Speakers

Buying Guide: Find the best speakers

Speaker types and recommendations

In the sections below, I provide descriptions of each of the major types of stereo (left+right channel) speaker systems on the market. (I don't cover surround-sound systems.) For each type, I also provide a number of recommendations at various prices. For each recommendation, I indicate the audio-input options: analog-audio jack, optical connection, iPhone or iPad dock, Bluetooth, AirPlay, or USB. Prices listed are MSRP, so you'll likely be able to find each product for a lower price—sometimes substantially lower.

Of course, these recommendations are by no means exhaustive—many quality systems aren't listed. But you can’t go wrong with the models listed here, and they should give you an idea of the state of the art in each category.

Edifier’s Spinnaker e30

2.0 computer speakers

A 2.0 system (two channels but no subwoofer) usually comprises compact, left and right speakers, with the amplifier housed inside one of those speakers. By separating the left and right channels, a 2.0 system provides much better stereo separation and imaging than a one-piece system that confines the left and right speakers to a single enclosure. Most 2.0 speakers also take up very little room on your desk. However, because they tend to use small speaker drivers to keep their footprints small, 2.0 speaker systems rarely match a good 2.1 system (below) when it comes to bass response. Recommendations:

Ultralink’s UCube USB speakers

USB-powered 2.0 computer speakers

Although not as common as AC-powered models, some 2.0 speaker systems get their power from a USB port on your computer. In fact, these models use only a single USB cable for both power and audio—they grab a digital audio signal over USB—making them appealing to people averse to cords and cables. Some are also portable, making them convenient for laptop listening. But because a USB port doesn't provide much power, USB-powered speakers tend to be small, don't play very loud, and can't produce much bass—their sound quality is rarely as good as that of a similarly priced AC- or battery-powered speaker system. The ones listed here offer solid sound—for USB speakers, at least. Recommendations:

Audioengine’s Audioengine 5+

Studio monitors/powered bookshelf speakers

A variant of 2.0 systems, studio monitors are essentially powered bookshelf speakers. Considerably larger than most 2.0 systems, they generally give you much better bass response thanks to more-powerful (and better-quality) amplification and larger low-frequency drivers. They can play much louder, as well. In fact, a good set of studio monitors produces sound quality closer to that of a traditional home stereo system. On the other hand, studio monitors can take up a lot more room on your desk, and they sometimes sound better from across a room than when you're seated directly in front of them (called near-field listening). Professional studio monitors, often used in recording studios, can cost well over $1,000, but there are some great options at reasonable prices if you've got the room. Recommendations:

Note that most studio monitors are designed like traditional bookshelf speakers, with a flat base. This means that if you put them on your desk without a stand, they’ll project audio directly at your stomach or chest. Most can be wall-mounted to get them up off your desk and positioned at ear level. Alternatively, you can buy a set of inexpensive speaker stands designed specifically for using studio monitors on a desk; these stands are short but angle the front of each speaker upwards towards your ears. Some good options are the Audioengine DS1 (for small monitors; $29) and Audioengine DS2 (for larger monitors; $34).

Paradigm’s Millenia CT

2.1 computer speakers

A 2.1 system (two channels plus a subwoofer) typically uses even smaller left and right speakers than a 2.0 system. These speakers, called satellites, produce the higher frequencies, while a larger speaker/amplifier component, usually designed to sit under your desk, produces lower frequencies. (A 2.1 system is often called a subwoofer/satellite, or sub/sat, system.) The two big advantages of a 2.1 system over a 2.0 system are that you usually get much better bass response—both more impact and the capability to extend down to lower frequencies—thanks to the dedicated subwoofer, and the smaller left and right speakers take up less room on your desk (though the subwoofer/amplifier unit may take up a lot of room under it). Recommendations:

Jabra's Solemate

Portable speakers

If you want to be able to pack your speakers in your luggage, laptop bag, or backpack, you need something small, light, rugged, and battery powered. However, thanks to the smaller size and lower power of portable speakers, you'll sacrifice sound quality for such convenience. The majority of portable speakers can connect using a standard audio cable, but many recent models also support Bluetooth connections (see “Bluetooth wireless speakers,” below). Recommendations:

iHome’s iP4 Boombox

Transportable/boomboxes

Yes, the venerable boombox is back—a number of companies now make big, luggable sound systems that run off lots of big batteries (or AC power). But instead of cassette decks, they feature iPhone docks and Bluetooth. Think “portable but not packable”—and, yes, you can even carry them on your shoulder. Compared to truly portable speakers, these systems will give you better sound, more bass, and louder volume, albeit in a much larger and heavier package that won’t fit in your carry-on. Recommendations:

Brookstone’s Big Blue Studio

Desktop speakers and speaker docks

If you’re looking for something compact to put on your desk, the kitchen counter, a dresser, or a bookshelf, but you don’t really need portability, desktop speakers are the way to go. Thanks to AC power and larger-than-portable-speakers enclosures, these systems can offer surprisingly good sound quality, but they’re still compact enough to fit in small spaces. Some include an iPhone or iPad dock, and some even provide alarm-clock or radio features. A few offer battery-powered operation, which is convenient if you just want to be able to move your music from room to room, or take it to the backyard. (We haven’t yet tested any Lightning-connector speaker docks, so I don’t include any here.) Recommendations:

If you have an Android or other non-iOS smartphone or tablet, a few docking speakers are trickling out, but we haven’t yet tested any. For now, I recommend a system that features Bluetooth connectivity (see the next category).

Harman Kardon’s SoundSticks Wireless

Bluetooth wireless speakers

Bluetooth speakers let you cut the cord—or dock—between your audio source and your speakers. You can stream audio to stereo-Bluetooth (A2DP) speakers from any recent Bluetooth-equipped smartphone or tablet, including iPhones, iPads, and most Android and Windows Phone devices, as well as from many media players, including the iPod touch and iPod nano. Recent Macs and some recent Windows PCs also support stereo-Bluetooth streaming, and you can use Bluetooth speakers with other devices by purchasing a Bluetooth transmitter, offered by a number of companies. Most Bluetooth speakers also allow you to connect to non-Bluetooth devices using a standard audio cable. Because of this wide compatibility, Bluetooth is easily the fastest-growing category of speakers over the past year or two.

For convenience, some Bluetooth speaker systems provide Play/Pause, Back, and Forward buttons on the speakers themselves; most tablets and smartphones let you control music playback using these buttons. Some Bluetooth speakers also double as a speakerphone, letting you easily switch between music and voice features. Bluetooth speakers generally have a wireless range of around 30 unobstructed feet.

It’s worth noting that if you listen to high-quality music files and you have good ears, the sound quality of a Bluetooth speaker system is usually not as good as that of a similar wired system. (A new technology called Apt-X is helping to reduce this shortcoming. However, Apt-X isn’t yet widely supported, and you need Apt-X on both ends of your wireless connection—your Bluetooth source and your Bluetooth speakers.) Also, note that even though Bluetooth speakers connect wirelessly to your music source, the rest of the system isn’t wireless: For non-portable models, you still need a power cord, and for systems with left and right speakers or a subwoofer, there’s usually a cable connecting those components.

Bluetooth speakers come in all types—you may have noticed that I included a number of Bluetooth-equipped models in the various recommendation lists above. I provide a combined list here, noting the type of each speaker, for readers who are looking specifically for wireless options. Recommendations:

Libratone’s Zipp

AirPlay wireless speakers

Like Bluetooth speakers, AirPlay-enabled audio systems let you cut the cord, but they take advantage of Apple's AirPlay (formerly AirTunes) technology to let you stream music, from your iOS devices or Macs, over your local wireless network. (Some of these systems also include an iPhone/iPod dock.) The advantages of AirPlay over Bluetooth include better audio quality—AirPlay uses lossless audio compression, while Bluetooth uses lossy compression—and much better range, as you can stream anywhere within range of your Wi-Fi network. The biggest disadvantages of AirPlay systems are that you can use them with only Apple-branded sources, and that they tend to be quite a bit more expensive than comparable Bluetooth systems. Recommendations:

Build your own?

As an alternative to buying a speaker system, you can build your own system for your computer, smartphone, or tablet—even for Bluetooth or AirPlay listening. A few years ago, I wrote about building an iPod/iPhone speaker system from a small amp, a dedicated iPod dock, and a set of quality bookshelf speakers. Many of the components in that article are no longer available, but the how-to information is still relevant. More recently, I wrote about building your own AirPlay-enabled audio system, and we’ve also covered several desktop amplifiers. Going this route allows you to spend as much (or as little) as you like on whatever design and level of quality you prefer.

If you’re interested in this approach, we’ve got some upcoming articles you’ll want to watch for, including an article on adding Bluetooth to an existing speaker or stereo system; a roundup of desktop amps with a built-in digital-to-analog converter for getting quality audio from your computer; and an updated version of that AirPlay do-it-yourself article.

Macworld senior writer Lex Friedman contributed to this article.

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