M-Audio’s Studiophile AV 40 speakers do what the big guys can but take up a lot less space. So what if they weigh 14 pounds — they’re crisp and distortion-free (and are a great value!), so you won’t be moving them anytime soon.

M-Audio Studiophile AV 40

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Rating: 9/10 Nearly flawless; buy it now

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Photo by Jens Mortensen

You’re doing all of that music on your PC a disservice by attempting to filter sound through those coin-sized built-in fakers. A proper set of speakers won’t set you back a month’s rent and will have you rocking until the cops show up. If desktop real estate is no object, you can’t do better than M-Audio’s Studiophile AV 40s.

Think monster floor speakers trapped inside tabletop bodies. These units aren’t as compact as standard desk audio counterparts, but what they take up in size, they make up for with sound. Highs are crisp, and distortion-free bass notes rattle your bones. Watching movies and television from your PC suddenly becomes more enticing and worthwhile.

Fancy yourself a recording artist? A pair of quarter-inch inputs lets you connect the AV 40s to a mixing board and use them as studio monitors. Try blasting some Journey “Faithfully” on these. You won’t regret it.

WIRED Peerless audio quality. Great value.Wake-the-neighbors loud. Magnetically shielded, so you won’t catch abuzz off your cell phone or mess with your laptop’s screen. Handy headphone jack lets you work musicians’ hours while housemates snooze.

TIRED With 6 x 7.25-inch footprints, they do take up room (and at 14 pounds a pair, you won’t be moving them around much).Backside power switch means you’re constantly doing a reach-around at bedtime.


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