If you are shopping for a unique set of bookshelf speakers for a small room or office, Pioneer's Pure Malt Speakers (model S-A4SPT-PM) are an intriguing option. These extremely high-quality two-way speakers are made from retired 50-year-old oak whiskey barrels that have been flattened and dried. The strips are then cut and hand-assembled into speaker cabinets. According to Pioneer, it takes an entire whiskey barrel to produce one pair of speakers.

The result is a handcrafted speaker that is truly a work of art. Not only do the Pure Malts look gorgeous, but they sound great too. Pioneer engineers believed the aged hardwood would produce a mellow sound perfect for speakers, and indeed, the Pure Malts have a surprisingly rich, deep tone.

We found the bottom end to be very respectable, perfect for filling a study or small office with music. This is achieved in part by a 1-inch port on the rear. At moderate volume levels, jazz, pop and acoustic music sound rich, full and warm. Rock music at high levels is more difficult for the woofer to handle, but this is to be expected from a relatively small speaker. Overall, the Pure Malts sound much bigger than you'd expect considering their undersized dimensions.

The woofer is a 4-inch, yellow woven-fiber cone, while a 3/4-inch soft-dome tweeter covers the high end. The Pure Malts have a frequency response of 60Hz to 40,000Hz, with a maximum power-handling capacity of 100 watts. The speakers are magnetically shielded for placement near a television.

The Pure Malts come with sturdy black grills that blend well with the aged oak. The grills connect via solid metal nubs, although we prefer the look of the speakers without the grills. High-quality, gold-plated banana-plug input terminals are located on the rear. Above the connectors is a "Pure Malt Speaker" seal branded into the wood, which is another nice touch.

For years, Pioneer only offered these speakers in Japan, but they are now available in the United States directly from Pioneer's website. Although expensive for their size, we enjoyed the sonic performance of the Pure Malts, and we can easily place them in the "high-end" category of speakers based on their build quality. Pioneer's Pure Malt Speakers are a guaranteed conversation piece and will spice up the decor and sound of your listening room.

The suggested retail price of $299 is for one speaker.


Pros: Unique finish, handcrafted speakers with high-end touches, excellent performance
Cons: Expensive, limited range due to size

Warranty
1 year