The AudioSource LS100 speakers are easy to get excited about. With a surprisingly open midrange and warm tonal balance, they sound terrific. And they're weatherproof, so they can make music indoors or outdoors. The included adjustable brackets make it easy to mount the LS100s on a wall, under eaves, or even in your truck, RV, or boat. If you're restricted by budget or space, you can even use two sets as the heart of a home theater system. The LS100s also come with a five-year warranty and are a great value.

In a size and price range where we normally see two-way designs, the three-way LS100s are rare birds. An extra midrange driver doesn't always make for better sound, but, in this case, the third driver adds a degree of warmth and smoothness that we've never encountered in a speaker at this price. As a bonus, AudioSource has mirror-imaged the drivers, which allows a pair of LS100s to create the kind of pinpoint imaging we associate with far costlier models.

You'll hear these qualities as soon as you put on a favorite CD--especially if you're a fan of vocal music. (This is why the midrange is so important.) The LS100s are smooth and open and their sound is free of box coloration--that "hooded," overly resonant sound that some speakers have. The suaveness of these speakers extends to the highs and the bass, too. Although small woofers will never produce teeth-rattling bass, the ones in the LS100s have enough of a minipunch to let you boogie if the impulse strikes.

Our only complaint is a minor one and not a surprise in this price range: we would have preferred binding posts over the clip terminals that are on the back of the LS100s. But if you don't already use extra-heavy-duty speaker cable with your speakers, this may not be an issue.

We congratulate AudioSource for producing a great little speaker for a price that simply can't be beat.--Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Impressive sound
• Weatherproof
• Versatile mounting brackets

Cons:

• Junky, spring-loaded speaker terminals

What's in the Box
AudioSource L1200 speakers (2), mounting brackets, and a user's manual.