Dynaudio Excite X14

The high end exists in the eye of the beholder. To some folks, a pair of mini-monitors selling for $1,500—or a 5.1-channel system at $5,100—may seem steeply priced. In fact, if you want lower-priced alternatives, you’ll find plenty among our Top Picks....

Great build and finish ; Compact ; Sweetly communicative midrange ; Solid soundstage

Short of outright attack and dynamism ; Too polite for some music

Not the most flexible speakers, but the X14s have areas of real expertise