2. Methodology

As far as sound is concerned, the only real judge remains your own ears, and there is no substitute. There are several points, however, that determine the general quality of a system. In regards to the actual sound quality, it is essential to put the speakers presented here in context, i.e., that they are to be used mainly with a PC, and not as part of a top-of-the-range hi-fi or home theater system. We start at prices that range from $100 to $500 for complete systems, and amplification that is used for listening to CDs or MP3s, and playing or watching video DVDs. So there is no comparison with a top-of-the-range hi-fi system, except in terms of the respective price ranges for each type of equipment. Note, however, that some of the systems in the comparative tests are capable of competing quite favorably with a number of so-called "entry-level hi-fi" systems that are often much more expensive.

The tests were performed subjectively with an AB-type configuration switch. All the systems were thus compared in real time and in comparison to each other. The source material used was as follows:

The test configuration included the following audio components:

The positioning of the components during the tests was as recommended by the Audio Engineering Society:

Audio Engineering Society Images