Monitor Audio Gold 200Price: $4495 per pair

Website: www.monitoraudio.co.uk

Colin said: For smaller floorstanders, the Gold 200s produced both great quantity and quality of bass, and their midrange clarity and ultrawide, holographic soundstaging would make them a good choice for music and home theater. At $4495/pair, it’s not the least expensive speaker in its category, but I don’t think anyone shelling out that sum for these speakers would feel buyer’s remorse.

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: Small floorstander that sports some impressive technology in an elegant package.