HE 2006

Direct-marketer Aperion Audio was demonstrating its new $750/pair 533-T tower loudspeaker, built around two 5.25" mid/bass drivers and a 1" silk-dome tweeter. Aperion's cabinets employ 1" MDF and internal bracing, so they're extremely rigid. Aperion not only offers 30-day in-home auditions, but they pay return shipping if you choose not to buy—and they even offer a one year trade-up policy that refunds 100% of the cost of a speaker if you buy a better speaker from them.

Of course, none of that is interesting if the speakers aren't good and I thought the 533-Ts were very good. Paired with an $899 Outlaw 1070 receiver, the 533-Ts really sang, delivering Alison Krauss without any vocal etchiness and Steely Dan's "Babylon Sisters" with real rock authority. Who says high-end has to be high-cost?