The in-wall sector of the marketplace is hotter than ever, though one would argue that there is a shortage of true high-end, or at least high-end-sounding, in-walls. Most manufacturers claim that some of their in-walls produce true audiophile-grade sound, but few deliver. However, Paradigm, makers of fine affordable loudspeakers of all types, has several in-wall offerings that stretch the boundaries of the audiophile envelope. The really good news is that you don't have to go to the top of their product mountaintop to do so, as evident in the AMS-350 reviewed here.

Additional Resources
• Read more Paradigm speaker reviews here.
• Read more in-wall speaker reviews from top brands like Paradigm, B&W, PSB, Sonance, Niles Audio, Noble Fidelity and Wisdom Audio here.

The AMS-350 retails for $738 per pair and, in terms of price and performance, sits just about in the middle of the Paradigm in-wall family tree. The AMS-350 is a three-driver, two-way in-wall/in-ceiling speaker that uses a die-cast chassis and mounting system. The AMS-350 features a single one-inch dome tweeter mated to dual eight-inch bass/midrange drivers, giving it a reported frequency response of 55Hz-20kHz. The AMS-350 has a fairly efficient design, especially for an in-wall speaker, with its 93dB sensitivity rating and benign eight-ohm load.

The AMS-350 fits in the bays between standard 16 [***16 what?***] on center studs and requires a minimum of three inches of depth in the wall cavity itself. If your wall can support a three-inch deep cabinet and your house was built post-WWII, then the AMS-350 should be easy enough to install for even the most novice of DIYers. The AMS-350 can be painted to match any décor; just remember to use a spray nozzle or applicator when applying paint to the grilles to avoid plugging any holes that would keep the sound from traveling to your listening position.

Read The High Points, The Low Points and the Conclusion on Page 2