I tested a natural-cherry-finish Transparent One, and I have to say the speakers are beautiful to look at. Although on the small side at 10 inches high, 6.5 inches wide, and 7.5 inches (right speaker) or 8.13 inches left speaker) deep--the left speaker contains the amplifier and connections and is a bit deeper--the speakers are hefty at 12 pounds (left) and 11 pounds (right). Each speaker hosts a 5.25-inch woofer and 1-inch silk-dome tweeter along with a 5.25-inch rear-facing passive radiator. The aforementioned amplifier is a D2Audio Class D model that provides 60 watts per channel and features an integrated digital signal processor (DSP). The amp also incudes a power-conservation feature: After 10 minutes of inactivity, the system goes into a low-power sleep mode.

In regard to inputs, Vanatoo couldn't have crammed many more options on the back of the left speaker. Here you find a 3.5mm analog input and three digital inputs: TosLink optical, coax, and USB. Only one input can play at a time, but you needn't choose the source. Instead, the inputs are assigned a priority: The analog input has highest priority, then TosLink, coax, and USB, in that order. So, for example, if you have an iPod connected to the analog input and a Sonos device attached via TosLink and each is playing audio, you'll hear the iPod through the Transparent One because the analog input has the higher priority. However, if you stop playback on the iPod, after a delay of 15 seconds you'll hear the Sonos device's audio. Clever.

Additionally, the left speaker's back panel includes a line-level output for connecting a subwoofer. The Transparent One senses that connection and automatically sets its digital crossover to send bass frequencies to the subwoofer.

Rounding out the items on the back of the left speaker are an On/Off switch, a volume knob, bass and treble controls, a switch for reversing the left and right speakers--for example, if your setup requires you to put the amplifier-equipped speaker on the right--speaker connections (which accept banana plug, spade, and bare-wire connections), and an AC-power outlet that allows you to connect an directly to the speaker. (Unfortunately, if you connect an --one with the power plug built right into the Express's body--the Transparent One's USB-input port is blocked.)