If you're not fussy about surround sound there are plenty of 2.1 speaker systems, such as the Aego 2, that offer excellent audio quality.

Like most speaker systems, these are very simple to set up, with all sockets clearly marked and a printed diagram if you get stuck. The two satellite speakers connect to the subwoofer, which has controls for low, medium and high bass levels and a switch for selecting the input for an optional centre speaker. The volume control is also mounted on the subwoofer along with a headphone output. This is a shame, as it would have been far more convenient to have the volume control and headphone socket one of the two satellites or even a separate remote control.

Sound quality is very good, although having just three bass settings rather than a dial means there's no scope for fine tuning. It's therefore a balancing act to keep the bass from distorting while increasing the volume.

Overall though, the speakers performed very well, especially in games, where explosions and thuds sounded great. However, it's only when you really crank up the volume that these pricey speakers show their worth, but then you could have the neighbours banging on the door.

Contact: 01285 654432
www.acoustic-energy.co.uk