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Speaker Reviews

Updated: Dec 3, 2024 16:24
Brand
alaScore
#3
alaScore 99

Cambridge Audio Evo One

Find the space and this beautifully engineered all-in-one audio system will put a huge smile on your face.

4 expert reviews

#4
alaScore 99

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

“You still get that great Sony sound, but the Bravia Theater Bar 9 feels like a downgrade.”

5 expert reviews

#5
alaScore 98

Audio Pro C20

The C20 is similar to the C10 MkII but offers an even more powerful, energetic, and rich performance for those that want to step up or have a big-sounding speaker in their home. Its wireless connectivity is very good, and its turntable and TV support...

5 expert reviews

#6
alaScore 98

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 was already one of our favorite mug-sized Bluetooth speakers. In all honesty, the Wonderboom 4 doesn’t change too much, but still ticks the right boxes if you want an affordable option for listening anywhere. Its...

4 expert reviews

#7
alaScore 98

JBL Xtreme 4

“The JBL Xtreme 4's bold and sweet sound, boundary-pushing battery, and rugged design make it the premium Bluetooth speaker to beat this year.”

9 expert reviews

#8
alaScore 98

Marshall Emberton III

The best gets even better with this iteration of Marshall's Emberton speaker. Read about my fantastic experience with the Marshall Emberton III. Menial but meaningful changes and the same ol' sound that we all know and love make this an absolute gem of...

5 expert reviews

#9
alaScore 98

Ultimate Ears Miniroll

The Ultimate Ears Miniroll is a fun portable speaker you can use anywhere, but it sounds too thin.

5 expert reviews

#10
alaScore 98

Sony Bravia Theater 8

Skullcandy's durable Sesh ANC Active earphones don't cost much and fit well, but they trail far behind competitors on sound quality and noise cancellation.

6 expert reviews

#11
alaScore 97

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3

The most affordable route into Bowers & Wilkins passive loudspeaker ownership could quite easily prove the gateway drug into a lifelong habit…

2 expert reviews

#12
alaScore 97

Monitor Audio Studio

Looking backwards in order to move forwards is a bold and dangerous policy – but with the Studio 89, Monitor Audio has managed to combine a mildly retro aesthetic with some thoroughly modern engineering to create a speaker that both sounds great and...

3 expert reviews

#13
alaScore 97

Sonos Era 300

The Dolby Atmos-compatible Era 300 delivers room-filling spatial audio on its own, or it can be easily integrated with other Sonos speakers for a truly theater-like experience.

39 expert reviews

#14
alaScore 97

Sonos Era 100

When the Sonos One debuted in 2017, there was nothing else like it apart from some tentative smart speakers which quickly disappeared. Certainly nothing as well-formed and enduring as the One. (Yes, technically, Apple's HomePod was announced before the...

34 expert reviews

#15
alaScore 97

Sonos Move 2

“Whether indoors or outside, the Sonos Move 2 is a highly versatile smart speaker.”

27 expert reviews

#16
alaScore 97

Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022)

The fifth-generation Amazon Echo Dot adds tap gestures and mesh networking, but is otherwise nearly identical to the previous version.

17 expert reviews

#17
alaScore 97

Sony Bravia Theater Quad

Sony's discreet new surround sound system offers incredible immersion for an incredible fee.

3 expert reviews

#18
alaScore 97

Edifier D32

Edifier's highly versatile D32 speaker looks elegant and offers excellent audio quality via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

4 expert reviews

#19
alaScore 97

Sony ULT Field 7

Sony's rugged ULT Field 7 speaker delivers deep bass at high volumes and has inputs for karaoke, making it an excellent choice for parties, whether they're indoors or outside.

6 expert reviews

#20
alaScore 97

Bose SoundLink Max

Aside from its high price, there really isn't much to complain about here. Yeah, I wish the Max had speakerphone functionality. And it would be nice if, at launch, you could stereo pair it with another Max or wirelessly link it to a Flex (or multiple...

6 expert reviews

#21
alaScore 97

Fluance Ai41

Fluance's Ai41 speakers are affordable, compact, and produce rich and balanced stereo audio, though they could benefit from a subwoofer.

4 expert reviews

#22
alaScore 97

Beats Pill (2024)

Beats' resurrected Pill speaker is bolder, brawnier, and better than ever.

5 expert reviews

#23
alaScore 96

Kef LS50 Wireless II

KEF’s revisions have paid off: these sequels are among the most thrilling speaker systems we’ve heard

1 expert reviews | 9 user reviews

#24
alaScore 96

FiiO R9

The FiiO R9 is an incredibly versatile and practical all-in-one streamer, DAC, and headphone amplifier that offers possibly the most comprehensive set of I/O options, well customized to seamlessly integrate into desktop or speaker setup.

4 expert reviews

#25
alaScore 96

Bowers & Wilkins AM-1

All kidding aside, the B&W AM-1 looks better than most outdoor speakers, has a versatile mounting system, and likely sounds very good...and you should buy one if you want to make mortal enemies of your neighbors by blasting Nickelback. Then again, you...

5 expert reviews | 14 user reviews

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    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

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    Speakers on alaTest

    alaTest.com has collected and analyzed millions of reviews from 2691 sources to help you choose the best Speaker from top brands like Sony, Sonos, Bowers & Wilkins, Ultimate Ears, Jbl and more.

    Buying Tips Read our Buying Guide
    before you make your purchase