Just as loudspeakers cannot reproduce high quality sound without high quality source components, the speakers themselves must be of equal quality.  These 'last-link' communicators of the system are just as important as the other components.  Getting them right in a home theatre set-up means five speakers (left and right fronts, centre and left and right rear effects), so that's five different decisions and purchases, right?  Well, it needn't be. 

Creating a cinematic environment in the living room can be a challenging and arduous task.  Audio & Video Lifestyle magazine, along with its sister publications, "ich?  Home Theatre and the Hi-Fi and Home Theatre Consumer Guide have produced a considerable number of words on helping you decide the best paths to take when heading down the home theatre route.  But only you can decide which models and brands offer the right performance and specifications for your requirements.  To make life easier, however, there are an increasing number of companies who are marketing total home theatre speaker packages.  And the good news for local buyers is that many of these companies are Australian. 

Accusound is the hi-fi brand marketed by the Australian Speaker Manufacturers (ASM), based in Kirrawee, New South Wales.  ASM is an established loudspeaker company that is very committed to the home theatre concept but is also in the business of developing high performance, audiophile-grade monitors and floorstanders, with its Delta and Alpha product ranges.  All Accusound loudspeakers across the various price ranges appear to be built and designed to the same equal standards which are high indeed. 

ASM's brandname is a clever one, for Accusound has connotations of ,accurate' sound, and I was certainly impressed with the brand's DLSW-150 subwoofer, which was reviewed in issue AVL-84 of Audio & Video Lifestyle. 

The DLC-160 series of loudspeakers is the latest offering from Accusound.  At $549 each, the speakers are designed to act as a stand-alone centre channel, as a 3-pack of front left and right mains and centre (as illustrated), or as a complete five speaker surround sound package.  The latter two options with the appropriate price tag discounts. 

Each unit uses two 165mm shielded bass drivers, together with a 25mm soft dome tweeter and twin port tubes.  The centre channel speaker version comes with a custom grille for horizontal positioning, but for maximum sound and looks this should be removed. 

My first impressions of the DLC-160 loudspeakers are mostly positive; overall build quality is reasonably good with well designed grilles and excellent positioning of drivers and tweeters, the design is so much more attractive without the grilles in place.  The gold plated banana plug terminals are of a high grade, but it's disappointing to see no provision for bi-wiring.* 

The power handling capabilities of the Accusounds is healthy at 150 watts RMS.  These are not fussy loudspeakers to drive and good results can be had with a quality 60 watt integrated amplifier.  Using the Yamaha RX-V495 (also reviewed in this issue), the DLC160s sounded totally in control well before the 9 o'clock volume position, and with no distortion.  But these are loudspeakers that rise to the challenge of being driven hard so don't be afraid to crank up the volume for extra thrills. 

Accusound has manufactured the DLC-160s to high home theatre performance standards and has invested considerable effort into successfully magnetically shielding the speakers. I am impressed with the results.  Using the DLC-160s close to my Panasonic picture tube, absolutely no colour distortions are apparent, so use these with confidence. 

T'he centre channel speaker plays an important role in the steering of sound throughout a surround sound system.  It's amazing how often a set-up is let down by a poor choice of a centre channel speaker.  Lesser quality centre channel speakers just won't do, I'm afraid.  This will lead to weak surround imaging and a poorly realised soundfield.  All the atmosphere that a director like Oliver Stone is trying to create will be lost.  Kitaro's sweeping, emotional soundstage will sound flat and lifeless as dialogue will sound muffled around it. 

Action needs to be conveyed with a great sense of immediacy, so dialogue must be well projected and sound effects must envelope this and create an invisible, palpable sound field.  The DLC-160 is a convincing performer as a centre channel speaker with crisp, clear dialogue and good effects steering.  It holds the stereo soundstage together very well. 

The DLC-160s work equally well as front or rear effects speakers in a surround sound system.  Playing a movie like Bom On The 4th Of July or Heaven And Earth is a synergistic sound workout that seems suited to mediumto-large rooms, thanks to the DLC160's high power handling and thoughtful design, the speakers sound much bigger than they really are.  John Williams' large scale and stirring orchestral score for Bom On 7he 4th Of July sounds appropriately exciting and poignant at the right moments, particularly during Kovic's final assault on the village; the Accusounds have the right sense of immediacy for action sequences and the stereo soundstage illusion doesn't falter.  It's a great listen that would be most enjoyable to own in the long-term, and 1 had to keep reminding myself of the very affordable pricing of these speakers. 

The Matrix is a blockbuster in the true sense of the term, with great action, bizarre sound effects and a pulsating, techno-hip soundtrack, and through the Accusound speakers it all comes to life with the impact and resolution of a cinema screening.  It's an addictive, appealing soundtrack made more so by the revealing DLC-160s. 

For normal hi-fi music playback, the Accusounds are a capable pair of stereo loudspeakers.  Use very solid and sturdy stands, let the speakers breathe, use high quality cables and interconnects and the sound quality is just fine. 

Position these speakers well and truly away from the rear wall and the sound is expressive and revealing with all types of classical music.  AH sections of the orchestra come across well, with a rich and upfront presentation.  The string section is nicely reproduced with violins and cellos sounding accurate and engaging.  Fast, exciting crescendos sound particularly convincing as my benchmark New World Symphony recording reveals.  With Kitaro's Heaven And Earth soundtrack the softer, flute solos are given the same sensitive and effective handling as faster orchestral movements.  In the majestic soundtrack to The Last Emperor instruments such as the harp and xylophone also sound convincing and listenable. 

The DLC-160s put in a commendable all round performance with all types of classical and instrumental music. 

For modem rock and chart hits these speakers are good performers without being spectacular.  Bass extension is strong and deep for their size, with great definition and control.  Rap music from the likes of Warren G and NWA is thumpy and bass-heavy, as it should be and dance music is okay.  But with female vocals the midrange performance can seem slightly flat.  Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On from the Titanic soundtrack sounds a bit too detached and not emotional enough, and R and B groups such as Islander sound cut off when singing their energetic Tasty single. 

Much better performance can be had when listening to saxophone instrumental tunes from the likes of Stanley Clarke, whose live recordings certainly benefit from the Accusound's stereo imaging. 

Accusound currently has an excellent product line-up, which is well marketed and competitively priced.  For home theatre applications the DLC160s offer a simple solution to buying speakers and represent something of a bargain for the money. I look forward to more from this innovative brand.  AYL  

Since this review was conducted, ASM has advised us that all DLC-160s speakers are now bi-wired. 

1. Shocker! Don't even think about a product that scores so low!
2. Just OK, but this could be better.
3. Average to good, the minimum requirement.
4. Very Good! What should be expected of today's technology.
5. Excellent, 100 percent perfection. A rarity!