Floor-standing or "tower" loudspeakers are designed to create great sound, and part of that comes from their size and the fact that they can stand freely with nothing against them that might muffle their sound. You'll be getting two of them, and they will be the "point men" of your stereo or surround-sound system. Some are two-way (with a tweeter and a woofer) or three-way (adding a midrange driver to handle middle frequencies). And new technologies are constantly being developed to improve the sound, such as having built-in powered subwoofers or vents that send out the sound uniquely -- not to mention finding ways to make the speakers themselves look sharp and attractive so they fit into the home like fine furniture.

For surround sound, you'll want to get a center channel and a pair of surround speakers from the same manufacturer. That will "voice match" or complement the tone of your freestanding loudspeakers.

One of the most important things to consider when shopping for any speaker is the rating of power (wattage) that the speaker is able to handle (the higher the rating, the louder it can reproduce sound). But at the same time, take your amplifier into consideration: Having an amplifier that is more powerful than the speaker can cause problems such as distortion or even damage to the speaker when pumping the volume too high. If the amplifier isn't powerful enough, it can't "drive" the speaker like it needs to and can make your music sound just plain bad.

Also be aware of how the speakers stand. Some come with spikes to dig in more firmly on carpeting, while other speakers have the option of being mounted to a wall.

Sound of the Fittest
Charles Darwin would admire the adaptability of NHT's Evolution T6 Tower. Its three-way monitor bolted to dual woofers and mirror-image bass modules allows for placement horizontally or vertically, on stands or in cabinets, without sonic compromise. This is an integrated, high-output tower perfectly suitable for medium to large rooms.

$4,000 per pair, www.nht.com

Energizer It keeps on pumping!
Energy Speaker Systems' V2.4i delivers impeccable accuracy and clarity, punctuated by deep and powerful bass. A separately chambered dome tweeter and midrange module and the Dual Hyperdrive woofer are innovative. A handcrafted cabinet doesn't hurt, either.

$2,000 each, www.energy-speakers.com

Bigger is Better
Words we love: potent and extended bass. The PSB T55's increased enclosure size for large woofers produces deep and gut-felt bass. And the image tweeter combined with a pair of rubber surround woofers create great definition. The finish is black ash or maple, and the feet/stabilizers come with adjustable spikes and rubber levelers.

$899 per pair, www.psbspeakers.com

Signal Strength
Meridian's DSP 5200 is suited for small and large spaces. The compact shape packs three custom drivers, three amplifiers and advanced signal processing that delivers maximum sound with full remote control of bass, treble tilt, tweeter axis and more.

$10,995 each, www.meridian-audio.com

Classical Style
The Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand is built with world-class cabinetry and custom-designed drivers to create an expansive sound with precise focus, outstanding bass detail, and sweet and open midrange and treble.

$4,500 to $5,000, www.sumikoaudio.net

No Vibe's a Good Vibe
Jamo's D 450 combines a classic wood finish and aluminum details. A curved front baffle provides excellent acoustic properties while preventing vibrations from traveling from one driver to the other.

$799 to $999 each, www.jamo.com

Peak Performer
Pinnacle's Quantum Plasma 9 employs unique innovations such as liquid cooled titanium dome tweeters, carbon graphite mid-bass drivers and internally braced, solid die-cast aluminum cabinets.

$999 each, www.pinnaclespeakers.com

New Paradigm
The Signature S8 from Paradigm rewrites the rules with a design that is aesthetically and technically advanced. And let's not forget that it sounds great. An IMS/SHOCK-MOUNT helps provide clarity and detailed audio.

$5,400 to $6,000 per pair, www.paradigm.com

Round Sound
Talk about surround sound: The Mirage OM-5 features a front and rear-mounted tweeter/midrange module and a contoured cabinet to create an all-encompassing and three-dimensional sound.

$3,500 to $3,700 per pair, www.miragespeakers.com

Smooth Operator
Thiel's two-way CS1.6 features sweet and smooth high-frequency performance coupled with a pure and open upper midrange, thanks to an aluminum dome tweeter and innovative woofer diaphragm/ voice coil.

$2,190 to $2,390 per pair, www.thielaudio.com

Gold Standard
The Triad IR Gold reproduces both music and movie soundtracks with precision. Proprietary drivers and an overbuilt, acoustically inert enclosure deliver audio with low distortion and high sensitivity.

$1,750 each, www.triadspeakers.com

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