the winner · all-round proposition with no major sonic weaknesses marantzpm6003 £300*****...

BUDGET SPEAKERSTEST

THE WINNERMonitor AudioBronze BX2 £250 * * * * *

All the speakers thattook part in this GroupTest can be proud oftheir efforts. But it's thebrilliant Monitor AudioBronze BX2s, with theirmix of subtlety andexcitement, that walkaway with the victory...

This battle of budget speakerswill go down as a captivatingand bruising affair. Unfortunately,

not all of the combatants have emergedunscathed. Speakers that were previouslyproud owners of five-star ratings - theDiamond 10.1s and Mordaunt-ShortAviano Is - have been caught up in thecrossfire between Arcaydis and MonitorAudio. The result? We've had no optionbut to drop both the Diamonds andAvianos down to four-stars.

The Wharfedales' ratings drop comesas quite a shock. They're still wonderfullybalanced, neutral-sounding speakers thatfully deserved their Product Of the Yeargong in 2009. But, there's no doubt inour minds that we'd scrimp and savethat extra £50 to pay for the BX2s; they'rea much more engaging and exciting pairof speakers. Dare we say it, these testwinners make the Diamonds sound atouch dull in comparison.

Excitement isn't something that theAvianos lack. Instead, their issue is thatthey can't call upon the same level of

TESTWINNER

detail and refinement as the BX2s.The new, lower price is very welcome,but the presence of the excellentMonitor Audios and Wharfedaleshere means a star has to be sacrificed.

In outright terms, one could arguethat the Arcaydis offers a more natural,emotive sound and greater insightin the midrange and bass than all theother speakers here. But, they're more

MarantzCD6003

£300 *****

The fact of the matter is that theBronze BX2s are just a tremendousall-round proposition with nomajor sonic weaknesses

MarantzPM6003£300*****

expensive than the BX2s, fussier aboutpositioning and the Monitor Audiosproduce a higher standard of treble.

The fact of the matter is that theBronze BX2s are just a tremendousall-round proposition with no majorweaknesses. The benchmark at thisprice has been well and truly raised.

Chord Company Carnival SilverScreen

£6/m*****

For a full list of speaker specs andother useful info, visit whathifl.com

Facts & figures

ArcaydisDM1 £275

*****Sensitivity 87dB/W/m • Impedance8 ohms • Max power handling 40W• Bi-wirable No • Finishes 4 •Dimensions (hwd) 30 x 16 x 21cm •Weight 5kg

Monitor AudioBronze BX2 £250

*****Sensitivity 90dB/W/m • Impedance8 ohms • Max power handling 100W• Bi-wirable Yes • Finishes 4 •Dimensions (hwd) 35 x 19 x 26cm• Weight 5.8kg

Mordaunt-ShortAviano 1 £200

*****Sensitivity 88dB/W/m • Impedance8 ohms • Max power handling 100W• Bi-wirable Yes • Finishes 3 •Dimensions (hwd) 28 x 18 x 27cm• Weight 5kg

WharfedaleDiamond 10.1 £200

*****Sensitivity 86dB/W/m • Impedance6 ohms • Max power handling 100W• Bi-wirable Yes • Finishes 4 •Dimensions (hwd) 30 x 19 x 28cm• Weight 5.2kg

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