Many small and micro home theater systems make giant claims about high-end sound quality, but few actually make good on the promise. The Focal SIB SYSB 5.1 system is one that does. Moreover, the Focal system is priced no more than some micro systems that make these claims of great sound quality, but that is where any similarity with those systems ends. If you are someone looking for high-end sound on a cube system budget, look no further.

The SIB SYSB consists of five small, compact Sib speakers and one Cub 2 subwoofer. Both the speakers and subwoofer are a bass-reflex design, meaning they are ported in the back. The speakers all contain one 5-inch polyflex mid-bass driver and one 0.75-inch mylar dome tweeter. The subwoofer contains an eight-inch polyflex woofer and a 150-watt BASH amplifier. Each satellite speaker has its own adaptable plinth and wall mounts.

The speakers have top quality binding posts and fit and finish are superb. All speakers are magnetically shielded and, according to Focal, they are also splash proof for use in high moisture areas. The back panel of the subwoofer contains line level and speaker level inputs, crossover adjustment, level control, phase adjustment, auto power, and a power switch. Again, fit and finish are above par but we felt the choice of a flat finish on the subwoofer did not look quite as nice as the gloss finish on the speakers. It seemed a little out of place and also tended to show marks very easily.

To judge the audio quality on the Focal system we listened to Donald Fagan's The Nightfly on high-resolution DVD-Audio. Sound quality was superb and everything one would expect from Focal. Imaging and placement were excellent and the highs had most of the qualities for which focal tweeters are legendary. When we sat back and closed our eyes, the speaker disappeared. Vocals were natural and had none of the thin sound that plagues most micro systems. These are not your run-of-the-mill satellite speakers. The subwoofer was tight, natural sounding, and a perfect sonic mate to the satellites. This system also did surprising well even in our large listening room. It's a bit of an understatement to say that the SIB SYSB would match very well with any plasma or flat panel display.

When sound quality is just as important as aesthetics we feel the Focal SIB SYSB system is a good value. Priced no more than many so-called high-end micro systems, the Focal system actually delivers sound quality that matches its elegant looks. The Focal system ranks as one of the best micro systems we have heard.

Pros: Superb high-end sound, excellent build quality, included mounts/stands
Cons: Subwoofer shows marks easily