Looking for the best stereo speakers for your home audio system? We’ve tested the best hi-fi systems from brands including Klipsch, KEF, Q Acoustics, and more.
The best stereo speakers are essential if you want a home music system that’s audiophile-approved. Sure wireless speakers, like the Apple HomePod mini and the Sonos One, are popular right now. But there will always be those of us who want to seek out true stereo sound and bring a fully immersive home cinema or concert experience into our homes. That’s where the top stereo speakers come in. But there’s no reason why fantastic sound should only be an ambition for a select few of us. Even if you’re a casual listener, you’ll prefer sound to be clear, full and, most importantly, true to its original source. Although the principles of stereo sound might be decades old now, audiophiles far and wide still believe that two hi-fi speakers are a whole lot better than one. But which are the best stereo speakers you can buy today, and how do you find the ones that are right for you without wasting your money? We’ve tested the best hi-fi speakers available now from the most prominent audio companies, including Klipsch, KEF and Q Acoustics. We’ve selected a range of devices for our guide below, including compact bookshelf speakers, a few of which make for the best computer speakers, through to room-commanding towers and subwoofers. This means that whether you simply need a new pair of speakers for your record player or you’re keen to build the hi-fi system of your dreams, we’ve got a model to suit your needs and your budget. We’ll be reviewing more units in the future and adding them to this list, so be sure to keep checking back. Money may not be everything, but when it comes to the best stereo speakers it can be important. The Definitive Technology BP9080x stereo speaker system is, let’s be clear, a luxury item that’s made only for the most avid audiophile on the market. But if that’s you, then read on to find out how amazing these speakers are. From beginning to end of the covered frequency range, the BP9080x speakers are crystal clear, articulate, and genuinely moving. The passive design is aided by an active subwoofer, giving the user independent control of the subwoofer volume on each tower, meaning it can be adjusted to fit any room with any standing waves. The midrange is as full and clear as any speakers we’ve ever heard, never getting overworked or muddy no matter what songs and sounds we threw at it. The pitch-perfect mid range blends perfectly into the gorgeous treble frequencies that never got harsh, even when the windows were shaking from the volume. The clarity from the top of the frequency range to the bottom can’t be overstated. On top of it all (literally) there are two “height channel” speakers that make this a perfect centerpiece in your Dolby Atmos or DTS:X home theater. All of this audio goodness is wrapped in a tall and slender package made from premium materials that is impossibly discreet, especially considering the amount of volume it can pump out. All we can say is that if you’re looking to spend the money (and it is a lot of money), we can’t recommend Definitive Technology’s BP9080x speakers enough. Since 1985, the Forte floorstanding speakers from Klipsch have been the gold standard for home entertainment. Now, the Forte III speakers are on the market and hope to build on the success of their forebearers. These stereo speakers sound fantastic. Klipsch’s attention to detail on the fine tuning of the speakers is second to none, making way for a clear and intricate mid-high range. They’re also phenomenally designed and built, making a great addition to basically any living room. They are also very heavy, which can be a blessing and a curse. Once you figure out their place in the living room, these speakers aren’t going anywhere. These speakers are built for bass, with a 12-inch subwoofer and a massive 15-inch passive radiator in the back of the speaker to help disperse the low frequencies. To get the most out of the bass speakers on these towers, you need to run two separate amps, or a single amp with multiple outs that is strong enough to get the subwoofer moving. Having separated or bi-amp control allows the user to control the power sent to the high and low channels, allowing them to get the exact balance they want. The downside to these stereo speakers is that they are even more expensive than the Definitive Technology BP9080x speakers and don’t have the powered subs or high-firing speakers that our number one pick has. Part of that premium is paying for the Klipsch name, but there is quality to back it up – just not enough value or pure sound power to topple the Definitive Technology BP9080x. If you’re not in the market for full-on entertainment behemoths, like the Definitive Technology towers, the Klipsch RP-150M speakers are a surprisingly affordable bookshelf speaker option with a mid-range and high frequency clarity that rivals our top pick. These light and passive reference speakers are beautifully designed and are a continuation of what Klipsch does best: honest and clear replication without over-coloring the sound. While the 5-inch woofer doesn’t do much in the way of bass, not coming audibly close to the 48 Hz promise on the frequency response, these speakers have a surprising amount of low-mid thump. The mid range in these Klipsch stereo speakers is completely clear and open, allowing for subtle articulation to come through that would be lost on lesser systems.
