The slightly larger 180 has been designed to be sited vertically or horizontally. Its versatility means it can be used as a centre channel in a multi-channel music or movie system as well as a main, side or rear speaker. And just 95mm deep, it's ideal for use with a Plasma screen or in places where space is at a premium. As with all Radius components, the 180 can be purchased individually for maximum flexibility when system building.

The bronze series centre channel has two 140mm mid/bass drivers and a 25mm tweeter.

The unit provides a high level of detail, giving the dialogue within a film a sense of focus and clarity.

Whats a surround system without a centre? The centre speaker is responsible for dialogue in your movies and greatly improves vocal intelligibility. The 2000c is a perfect partner for the Q Acoustics 2000 series, giving you a perfect voice matched partner for the the bookshelf or floorstanding models.

The new ultra-compact (9cm cube) Radius 45 has been designed as an unobtrusive satellite speaker for multi-channel A/V systems. When combined with the compact Radius 360 subwoofer and front-channel satellites, the Radius 45 will complete an extremely discreet system that can be wall or stand mounted to blend with any environment.

If you want a good surround system, you've got to have good rears. For best effect, we always recommend a good quality dipole/bipole speaker. This compact offering from Monitor Audio offers excellent dispersion from its twin C-CAM tweeters, perfect for side or rear mounting.

The Epos ELS 3C centre channel utilises the same drive units as the ELS 3 and is therefore ideally matched for use in a home cinema application.

Featuring a 25mm metal dome tweeter with neodymium magnet, together with two 5 ½” woofers, this centre channel uses a new die cast aluminium chassis with a cone and surround similar to that being used in the M5 woofer. The Epos logo is embossed on the tweeter faceplate.

As your probably aware by now, the centre is responsible for all the dialogue duties in your modern surround sound system. You want one that will be capable of delivering every last subtlety in the dialogue as your other speakers are exploding out sound throughout your living room. Unless your watching Transformers: Revenge of the fallen, a movie best viewed with the centre channel disconnected.

Epos approached the home theatre market with the design of its M8 centre channel speaker exactly as you would expect - with no compromise in sound quality.

Designed to complement the M series speakers, the centre channel is both elegant and functional. Available in a choice of dark cherry, light cherry or black, the front baffle of the M8 is also finished in real wood making this centre channel a stylish addition to any system.

Rear effects, you know what they are...

Gunshots, speeding cars, buzzing bees...

These speakers are really solidly built with a thin profile so they can be mounted on the rear or side walls of your home with some discretion.

The Roos are a dedicated rear-channel speaker with a Bi-Pole configuration. A single bass-mid unit on the front face is omnidirectional in its frequency range; while a pair of tweeters connected in phase on the 45 degree faces provide better dispersion of the treble. They are covered in acoustically-transparent Lycra fabric whose colour can be changed for different decor needs. A bracket on the rear provides easy attachment to a wall.

This excellent very small form factor cinema surround speaker system is on dem in the store.
It appears to singularly very well constructed and actually uses the Vifa "Nipple" tweeter at a price point well below our previous acquaintance with that transducer.

One of the really good full range centre speakers that you can procure, a four element three way with that ribbon tweeter proffers max intelligibility and dynamics.

It's not a little thing being 254mm tall and 581 wide, but if you are one of those fortunates with an MA Gold system and are going down the home cinema route this is the one. On demo in 164 Lygon.

"Briliant Home cinema performance, a mouth watering finish and superlative stereo all come together in ths peerless Monitor Audio Platinum-series system."

You'll already know the high regard we have for Monitor Audio's Platinum series - if not turn to our buyers guide on pg 83 to find reviews of the PL300 floorstanders and PL100 standmounts which form the front and rear channels in the PL300AV system tested here.
So,put the two designs together, and you ought to have something special. just how special, though, has come as something of a surpise to us. The PL300AV is a fabulous surround system - one of the best we've ever tried. it plays everything superbly, from live concert Blu Rays to madcap action movies, revealing every last gasp of subtle effects and powering through sofa-shaking dynamics with a deftly judged blend of sublime detail and thrilling drive. And of course its sensational in stereo. In fact, after several weeks of enjoying it's company we're no closer to exposing any major weaknesses.

So, we've PL300s out front and PL100s bringing up the rear - what about the rest? First, in comes a PLC350 centre channel. It's substantial, its drive-unit complement matching that fitted to the huge PL300s, which ensures the front soeakers integrate superbly. The optional floorstand, shown here, is a worthy investment at UK$300.

"BASS IN YOUR SPACE"
Rounding things off is the formidable PLW-15 active subwoofer, which uses a rigid 15inch long throw metal drive unit in a sealed, superlatively constructed 50kg enclosure finished to the same lavish standard as the other speakers. Fed by an incredibly fast 1000 watt Class D power amp, capable of reaching down to an ultra low 16Hz and blessed with extensive tweakability, it's every bit as articulate and potent as it ought to be.

What else do you need to know? First, remember that a system this capable needs space - but if you can afford the the package, that shouldn't be an issue. You'll also need good partnering kit - amps, a Blu-ray player and the like - because while the monitors aren't that demanding to drive or fussy about tonal matching, they're just so damn good that to listen to them using anything second rate would be a crime.