ELAC Uni-Fi UB5
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/elac-uni-fi-ub5/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 loudspeakers offer the best performance of any speaker we’ve seen for the money. They deliver deep, tight bass; an effortless midrange and sweet highs. The soundstage is wide and unexpectedly deep.
The bad: The speakers’ vinyl finish isn’t all that durable. Low sensitivity and low impedance mean they may require an expensive, high-quality amplifier to sound their best.
The cost: $448.99 to $499.99
The bottom line: Paired with high-quality components, the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 sounds much better than you have any right to expect from a speaker of this size and price.
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LG SH7B
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/lg-sh7b/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The LG SH7B offers excellent performance for the money, particularly for movies. The connectivity on offer is better than most competitors with HDMI, optical, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Streaming options include Google Cast, Spotify and Pandora.
The bad: Adding surrounds is a little ad hoc. If you want to listen to music, a dedicated stereo system will sound better for the money.
The cost: $349.00 to $399.99
The bottom line: The LG SH7B proves how far affordable sound bar/wireless subwoofer systems have come, and sounds equally credible with movies and music.
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Emotiva Airmotiv T1
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/emotiva-airmotiv-t1/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Emotiva Airmotiv T1 is a large, affordable three-way speaker featuring high-end appointments including a folded ribbon tweeter. The T1’s sound quality offers close to the holy trinity of sound quality: full punchy bass, expressive midrange and airy highs. The bass response is deep enough to forgo the need for a separate sub in smaller rooms.
The bad: Bulky appearance, utilitarian black finish.
The cost: $349.50
The bottom line: The Emotiva Airmotiv T1’s dynamic sound will appeal to audiophiles on a budget who are hankering for a big-speaker sound for music and home-theater systems.
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KEF Q350
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/kef-q350/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The relatively affordable KEF Q350 speaker sounds good with almost everything, and offers an excellent sense of depth and space in decent recordings. Fit and finish are superb.
The bad: The Q350 doesn’t come with grill covers, but KEF will sell you a pair for extra cost. Competitors such as Klipsch and Elac sound more exciting.
The cost: $649.99 to $650.00
The bottom line: The KEF Q350 bookshelf speaker looks exquisite, and sounds bigger and more expensive than it really is.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: CNET contributor Steve Guttenberg, Senior Associate Editor Ty Pendlebury and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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