KEF Q9C

Very briefly, this is simply the best speaker in its price bracket. Vocal accuracy is spot on, good crisp treble without sibilance, enough low end to be convincing (although it won't shake the room) and excellent handling of dynamics.

I found that it works best in bi-wired configuration with decent speaker cable (try QED X-Tube 400, sonically and fiscally a good partner) and on the end of a quality monoblock. However, it's so easy to drive (91dB/W 1M) that almost any amplifier will have enough power to drive it to convincing levels.

Looks great in silver too.

The entire new q series from Kef is a modern classic. The kef center speaker is probably the best center in its price class. It features a 50-27khz frequency range, and the great metal dome tweeter uni -q system. soundstaging and clarity are fantastic . DVD audio works very well from this speaker as well. It takes many hours to break in the q series but once it is broken in, your friends will be convinced that you spent two or more times the money on them than you actually did.