Technics SB-C700

Technics SBC-700 speaker in white.  Rated at 6/10 due to  left corner anomalies on one of the speakers as show in the pictures.  Priced accordingly.   Review from C/Net:

The SB-C700s reproduced the sound of the hand drums on Bela Fleck's "Tabula Rasa" album with rare palpability, I could almost feel the texture of the hands hitting and slapping the drums. Soundstage depth and spaciousness were impressive -- the SB-C700s can really fill a room with sound. Electronica from Tosca's "No Hassle" CD projected sound far out to the sides and in front of the SB-C700s.

The SB-C700 doesn't add any false fullness or romance -- that's not this speaker's job; it sounds like a recording studio monitor. There's bass aplenty with no flab or sloppiness down to 50 Hertz in my room -- that's extraordinarily deep for a speaker this size. It's not just powerful; bass definition surpasses any small speaker I've had at home. 

I spent an afternoon playing dub reggae and jazz for an audiophile pal, and he couldn't help but blurt out "oh wow," and occasional expletives from time to time. He's heard my system from time to time, but I can't remember him ever reacting to any other speaker that passed through my living room like he did with the SB-C700s. More than anything else, it was the way they communicate rhythm -- you tap your feet and bob your head when the SB-C700s are playing tunes. 

My long-term reference small speaker, the  KEF LS50, presents a fuller, sweeter and softer sound balance; the SB-C700 is "faster" and clearer. Bass definition is firmer, treble is more distinct, there's more sparkle. The LS50 shrinks the music's dynamic contrasts; it's a less lively-sounding speaker. I still love the LS50 for its romantic glow, but the SB-C700 wins for sheer transparency and impact. Rosanne Cash's vocal and guitar on her "10 Song Demo" CD sounded a touch more naturally sweet over the LS50, but the SB-C700 wasn't far off the mark. 

The Technics SB-C700 runs $1,700 per pair in the US, and £1,199 in the UK. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these speakers -- they're astonishingly good, and I was truly sorry to see them go. 

From Stereophile:

Vs. the KEF LS50: The KEF LS50 is a stand/desk-mounted minimonitor that has earned itself "reference" status in the listening rooms of countless reviewers, myself included, and is listed in Class A (Restricted Extreme LF) of Stereophile's "Recommended Components." Compared to the Technics SB-C700, the KEF LS50 sounds noticeably slower and a tiny bit less transparent. The SB-C700 was more dynamic, with more slam and startle factor, and was lighter on its feet. The Technics went lower and presented a wider spectrum of bass detail than the KEF, as well as more clean air between singers and their mikes.

....I dare you to audition these beautiful, well-engineered speakers. Technics' new Premium Class SB-C700 is not only accurate, transparent, and neutral, it's an excellent value. Highly recommended.

Description: Two-way, coaxial, rear-ported loudspeaker. Drive-units (coaxial): 0.75" (19mm) dome tweeter, 6.5" (160mm) flat woofer. Crossover frequency: 2.5kHz. Frequency response: 20Hz–100kHz, –16dB; 45Hz–80kHz, –10dB. Sensitivity: 85dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms.
Dimensions: 13.1" (336mm) H by 8.9" (229mm) W by 11.2" (286mm) D. Weight: 18.7 lbs (8.5kg).