Peak Consult's Per Kristoffersen poses with his new floorstanding two-way Princess loudspeaker ($10,500/pair). "You know," he said, "it is really quite amazing what you can get out of a 5.5" driver."

That's not technically correct. I've built a few two-way loudspeakers and what I got out of a 5.5" driver was not amazing at all—just sad. But what Kristoffersen was achieving with the Princess was amazing. These are sweet little speakers—and those Stillpoints stands ($995/each) they are sitting on are pretty cool, too. They provided stability and fantastic coupling to the floor.