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• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: Polk's baby subwoofer belts out tight home-theater bass and sounds sweet with music, too. Read review

Specs: subwoofer, 14 in x 16.1 in x 14.4 in, Active, 50 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: M-Audio's Studiophile AV 40 is a PC speaker for music lovers who care more about sound quality than compact size or rock bottom pricing. Read review

Specs: 6 in x 7.2 in x 8.7 in, 2-way Active, 20 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: Soundmatters' fully featured virtual surround speaker system delivers home-theater thrills in a supercompact design. Read review

Specs: 16.7 in x 9.1 in x 2.6 in, Charcoal gray, Active, 104 dB, 80 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The able Polk Audio PSW111 subwoofer delivers seamless bass despite its compact size. Read review

Specs: subwoofer, 11 in x 13 in x 12.1 in, Black, Active, 150 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Klipsch Synergy Sub-12, the company's most affordable 12-inch subwoofer, sounds great on music and movies. Read review

Specs: subwoofer, 15 in x 19.9 in x 18 in, Black, Active, 300 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 34 reviews

The Bottom Line: Altec's Apple-esque desktop iPod speaker system sounds sweet. Read review

Specs: 8 in x 5.4 in x 1.2 in, Active, 2 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Polk's revamped Monitor Series speakers still sound swell after all these years. Read review

Specs: 7 in x 8.4 in x 11 in, Black, 2-way, 8 Ohm, 89 dB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: This full-size center-channel speaker sounds good with both movies and music and blends well with Polk's other Monitor Series speakers. Read review

Specs: center channel speaker, 18 in x 9.6 in x 7 in, 2-way Passive, 8 Ohm, 89 dB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: Klipsch's new iGroove iPod speaker trumps the competition's tweeterless models. Read review

Specs: 16 in x 5.5 in x 6.5 in, Metallic silver, 2-way Active, 98 dB

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: subwoofer, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: Yamaha's pint-size YST-FSW100 subwoofer is the ideal partner for its Digital Sound Projector virtual surround speakers. Read review

Specs: subwoofer, 15.7 in x 6.2 in x 14.8 in, Piano black, Active, 130 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: M-Audio's Studiophile AV 20 is smaller and cheaper than its larger siblings, but the better form factor comes with sound quality compromises. Read review

Specs: 3.9 in x 6.1 in x 7.8 in, 2-way Active, 10 KOhm, 10 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: floor-standing, subwoofer, 14.3 in x 17 in x 14.5 in, Black, Active, 100 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.5 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: Klipsch's Synergy Sub-10 is powerful and musical, and that's not something you always find in midpriced subwoofers. Read review

Specs: subwoofer, 14 in x 18.9 in x 17 in, Black, Active, 115 dB, 200 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: bookshelf, 9.4 in x 10.4 in x 20.9 in, 3-way Passive, 8 Ohm, 88 dB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Capable of producing better bass than its single-speaker competition, the Zvox 325 is a solid choice for faux-surround sound on music and movies. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: floor-standing, 8.2 in x 13 in x 39.3 in, Black/wood, 3-way Passive, 8 Ohm, 93 dB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: If you don't mind its uninspired aesthetics, the Definitive Technology ProSub 800 is a mighty little subwoofer and a fine match for its SSA soundbars and ProCinema satellite speakers. Read review

Specs: subwoofer, 10.3 in x 15.7 in x 12.9 in, Matte black, Active, 300 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: While their surround effects fall a bit short of the best we've heard, KEF's beautifully crafted FiveTwo Series Model 11 speakers produce five channels of sound with exceptional audiophile-grade clarity. Read review

Specs: surround sound speaker, 8.3 in x 9.1 in x 40.2 in, High-gloss black, Passive, 8 Ohm, 87 dB

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Black