KLH TW-09B Twistable Bookshelf Speakers

Twist and shout--that's what KLH's sweet little TW-09B can do. This two-way minispeaker comes with a pair of separate (yet attached) enclosures for the woofer and tweeter. But here's the, uh, twist: the TW-09B's tweeter housing actually swivels back and forth, letting you aim the high frequencies more directly at the listening position or, in a rear channel application, bounce the sound off an adjacent wall for a more diffuse, surround effect.

The TW-09B is a seriously cute satellite speaker. Each palm-sized, matte-black enclosure houses a 3.625-inch woofer and 0.625-inch liquid-cooled dome tweeter. These impressive little drivers are covered by removable black grille cloths, and because the speakers are video shielded, you can place them directly alongside your computer or TV screen without the speaker magnets distorting the picture.

Sonically, the TW-09B is remarkably good for a speaker that's at once diminutive and affordable. You'll hear a large soundstage, with precise image placement and a strong, up-front midrange. The high frequencies are clear, if a little pronounced, but despite KLH's 80 Hz low-frequency spec, you shouldn't expect any real bass from these babies. For computer use, this isn't a problem, but for music or home theater, we would suggest adding a subwoofer.

Supplied accessories include a 20-foot pair of thin-gauge speaker cables and wall-mount brackets. At 90 days, the warranty seems a little chintzy, but the TW-09B seems built well enough to last.

The TW-09B is ideal for use with a computer, small stereo, or home theater system--just remember to add subwoofer if you expect any real bass response. If you're looking for a pair of inexpensive speakers that don't look or sound cheap, this a terrific place to start. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

Clear, open sound
Abundant placement options
Amazing value

Cons:

No real bass response
Highs are a little bright
Chintzy warranty

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I purchased these speakers with the intention of hooking them up to a home theatre system as surround and main speakers. I bought them with some apprehension but figured if they were really bad I could use them somewhere else in the home. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the sound. My DVD's sounded great and my cd's were good. In a small room (appx 180 sq ft) the speakers did well but using a powered subwoofer helped a lot too.