The speaker's aluminum grille boasts an open area of 55 percent for superior sound quality, which is aided by the sculpted front baffle and rounded enclosure that minimizes diffraction (sound that's reflecting off of hard edges) for more open and lifelike imaging. In addition, a built-in bracket facilitates several mounting options and full 90-degree rotation, letting you aim the speakers to several points in the room to enjoy the best possible sound.

But perhaps the 45p speakers' most attractive feature is that they're self-powered, which allows you to create an instant sound system simply by connecting a CD player, MP3 player, or other audio source directly to the speakers via their coaxial line-level inputs. As an alternative, you can connect them to an amplifier or receiver using the set's gold-plated five-way speaker-level binding posts. Whichever method you choose, you can add Polk-quality, room-filling stereo sound quickly and conveniently almost anywhere.

The speakers, which offer a frequency response of 60 Hz to 20 kHz, measure 6.25 by 9.5 by 7.62 inches (W x H x D) each and are backed by a five-year warranty on parts and labor.

What's in the Box
Two Atrium 45p speakers (black), mounting brackets, user's manual.