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.

High Points
• At $299 each you'll be hard pressed to find a better looking or better built monitor loudspeaker than the Verus Grand Bookshelf from Aperion Audio. Tell your audiophile friends you spent more than you did for they would have no reason not to believe you.
• Even though its driver compliment may seem minimal and its materials a bit basic, the Verus Grand Bookshelf's sound is anything but, possessing ample amounts of audiophile goodness that should make any enthusiast happy.
• For those of you who like to bi-wire or better yet bi-amp your speakers, the Verus Grand Bookshelf will accommodate with their two sets of five-way binding posts, something not commonly found on affordable monitor speakers.
• When mated to higher end components, you'll be amazed at just how much better the Verus Grand Bookshelf speakers will sound, for when treated right they compete with loudspeakers costing double and in some instances three times as much.

Low Points
• While the term bookshelf may sound appealing, to get the most from Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeakers you're going to want to place them on stands - especially if you're using them as stereo mains in a two-channel or home theater system. Adding stands of any variety means more money; however Aperion Audio sells some elegant stands for the Verus bookshelf speakers for $47 each.
• You'll have to mate the Verus Grand Bookshelf to at least a single subwoofer to match its floorstanding brethren's low frequency performance. Luckily Aperion Audio offers the Bravus 8A subwoofer at $299, which should fit the bill nicely in moderately sized rooms.

Competition and Comparisons
At $299 each there are a number of bookshelf/monitor loudspeakers that square off against the Verus Grand Bookshelf. Paradigm's Mini Monitor loudspeaker is one such speaker as is their Studio 20 v.5 loudspeaker, which is a bit more at $798 a pair but then again it does outperform the Verus Grand Bookshelf.

Another competitor would have to be Polk Audio's newly redesigned RTiA Series, specifically the RTiA3 bookshelf speaker at $400 a pair. PSB's new Image B6 is also a notable competitor at $495 a pair.

For more on bookshelf speakers including the latest news and reviews please visit Home Theater Review's Bookshelf Speaker page.

Conclusion
For just under $600 a pair and sold direct via their own website, the Aperion Audio Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeakers are an absolute delight for they have a finish indicative of Revel Salon2s with a sound equal in tone and musicality to their costlier siblings, the Verus Grand Towers. While they need a subwoofer or two to go full-range and require stands to sound their best, the Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeakers are still a value leader and among the best in their class.

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.