bulldoze the notion of underpowered “lifestyle audio systems” with astoundingly clear, full sound from a tiny package.

John Higgins is Digital Trends’ Senior Editor and section lead for A/V. After receiving his Bachelor in Music with an Audio Production focus from Ithaca College and Master of Music in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California, he began working for Home Theater Magazine in 2003. His time in the print and online publishing world has been spent as a writer, editor, copy editor, researcher, and test lab technician. Most recently, Higgins was the Managing Editor of Tech at Reviewed, part of the USA Today network, where he led the website’s tech coverage. He has previously written for Wirecutter, IGN, Projector Central, T3, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Magazine covering projectors, televisions, headphones and earbuds, sound bars and speakers, and monitors. He is a yearly attendee at CES and an ISF level 3 certified calibrator.

In addition to his career in publishing, Higgins has been a professional musician since the late 90s, having performed on piano in solo recitals, as a collaborative partner with various singers and instrumentalists, and with the Pacific Symphony. He also is an accomplished guitarist and, with his pop/rock band, has played such hallowed L.A. venues as the Troubadour, Roxy, Viper Room, and House of Blues. For 10 years, he was a teacher and music director at a private school in Los Angeles, and following his teaching career spent some time in the film industry as a post-production sound editor and composer.

Originally from just outside Boston, Higgins has been a Los Angeles resident since 2001 where he lives with his wife, son, two rescue dogs, and parrot. When not working, he spends his time watching TV shows about cooking and serial killers, preparing for his next D&D session, ignoring the growing list of games in his Steam gaming library, and building Legos with his son.