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Speaker Reviews

Updated: Mar 19, 2023 17:25
Brand
alaScore
Price
Type
#1
alaScore 100

Sonos Sub Mini

The Sub Mini isn’t technically or acoustically as powerful as the standard Sub, but it succeeds in providing an immersive, full-bodied audio experience that’s only possible with a “complete” Sonos home theater system. And it deals less damage to your...

25 expert reviews

#2
alaScore 99

LG S95QR

For the price, there is no single soundbar system-in-a-box that offers as much bang for the buck as the LG S95QR.

17 expert reviews

#3
alaScore 99

Devialet Dione

This isn’t a mass-market soundbar. It’s not for anyone who plans to add onto or gradually upgrade their home theater audio system as a long-term passion project. The Dione is a luxury buy for people flush with cash who want minimal clutter and...

19 expert reviews

#4
alaScore 99

Sony SRS-XG300

“Big sound, fun extras, in a portable, expandable party speaker.”

13 expert reviews

#5
alaScore 98

KEF LS60 Wireless

The KEF LS 60 Wireless are perhaps the best of their kind for under €10,000 a pair. They’re not well suited to those who have many signal sources they want to connect to, and certainly not to those who prefer to play with valves and horn speakers.

7 expert reviews

#6
alaScore 98

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus

“With virtualized Dolby Atmos this good, who needs more speakers?”

3 expert reviews

#7
alaScore 98

Apple HomePod 2nd Gen (2023)

“A pair of HomePods make a formidable home entertainment powerhouse.”

4 expert reviews

#8
alaScore 98

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.

8 expert reviews

#9
alaScore 98

Sony HTA5000

“With every sound format and connection option we could want, the Sony HT-A5000 rocks.”

9 expert reviews

#10
alaScore 98

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

“The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 makes only marginal improvements over its predecessor, but still retains all the things we love.”

9 expert reviews

#11
alaScore 97

Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Limited Edition

The small Silver 100 7G in Limited Edition costs close to a few hundred more than the unlimited version. You can therefore save money by buying the regular edition, and get exactly the same great sound quality. For this is really an extremely good buy,...

2 expert reviews

#12
alaScore 97

Argon Forte A5 MK2

The Argon Audio Forte A5 MK2 is a refinement of an already successful recipe. The sound is nothing to complain about, as they play with a precision you’ll have to look hard for in this price range. Here the choice will easily come down to between it...

2 expert reviews

#13
alaScore 97

JBL Flip 6

“JBL keeps it in the family on the inside and outside with the Flip 6.”

16 expert reviews | 25 user reviews

#14
alaScore 97

Sonos Beam (2nd gen)

“Dolby Atmos adds a splash of 3D fun to an already excellent soundbar.”

40 expert reviews | 23 user reviews

#15
alaScore 97

JBL Charge 5

“Everyone will hear the JBL Charge 5 once you start cranking it up.”

24 expert reviews | 79 user reviews

#16
alaScore 97

Sonos Roam

The $169 Sonos Roam isn't the cheapest Sonos speaker, but it is easily the most versatile. We think it's an incredible portable speaker for the price.

39 expert reviews | 156 user reviews

#17
alaScore 97

Audiovector QR7

The Audiovector QR7 is an impressive piece of work by Danish Audiovector. Here you can have a fully grown speaker that sounds as accurate as a small one, without unwanted resonances. But with the energy of large floorstanding speakers.

4 expert reviews

#18
alaScore 97

EarFun Uboom L

“Portable and ready to play better than you might expect.”

7 expert reviews

#19
alaScore 97

Marshall Willen

The Marshall Willen is a fully waterproof speaker with a reasonable amount of power, though it's priced a bit high for what it offers.

8 expert reviews

#20
alaScore 97

Marshall Emberton Ii

“Press play with Marshall's stylish Emberton II and Willen Bluetooth speakers no matter where you want to go.”

10 expert reviews

#21
alaScore 97

Bose Soundbar 900

“The Smart Soundbar 900 adds Dolby Atmos for only $100 more, making it a superb choice for a single-speaker home theater sound system.”

18 expert reviews

#22
alaScore 97

Bose Smart Soundbar 600

Big sound from a small soundbar can only be a good thing, right? And when that sound is an authentic Dolby Atmos soundtrack, the Bose Soundbar 600 is capable of delivering big, immersive sound. It’s by no means your only choice at this sort of money,...

4 expert reviews

#23
alaScore 97

Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3

“The Panorama 3 is a visceral performer with a few missing features.”

26 expert reviews

#24
alaScore 96

KEF LSX II

The KEF LSX II is an even more diverting an option than the product it replaces, which makes it downright compelling

4 expert reviews

#25
alaScore 96

KEF Blade One Meta

The KEF Blade Meta is a statement of achievement for a loudspeaker. The tall and deep cabinets provide volume, while the slim front baffle ensures minimal diffraction. Two woofers on each side of the cabinet move in parallel and prevent further...

4 expert 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 2642 sources to help you choose the best Speaker from top brands like Sonos, Amazon, Sony, Bose, Marshall Electronics and more.

    Buying Tips Read our Buying Guide
    before you make your purchase