I recently reviewed Aperion Audio's newest flagship loudspeaker, the Verus Grand Tower, and for less than $2,000 a pair the sexy floorstanders are true value leaders. However, not everyone has room for a floorstanding loudspeaker nor do they have a spare $2,000 lying around to buy a pair even if they did. For those who may be a little tight on space and/or cash there's the Verus Grand Tower's bookshelf sibling, the Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeaker to fulfill all your wants and desires.

Additional Resources
• Read more bookshelf speaker reviews from Home Theater Review's staff.
• Explore subwoofer options in our Subwoofer Review section.
• Find an amplifier to pair with the Verus Grand bookshelf speaker.

Retailing for $299 each or $598 a pair the Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeakers retain the same fit and finish of their costlier, floorstanding brethren, as well as a few of their components - albeit fewer of them. The Verus Grand Bookshelf speaker is larger bookshelf speaker measuring 13 inches tall by seven and a half inches wide and nine inches deep. It tips the scales at 14 pounds apiece and comes in your choice of finish, gloss cherry or gloss black. The Verus Grand Bookshelf is a two-way design with a one-inch Aperion designed ASR Tweeter mated to a five-inch Woven Kevlar mid/bass driver. Both the ASR Tweeter and five inch Kevlar driver can be found in the costlier Verus Tower, which you can read about in greater detail in the Aperion Audio Verus Grand Tower loudspeaker review. The Verus Grand Bookshelf has a stated frequency response of 59-20,000Hz with an impedance of six Ohms and a sensitivity of 87dB, which means they can be powered by most modern amplifiers and home theater receivers but will require a subwoofer or two in order to achieve full-range sound reproduction. Luckily, Aperion Audio also offers some fantastic subwoofers that should have no problems augmenting the Verus Grand Bookshelf's bottom end.

In terms of connection options, the Verus Grand Bookshelf features not one but two pairs of five-way binding posts capable of accepting all types of speaker cable from bare wire to spade lugs. Like all Aperion Audio loudspeakers, the Verus Grand Bookshelf come with a 30-day, in-home trial that comes complete with a money back guarantee, not to mention free shipping to the lower 48 states and Canada.

As far as sound quality is concerned, minus their bass performance, it's difficult to distinguish between the Verus Bookshelf and the larger Verus Tower. The Verus Towers do play deeper and will play louder but, within reason, the two are clearly cut from the same cloth, possessing the same seductive midrange and surprisingly refined and open top end. The Verus Grand Bookshelf speakers have tremendous coherence across their frequency range and while they do require a sub or two for true bass reproduction, the bass they possess is quite surprising. Their ability to cast a wide and deep soundstage is equally impressive as is their ability to disappear within it. While I'm sure many prospective owners will use the Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeakers as rear or side channels, those with smaller rooms shouldn't be embarrassed to call on them as left and right mains if need be. In fact, I'd happily build a small home theater around five or seven Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeakers and pair them with two or four Bravus 8A subwoofers for a truly kick-ass system on the cheap ($2,093-$3,289).

Read about the performance of the Verus Grand bookshelf speakers on Page 2.