Group test: Full-size surround speakers

Overview: Price: £950 Website: www.acoustic-energy.co.uk Front speakers - Evo 3: Drive units: 25mm silk dome tweeter; 120mmm alloy cone mid/bass drive; 160mm alloy cone bass drive, Power handling: 150W, Frequency response: 36Hz-26kHz, Size (WxHxD): 192x880x220mm, Weight: 16kg each Centre - Evo Centre: Drive units: 25mm silk dome tweeter; 120mmm alloy cone mid/bass drive, Power handling: 150W, Frequency response: 50Hz-22kHz, Size: 172x460x192mm, Weight: 7kg each Rear speakers - Evo 1: Drive units: 25mm silk dome tweeter; 120mmm alloy cone mid/bass drive, Power handling: 100W, Frequency response: 75Hz-22kHz, Size: 259x155x140mm, Weight: 3kg each Subwoofer - Evo Sub: Amplifier: 150W RMS, Drive unit: 220mm pulp cone bass driver, Power amplification: 150W, Size: 360x380x310mm, Weight: 15kg Plus points: Amazing, unstrained, all-round ability; musically minded too Minus points: Subwoofer could be a tad smoother

Acoustic Energy Aegis Evo 3

Acoustic Energy's Evo 3 has been setting the standard for other full-size speaker systems to follow for years now - and shows no signs of surrendering its position of supremacy to newer models strutting the speaker catwalk.

At the forefront of the system is a pair of towering Aegis Evo 3 floorstanders that are accompanied by a dedicated Aegis Evo Centre in the middle and a pair of sizeable Evo 1s at the rear - with the Evo Sub completing the line-up.

All main speakers feature 25mm silk fabric dome tweeters and 120mm alloy cone mid/bass drivers, with the tall three-way Evo 3s also featuring a front-ported 160mm alloy bass-only driver. The design has undergone a few subtle changes over the years but has always stood the test of time.

Scale and subtlety are two opposing adjectives that perfectly sum up the system's performance. The tall front speakers assert endless authority while integrating impeccably with the expressive centre and dispersive rears.

The sonic subsequence is both powerful and precise, creating a wonderfully captivating sound stage. And the system also scores highly in the musical stakes with an incredibly agile ability that enlivens both stereo and multichannel tracks.

If you have the space to accommodate this system, use it - or consider getting an extension.

Overview: Price: £950 Website: www.monitoraudio.com Front speakers - Bronze B4: Drive units: 25mm gold dome tweeter; 6.5” MMP MK2 mid/bass drive; 6.5” MMP MK2 bass drive, Power handling: 150W, Frequency response: 36Hz-22kHz, Size (WxHxD): 850x185x255mm, Weight: 18kg each Centre - B Centre: Drive units: 25mm gold dome tweeter; 2 x 5.5” MMP MK2 mid/bass drives, Power handling: 120W, Frequency response: 60Hz-22kHz, Size: 460x164x163mm, Weight: 8kg each Rear speakers - Evo 1: Drive units: 25mm gold dome tweeter; 5” MMP II mid/bass driver, Power handling: 80W, Frequency response: 65Hz-22kHz, Size: 285x290x130mm, Weight: 4kg each Subwoofer - ASW100: Drive unit: 10” long throw, Power amplification: 120W, Frequency response: 27Hz-180Hz, Size: 320x320x340mm, Weight: 10.3kg Plus points: Energetic, enthusiastic sound; extra sense of spaciousness from rears Minus points: Lacks a little subtlety

Monitor Audio Bronze B4

Monitor Audio's Bronze B4 system has been designed with dedicated film watchers in mind with an exciting, upfront performance that's just made for the movies.

The system employs a slender pair of B4 floorstanding front speakers that have been primarily developed using Monitor Audio's extensive hi-fi experience, while the surrounding speakers have been specifically designed for home cinema.

There's a dedicated B centre speaker to take care of dialogue duties and a pair of cosmetically clashing BFX rears which feature a changeable bipole/dipole design that spreads the soundstage at the expense of a little accuracy. And the ASW 100 subwoofer firmly puts the 'point one' into the 5.1 set up.

Performance comes close to being considered overstated, with more energy and enthusiasm than an excited puppy. But the system integrates so well together that you're never left feeling overwhelmed.

And the diffusive properties of the rear speakers build up a spacious and cohesive ambience without over-obvious effects distracting you from the action on screen. The same sonic thrills spill over to music performance, which is at once engaging and full of pace but a little short on subtlety.

If explosive blockbusters are your thing then the Bronze B4s will excite every scene with a sensory overload of sonic enthusiasm.

Overview: Price: £780 Website: www.mordaunt-short.co.uk Front speakers - Avant 904: Drive units: 25mm aluminum dome tweeter; 130mm aluminum CPC mid/bass, Power handling: 100W, Frequency response: 50Hz-22kHz, Size (WxHxD): 800x165x340mm, Weight: 10kg each Centre - Avant 905C: Drive units: 25mm aluminum dome tweeter; 130mm aluminum CPC mid/bass, Power handling: 120W, Frequency response: 60Hz-22kHz, Size: 165x485x200mm, Weight: 7.5kg each Rear speakers - Avant 903: Drive units: 25mm aluminum dome tweeter; 100mm aluminum CPC mid/bass, Power handling: 100W, Frequency response: 120Hz-20kHz, Size: 230x218x150mm, Weight: 2.8kg each Subwoofer - MS309: Drive unit: 255mm long throw bass driver, Power amplification: 150W, Frequency response: 25Hz-200Hz, Size: 370x370x370mm, Weight: 15kg Plus points: Great value for money; engaging upfront presentation Minus points: Slightly short on refinement

If your ears are bigger than your bank account and you're after a bargain, Mordaunt Short's Avant 5.1 provides uncompromised sound performance attached to a more affordable price tag.

Build quality and beautiful finishing belies the speaker's budget status and you'll struggle to find a better-looking system at this price.

The impressive MS309 subwoofer is the hub of the system, flawlessly integrating with the surrounding five speakers - a pair of 904 slender floorstanders, an imposing 905C centre and 903 rears featuring a bipole design.

All main speakers are fitted with metal dome tweeters that need extensive warming up to soften the initially sharp sound but patience pays off with a fine performance.

The Avant 5.1 lacks a little refinement but still delivers a detailed performance with plenty of charisma that will have you charmed in no time.

The sub and front speakers combine well to create presence and authority, dialogue is pronounced without sounding stretched, and the bipole rears inflate an open soundstage that's assisted by inconspicuous effects steering.

And the dynamic, detailed nature of the front speakers means that music is more than just an afterthought.

Overview: Price: £995 Website: www.wharfedale.co.uk Front speakers - Diamond 9.4: Drive units: 25mm tex tweeter; 165mm mid/bass drive, Power handling: 100W, Frequency response: 40Hz-24kHz, Size (WxHxD): 800x223x301mm, Weight: tbc Centre - Diamond CS: Drive units: 25mm tex tweeter; 2 x 125mm mid/bass drives, Power handling: 120W, Frequency response: 70Hz-24kHz, Size: 189x400xx223mm, Weight: tbc Rear speakers - Diamond 9.1: Drive units: 25mm tex tweeter; 125mm mid/bass drives, Power handling: 100W, Frequency response: 50Hz-24kHz, Size: 296x194x278mm, Weight: tbc, Subwoofer - SW150: Drive unit: 205mm bass driver, Power amplification: 150W, Frequency response: 35Hz-100Hz, Size: 330x330x370mm, Weight: tbc Plus points: Superb integration; cohesive, composed sound performance Minus points: Front speakers are system's weak point

Wharfedale's Diamond 9 series of stereo speakers have been hugely successful, with one of the finest performance to price ratios you'll find.

The full-size Diamond 9 system draws on these stereo speakers and a subwoofer that can be considered class leaders in their own right, but will uniting them create a sum even greater than its impressive parts?

In the system, only the newly added 9CS centre is seen as a dedicated home cinema speaker and comes in the company of two stereo pairs - 9.4s for the front speakers with a pair of widely applauded 9.1 bookshelf speakers used as rears. The similarly well-praised SW150 subwoofer completes a possible dream team.

For a system of separates the Diamond 9 5.1 integrates surprisingly well, with the inspiring SW150 pulling the strings that tie the speakers together. The sub's seamless unison with the other speakers produces a beautifully balanced, crisp, composed sound that's both expressive and expansive.

The oversized centre douses dialogue with natural emotion and the excellent rears are more than capable of creating subtle spatial effects and enlivening multichannel music tracks.

However, the 9.4 front speakers are the system's weak link - successfully carried with film scores but exposed as lethargic with stereo tracks.

The Diamond 9 5.1 system's beautiful balance is slightly offset by the front speakers, but is still a gem of a system.