B&W MM-1 multimedia speakers

Pros: 1. Excellent sound for classic rock and jazz
2. Beautiful design
3. Top rated brand
4. Excellent desktop bass response
5. Stereo separation and sound stage
6. Excellent sound at low volume.

Cons: 1. Unable to reproduce "processed" surround sound.
2. Expensive (but worth it!)
3. Remote pales in comparison to the Bose control disc

Summary: I bought the Bose Companion 5 system two weeks ago. While it may be high rated in the eyes of many, for me it was the typical BOSE brand name fiasco. Highs were harsh and strident at low and medium volume, and the clarity of individual instruments was lacking. The 5's surround sound is very good, but you cannot turn it off to revert to typical 2 channel reproduction, which was a deal killer for me. I like surround sound on some types of material (I use Winamp with DFX 9 for processing), but find surround to be somewhat fatiguing to listen to over long periods, so I must be able to turn it off.

The MM1 system produces great sound, period. Better than anything else I've heard for the PC. With a bit of tweaking for tone using DFX 9, I can listen to Tull, Stones, Al Dimeola, Roland Kirk, Jazz, Blues, etc. with a smile on my face...

For best results, I find that the sound is better with the Winamp EQ OFF. Mst EQ presets cause a decrease in clarity.

If you like surround sound, forget the MM1s. They cannot produce processed sound well...

So.... The Companion 5s go back to Best Buy today, and the MM1s have a permanent place on my desktop.