Speakers – many people claim that a quality pair of loudspeakers can elevate the sound quality of an entire audio system, far more than any other component. Some listeners take this philosophy to the extreme, and for those willing to pay big bucks for big sound, there are manufacturers out there ready to serve you.

Aerial Acoustics is one such brand. Beginning in 1991, engineer Michael Kelly began producing floor-standing legends like the Model 20T Version 2 that might put some theatre sound systems to shame – they’re that good. For $30,000, which is what a pair of these beauties will cost, they’d better.

Each 20T weighs around 250 lbs. It’s like having two stout Egyptian guards on duty by your stereo or entertainment center. This is not dead weight, either. A sophisticated network separates the bass and head units, with custom features for optimum sound quality and minimal distortion and vibration from 25Hz to 35kHz, its rated frequency response.

The 2” thick cabinet holds a 4-inch aluminum ribbon tweeter, a 7-inch midrange driver, and two 8.9-inch woofers that have a bottom port at the speaker base for additional resonance. The crossover network in the head has an air-cooled chamber to isolate it from sonic pressure. Find more info here.

Anthony Gallo Acoustics forges high-end loudspeakers and audio accessories from their Chatsworth, California headquarters, combining richly crafted components with intelligent design to bring a full spectrum of sound to a host of quality-conscious audiophiles in 40 countries. The A’Diva loudspeaker series has received particular honorable mention, including a 2007 RAVE Award from Home Theater Magazine.

The A’Diva is an impressive 3.5 pound satellite that comes in four different finishes and features a 3-inch full range driver that delivers a frequency response between 80Hz and 18 kHz. The A’Diva Ti upgrades to a featherweight 1.8 lbs. satellite with a superior Titanium driver that increases frequency response. Both are 5 inch spheres that easily adapt to five different mounting options and integrate well as standalones or as a component of any of Gallo’s 5.1 systems.

The company’s product line continues to evolve, as evidenced by their appearance at CES 2009 to debut a new Strada reference loudspeakers series for future production.

Jack Bybee claims to have discovered a high-tech booster shot for any speaker output, regardless of system quality. By altering the way audio signals are processed, Bybee’s technology employs Quantum Purifiers, originally designed for military applications, to circumvent the quantum noise generated as sound signals travel from source to destination in high-end electronic circuits, usually some form of speaker.

Original Golden Goddess products based on this technology caused a revolutionary stir in the industry, where the difference the physicist’s aftermarket components contributed to sound quality generate a significant following. Many of those original designs have been licensed by Bybee to OEM manufactures for incorporation in sound systems that greatly benefit from improved sound.

What’s left are the Super Effect Speaker Bullets, winner of a 2007 Stereo Times Award as a “most wanted” system component. High-end audiophiles swear by the improved performance and sound quality realized by adding these $4,200 accessories at the final stage of connection between speaker wire and speaker terminal. Find the speaker here.

Here’s a unique twist on in-wall speaker designs, supplying music lovers with aesthetic and aural appeal in the same breath. The Inwall Silver/4 Omni Sconce from Portland loudspeaker manufacturers Triad emits subdued, elegant LED lighting from within its flush mount cabinet. These versatile speakers with interchangeable colored gels and grills work well in tight quarters where space is limited.

The unique qualities and design of the Inwall Silver/4 was enough to command a Product of the Year Award in 2008 from the forward-thinking veteran publication Electronic House. Triad products speak to high-end consumers who look at speakers as something more than an audio necessity, distributed only through a select group of CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) and PARA (Professional Audio/Video Retailers) certified dealers that support custom installations and factory direct service.

These feature-rich custom cabinets and monitors for indoor and outdoor applications can be adapted to match walls and interiors that give listening environments eye-appealing satisfaction. The speakers feature a custom-designed 5-1/2” woofer and 1” dome tweeter that handle a combined maximum 80 watts of continuous power with a frequency response between 75 Hz – 20 kHz. Suggested retail price of $650 each. Find them here.

These things are ultra-cool, high-end speakers that pack a wallop for audio aficionados who care as much about form and function as they do about fashion. The scientific approach that manufacturers Vivid Audio have taken in designing loudspeakers has led to the development of the GIYA, the brainchild of company head Laurence Dickie.

These 6-foot, 150-pound wonders are rated for a frequency range between 23Hz and 44kHz, which equates to as complete a range or sounds you’ll ever need to hear. The hefty price tag of $54,000 shouldn’t make much difference for the audience Vivid appeals to, who’d sacrifice more than cash for the level of performance one would expect at such prices.

Dickie, who also created the equally ugly Nautilus speakers for B&W, is no stranger to stereo design. The strange-looking enclosure is actually designed to prevent audio distortion, with its pair of 12″ drivers mounted on each side of the speaker. With the ability to 800 watts of power, the gentle giant’s stature begins to make sense.

Some industry aficionados are taking notice, as Stereo Sound Japan recently gave Vivid a Grand Prix Award and a Golden Sound Award for the GIYA design. Check them out here.