In our tests, a pair of BR03 speakers put out an impressive The new model appears almost identical but has a nicer remote and adds support for the aptX HD Bluetooth codec , which can deliver somewhat better sound from PCs and Android devices.
Voices sounded natural, with perhaps a slightly exaggerated treble, and the bass, while a bit too punchy on occasion, was loud, full, and clear. For more details, read our blog post about Bluetooth codecs. The back panel has two stereo analog inputs plus optical and coaxial digital inputs, as well as bass and treble controls and a volume control that doubles as an input-selector button. It also has no output to connect a subwoofer, if you want more bass.
At That said, the styling is definitely old-school, more suited for a wood-paneled study than a contemporary living room. The rear-facing bass ports make it unwise to push these speakers up against a wall because blocking the ports reduces the bass.
The grille attaches to the speaker via steel posts that stick out from the front baffle, so the pair looks much better with the grille on, but the grille is extra-thin and has little effect on the sound. The frequency response measurements for the SMKII were a little shocking in that they were the best of any of the speakers we tested. We suggest keeping the tone controls centered because this speaker sounds its best right out of the box.
Measured bass output was impressive, at This set produces a generally full and natural sound, though we think it could use a little more bass—but there is a subwoofer output, so adding a sub is easy.
In my current tests and in the original panel tests we conducted for the previous wireless powered speaker guide, we gave the RPM speakers positive feedback for their sound quality, but everyone concluded that voices sounded a bit bright and trebly, which suggests this set could use a little more bass although some audiophiles may disagree.
Each RPM speaker measures Measured bass output of the total system was The i set sounds more detailed and spacious, but the B6. However, the B6. This is also our runner-up pick in our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people. The KEF Q bookshelf speaker pair was our previous upgrade pick in this guide because it sounds even clearer and more detailed than the Q Acoustics i—but the Triangle Borea BR03 equals the Q in performance while offering roughly double the maximum bass output 10 decibels more.
Even though the Audioengine HD3 powered speakers measure only 7 inches high, they put out a surprisingly full sound that our listeners liked in previous panel tests. In our tests, the PSB Alpha AM5 powered-speaker pair sounded a little clearer with voices than the Edifier SMKII set did, and it has a more focused and intimate sound that fans of jazz, classical, and acoustic pop may find appealing, although the Edifier pair sounds much more spacious.
The AM5 distorts more with bass-heavy music. Research PDF shows that listeners consistently prefer speakers that reproduce all frequencies of sound at approximately even levels whether the listeners are sitting or standing, or in front of them or off to the side. The charts below show the on-axis directly in front frequency response of our picks.
I used the output at 1 kHz as the reference for 0 dB. The higher the speaker line rises above the reference line, the more exaggerated those frequencies are. The lower it falls below the reference, the more subdued the sounds in that frequency range are.
Of our three passive-speaker picks, the Triangle Borea BR03 came closest to an ideal response for a bookshelf speaker. It had some peaks and dips at different frequencies, but generally the balance of bass to mid range to treble was pretty even.
It also had much deeper bass response than the other two models. The Q Acoustics i also had a fairly flat response, but with less deep bass. The Dayton Audio B had a fairly even response except for a large peak and dip in the middle of the treble range, where the tweeter started to operate. The Edifier SMKII had excellent measured on-axis frequency response by any standard, but its results were especially good for a speaker in its price range.
Its bass also played impressively deep for the size of the speakers. I also did CTA bass output measurements , using the same process we use for our best high-performance subwoofer and best budget subwoofer guides. For reference, the lowest note of a standard bass guitar or double bass is E 1 at The right speaker has a rechargeable battery and can work on its own as a portable speaker, while the left speaker is powered by AC and forms a stereo pair with the right.
We hope to audition this pair as soon as samples are available. The Dayton Audio B is a smaller version of the B It sounded similar to that model but had less bass. Considering how negligible the price premium is for the B, we recommend the larger model if you have space for it. Sound engineer Shawn Everett agrees. The [portable] Sonos Move is just a bit larger than the One, but is another great option.
Number one is my bath. Maybe number two is my Sonos. All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. For all-purpose functionality, the Kanto YU4 is a versatile choice with Bluetooth capability and a handy remote. Best known for their studio monitors, Genelec entered the home speaker market with the G range.
Abacus is a boutique German company producing unfussy, EQ-control speakers that can deliver immense bass response and detailed highs. An Abacus representative said some models could be fitted with V plugs before postage, but could not estimate shipping or modification costs.
Fully operational even with just a smartphone, the LS50 Wireless II delivers remarkable clarity and definition—particularly in the midrange and highs—and potentially enormous volume across genres, through speakers that can connect via Bluetooth, Airplay, Chromecast, and others. Unlike the options above, passive speakers require a separately purchased amp to function. That means more research, more cables, and, potentially, a more fine-tuned and powerful system. It also offers flexibility for future upgrades, which can be undertaken one component at a time.
The Edifiers, on the other hand, may not have the same clarity of sound and deep bass, but they will be much more effective in that scenario. In addition, speaker technology has advanced to such a point that even inexpensive speakers still sound terrific.
They may have a highly affordable price, but they also include some technology that until recently would only have been seen in much more expensive models: specifically, Air Motion Transformer AMT tweeters, a type of speaker driver that results in scintillating detail. Bottom line: whatever your budget, you can get a set of speakers that sound fantastic.
If you can spend more, then by all means, do so, but you certainly don't have to. One of the most annoying adages in the world of bookshelf speakers is the bigger is better. The larger your cabinet, the thinking goes, the bigger your drivers, the more energy they will be able to put out, and the better your speakers will sound. Wrong, wrong, wrong. It's also possible to get very meh audio quality out of ginormous speakers; we've heard several monsters at audio shows that left us supremely unconvinced they aren't on the list, for obvious reasons.
Sound quality comes down to tuning and cabinet design and materials. It's all about the technology present in each speaker, and although cabinet size does have an impact on certain aspects of the sound, like volume, this isn't universal by any means. Essentially, when you are buying a set of bookshelf speakers, you shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that only big speakers will give you good sound quality.
That simply isn't true. With the ever-growing world of wireless technology, it's archaic to believe that a wireless speaker will never sound as good as its analog source. Many wireless speakers are fully capable of producing a sound that you will love, and bookshelf speakers are no exception. Wired or not, you can get a great sound out of your bookshelf speakers, and shouldn't correlate wireless with lesser-quality.
The greatest advantage to having wireless speakers is lack of clutter. If you've ever tried to set up a 5. While wireless bookshelf speakers aren't usually truly wireless - they often require a cable to connect the right and left channel - they seriously reduce the amount of cabling running across your desk, or below.
Another serious advantage to wireless speakers is not having to plug into them via an analog input. Wireless speakers are equipped with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi sometimes both , meaning you can pair to them via your smart phone or laptop. We found this very handy during our office testing, making switching between multiple sources effortless.
By the way, it's worth mentioning some jargon you're likely to encounter. You'll often see audiophiles talking about passive speakers or active speakers.
But what on earth does this mean? Bookshelf speakers that are passive need to be powered by an external amplifier. If this is the case, instead of a full receiver, you might opt for a simple stereo amp receiving audio directly from your PC, laptop, tablet or phone to power your pair of bookshelf speakers. Active self-powered bookshelf speakers are becoming increasingly popular too. All wireless bookshelf speakers are classed as active. Not to worry - we've got an entire explainer on those specs here.
Here's a shorter version, if you don't want to click through. Wattage is important — and that's before you've even bought your bookshelf speakers. We'll ignore active pairs here — they are all internally matched, wattage-wise.
Things may get a little less clear-cut when matching passive speakers to an external amp, as you'd ideally have to know whether they are compatible. Fortunately, the first part of that is easy. Let's take the Elac Uni-Fi 2. That means that all you need to do is find an amplifier that puts out a wattage in that range, and you'll be good to go. A common problem when mis matching speakers to an amp is when the amp is too powerful for your speakers — when this is the case you will find your optimum volume level on the amp dial reduced.
You will find that turning the volume higher than a certain level say halfway results in a flabby, tearing sound known as speaker distortion. Prolonged playback in such conditions may result in blown drivers.
The other way round is equally problematic — when an amp is too under-powered for your speakers. This scenario normally involves the amp clipping and going into the 'red' as it struggles to deliver the wattage - if you keep pushing it, it would just go 'boom'.
Impedance is something you also need to pay attention to. Here's a good place to note that amps utilize their full potential wattage at their lowest impedance. For instance, if an amp is rated at watts at four ohms, the rule goes that when the amp is working at eight ohms powering a pair of eight ohm speakers like the SVS Ultra , it can only deliver half the wattage of its four ohm potential — which in this case would be 50 watts.
This might sound too much like a math lesson, but many people use this rule to their advantage — to get the amp's full power working, they simply would add another pair of eight ohm speakers, as the combined impedance of the four eight ohm speakers to four ohms, thus matching the amp's impedance figure!
This is a measure, quite simply, of how loud a pair of speakers will go at a given volume. Measured in decibels, sensitivity sometimes referred to as efficiency is a good way of working out the volume that a pair of speakers can deliver.
Using these, you can compare different speakers and see how they measure up in terms of loudness. A speaker with a lower sensitivity may struggle to fill anything beyond a small room, whereas one with a higher sensitivity — such as the 92dB MartinLogan Motion 35XTi — will put out significant volume for the same amount of power, making them ideal for large rooms. However: be careful of putting too much emphasis on sensitivity.
This is an standardised across the industry, so there are variances between manufacturers. The specs can be fudged. One of the most common questions we get asked is whether to go for a set of bookshelf speakers or a set of floorstanding tower speakers.
If you aren't familiar, floorstanding speakers are essentially tall towers designed to sit directly on the floor, as opposed to on stands or on a shelf. They usually have more speaker drivers than bookshelf models.
If you read our advice on speaker size above, you already know that bigger size is no guarantee of better sound. There are bookshelf speakers on our list that could easily smoke floorstanding speakers from several major brands we can think of. What bookshelf speakers do offer, in terms of their increased size and driver complement, is two things.
Firstly, they are able to present a wider range of the frequency spectrum, which means somewhat deeper bass than many bookshelf speakers. If you have a set of them, you may not need to add an additional subwoofer to your setup to get the advantage of good bass.
We'd also note that this is a general rule, but there are several exceptions. The second thing is that they frequently allow greater volume than bookshelf speakers, thanks to their larger size. This does not mean better sound quality, necessarily, but it does mean that if you have a larger space, or are looking to add speakers into a home theater setup , they may be better options. Ultimately, you should let your needs in terms of space and volume determine whether or not you go for bookshelf or floorstanding speakers.
We're assuming that you already have an amplifier - and of course, a media source such as a laptop or a wireless streamer. What you need to look for to get them connected to your amp are the binding posts on the rear of the speakers, which are normally red and black rotaries that can be screwed up and down.
Next up, buy some speaker wire - this is relatively cheap. If you are wondering what to choose, you should normally go for a gauge, which is perfect for regular bookshelf speaker impedance the majority is rated at 8 ohms.
If you're going to be positioning things over 50 feet away, you might be better off with a ticker wire at 12 or 14 gauge, which is also recommended for speakers of 4 or 6 ohms. Once you cut off a decent length of wire, use a boxcutter to strip the insulation off either end.
You should be left with a short length of copper wire, which you should twist into a tight coil. You can then insert this into the binding posts on either end, separating speakers right and left, and being sure to screw red into red and black into black.
Please take care doing this - and make sure the amplifier is unplugged. If you don't, things might not work right at best, or go bang at worst. This system works for the bookshelf speaker model type known as passive — they don't have amplifiers or internal power included, and so need to draw their power from an external amp. Highly recommended. Read the full review: Dali Spektor 2. ProAc has long offered the choice of a ribbon tweeter instead of a dome unit in its pricier Response floorstanders, but this is the first time buyers of the standmounters have had such a choice.
Our review samples took around three days of continuous use to sound their best, after initially sounding constricted and lacking in tonal warmth. But despite their obvious transparency, these ProAcs never strike us as analytical tools. Given suitably talented partners, these speakers excel at giving the music the limelight. Try finding a better-sounding pair of speakers for less than half a grand — we dare you.
This is a cleaner, more insightful and overall more engaging performance from a pair of speakers that were already among the best you could buy for their outlay. The older versions would have remained on top of the tree, had they not been knocked off by the S2 Anniversary Edition. We loved the first Ruark Audio MR1 desktop speakers when they emerged in The retro looks, the intuitive design, the superb Bluetooth sound — it was a winning combination that earned two successive What Hi-Fi?
And sure enough, Ruark Audio is back with a vengeance, having regained its crown for the last couple of years. The step up in performance in impressive, and the Ruark MR1 Mk2s manage to be even more appealing than before. Quite simply, these are superb speakers if you're short of space. The Oberon 1 C have evidently been designed to appeal to more than one kind of buyer and set-up. However, the Oberon C models are a slightly different proposition to their active system siblings, largely due to their more accessible nature.
That is in terms of tech and sonic presentation, which matches detail and musicality with the kind of balance that can be accommodated in even the smallest of rooms.
Read the full review: Dali Oberon 1 C. All the ingredients for success seem to be in place; the products are well made, solidly engineered and, in our experience, tend to sound good. The brand even has the might of parent company Harman behind it to provide extra reassurance. The results speak for themselves: the M16s are a bundle of fun. Sure, they may not be the most refined choice around, but they entertain in a way few price rivals can match.
Well worth every penny. Read the full review: Revel Concerta2 MI6. We love a surprise like this. French speaker manufacturer Triangle has entered a tough, crowded part of the stereo speaker market - and come out with flying colours. This pair of affordable bookshelf speakers truly deserves a spot on anyone's shortlist. They can also boast impressive separation and precision. Where previous Triangle speakers may have sounded hard or bright, these are perfectly balanced.
A distinctive design, which is finished to a good standard, the Borea BR03 are savvy musical performers with a great sense of scale and an even greater appetite for presenting music in a transparent and mature manner. Well worthy of consideration. Read the full review: Triangle Borea BR They do everything with a flourish. And that's a winning combination. The R3s are brilliant all-rounders. This is one to buy with confidence. Read the full review: KEF R3. The Q Acoustics is are now the largest of the three standmounters in the i range and, with all the current models already having gained five-star reviews, they had quite a legacy to uphold.
Like the others in the range, these are impressively cohesive performers with a smooth tonal balance and easy-going nature. Read the full review: Q Acoustics i. The bigger brothers of those Elacs featured at the top of this page, the B6. Content not to colour your music with their own character, they offer a mature performance that will shine a light on the electronics in the rest of your chain. That can prove a problem if the rest of your system is not quite up to scratch, but you'll struggle to find a more honest pair of speakers at this price.
Read the full review: Elac Debut 2. Fyne Audio burst on to the scene in and quickly established itself as a manufacturer of note when it comes to affordable and midrange speakers. Formed by hi-fi industry veterans, the company clearly knew how to make a great pair of speakers — and now it has proved it can do high-end, too. The F uses an Isoflare point source driver array. This should help deliver a more even dispersion and better alignment between drivers. There are lots of other lovely design and build touches, which help make a product that both looks, feels and, most importantly, sounds, like a truly premium pair of speakers.
The Fyne Audio F are truly entertaining performers, if installed with care.
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