Price Paid:  $70.00 from Sun TV

Summary:
Picked these up to serve as fronts for a super cheap second home theater in the house. I assumed that they would not be good for music, but then we moved and I stuck them into the cabinets of an entertainment center as temporary until I could get some better bookshelf speakers. So far I have tried out one pair that were 350 dollars, and I actually preferred the Yamahas. Can''t really criticize the sound, except not much base. Yet contained in the cabinet of the entertainment center this seems to augment the base to create an adequate level.

Strengths:
good sound for the price

Weaknesses:
can''t think of any at this price

Price Paid:  $50.00 from Crutchfield

Summary:
This is a great bookshelf speaker that offers efficiency, natural sound, and very clear highs. I was so used to listening to cheap tower speakers, that when I bought these I was amazed by the treble; There was a night and day difference. I didn't expect these speakers to have much bass and they don't. The midrange response is decent but it's not going to shake the room. All in all, this speaker works like it was designed to, and for the amount of money that I paid, I couldn't have asked for anything more. After listening to these speakers, it made me realize what quality sound really was. I would actually give these speakers a 4.3 star rating.

Strengths:
Extremely great buy (was a summer special in Crutchfield.) Very clear highs, decent midrange, very natural sound, great surround speakers.

Weaknesses:
Highs are just a wee bit bright and bass is lacking.