From critical music listening to furniture-shaking home theater, a great pair of speakers can make all the difference. We found the top picks on the market.
Whether you’re a vinyl connoisseur, professional sound mixer, or casual listener, whatever your auditory needs may be, there’s a set of the best speakers out there to satisfy. But « satisfactory » isn’t the name of our game. With such a huge range of products with various uses and niches out there — from tower speakers, bookshelf speakers, and computer speakers to portable Bluetooth speakers, network speakers, and full home theater surround sound systems — we’ve created this roundup of options ranging from the low $100s to several thousands, to help you sift through it all more easily. Why you should buy them: Truly world-class sound at the lowest price-to-performance ratio you’ll find. Who they’re for: The serious audio enthusiast looking for the best possible sound for the money. Why we picked the GoldenEar Technology Triton Five Tower Speakers:
In terms of getting the highest possible audio quality at non-car prices, there is perhaps no better speaker brand than GoldenEar Technology. Founded by audio legend Sandy Gross, who previously led standout companies Polk to the forefront of great sound, GoldenEar is driven by the same passionate love of high-end sound that brought Gross’s previous business ventures success. Speakers in the company’s outstanding Triton range offer superb sound at reasonable prices, competing against staggeringly expensive options from other audiophile companies. Floor-standing loudspeakers with sleek black covers, the Triton Five are unassuming to look at but more than make up for their sedate appearance in terms of sound. Normally, if you’re looking to get an audiophile-grade set of speakers of this caliber, you’ll need to spend somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000, but GoldenEar’s Triton Five bring that same sound quality down to around the $2,400 mark for the pair. Two 6-inch midrange drivers propel the meat of the sound toward your eardrums, with a custom-designed ribbon tweeter providing superb definition up top. To help with punch, the Triton Five have four 8-inch passive bass radiators, helping the low-end integrate even better into the overall sound signature to give you just the right amount of oomph when listening to hip-hop, funk, and other bass-driven styles. The speakers have a lively and energetic response overall, helping whatever you’re listening to come through with the same vibrant sound that first hit the microphone in the studio. The GoldenEar Technology’s Triton Five provide the kind of constant satisfaction that more than justifies their price. And, oh yeah, they should last for decades to come. Why you should buy them: You’re after great sound for movies and music, and you’re shopping modestly. Who they’re for: Those who want a smaller set of speakers without compromising on sound quality or breaking the bank. Why we picked the Klipsch Synergy Black Label Bookshelf Speakers:
Looking for an inexpensive set of hi-fi speakers for that new record player/receiver combo? How about a decent pair of dedicated rear speakers to expand your surround system from 5.1 to 7.1? Whatever your need, Klipsch is a sure bet for top-shelf sound, and the Synergy Black Label bookshelves are perfect for your every need. Featuring Klipsch’s Tractrix horn drivers, the Synergy speakers are designed to disperse sound equally throughout whatever room you place them in. This is joined by Klipsch’s aluminum-diaphragm compression tweeters and IMG woofers, delivering sharp and clear high frequencies with a well-rounded bass experience to fill out the bottom end. Versatile, articulate, and easy to integrate with existing speaker systems. As a compact set of full-range speakers, the Klipsch Synergy Black Label Bookshelf Speakers make for the perfect upgrade path. You can start using them as the primary stereo pair for a small- to medium-sized room — perhaps with a connected amp like the Sonos Amp — and then migrate them as you build out a larger home theater setup. Why you should buy them: Incredible performance, striking design, excellent stereo and surround performance. Who they’re for: Home theater enthusiasts who want gorgeous surround sound for their favorite flicks and audiophile-grade stereo for their best-loved tunes. Why we picked the SVS Prime Tower Surround System:
If you’re after the perfect blend of price, performance, and gorgeously detailed sound for your home theater space, there is no better option than the SVS Prime Tower Surround kit. A beautiful set of five speakers that easily ranks among our favorites in their class (and above), the Prime series will take your home audio experience to the next level. Anchored by a set of audiophile-grade towers — which sound fantastic in stereo when not serving as part of the larger system — the Prime kit offers an immersive listening experience that is second to none at this price. Sound shifts fluidly between front, side, and rear, providing the kind of detail we typically expect to see in speakers that cost much more money. It is worth noting that the standard five-speaker kit doesn’t come with a subwoofer. For the full, rumbling movie theater experience, we recommend adding one of the company’s excellent options, like the PB-1000. We think 5.1 systems are a perfect starting place for those looking to get into great home theater sound and a nice stepping stone to larger Dolby Atmos systems without the hassle of hanging speakers from the ceiling or investing in fancy up-firing speakers. Best of all, every speaker in the SVS Prime system can last through upgrades, rather than being the kind of thing you’ll mothball when you decide to make the leap to a bigger setup. And since SVS makes a variety of home theater speakers, finding well-matching sound signatures for eventual expansion won’t be an issue. In fact, those looking to expand to Atmos can grab a set of the company’s Prime Elevation Speakers (designed for the height element of object-based audio), to perfectly complement their traditional surround setup. If money is tight and you just want excellent sound, the SVS Prime Tower Surround can be had for the lowest cost in simple black ash veneer. Those who really want to impress their friends and relatives can spring for an extra $250 for the piano gloss finish, which shines like a Steinway grand at Carnegie Hall. Why you should buy it: It’s the best portable speaker around and has a rugged and waterproof body with pulse-pounding sound. Who it’s for: Frequent party hosts, travelers, and those that want big sound with limited real estate. Why we picked the JBL Flip 6:
JBL has a great track record when it comes to delivering steadfast audio products that sound great and don’t break the bank.
