Best for computers: Audioengine A2+ WirelessBest Bluetooth: Fluance Ai41 Best floorstanding: Klipsch RP-8000FBest bookshelf: KEF LS50 MetaBest for music production: JBL LSR 305P MKIIBest stand-mounted speakers: Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2
How we picked the best speakers for music on any budget
Sifting through hundreds of choices to find the best speakers for music may be impossible if it weren’t for relying on a combination of our own experience, the input of trusted listeners, and the consensus of experts. The sets of speakers on this list range widely in price, but all present their own case for value when it comes to the performance you get for the money. Every pair of speakers here has set a recognized standard for audio quality within its own category and is built on meticulous and innovative audio research and engineering.
Things to consider before buying speakers for music
With so many attractive options available, it’s easy for music fans to fall into bouts of shiny-object syndrome when shopping around for speakers. The sleek designs, impressive specs, and latest technological tweaks can pull you in many different directions fast. Remember to keep it personal and narrow down the choices to match your specific needs. (And it can’t hurt to scroll through our primer on what makes up a speaker while you’re weighing your options.)
The listening space
Where will you use the speakers? An imposing set of tower speakers may look cool in a dorm room but will be overkill as far as the power they put out for the space. If speakers are too big for a space, you may end up running them at low levels that don’t maximize their potential. And if you crank up speakers to 11 that are too small for a large space, they may distort the sound and burn out faster.
Complexity of setup
Do you want a single set of stereo speakers to be the only component you buy? If so, then you’ll need powered speakers, which have their amplifier and different audio connections built in. And they should be big enough and bassy enough to give you as much low-end frequency as you want without having to add a subwoofer. Passive (unpowered) speakers often provide better sound for the same price as powered speakers, but they also require an amplifier/receiver to power them and supply audio connections (as well as speaker wire).
Connectivity needs
The diversity of audio sources you plan to play from will affect your speaker choice or the amplifier/receiver choice if you purchase passive speakers. To play from turntables, you’ll need a phono-level analog input. To stream from devices, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity is in order. Speakers and amps range from including sparse, basic connections to the whole works of analog and digital connections, including USB audio inputs and HDMI ARC ports for home theater.
Look and feel
While many speakers look similar, there are more and more designers doing different things with speakers, including experimenting with the shape of the enclosure, going all-out on glossy veneers and finishes, reaching back in time with retromodern looks, and so on. In this highly subjective area, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. As a music lover, the audio should probably come first, but you can also find something that sounds great and suits your style as well.
The best speakers for music: Reviews & Recommendations
Taking those factors into mind, and considering that the best speakers for music can’t be determined by descriptive writing alone, we’ve rounded up specs and specifics that offer something for everyone who’s passionate about music. While we’ve rounded up the best desktop speakers for workstations and the best studio monitors for music production in the past, the following speakers up the fidelity for those serious about dedicating space to a rich listening experience, whether using the best bookshelf, floorstanding, or stand-mounted speakers.
Best for computers: Audioengine A2+ Wireless
Why it made the cut: The Austin, Texas-based Audioengine manufacturers many of its speakers’ own components, such as woofers and tweeters, and its commitment to affordable, quality sound have made its speakers favorites since its founding in 2005. They are some of the best computer speakers for music you can buy. Specs:
Frequency response: 65 Hz-22 kHzPower rating: 60W peak power (2 x 15W RMS)Connectivity: USB input, Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD, stereo RCA I/O, stereo mini-jack inputDrivers: 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, 2.75-inch aramid fiber wooferDimensions: 5.25 x 4 x 6 inches each (HxWxD)Weight: 6.61 lbs. total
Pros
Warm and clean soundImpressively loud for small speakersHigh-quality components and design
Cons
A little less bass than medium-sized smart speakers and desktop speakersSound cohesiveness gets lost in large spaces
The Audioengine A2+ Wireless look good in their Satin Black, Hi-Gloss Red, and Hi-Gloss White finishes but, most importantly, they impress listeners with a clear, warm stereo sound and powerful volume that overachieve for their conveniently compact size. The A2+ Wireless pair updates the older A2 speakers by adding Bluetooth aptX HD and, most importantly for computer audio, a USB input, making them the perfect companion to improve upon computer speakers in an office, bedroom, or other small room. When listening to music, the A2+ Wireless system sounds great for genres like rock and Americana, delivering strong, present vocals and tight, clear response to instruments with satisfyingly wide stereo separation. They can even do justice to bass-heavy genres like EDM; however, for seriously gut-rumbling bass, add an optional subwoofer. To get the same quality hardware components and design but with more bass and louder output, the A5+ Wireless has you covered. It does not, however, have the USB input of the A2+ Wireless, which makes a computer setup easy while skipping an analog-to-digital conversion step in the signal chain. The A2+ Wireless fills up small rooms with rich musical sound and are highly portable, coming in soft, microfiber bags for taking with you to a rental (or parental) house. They make wonderful computer speakers for listening to music whether at the home office or on the road.
Best Bluetooth: Fluance Ai41
Why it made the cut: Fluance makes audio products that deliver hi-fi sound without the high-end price tag, and the compact Ai41 provides the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity with a full-bodied stereo soundstage. It’s definitely one of the best Bluetooth speakers for music. Specs:
Frequency response: 35 Hz-20 kHz (DSP enhanced)Power rating: Class D 90W continuous average output (2 x 45W RMS)Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, digital optical, analog RCA (with subwoofer output)Drivers: 1-inch silk soft-dome neodymium ferrofluid-cooled tweeter, 5-inch woven glass fiber composite driverDimensions: 10.9 x 6.5 x 7.6 inches each (HxWxD)Weight: active speaker: 8.52 lbs. / passive speaker: 7.44 lbs lbs.
Pros
Spacious stereo soundstageClarity and balance to the audioSound quality and loudness belie its size and price
Cons
Tricky to dial in EQ settings on the remoteHard to reach, angled binding posts on the left speaker
For just under $250, the Fluance Ai41 stereo bookshelf speakers emit a beautiful and balanced wide stereo image with a Bluetooth option that beats the listening experience of most single wireless speakers. The powered speakers are somewhat portable, small enough for a bedroom or kitchen, yet sound good enough and loud enough to be the upgrade to your TV speakers in a living room. The Ai41 speakers handle any musical genre, from bluegrass to bass music, with clear details and balanced frequencies. You will hear the thump of kick drums more than might be expected from its 5-inch drivers, while high-end elements like cymbals stay crisp without sounding harsh. All the midrange and upper-mid frequencies come through as well; transient response is very natural on sounds like stringed instruments and plinking pianos. While the Ai41 gets impressively loud for its size without distorting, you could opt for the larger and more voluminous Ai61 speakers for an extra fee. Or, if you definitely prefer to play your Bluetooth music through a single wireless speaker and aren’t that concerned with portability, the Tivoli Model One Digital (Gen. 2) retromodern speaker sounds far superior to many compact choices. However, the affordable Fluance Ai41 stereo speakers find a sweet spot of rich sound, connectivity options, and surprising power in a compact package suitable for listening to music in a variety of settings.
Best floorstanding: Klipsch RP-8000F
Why it made the cut: Klipsch has earned a reputation over 70 years as the American torchbearer for hi-fi sound, and the RP-8000F, the best floorstanding speakers, represents that legacy well at a mid-tier price that makes it accessible. Specs:
Frequency response: 32 Hz-25 kHzPower handling: 150W RMS (600W peak)Connectivity: two pairs of speaker wire binding postsDrivers: 1-inch titanium LTS vented tweeter with hybrid Tractrix horn, dual 8-inch spun copper Cerametallic woofersDimensions: 43 x 10 x 18 inches each (HxWxD)Weight: 60 lbs. each
Pros
Accurate and sensitive audio responseMeticulous build qualityLarge sweet spot envelopes listening spaces
Cons
Not compatible with Dolby Atmos audioHarmonics and sound coloration may be pleasant, but counter to purists
The Reference Premier line is one of the most popular loudspeaker series for its powerful and very dynamic sound at an accessible, moderate price. The RP-8000F floorstanding speakers fill up large spaces with consistently high-quality sound regardless of where you are in the room. Their dual 8-inch woofers pump out resounding, deep bass with low distortion and precise articulation even at high levels. The midrange and top-end frequencies also perform superbly, with a warm, detailed sound and significantly low resonance coming from the injection molded silicone tweeters. When listening to music, the RP-8000F provides focused imaging and precise details, so you hear not just stringed and percussion instruments, but also the nuances of their fretboards and bodies. The distinct spacing of musical elements throughout the soundstage and the tangibility of the acoustic space in musical recordings come through the speakers with admirable authenticity. Instruments like brass sound visceral without any distorted tones; vocals sound pristine. Klipsch may have a reputation as rock ’n’ roll speakers, but the RP-8000F towers do justice to not only loud and grinding styles, but also to nearly any genre, such as soft choral music, intimate acoustic music, bass-heavy electronic music, and more. In the highly competitive space of mid-priced floorstanding speakers, the RP-8000F makes for a smart, well-rounded choice that pumps out powerful sound with balanced, full-frequency clarity and accuracy in a sleek and sturdy construction.
Best bookshelf: KEF LS50 Meta
Why it made the cut: KEF speakers stand out with the impeccable sound that audiophiles revere just as well as they stand out in appearance. Specs:
Frequency response: 79 Hz-28 kHzPower handling: 40-100W amp recommendedConnectivity: speaker wire binding postsDrivers: 12th-generation Uni-Q driver, embedding a 1-inch tweeter within a 5.25-inch wooferDimensions: 12 x 8 x 11 inches each (HxWxD)Weight: 17.2 lbs. each
Pros
Entirely transparent soundExtraordinary detailSingular style
Cons
PriceyNot as good in the low end as some less expensive passive speakers
The dazzling KEF LS50 from 2012 has been updated with even greater accuracy and detail in the LS50 Meta two-way bass-reflex speakers. A new 12th-generation Uni-Q driver embeds the 1-inch tweeter within the 5.25-inch woofer to give the LS50 Meta a stark, single-cone look, while new, proprietary Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) greatly reduces distortion and resonance. The result is a beautiful design and an even more satisfying sound.
Best for music production: JBL LSR 305P MKII
Why it made the cut: JBL imbues its affordable studio monitors like this pair with innovative technology from its high-end models, which are the legacy of decades of development, and they have become the trusted choice of legions of professionals. Specs:
Frequency response: 49 Hz-20 kHzPower rating: 82W per speakerConnectivity: 1 XLR, 1 TRS per speakerDrivers: 5-inch woofer, 1-inch woven-composite Neodymium tweeter, both magnetically shielded.Dimensions: 11.75 x 7.3 x 9.9 inches each (HxWxD)Weight: 10.43 lbs. per speaker
Pros
Details stand out in dense music mixesWide sweet spotRoom-correction EQ settings
Cons
Frequency response begins a little highNo audio cables included
Home studio musicians, DJs, and music producers can benefit from the professional technologies that JBL has passed down to the LSR 305P MKII from some of its highest-end loudspeakers. For example, this affordable bi-amplified speaker incorporates JBL’s proprietary Image Control Waveguide: the bowtie-shaped, beveled tweeter panel, which contributes to the monitor’s wide stereo soundstage, precise imaging, and remarkable high-frequency detail. The broader-than-usual sweet spot for a studio monitor allows listeners to move around more while still hearing an accurate soundstage. And the “Linear Spatial Reference” technology takes dozens of measurements 360 degrees around the speaker to optimize what you hear when you’re not in that sweet spot. This MKII series updates the previous LSR3 line with high-frequency and low-frequency transducers, and its bass response is even fuller and punchier with lower distortion. Because accuracy is important when producing music, it’s not bass overkill. The rear-firing Slip Stream bass port helps output accurate bass even at low playback levels. Because of its 5-inch woofers, however, the LSR 305P MKII’s frequency response is not quite as low as the larger LSR 306P MKII and LSR 308P MKII monitors in the series, which can reproduce lower frequencies while still maintaining accuracy in the mix. Advanced technology, reliable and accurate frequency reproduction, and affordability all combine to make the JBL LSR 305P MKII some of the best studio monitors for music production at home or in small studios.
Best stand-mounted speakers for music: Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2
Why it made the cut: For more than 50 years, British speaker designer Bowers & Wilkins has practiced innovation in the service of exceptional music listening, creating hi-fi products for audiophiles with elevated taste and budgets. Specs:
Frequency response: 45 Hz-33 kHzPower handling: 120W RMS continuous powerConnectivity: two pairs of speaker wire binding postsDrivers: 1-inch Decoupled Carbon Dome tweeter, 6.5-inch Continnum midbass driverDimensions: 16 x 7.9 x 11.9 inches each (HxWxD)Weight: 20.5 lbs. each
Pros
Transparent but robust sound perfect for musicExquisitely detailed audioGorgeous design and superior build
Cons
Excited sound may be fatiguing over timeTop-notch speakers need a top-notch amp to match
The Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2 stand-mounting passive speakers pay off in extraordinary musical sound for those willing to pay the significant toll for not only the speakers, but also for a high-end amplifier to power them. And while they are more indulgent than other options on this list, they are actually a mid-priced set in the company’s product range, representing a significant step up from the less costly but also worthy 706 S2 and 606 S2 stand-mounters, in part because of the technology pulled from the high-end 800 series, which costs at least twice as much per speaker. Both of the 705 S2’s audio drivers descend from the 800 series: its top-mounted, solid aluminum tweeter banishes resonance from the main cabinet, and the composite midbass driver ensures precise and smooth music reproduction. The result is a pristine, unencumbered sound tailor-made for music lovers. A spacious, lifelike soundstage provides the setting for rich and full-bodied instrument tones and perfectly natural vocals, clear and evenly balanced from top to bottom. When you want to not just listen to masterfully performed, recorded, and engineered music, but also feel it emotionally, the 705 S2 faithfully reproduces classical, blues, rock, jazz, and other styles with an authoritative sound seemingly bigger than the speakers themselves. Their bass has weight and punch, but an added subwoofer can only help for true believers in the low-end theory. Just one shelf or countertop available for audio but still want some of this top-tier trickle-down tech? Bowers & Wilkins also makes the fabulous Zeppelin smart speaker, which we love for its distinctive design and all-in-one expressiveness—inherited from its hi-fi siblings.
The final word on picking the best speakers for music on any budget
For reasons we have outlined, the best-sounding and loudest speakers generally do cost more money, but the extra cost does not always lead to better sound and there are still amazing sets available for affordable prices. That’s why almost any music fan can enjoy some of the best speakers for music on any budget. Decide what your highest priorities for speakers are, such as the size and power needed for your space, connectivity options, and style. There’s always going to be something better out there that almost none of us can afford. However, with the quality of modern speakers and the number of choices available, we’re confident that you can find the perfect speaker for you to elevate your music listening to a higher level.
