The 980Bs may be diminutive, but their all-black finish, relatively hefty weight, and high-quality driver complement make them pretty serious little speakers. Another strong point: the 980Bs come with gold-plated, five-way binding-post terminals, not the cheap clip terminals we find on most models at this price.

Though the 980Bs do have high-quality parts and construction, they provide mixed results sonically. You'll want to place them up against the wall in order to reinforce the bass, which otherwise sounds too lean, robbing music of its foundation and vocals of their fullness. (We did try the 980Bs with a small subwoofer, which fleshed them out nicely.)

A lean bass shifts the 980Bs' tonal balance toward the middle and high frequencies, where the speakers sound spacious and much larger than they appear. The top end is not terribly extended, but it is crisp, well defined, and free of the brightness that can induce listener fatigue.

The KLH 980Bs make a fine choice for less-critical listening (such as under the eaves of your patio, on a boat, or in a camper). When using the speakers indoors, we recommend adding a subwoofer to help boost the thin bottom end. Either way, the 980Bs remain well-made and useful speakers. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Weatherproof
• Compact, easy to place
• Brackets, hardware, and wire included

Cons:

• Bass is too thin