Outlaw Audio, probably better known for their affordable amplifiers, AV preamps and killer subwoofers, has gotten into the speaker game as of late. Their latest addition, the LCR reviewed here, continues Outlaw's commitment to affordable excellence. Retailing for $649 each and sold direct to the consumer via their website, the Outlaw LCR loudspeakers straddle the line between satellite subwoofer systems and bookshelf/monitor speakers in a way that may seem a bit crazy ... crazy like a fox.

The LCR is a two-way three-driver loudspeaker, featuring two long-throw five-and-a-quarter-inch bass/midrange drivers flanking a single one-inch silk dome tweeter. The entire package is wrapped in either a black or cherry wood finish and has a sealed, wall-mountable bi-wired or bi-amped design. The LCR features rear-mounted controls, which include a three-position Boundary Compensation switch to aid in wall and/or corner placement, as well as a three-position high-frequency switch to help with dampened or live rooms, followed by a two-position speaker performance switch that lets the LCR know if it's being used as a center or main channel speaker. Because of all of these controls, and because the LCR is truly designed to be either a main/surround or center channel speaker, the total cost of a matched five-speaker surround system comes in around $3,200, give or take any specials Outlaw is offering at the time, plus shipping. Not bad when you consider we live in a world where decent monitor speakers will run you upwards of $2,000 a pair. The LCRs also come standard with brackets needed to wall-mount them out of the box in a horizontal or vertical position around, say, a plasma or LCD monitor.

The LCR has a reported frequency response of 75 to 22kHz and carries with it a sensitivity of 90dB with a nominal impedance of four ohms, making the LCR ideal for a receiver-based or budget separates home theater.

High Points
• The LCR looks far more impressive than its price would have you believe and, when you consider the level of control and customization Outlaw packed into such a compact and affordable speaker, its price becomes even more impressive.
• While quite musical in nature, especially when used to listen to multi-channel music, the LCRs are home theater speakers at heart and can rock a film soundtrack and/or explosion like nobody's business.
• Dialogue through the LCRs is intelligible and natural, while the overall spaciousness and sonic oneness the LCRs possess between all five matching speakers is awesome.
• Dynamically, the LCRs may have no equals in their price range.
• The level of control and quasi-EQ the LCRs are equipped with make placement and set-up a breeze and maximize the LCRs' potential in almost any environment.

Low Points
• Elegantly finished, the LCRs are imposing speakers and look good flanking three sides of a flat panel display, but they don't quite have the stylistic flare some competitors offer.
• The LCRs need a subwoofer to round out their bottom-end performance when viewing action movies and/or listening to large-scale music. Luckily, Outlaw makes some seriously affordable and capable subwoofers that won't add much to the LCRs' total price.
• The two finishes available on the LCR are of high quality and add to the LCR's stellar appearance. However, an option that includes a silver or gray chassis would be good in today's marketplace.

Conclusion
For just under $650 each, the Outlaw LCR loudspeaker is a true home theater enthusiast's dream come true. Mate the LCR to a flat panel display and a capable receiver and you have yourself a take no prisoners home theater on a budget that will have you scratching your head and wondering why you'd want to spend more. The LCRs' sonic traits are impressive, to say the least, and one only needs to spend a little time with them to fall completely in love. The LCRs are top performers in their class and a fine new addition to the Outlaw family of products, making Outlaw a truly one-stop spot for all your home theater needs.