Group test: Budget speakers

Overview: Price: £180 Website: www.bwspeakers.com Design: Two-way, vented box Drive units: 26mm metal dome tweeter; 160mm woven Power handling: 100W Frequency response: 72Hz-20kHz Size: 33x20x24cm Weight: 5kg each Finishes: Black ash, maple Plus points: Quality construction; detailed, expressive performance Minus points: Low frequencies lack control

B&W DM303

Even at the entry level you'll find features in B&W's DM303s that reflect technology developed for speakers from their renowned flagship range - and for only a fraction of the price.

Of course, certain sacrifices have been made to cut costs. Trademark Kevlar drive units have been foregone in favour of a simple two-way design featuring a 160mm woven fiberglass dome mid/bass driver accompanied by a 25mm metal dome tweeter. But the design does share a similar Nautilus tapered tubing system to that found in far more expensive B&W speakers - the premise being that sound radiating back from the tweeter is absorbed to improve clarity and reduce time smearing.

The effect is a detailed delivery that extends the soundstage courtesy of cohesive subtleties and well-separated instruments. The midrange is especially clear and uncluttered, enriching vocals with endearing emotion and realism. Dynamics are also decent but bass depth loses a little composure under pressure and even allowing the speakers extra space to perform fails to totally tighten low frequencies.

Four years after their inception and the 303s can still consider themselves among class leaders at this price point. They're well-constructed, unequivocally clear sounding and their easy driveability makes them especially suited to budget amplifiers.

Overview: Price: £140 Website: www.mission.co.uk Design: 2-way, reflex loaded ox Drive units: 25mm gold dome C-CAM tweeter; 130mm MMP Mk2 mid/bass drive Power handling: 75W Frequency response: 65Hz-20kHz Size: 26x17x28cm Weight: 4.3kg each Finishes: Beech, cherry, graphite black Plus points: Competitive price; surprising bass performance; improved midrange Minus points: Treble can sound occasionally aggressive

Mission m31i

Mission's original m31s were fine speakers impaired only by a muddied midrange - but improvements to the internal wiring and crossover of the newly named m31i has cleared up that problem.

The compact design is short in height but deceptively deep, featuring a 130mm Diadrive mid/bass driver inversely mounted above a smaller 25mm gold dome tweeter. Despite being rear ported, positioning is pretty flexible and even placing the speakers tightly against the wall of a small room doesn't lead to any overextended bass boom.

In fact, low frequencies stand firm even in the face of the most challenging bass-heavy tracks producing surprising weight, depth and scale for such small speakers. Bi-wiring options allow dynamics to extend further creating an all-encompassing soundstage. And the once murky midrange now delivers vocals full of detailed expression and subtle changes in natural intonation. Only the faintly upfront treble causes a case for concern but partnering the speakers with a smooth-natured amplifier, like NAD's C532CT, will even things up.

All too often, remodeled designs struggle to significantly improve on the original. But, Mission's m31i has addressed earlier issues without sacrificing any of their initial strengths to come back better than before.

Overview: Price: £200 Website: www.monitoraudio.com Design: Front ported, bass reflex Drive units: 25mm gold dome C-CAM tweeter; 165mm MMP MK2 mid/bass drive Power handling: 100W Frequency response: 42Hz-22kHz Size: 35x19x25cm Weight: 13.5kg packaged Finishes: Beech, black ash, rosemah Plus points: Great value for money; engaging upfront presentation Minus points: Slightly short on refinement

Monitor Audio's Bronze B2s were once considered the be-all of budget speakers, offering previously unheard of performance at an attractive price.

With some subtle refinements, the uncomplicated design still stands the test of time, featuring a simple two-way construction using a 165mm metal matrix polymer mid/bass driver and 25mm gold dome tweeter. Performance is improved by bi-wiring options and the position of the front port allows tight placement against walls - while adding symmetry to the well-finished aesthetics.

In action, the B2s produce an unbiased, honest performance enhanced by an energetic sense of tuneful timing that's guaranteed to get your toes tapping. The refined sound carries plenty of detail, especially from the expressive midrange, and extensive dynamics satisfy all sorts of musical tastes without ever seeming sonically stretched - a rarity at this price point. At normal levels, low frequencies are tightly controlled and authoritative but raising the volume to extreme levels can leave the sound a little rough around the edges.

The Bronze B2s offer surprising all-round ability for speakers at this price. Their neutral nature produces an open presentation doused in detail, dynamics and musical timing that would embarrass far more expensive models out there.

Overview: Price: £180 Website: www.wharfedale.co.uk Design: Front ported, bass reflex Drive units: 25mm TEX tweeter; 125mm mid/bass drive Power handling: 100W Frequency response: 50Hz-24kHz Size: 30x19x28cm Weight: 5kg each Finishes: Beech, black, cherry, silver Plus points: Quality construction; versatility; class-leading clarity and superb integration Minus points: Bass could delve deeper

This is the ninth incarnation of Wharfedale's Diamonds, dating back as far as the early eighties, and the performance from this range of inexpensive speakers just keeps on improving.

By sticking to a simple design and switching production from Yorkshire to China, Wharfedale has kept costs down without sacrificing sonic performance. The curved design gives the cabinet strength and reduces standing waves while housing a 125mm Kevlar mid/bass driver and 25mm TEX tweeter. A pair of front ports allow versatile placement options although, while they will perform placed tightly against a back wall, they sound best when given a little space. And gold-plated, bi-wireable speaker terminals complete an impressive construction for the price.

Even more impressive however, is the quality of performance. The sound succeeds on every level although it's the speaker's superb integration that reigns supreme, giving them a wonderfully clear and cohesive sound. Considering the cost, detail and dynamics are nothing short of exceptional creating a true to the original sound full of natural expression and subtlety. Only bass depth can be bettered but that would risk compromising their wonderfully contained composure.

Wharfedale's Diamond 9.1s are capable of a 24-carat performance that outshines all rivals at this price - making them a music lover's best friend.