Carnegie Acoustics CST-1Price: $1999 per pair

Website: www.carnegieacoustics.com

Colin said: If you want deep, natural bass, silky highs, a natural midrange, detail enough to satisfy pickers of the tiniest nits, and a soundstage so natural that a photo of this speaker should appear beside the dictionary definition of the word, the CST-1 is the speaker for you.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: A standout in a crowded field of sub-$2000 speakers.