Speaker Reviews

Updated: May 19, 2013 23:32
Brand
alaScore
Price
Type
#1
alaScore 100

Sonos Playbar

The Playbar may be the Trojan horse Sonos has needed all along

22 expert reviews | 3 user reviews

#2
alaScore 99

Pioneer XW-SMA4-K

Pioneer's XW-SMA4 is its premium Wi-Fi hi-fi speaker, with the $100 premium over the cheaper XW-SMA1 translating to a built-in subwoofer. If you listen to a lot of music, or listen to it loud, buying the SMA4 is a no-brainer, but it's an expensive...

7 expert reviews | 3 user reviews

#3
alaScore 99

LG NB4530A

MORE: Yamaha YSP-2200 review

4 expert reviews | 1 user reviews

#4
alaScore 98

KEF LS50

is celebrating their legendary LS3/5a monitor with the release of their new, flagship LS50 mini-monitor. This new speaker features a state of the art coaxial driver and a high end design and aesthetic sure to please any discerning audiophile. KEF has...

13 expert reviews | 2 user reviews

#5
alaScore 98

Samsung DA-E750

From vacuum tubes to dual docks to multiple wireless streaming platforms, the Samsung Wireless Audio Dock (DA-E750) is loaded. And it's one of the best-looking speaker systems we've seen—with one of the highest price tags.

25 expert reviews | 12 user reviews

#6
alaScore 98

Jabra Solemate

The battery life is nowhere near the claimed eight-hour mark. I managed to squeeze out anywhere between 5-6 hours depending on the ratio of wired and wireless music playback. However, I must admit that I had been playing the speakers at full blast for...

17 expert reviews | 2 user reviews

#7
alaScore 98

Libratone ZIPP

The wireless Libratone Zipp is portable, ultra-stylish, and a solid audio performer at moderate volumes, but its signal processing will be a turn-off for some.

17 expert reviews

#8
alaScore 97

JBL Jembe Desktop Speaker

The JBL Jembes are good-looking, compact speakers that take seconds to set up and don’t dictate what device you use them with: anything with a 3.5mm audio out is fine. We’d prefer longer cables or the convenience of the Bluetooth model, but have no...

3 expert reviews

#9
alaScore 97

Bowers & Wilkins Z2 review: AirPlay speaker and iPhone dock

Bowers & Wilkins’s £699 A7 remains the priciest AirPlay speaker I’ve tested, and it sounds exceptional. The company’s Z2 costs half as much, but it still sounds very, very good. While the Z2 can’t rival the A7’s sound, it’s far more affordable, it’s...

2 expert reviews

#10
alaScore 97

KEF Audio X300A

The best USB speakers we’ve ever heard, but they’re expensive

6 expert reviews

#11
alaScore 97

JBL FLIP

JBL has been trying to get into the market of portable wireless speakers with several different types of products. These products include ones like the Micro Wireless and the Flip Wireless Speaker. The JBL Flip gets its name from its unique design to...

3 expert reviews

ADVERTISEMENT
#12
alaScore 97

Logitech UE Mobile Boombox

You might find louder and sharper Bluetooth speakers than the Logitech UE Mobile Boombox, but you won't find a better all-around package close to its price.

5 expert reviews | 20 user reviews

#13
alaScore 96

Dynaudio XEO 3

Got your heart set on wireless speakers? Stop looking ? the Xeo 3s are stellar

13 expert reviews

#14
alaScore 96

Burmester B10

These Burmesters deliver a really pleasant sound hitched to, say, Roksan's Caspian M2 electronics, but they also have the transparency to make the most of something like Audio Research's LS27/Ref 27 combination. That's an ample sonic stretch for a...

7 expert reviews

#15
alaScore 96

Sonos SUB

Sonos has released a subwoofer to compliment its array of wireless Play speakers and Connect amps.

18 expert reviews | 3 user reviews

#16
alaScore 96

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2

There are six class D digital amplifiers on board – 5 x 25W for the centre and surrounds, and 50W for the subwoofer. The unit decodes Dolby Digital and DTS but not Dolby True HD or DTS HD Master Audio, which is surprising for the money but not a major...

2 expert reviews

#17
alaScore 96

Sony HT-CT260

The Sony HT-CT260 is our go-to budget sound bar pick, with excellent sound quality, built-in Bluetooth, an adaptable design, and no major missteps.

2 expert reviews | 109 user reviews

#18
alaScore 96

BRAVEN 650

The Braven 650 is definitely one of the more advanced wireless speakers in the market today. It’s a great-sounding speaker is boosted by its compatibility with the aptX Bluetooth standard. It can be daisy-chained with other Braven speakers, can act as...

6 expert reviews | 10 user reviews

#19
alaScore 96

Dali Epicon 2

With a price tag like this you might expect nothing less, but even so there’s no denying that the Dali Epicon 2 deliver heavenly sound quality. Music playback is blessed with lucid detail, which brings an openness and insight missing from cheaper...

8 expert reviews

#20
alaScore 96

Philips Fidelio P9

If you're looking for portability, sophistication and sound quality that will impress, then the Philips Fidelio P9 is well worth consideration.

4 expert reviews

#21
alaScore 96

Pure Contour 200i Air

The AirPlay-enabled Pure Contour 200i Air's tendency to distort at high volumes makes its low price less of a bargain.

5 expert reviews

#22
alaScore 96

Pioneer XW-BTS3

On the features side, power output is quoted at 30W, plus it supports the A2DP Bluetooth profile but sadly not apt-X or any other audio enhancement technology. The bass reflex speakers feature 3in full range drivers and cover a frequency range of 65 –...

2 expert reviews

#23
alaScore 95

Nokia PLAY 360 MD-50W Black

The aluminium casing with its perforated grid is sturdy and lends the speaker a durable and robust appearance. The clearly arranged function keys also contributed to the jury's positive vote.

10 expert reviews | 2 user reviews

#24
alaScore 95

JBL STUDIO 580

Hugely capable floorstanders that deliver an impressively capable (and fun) sound

9 expert reviews | 2 user reviews

#25
alaScore 95

Boston Acoustics A 26

The A26 is a smooth, entertaining performer that works well in a range of systems

6 expert reviews | 15 user reviews

Buying Guide

Buying Guide - Speakers

Speakers determine the overall sound quality of your system, so it's worth the time to listen to several models before making a decision. There are a number of reasons why speakers are a popular purchase when people are looking to upgrade their home entertainment or computer systems. For home entertainment purposes, good speakers can make all the difference in creating a compelling and immersive viewing experience. For computer gaming, good speakers can add an entirely new component to gameplay. If you have been looking for a way to inject some new life into your entertainment options, see what a new speaker system can do for you.



Contents

What to Look for in a Speaker System

Sound Quality – Sound quality is a very personal judgment, like music, food or wine. Everyone’s tastes are different. There is no “best” speaker, only the one that is best for you. When you shop for speakers, listen to several models with favorite music and different type of music. Your experience in listening to live music is a good gauge to evaluate speakers. The speaker should sound natural to your ears, have balanced tone quality and should be easy to listen to for long periods. Don't feel rushed, listen to a speaker several times before making a final decision.

Configuration – The shorthand for a speaker system's configuration appears as two numbers separated by a period, i.e. 2.0, 4.1, 6.1, etc. The first number is the number of speakers that are included in the set, and the second number is the number of subwoofers. Two speakers are plenty for most needs; if you are building a home entertainment system and want a surround sound experience, you will want additional speakers. Subwoofers are important for playing the deep bass frequencies that most ordinary speakers cannot reproduce.

Sensitivity – Measured in decibels (dB), sensitivity determines whether the speakers can produce high-volume sound with no distortion. Speakers with sensitivity above 92dB will be fine by themselves; speakers with less than 88dB will generally require an amplifier.

Frequency Response – Measured in Hertz and kiloHertz, frequency response is a measure of a speaker's ability to reproduce various frequencies of sound. Most speakers do not cover the full range of frequencies that can be detected by the human ear (20Hz at the low end, and 20kHz at the high end), but dedicated music enthusiasts and professionals will want speakers that come as close as possible to reproducing the entire range.

Watts – Many novices talk of speaker wattage and the danger of 'blowing' speakers from an overload, but the reality is that it is difficult to blow out your speakers simply with an amplifier that is too big. Keep the wattage within the limit recommended for your amp, and especially keep an ear out for any volume-based distortion, and you should never have a problem with your speakers.

Additional Speaker Features

Connectivity – This differs between brands, and particularly at different price points. Some speakers are versatile enough to be connected directly to your television or computer, others will need to go through a receiver or amplifier. Make sure you know which kind you are getting.

Size – High-performance speakers may be large and require special installation. Smaller speakers can be placed anywhere. Make sure you know which you are looking for.

Wireless – Some speaker systems offer the convenience of wireless set-up, eliminating the clutter of speaker cables. This is a great feature particularly for surround sound systems with numerous speakers.

Popular Speaker Brands

Bose is an industry leader – for a little extra money, you get the confidence of knowing you have a quality product. Definitive Technology and Klipsch offer speakers across a range of styles, and have been well-reviewed by consumers. Bargain brand Insignia offers decent performance at outstanding prices, as do Polk Audio speakers.

Popular Speaker products

Back to top

Speakers on alaTest

alaTest.com has collected and analyzed millions of reviews from 2494 sources to help you choose the best Speaker from top brands like Klipsch, Polk Audio, Harman Kardon, Sony, Jbl and more.

Buying Tips Read our Buying Guide
before you make your purchase
ADVERTISEMENT

Blog Articles

Improve Your Workout Sessions With These Gadgets

Maintaining a strict workout schedule is not as easy as it sounds. At times, you might get lazy, you might be too busy with work, or you might just become too casual about the whole thing. The...

Best Speakers for Gaming Enthusiasts

Every gaming enthusiast knows that a powerful audio output is a prerequisite for a high quality gaming experience. Over the past few years, a new niches of gadgets has emerged which caters...

Luxury Gifts for the Holiday Season

In our previous post, we focused on affordable gifts for the holiday season. This week, we will focus on the other extreme i.e. luxury gadgets. If you are in the mood for indulging in some...

ADVERTISEMENT