This three-piece system isn't cheap, but you really get what you pay for. The Cambridge SoundWorks MegaWorks 215 comes in your choice of gorgeous hardwood finishes. Each of its oversize Newton M50 satellites contains a high-quality 1-inch silk tweeter as well as a 5.25-inch midrange driver and 60-watt amp that are larger than those found in many subwoofers. The system also includes Cambridge's powerful BassCube 821 bass module, which has a hefty 150-watt amplifier and 8-inch cone.

The MegaWorks 215 lacks authority in the deepest bass registers but is remarkable in most other ways. It produces beautifully airy, transparent sound that's as realistic as any we've heard on the desktop, and it is also one of the loudest systems we tested, pumping out a hair-raising 107 dB at 18 inches. The system's midrange is exceptionally flat from 200 to 4,000 Hz, and despite an octave-wide dip centered at 7 kHz, its high end extends beyond 16 kHz. The system's low-frequency response begins to roll off at 60 Hz, but it still produces significant output at 20 Hz.

The MegaWorks 215 is not for everyone. Its 10- by 7- by 7-inch bookshelf-style satellites are too large for most desktops; they're best mounted on walls or floor stands. And their opulent demeanor, high output levels, and spacious sound make them especially well suited for midsize rooms. But if you have the space and the money, you'll have a hard time finding more accurate sound for your home desktop.