The E-710 is sold as a single speaker. Buy two for stereo uses or pick up five or merely three for use in surround-sound applications (three if you'll be using two other speakers to serve as the left/right front or surrounds). If your TV is on a high shelf or mounted on the wall, as would a flat-panel set, you can simply position the "center channel" speaker beneath it.

You don't actually need a television to enjoy multichannel surround sound: the SACD, DVD-Audio, and DTS-CD formats all make ample use of full-range center-channel speakers, providing you have the space and the inclination to set up speakers for 5- or 5.1-channel music listening. Use a powered subwoofer for the ".1" low-frequency effects channel, or configure your surround receiver to fold the ".1" signal into the audio feeding the other speakers--with the E-710's 38 Hz bass rating, you'll have plenty of bass even without a subwoofer.

The speaker uses three separate drivers optimized for specific frequency bands. A lightweight, low-mass 5.25-inch midrange cone renders smooth, clean vocals; a balanced dome tweeter offers high sensitivity with protection from thermal overloads; and the speaker's 10-inch die cast aluminum woofer ensures stable power handling with amplifiers pumping up to 200 watts per channel.

A front-panel Acoustic Contour controls give you equalization tools to help optimize the E-710's output for your specific taste and listening environment. Finally, the speaker's multi-density cabinet helps reduce audible distortion and improve tonal accuracy, while its tuned bass-reflex enclosure produces a full 3 dB bass boost at the tuning frequency.