Audio Video News

Tight punchy bass, incredible clarity, and high efficiency are qualities all home theater fans look for when shopping for loudspeakers. Great sound is important, but the dealmaker is often the speakers' look.

Will it match my décor? Can I get it in any finish? Will it work with my amplifier? PBN Audio addresses all these questions and more with its new Montana SP Series 3 loudspeakers. The latest generation of the company's acclaimed two-way column, the new SP features a sturdily braced hexagonal cabinet for ultralow cabinet resonance, a new "fabric ring radiator" tweeter, twin 7-inch midrange/woofers, and a redesigned crossover network. The SP's 89-decibel sensitivity guarantees compatibility with almost all home theater amplifiers, and a wide variety of finishes will yield visual continuity with almost any style of decorating.

Standard finishes on the 43-inch high column include approximately 20 different real-wood veneers like walnut, cherry, oak, beech, and bird's-eye maple. Black lacquer is also an option for $700 extra. Montana loudspeakers can be finished in almost any color on a custom basis, according to company president Peter Noerbaek. The SP Series 3 will begin shipping to dealers in late August, he says. Suggested retail is $3500/pair.

With a pair of SPs left and right, the ideal center channel is the $2750 Montana SPC. Height is 11-inches high by 36-inches wide and 16-inches deep, perfect for mounting atop a rear-projection set or below a screen. Recommended rear speakers in an all-PBN system are the $2995/pair Montana DPS, also available in all finishes.