So many to choose from! Lets us boil it down.

How to Choose a Bookshelf Speaker that fits you:

Bowers & Wilkins 685 ~ $600

WhatHiFi – After all, they were What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Award-winners in 2007 and 2008, and to date we haven’t reviewed another speaker capable of worrying these entry-level marvels. AudioReview - 8 Reviews 4.88 of 5 – writes – Base is much tighter and punchy than the old 602′s. Massive base for such a small speaker! Clarity is mind blowing, especially with Jazz recordings. AVGuide.com – Wayne Garcia - Let’s get straight to the point: B&W’s 685 is a terrific little loudspeaker. It has impressive tonal balance, tremendous rhythmic authority, conjures a nice, open soundstage, has impressive if not super-extended bass response, a singing treble, plays loudly without strain

Audio Note AX-2 & AX-2S ~ $600-1000

AX-2S – positive-feedback.com – Gary Beard – In my opinion, the best word to describe the sound of the Audio Note AX-2 Signatures is “balance.” From top to bottom, these little speakers never give any reason to single out a specific area for comment, and that is a very good thing. AX-2 – AudioReview – RGA – For small speakers, the Piano was highly realistic and fuller bodied than speakers at this price have any right to be. Few speakers I have heard under $1k manage the piano anywhere near as well and that alone along with exceptional female vocals deserve some serious attention.

Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 ~ $850

AudioReview’s Adam LaBarge – “…Overall the Sierra-1 monitors do a lot of things right. They especially move air well at high volumes. They seem to have met all the goals David was trying to accomplish in a reference speaker below a thousand dollars….” – Read Full Review AudioReview - 4 Reviews 5.00 of 5 - KevinR writes – Usually, speakers that cost considerably less than my Paradigms don’t fare well in comparison. The Sierra-1 was the exception. The mid-range was open and detailed. The bass was exceptional for a bookshelf. The soundstage was wide and deep. Tony Levin’s bass on “Liquid Tension Experiment” came through with exceptional detail. Vocals were neutral, with no sibilance.

Tekton Model OB4.5 ~ $550
	enjoythemusic.com – enjoythemusic.com Best of 2009 – With a full-range driver on an open baffle it gives you superb focus, transparency, timing and phase coherence. Place them out into the room on solid stands and it delivers a wide, deep soundscape with excellent definition. AudioReview - Poultrygeist – The Tekton Model OB4.5 for $550 is in a class by itself. www.tektondesign.com

Axiom Audio M3v3 ~ $348

pcdistrict.com - The M3 is Axiom’s most versatile and compact stereo and home theater speaker. Winner of the SoundStage! Reviewer\’s Choice Award and GoodSound! Product of the Year, the M3 delivers powerful bass, outstanding treble, and award-winning musical sound for under $400… AudioReview’s – Adam LaBarge – When I checked the price again I was blown away to find out they were $348, especially when considering their performance. The M3v3 do most of what a great speaker should. They present a large and open image, linear reproduction of sound, offer a good amount of detail, and be as transparent as the speaker can be. Read Full Review

Featured Merchants

Paradigm Audio Mini Monitor ~ $339

GreenbergAudio Magazine – I’ve heard highly-regarded $2,000 two-way 6-inchers that could not keep up with the Mini Monitor. AudioReview - 171 Reviews 4.57 of 5 – Nick Ade – writes – Crossover setting is beautifully low at 2 khz. The tweeter can perform well, and can be heard well off axis, where frequency response does not drop off nearly as rapidly as with other bookshelf models. Build quality is superb for a sub $400/pair speaker, I like the dark cherry veneer. I listen to my music with no eq/bass enhancement, etc, and these speakers are perfect for the discerning stereo enthusiast.

Sony SS-B3000 ~ $100

AudioReview’s Editorial Review – Given the price constraints it is hard to find an over all fault with the SS-B3000 speakers. But the highs can be a bit straining at times and if matched with some ‘hot’ components… Read Full Review AudioReview - 2 Reviews 4.67 of 5 – D Smith – writes – Everything is quite clear, and they have good volume. I’ve never managed to get the volume on my receiver past about 60%, because it simply hurts too much. Bass is extraordinary for the size of the speaker (about knee height), but vocals still remain clear.

Featured Merchants

Vanns

Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000 – Editor’s Choice Gallery

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iHome iW1 – $299 “Perfect iPhone Match, No wires, no hassle, portable goodness.”

The iHome iW1 speaker offers quality sound easy with iPhone/iPad compatibility and is extremely portable. Get multiple iW1s for each room in your house and use Airplay to stream music to every room. While the sound from the iW1 can get lost in bigger rooms, it sounds wonderful in kitchens, studies, bathrooms.  Pushed to play at higher volumes and it doesn’t distort.  The iW1′s rich bass will pump out jams at your next BBQ and won’t sound tinny or thin.  Great for background music but can’t replace your main system.

Specifications: Airplay & WIFi Battery powered for cordless portability Control from you iPhone/iPad Bongiovi DSP for enhanced audio 5-6hrs of battery life

Yamaha NS-AW570 – $150 “Affordable Outdoor Speakers That can handle real weather.”

One of the best and least expensive patio or eave mounted outdoor speaker on the market. The unique dual tweeter design of the NS-AW570 allows for a wide distribution of frequencies and helps enlarge the ‘sweet spot’. The 6.5-inch woofer pumps out a fair amount of mid-bass but if you are looking for some real thump while outside you might want to check out the larger Klipsch AW-650. While these are ‘all weather’ speakers one should mount them with a slight downward tilt to reduce the amount of water that can creep inside.

Specifications: Power Rating 40-120W Impedance 6 ohms Frequency Response 60Hz-30kHz Sensitivity 87 dB Tweeter 1″ (25mm)PEI Dome Tweeter Woofer 6.5″ (16.5cm) x 2 All Weather Design

Acoustic Research AW 825 – $450 “Wireless garden speakers, solid sounding, great bass, looks great!”

Free your self of wires. Sounds like a dream. But with the 150ft range of the AW825 speakers, that work inside, outside, in the rain and wind, you’ll be able to live that reality. The base unit does have to be plugged into a wall outlet and a source via the 1/8th adapter, so your MacBook, your iPod, iPad, iPhone, laptop, or stereo, but the actual speakers run on AA batteries and can be moved anywhere. Each speaker is sold separately, but you can add as many as you like. Users with 4 have experienced no issues. Each speaker can be set to mono, left channel, right channel. You can place them through out your home, garden, or pool area. The speakers themselves run at 5W and are a two way design. A 2-inch tweeter and 3-inch woofer. With a 40Hz-15kHz frequencies range.

Specifications: Innovative circuit design Provide TWO sets of switchable audio inputs Besides the normal audio output in the back panel Compact design (mini-size & light weight) All audiophile-graded parts and components

Polk Audio Atrium 5 – $299 “Blizzards, salt, baking heat, Quality sound that can handle the extremes.”

The Polk Audio Atrium 5 is by far one of the most rugged outdoor speakers on the market that still manages to sound like a quality speaker. Though the audio quality is only just above average, even on the newer Atrium 5, it is far from being subpar. Typically folks tend to knock it for laking the ability to produce extreme highs and deep lows. Given its size there will be natural inabilities to produce significant dump in the low end, but mounting the Atrium 5 close to a wall or under and eave can help. The mid-range of the Atrium 5 offers the classic Polk sound and the speakers high sensitivity allows for loud and dynamic playing without pops and crackle. Though if you don’t live in a place where the weather can be very extreme, there are outdoor speakers that offer better sonics but don’t offer the same year of year reliability of the Atrium 5. If you are willing to spend a bit more money the Atrium 6 and 8SDI offer larger woofers that can get the party started.

Specifications: Overall Frequency Response: 60Hz-25kHz Mid/Woofer: 1 – 5″ Diameter Dynamic Balance Mineral Filled Polymer Cone with rubber surround Tweeter: 1 – 3/4″ Diameter Anodized Aluminum Dome Tweeter with Neodymium motor structure Nominal Impedance: 8Ohms Recommended Amplifier Power: 10-100 w/channel Efficiency: 90dB

Jawbone JamBox – $200 “Throw it in your beach bag, Take it to your office. Ultimate in Portable.”

The Jawbone JameBox isn’t one of the best rated wireless speakers on Amazon and the Apple Store for no reason. This little guy is extremely portable, sounds very good, and is stupid simple to use. The cherry part is that it actually sounds good too! No matter if you are on the go or just hate messy speakers wires at your desk. The JamBox is very office friendly – hold a conference call on your iPhone or add music to your presentations. Fits in your purse or laptop bag no problems. The only real knock of the Jambox is the bass output. Lets face it, at that size, there isn’t much. Which is why Jawbone made the BigJambox. With a better feature set and more BASS!

Specifications: Wireless portable speaker connects to any Bluetooth device Stream music, movies, games, phone, and conference calls Built-in Microphone Frequency Response: 60 Hz – 20 kHz Up to 10 hours of power from internal rechargeable battery Very good BlueTooth extension

Bose 251 Environmental – $358 “Bose inside, Bose on the Outside. Big sound from easy to hide speakers.”

The Bose 251 speakers are the perfect outdoor speakers for Bose lovers. For those that haven’t heard Bose speakers before, these 251 offer crystal clear highs, deep bass, and a very wide sound stage. Some users on AudioReview have had their 251 for 14 years and they still sounds great. Bose stands by its product testing in extreme environments. With the 5 year warranty, you can feel safe that if the weather around you home is that extreme, your speakers are covered.

Specifications: Extremely wide sound field for larger outdoor areas Outside speaker cabinet designed to reproduce low frequencies with minimal audio distortion Tested to withstand snow, rain, salt and extreme temperatures Five-year limited warranty from Bose

Klipsch AW-650 – $550 “Audiophile? You’ll want these.”

Yes the AW-650 are a bit pricer than your average outdoor speaker, but if you are into high quality audio than these are what you need. A significant step up from almost all over outdoor speakers, the AW-650 offer clear highs, significant bass, and a rich and full mid-range that makes your outside system sound as good as your main system. The audiophile’s outdoor speaker. Now, some might note that the AW-650 are rated to put out between 70-20k Hz. And 70Hz isn’t that low. The fact is bass isn’t always about the end point, but how the speaker gets there. Since the AW-650 is such a well tuned speaker, offering loads of detail, it fills in the lower mid-range so well one can’t help but be fooled into thinking these go lower than they really do. The AW-650 is a bit larger than some folks might like, and thus hiding them away might take bit more creativity on your part, but it is well worth it.

Specifications: Enclosure Bass Reflex Tweeter Type Dome Woofer Size 6-1/2 ower Range (watts) 10-85 Sensitivity 95 dB Impedance (ohms) 8 Frequency Response 70-20k Hz

Klipsch AWR-650-SM – $299 “Most likely, the best sounding rock speakers on the market.”

There are ample companies making OK sounding rock speakers, but if you really want speakers that will fade into the back ground without fading the musical vibes, you’ll want to check out the AWR-650-SM. In three different shade, granite, sandstone, lava rock, you should find these easy to blend into your garden. Some have said the bass from the AWR-650-SM could be a little better, but with some positioning near a wall you won’t typically have any issue. There are outdoor subs you could pair with the AWR-650-SM. But just like the AW-650, the AWR-650-SM offers exceptional detail and sonic performance, which makes them a must have for any outdoor garden music system.

Specifications: Rock bass reflex (ported) design frequency response 66-20,000 Hz (±3dB) True two-way design Dual voice coil polymer woofer Dual polymer dome tweeters Durable UV-resistant enclosure

Tips for Getting Better Sound from Your Outdoor Speakers:

• For wireless speakers that do not use Wifi, Bluetooth or Airplay, make sure the speaker frequency is different than your wireless phone and baby monitors.
• Line of sight between the transmitter and speaker helps but isn’t 100% necessary.
• For better bass performance place speakers near a wall or corner or between the eaves and walls.
• Speakers near the ground will also have better base performance, but highs could suffer if the speakers aren’t tilting up.
• Remember, just because a speaker says it is all weather doesn’t really mean it is.  If you live where you get all four seasons, do your speakers a favor and cover them during winter and heavy rains.  You’ll find they last much longer.
• Use electrical tape to cover any exposed copper from the speaker wire.

Typically at this point we’d say, “This is by no means a definitive list”, but unfortunately, the reality is there really aren’t a lot of ‘decent’ sounding outdoor speakers on the market.  But if by chance we have left something off, please help others out and comment below with which outdoor speakers you like.

Best Outdoor Speakers Gallery

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So many to choose from! Lets us boil it down.

How to Choose a Floorstanding Speaker that fits you:

Follow this link if you are Interested in Best Speakers Under $2,000

Axiom M60 v3 ~ $1040

Brent Butterworth, Sound + Vision, February/March 2011 – The Axiom Audio M60 v3 gave me the reliable engineering excellence I expect from the Canadian school. It also gave me something I didn’t anticipate: that extra dose of audio excitement I often hear in more exotic designs. Mike L., LA (customer comment) writes – I literally began to cry; I mean it! I have never heard sound that incredibly crystal clear, powerful, balanced, overwhelming. I was carried away to another place by the beauty spilling out of these awesome speakers.

Featured Merchants

Axiom Audio

Wharfedale Diamond 9.6 ~ $800

AudioEnz – Michael Wong – The Diamonds are the kind of product expected from a long time manufacturer dedicated to making music accessible. With it’s canny balance of abilities the Diamonds do a very good job of disappearing and do not get between the listener and the music. With no major flaws, they are a steal, solid proof that the art of building good value stereo equipment survives. AudioReview - 8 Reviews 4.88 of 5 – sburken writes – all four drivers blend together for a warm sound that can be played to exceptionally loud levels without being fatigueing. however, these speakers do not shine when played with very harsh material (IE metal), they shine beautifully when tasked with rock through classical though

Energy Loudspeakers C-500 ~ $400

Canada HIFI – Through my test, I discovered that the Energy C-Series are a set of very musical speakers with a sweet tooth for the home theatre. With their modest size, they can be easily accommodated into a smaller room, although their sound can effortlessly fill an average sized listening space. AudioReview - 5 Reviews 5.00 of 5 – mastermind717 writes – For the price these are the best speakers I have ever heard. Highs, lows and midrange are tight and accurate. The sound stage is full and pleasant to listen to for hours no matter what your taste in music. I am running the C-500′s without a sub though I’m certain a mid size velodyne would compliment these nicely, especially for movies.

Magnepan Magneplanar MMG ~ $600

Goodsound.com – They’re so good that they’ll make you look like an audio wunderkind and make your system sing as never before. They do need to be driven by a good, strong receiver or amp — no 25W weaklings need apply — and they’ll expose weaknesses upstream from them (if you have a cheap, tinny-sounding CD player, for instance). They’ll also expose the intricate layers of beauty that might be hidden by your current speakers, so if you’re tempted to give ‘em a try, you can have these Maggies in your home for a 60-day, money-back trial. AudioReview - 283 Reviews 4.72 of 5 – stuartson writes – First off, The MMGs are amazing! Not simply “amazing for the money”, but flat out amazing. The soundstage is open and expansive, the tonal reproduction is exceptional, the speed and detail are mind-boggling at times. They truly have the ability to reproduce certain types of music with a scary accuracy and realism. AudioReview - DPS writes -I have had a pair of MMG’s for about six months and will most likely quit searching for the elusive audio nirvana I’ve been chasing since the mid 70′s. The simple fact is these speakers provide a window into my music tastes that cannot be duplicated by any other available speaker any where near this price.

Magneplanar MMG C $299 Promo Code 1001 Magnepan

Magneplanar MMG $599 Magnepan

Magneplanar MMG W $325 pair Promo Code 1001 Magnepan

Paradigm Reference Monitor 7 ~ $800

hometheaterreview.com – Soundstaging and imaging are both superb with the Monitor 7s. The Monitor 7s’ soundstage is as deep as it is wide and very nicely detailed and natural in its presentation. In terms of imaging, especially center focus, the Monitor 7s react much more like mini monitors than floor-standing loudspeakers. AudioReview - 98 Reviews 4.55 of 5 Spock1234 writes – This is especially obvious when listening to Jazz and Blues recordings which contain male voices and acoustic guitar segments. The bass extension is low enough to ‘feel’ the music, but it never sounds ‘boomy’. The single best thing about these speakers is that they are ‘Neutral’. If you are used to listening to other speakers that make the music sound ‘shrill’ or ‘boomy’, the Monitor 7s may sound a little ‘flat’ initially. But after you listen to them for a day or two, you will appreciate of the neutrality the Monitors. reviews.digitaltrends.com writes - The highs are sweet, the mids are richly detailed, and the bass is tight and accurate. Our only complaint is that the midrange could be a little richer on some vocal recordings. Additionally, the finish on these speakers left little to be desired in terms of a luxury finish – but now knowing their true price, we feel this is almost an uncalled for assessment.

Polk Audio TSi500 ~ $800

Bestcovery.com – Polk’s TSi500 floorstanding speakers are well designed with excellent build quality and finish for the money. The sound quality and especially the bass are very good. Music is lively with clean detail and highs. These speakers have a whopping four 6.5” drivers that deliver strong bass. The frequency range is rated at 28Hz-25kHz. They work well for both home theater and music listening. AudioReview - 2 Reviews 5.00 of 5 – pvsat writes – the best performance in the upper entry segment. I moved from a set of polk R300s to these and yes they make a huge difference in the sound. I feel the room shake during explosion and low bass sequences. They image very well..the image size increased about 2-3 times from the r300s when listening in 2 channel.

Fluance ES-1 ~ $400

Amazon.com reviewer Richard Hebbourn – Although I’ve heard quite a few good things about the ES1 speakers, I was still surprised by the amount of bass that comes through them. The highs are even better – each note is crisp and defined, and the sound fills my entire house. AudioReview - 9 Reviews 4.11 of 5 – writes – My lucky day! Awesome speakers when coupled with a sub for frequencies below 70Hz. I power them with a 120 watt per channel HK Stereo (yes I said stereo) reciever and run them through a 15 band equalizer just to tweak them ever so slightly. Add a 12 inch 150 watt sub and CD’s, Movies, and Concert DVD’s rock! Don’t let the fact they won’t cost ya an arm and a leg fool you, these may be the best deal in HiFi to be had in a long time! AudioReview - writes – First few weeks, these speakers were breaking in. They sounded distinctly harsh. After the break-in period, however, they REALLY smoothed out. I would highly recommend them as excellent value. They look good (my wife likes them) and they sound very good.

Featured Merchants

Fluance

Klipsch RF-52 ~ $660

AVguide.com – Few affordable systems offer a more compelling blend of detail, finesse, and dynamic clout plus an almost magically vibrant quality that brings music and movies alive. Bravo, Klipsch. AudioReview - 1 Reviews 5.00 of 5 - boorat writes – Amazing, crisp sound! Will wake the neighbors with no distortion. Crystal clear highs and smooth, tight punchy bass. I can hear every instrument on it’s own. My sound dream come true! Highly recommend these!! Not too big, not too small. My receiver is the DENON AVR 5700 (140 watts per channel).

Featured Merchants

		Vanns
		Acoustic Sound Design
	Get Free Shipping on orders $49 or more!	Crutchfield.com

Cerwin Vega CLS-215 ~ $1000

sbobbby2679 – AudioReview – … I know, Cerwin Vega has a name that some “audiophiles” sneer at a bit, calling them things like “frat house speakers”. I’d urge you to google “CLS-215″ and read some of the reviews that several audio writers have given them, people who are used to reviewing some very high-end stereo equipment. I haven’t found a bad review yet… RG – AudioReview And they sound quite good to boot. If I was in the market for $1000 pair of speakers these would be a consideration – even for female vocals, classical, and jazz. Not perfect but nothing is and I like them better than than most for this money.

More Floorstanding speakers on AudioREVIEW.

Yes, unfortunately, an Editorial list won’t, and probably couldn’t include everyone’s personal favorite speaker.  So, if you think we left a great sub $1000 speaker out, comment. Let us and others know why you think it should be included.  Help those in our community who are searching for speakers.  Be detailed if you can about sound, music style, and room set up.  It is great appreciated.

Follow this link if you are Interested in Best Speakers Under $2,000

Editor’s Choice Best Floorstanding Speakers Under $1000 Gallery

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One of the biggest and arguably best problems right in home audio is that there are too many great manufacturers out there. It is mind boggling to know where to start.  Or even worse, what to buy now, that you can build around over time.

Here is a list of products that the AudioReview Editor’s feel are worth your time and careful consideration.  A list of great products from great manufacturers.

We will be adding more products over time, so make sure to check back.  If you think something should be on the list that isn’t, write it in the comments below.  Heck, write out what you think would be a perfect starting system.  Lets help the newbies out.

And just having the equipment isn’t enough, you must set it up correctly to get the most out of your gear.  Use our expanding how to guide to get the most from your system

Last Updated: 02.08.2011

How To Guides

- Non-Audiophile Guide to Getting Great Sound

- Suggested Books to Read

- Audio Vocabulary

- Determine Your Needs

- Guide to Finding and Buying Used Audio Gear

- more articles to come

Analog & Digital

- articles to come

Your Listening Room

- articles to come

Monitor Audio RX6 ~ $1200

Floorstanding Speakers  Monitor Audio RX6 are the latest model in an outstanding line of floorstanding speakers. Their predecessor, the RS6, had extremely favorable reviews in Stereophile, WhatHi-Fi and from AudioREVIEW users. The RX6 has a 5 of 5 from WhatHi-Fi and made the AudioREVIEW forums drool when the images were released. They are on my list of most recommended speakers for about $1000. Specifications System Format: 2 1/2 Way Frequency Response: 38Hz – 35kHz Sensitivity (1W@1M): 90dB Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS): 40-125W Bass Alignment: Dual Chamber, Bass reflex with differential tuning. Drive Unit Complement: 1 x 6″ RST® Bass driver. 1 x 6″ RST® Bass/Mid driver. 1 x 1″ (25mm) C-CAM® gold dome tweeter Other Recommend Floorstanding Speakers – Wharfedale Diamond 9.6, Paradigm Reference Monitor 7, Axiom Millennia M60 Ti, B&W 683, Magnepan Magneplanar MMG Also see our Editor’s Best Floorstanding Speakers under $1000 Guide

Magnepan Magneplanar 1.7 ~ $2000

Floorstanding Speakers  Magneplanar 1.7 are the latest model in an outstanding line of floorstanding speakers. Their predecessor, the 1.6, had extremely favorable reviews. The 1.7 have done even better. With reviews now in from around the audio media world, these speakers are being paired with equipment 5 to 10 times their price. If you like the Maggie sound, of openness, cohesiveness, and detail, these maybe the last speakers you’ll ever buy. Specifications Description 3-Way, Full-Range, Quasi-Ribbon Freq. Resp. 40-24 kHz Rec Power Read Frequently Asked Questions Sensitivity 86dB/500Hz /2.83v Impedance 4 Ohm Dimensions 19 x 65 x 2 Other Recommend Floorstanding Speakers from Magnepan – Magnepan Magneplanar MMG ~ $600 Also see our Editor’s Best Floorstanding Speakers under $1000 Guide

Zu Audio Omen ~ $1500

Floorstanding Speakers  Zu Omen’s are loud, fun, and rocking. Plus they have devilishly good looks. Zu Audio is all about putting the fun back into HiFi at an affordable price. At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2010 Zu all over the place. Paired with a lot of different equipment their sound was bold and had a live’esk sound that reminded me of guitar amps. Technical features Efficiency: 98 dB 1W/1m Impedance: 12 Ohm Height: 36″ tall + footers Footprint: 12″ square Tube and solid-state friendly! Cabinet: MDF with real maple skin Manufactured in Ogden, Utah, USA Other Recommend Zu Audio Speakers -Soul Superfly Also see our Editor’s Best Floorstanding Speakers under $1000 Guide

Salk Sound Song Tower w/Ribbon Tweeter~ $2700

Floorstanding Speakers  Jim Salk has received a huge amount of positive fan fair for his great sounding and sometimes extremely well finished speakers. The Song Tower with the upgraded ribbon tweeter is certainly well worth its value. Plus when you order from Salk Sound you can work with Jim and his team to get just the settings you want. A bit laid back, or a bit more forward sound.The Song Towers offer an extremely transparent high end and a clear and detailed mid range. They produce sufficient bass to please, but can be paired with a sub if you are really looking for thump. They might even make the spouse happy if you get a sweet looking custom finish. Technical features Design – MTM 2-way Mass-loaded Quarter Wave Tube Transmission Line Drivers – custom RAAL with the ribbon tweeter upgrade, (2) Seas ER15RLY midwoofers Response – OW2 – 42Hz – 20KHz (+/- 3db) RAAL – 42Hz – 60KHz (+/- 3db) Sensitivity – (dB/2.83v/1M) 88db Impedance 4 ohms minimum 6 ohms nominal Other Recommend Salk Sound Speakers – SoundScape 12 Also see our Editor’s Best Floorstanding Speakers under $2000 Guide

One can go far on a small budget. But just stopping into a big box and picking up the cheapest thing won’t get you there. If you are on a budget but want good sound and don’t know where to start, here’s a guide. These components have many recommendations from a variety of places; user forums, electronic and audio magazines, and our own ears here at AudioReview.com.

Below is a list of budget components that has caught our attention over the year.

This is by no means a definitive list.   If you have some of your own you’d like to suggest use the comment area below.

Klipsch RF-52 ~ $660

AVguide.com – Few affordable systems offer a more compelling blend of detail, finesse, and dynamic clout plus an almost magically vibrant quality that brings music and movies alive. Bravo, Klipsch. AudioReview - 1 Reviews 5.00 of 5 - boorat writes – Amazing, crisp sound! Will wake the neighbors with no distortion. Crystal clear highs and smooth, tight punchy bass. I can hear every instrument on it’s own. My sound dream come true! Highly recommend these!! Not too big, not too small. My receiver is the DENON AVR 5700 (140 watts per channel).

Axiom Audio M3v3 ~ $348

pcdistrict.com - The M3 is Axiom’s most versatile and compact stereo and home theater speaker. Winner of the SoundStage! Reviewer\’s Choice Award and GoodSound! Product of the Year, the M3 delivers powerful bass, outstanding treble, and award-winning musical sound for under $400… AudioReview’s – Adam LaBarge – When I checked the price again I was blown away to find out they were $348, especially when considering their performance. The M3v3 do most of what a great speaker should. They present a large and open image, linear reproduction of sound, offer a good amount of detail, and be as transparent as the speaker can be. Read Full Review

Onkyo M-282 ~ $200
Amplifier Onkyo is a big name in the audio industry.  Having been around for ages and always making quality gear at an affordable price.  The M-282 is no exception.  A 100W solid state amplifier that does have a pre-amp (knob in back). This can easily drive your home stereo system and sound good. Other Recommend Amplifiers – Van Alstine Insight 240,  NAD C275BEE, ROTEL RB-1562	Specifications Dynamic Headroom 1.7 dB Frequency Response 20Hz-20KHz Number of Channels 2 Signal to Noise Ratio >100 dB THD 0.018% @ 8 Ohms and 0.02% @ 4 Ohms Watts Per Channel 4ohms 200 Watts Per Channel 8ohms 125

TEAC AG-790A ~ $150

Receiver Listen to your favorite radio stations on the AG-790A AM/FM stereo receiver from TEAC. Its discrete output circuit configuration provides 100x100W RMS output power at 8 ohms. Its quartz PLL-synthesized tuning system delivers quality sound through your stereo system. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the built-in speaker terminals (four pairs) to connect your speakers to your stereo system. Other Recommend Receivers – Sherwood RX-4105, Sony STR-DN1000, Yamaha RX-497, Denon DRA-697CI, Cambridge Audio Azur 540R

Specifications Channels 2 Type of Receiver Stereo Radio Station Programmable Memories (Presets) 30 Manufacturer’s Warranty – Hardware 1 Year Watts per channel 100 Read reviews on the AG-790A here

Audioengine 2 – $199

Computer Speakers Mid-range vocals and soft silky highs are what these are all about. I’ve just finished demo’ing them at the 2011 California Audio Show and I was blow away by the clarity and presents of the vocal mid-range.  Pair with a sub for better bass performance. Vocal’s pop off these so they will surely make great speakers for movies. Plus they fit in a small bag and are easily portable. Take them with you on your next vacation or biz trip and actually get good sound in your hotel room. The long list of reviews from a variety of sources speaks for itself.  These are great little desktop speakers. Other Recommended Computer Speaker Systems.

Specifications Type:2.0 powered (active) multimedia desktop speaker system Inputs:Dual 1/8″ stereo mini-jack and RCA jacks Amplifier Type:Dual Class AB monolithic Drivers:2.75″ Kevlar woofers, 20mm silk dome tweeters Power Output:60W peak power total (15W RMS / 30W peak per channel), AES

Sennheiser HD 555 ~ $130

Headphone Sennheiser HD 555 made it onto our Editor’s Choice Best Headphone Guide for good reason.  They are constantly sought after by audiophiles on a budget.  Their open constuction and cicumaural fit (around the ears) makes them comfortable, big sounding, and doesn’t cause listening fautigue.  The HD 555 are good straight into a source but really shine with a headphone amp. Sennheiser, a headphone company with one of the best reputations, has made one of the best budget hi-fi headphones out there. Specifications: Type – Circumaural, Open-Back Dynamic Stereo Headphones Frequency Range – 15 Hz – 28 kHz Impedance – 50 Ohms Connectors – 1 x Detachable 1/4″ Stereo Phone Adapter | 1 x 1/8″ Stereo Miniplug Cable Length – 10′ (3 m) Weight – 9.2 oz (260 g) Other Recommend Headphones - Sony MDR-V6, Koss PortaPro, Grado SR60, Sennheiser PX 100, Sony MDR 7506, Sennheiser HD650, AKG K701   Also see our Editor’s Choice Best Headphones Guide

Acoustic Research AW 845 ~ $450

Wireless Speakers Free your self of wires. Sounds like a dream. But with the 150ft range of the AW825 speakers, that work inside, outside, in the rain and wind, you’ll be able to live that reality. The base unit does have to be plugged into a wall outlet and a source via the 1/8th adapter, so your MacBook, your iPod, iPad, iPhone, laptop, or stereo, but the actual speakers run on AA batteries and can be moved anywhere. Each speaker is sold separately, but you can add as many as you like. Users with 4 have experienced no issues. Each speaker can be set to mono, left channel, right channel. You can place them through out your home, garden, or pool area. The speakers themselves run at 5W and are a two way design. A 2-inch tweeter and 3-inch woofer. With a 40Hz-15kHz frequencies range

Specifications: Innovative circuit design Provide TWO sets of switchable audio inputs Besides the normal audio output in the back panel Compact design (mini-size & light weight) All audiophile-graded parts and components

Pro-Ject Debut III ~ $379

Turntable Nothing says I love you to an audiophile like a gift of vinyl. The Pro-Ject Debut III is one of the top selling budget turntables because it has one focus, accurate audio playback.  There are no bells and whistles, no cheap USB connections, nothing you don’t need.  Also the nice thing about it, if you want to take your turntable to the next level there are plenty of aftermarket upgrades for the Pro-Ject tables that can turn a $400 table to the next several levels. Other Recommended Turntables- Rega P2, Rega P1, Music Hall MMF2.2, Denon DP-300, Thorens TD158 Accessories Phono Amps – Bellari VP130, Pro-Ject Phono Box USB.Thorens MM 001,  Rega Fono, Cartridges – Shure M97xE, Stanton 681 Mk III,  Audio-Technica AT440ML,  Denon DL 110

Specifications Tonearm bearing comprises inverted hardened stainless-steel points and sapphire thrust-pads Steel platter with felt mat Low-tolerance chrome-plated stainless-steel axle runs on a polished ball bearing in a brass bearing housing Motor decoupled to reduce vibration Supplied with Ortofon OM 5E cartridge fitted Pro-Ject 8.6 tonearm Nominal speeds 33 / 45 Available in matt black, glossy black, glossy white, silver, red, yellow, blue and green

Emotiva ERC-1 ~ $399

CD Player The ERC-1 CD player is designed to be an audiophile player. Separate, shielded power supplies for the CD carriage, display, and digital and analog sections ensure noiseless operation. Using Analog Devices 1955 DAC, with 384k oversampling, and 1V rms (7V peak for extended dynamics), the ERC-1 will be your guide to rediscovering your CD collection and your love for music. Even the look of the ERC-1 will turn heads, with a sleek faceplate that features a halo-lit slot load mechanism. Other Recommended CD Players – Cambridge Audio 340C, NAD C51BEE, Marantz CD5003, Denon DCM-370

Specifications Digital Output Filter: 24-Bit, 384 times oversampling (Analog Devices 1955) Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz Analog output filter frequency: 80 kHz (-3dB) Amplitude output linearity: 0.2dB Phase linearity: 30° Power consumption: < 25W Output connection types: digital coaxial, digital optical toslink, unbalanced RCA, balanced XLR Weight: 17.5 lbs. (unboxed) Read reviews of the ERC-1 here

Shure SE535 Isolating Earphones – $499.00

Specs: Sound Isolating Design Speaker Type: Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker Included Premium Fit Kit (with additional 9” extension cable)

Engadget Says: …it’s not hype and these aren’t expensive just for the sake of being expensive: you will, against all odds, get what you pay for with these things. If you already own the E500 or SE530, … — you’re not getting any improvement in sound quality with the SE535, and the main improvements center around robustness of the cable, CNET Says: The Shure SE535 headphones offer exceptional clarity; deep, tight bass; rich, enveloping sound; and great noise isolation. iphoneheadphonesreview.com Says: The Shure SE535 are my top recommendation if you are looking for the best sound quality. Their clarity and definition, coupled with great comfort, are unmatched by any pair of universal-fit in ear headphones. Read More Reviews

Shure E3c – Sound Isolating Earphones – $69

Specs: Speaker Type: Dynamic MicroDriver Sensitivity (at 1kHz): 105dB SPL/mW Impedance (at 1kHz): 16 Cable Length: E2c: 1.57m (62 inches) E2c (in black): 1.45m (56 inches) Net Weight: 30g (1 oz) Input Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8″) gold-plated stereo plug

4.48 out of 5 – 25 Reviews Evan S Said: I am am a drummer in a band and needed good headphones/ earphones for studio work and concerts. I have found that the E2c’s are very good for concerts because they block out alot of noise and you can’t really see that I’m wearing them. Low end bass is very good, but it is a little boomy. Colin Said: The bass was very rich when I listened to Rap and Treble also brought out sounds I have never heard before in my music. I also watch a part of Saving Private Ryan on my Zune. I was at the end about 30 seconds before the planes came in for an attack I could hear the low rumble! I was amazed! PC-Mag Says: These light, durable, and accurate ear-canal headphones provide lots of value but are slightly uncomfortable; a significant portion remains outside the ear. They’re a good choice for those who won’t be adding an amp to their rig. Read More Reviews Editors Note: These headphones have been discontinued but you can still find the quiet easily at online stores. Along with the price drop, $60 at Amazon.com, makes them well worth this list. These are a pair you should snatch up quick!

Shure SE310 Isolating Earphones – $299

Specs: Peaker Type: Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker + Tuned BassPort Sensitivity (1mW): 111 dB SPL/mW Impedance (1kHz): 28 Frequency Range: 22Hz – 19kHz Cable Length/with Extension: 18 in. / 45cm (54 in. / 136cm) Color: Available in Black and White

4.15 out of 5 – 13 Reviews Headphone Room Says: We just can’t get past the fact that the SE310 is pretty much the perfect balance of everything we’ve hoped for in a mid-priced ear canal headphone for the past 15 years. Believe us, your iPod is lonely for a pair of SE310s. CNet Says: If you’re looking for a premium listening experience, check out the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones. They sound fantastic and will probably outlast your MP3 player. Digital Trends Says: The Shure SE310s are the best single-driver canalphones we have auditioned to date. While they lack a unique signature and sound slightly flat, overall performance was excellent. The design showcases the maturity of Shure’s place in the market, and the new ear sleeves are the most comfortable we have used. Read More Reviews

Sound Magic PL30 – $30

Sound Magic PL30 are hard to beat, especially at this price point. In fact I think they sound better than a pair of Grado SR60s at less than half the price. Sure the stage isn’t huge, but balance, clarity and dynamics are very good. They come with a huge variety of fitting options and each ear has a bass adjustment knob. After a few hours of burn in the frequencies are very well balanced and clear. They isolate well. Very little cord feedback and frankly they just sound good. 9mm Neodymium Magnet Drivers Impedance: 12 ohm Sensitivity: 100+/-3dB/mW at 1kHz Frequency Response: 20Hz to 22kHz Connector: 3.5mm stereo plug

The Bose® Companion® 5 multimedia speaker system offers the classic Bose sound in a small and modern package that is specifically tailored to movies and games audio. The 2.1 system connects to the computer via a single USB connection, and the control module allows you to easily adjust volume. The control module also has 1 headphone jack and 1 auxiliary audio 1/8-inch jack.

The Companion® 5 offers exceptionally wide sound that envelops the user in the environment of the movie or game they are playing. This greatly enhances the media experience. But there is a downside. With stereo tracks vocals can end up sounding thin and with acoustic music on can hear smearing and distortions in tone and timber. While these issues are less apparent on electronic or pop music, they can drive one a bit over the edge with most other genera.

The Palo Alto Audio Design’s Musik speaker packs quality sound into an affordable and small desktop speaker.  Even better these speakers use your computers USB cable for both power and audio. Less messy cables on your desk is always a bonus.  Their streamline design is elegant and will look fantastic next to your Mac.  They are easy to control from the volume buttons and power on the right-hand side of the powered speaker.

Just like any other speaker, these will perform best in the right environment and under the correct set of expectations.  So lets point those out.  First off, these aren’t powerful speakers.  They are limited in power from the USB connection.  So they aren’t that loud.  And when pushed they do show this weakness with crackling and distortion in the bass.    Plus the speaker to speaker cable is on the short side.  The max distance one can space between each speaker is perfect for placing around a laptop or a medium sized monitor, but trying to place each speaker on either side of a dual monitor system is neigh impossible.

But these little issues can be over looked by the fantastic sound that these little guys will produce.  And while the gain must retain a moderate level, and getting them against a back wall or corners will increase the bass, their overall sound is quiet pleasing for such an affordable price point.

If you are looking for an affordable speaker that is several steps above the speakers in your laptop and don’t plan to push the volume, than these maybe just for you.  If not, you will want to up your budget and look else where.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiche1vRFiU

[From SonyAsianPacific's Youtube Channel]

The XBA-1iP and XBA-2iP earphones are the two base iDevice models from Sony’s newly developed Balanced Armature series. Given a chance to review any of the headphones in the range, we decided to find out exactly what the differences were between these two base models and report back to you.

Both earphones housings are colored chrome and black with a red ring around the right earpiece. The oval shaped and tangle-free cable feels thick and steady. It would probably take some real effort to damage the cable. The interior housing is made of a liquid crystal polymer that holds the Balanced Armature driver securely in place. I can attest to the strength of the design. These earphones have held up to my constant abuse. Over the several month review period, neither earphone has shown signs of wear, nor have any of the drivers loosened up and started to distort or rattled in the housing.

The XBA-1iP uses a single balanced armature driver, has a frequency response from 5 – 25,000Hz, has 108 dB/mW sensitivity, 24 Ohm impedance and is priced at $99.99. The XBA-2iP uses dual balanced armature drivers, has a 4 – 25,000Hz frequency response, again a 108 dB/mW sensitivity, and a 12 Ohm impedance, priced at $219.99. [If you don't know what a balanced armature driver is - see the video How Balanced Armature Driver Work from Earphone Solutions at the bottom of this review.]

The in-line mic is also robust. The same mic unit is used in both the XBA-1iP and XBA-2iP, and it has been through several rain storms and the same overall abuse as the earphone units themselves. Dropped, tossed on desktops, hours after hours in pockets, and nothing is worse for the wear.

The XBA-1iP and XBA-2iP have very similar voicing characteristics. Actually, these XBA earphones remind me of Sony’s SS-AR1 ($22,700) that I heard at the 2011 California Audio Show. Obviously there were some significant differences, but overall characteristics of sound were surprisingly similar. These characteristics are best described as; balanced, clear, detailed, and rich. The XBA-2iP, with an added balanced armature woofer, has significantly more bass than the single full range woofer of the XBA-1iP. But the XBA-1iP does have satisfactory bass strength and extension if one is in a quiet environment. While at my desk or library, I never had the feeling I was missing any of the low end. But while on the bus/BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit – our subway), the base of the XBA-1iP wasn’t enough against the low noise interference of the outside world. Since both earphones use the same full range driver for their mid and high frequencies, no matter which earphone we were using we are treated to the same smooth high end that is detailed but never fatiguing or over extended. The mid-range, while not as open as some other earphones we have heard, is detailed and perfect for studio-produced albums. Though classical and jazz fans might not find enough of the recording space is represented by either of these models. Overall though, no matter what we listened to, AC/DC streaming on the iPhone, or using the Trends Audio tube headphone amplifier and 24bit digital files of Mile Davis’s Kind of Blue, both the XBA earphones sounded good. Though, they showed their strengths most with modern recordings of pop, rock, hip hop and electronic music.

One interesting find was that we often had the iPhone or headphone amplifier turned up more than normal when using the XBA earphones. On the iPhone/iPad we normally found ourselves two or three clicks from the max volume. While with some other earphones we’d be four to five clicks. Though this volume seemed to be best suited for the XBA earphones. The XBA’s present lively music at a fun volume that wasn’t edgy or fatiguing. Another tip we found for getting better bass response from the single balanced armature driver of the XBA-1iP earphone was to wear a size down from what we used with the XBA-2iP and push the earphones slightly more into the ear canal. This wasn’t uncomfortable and it helped the bass tremendously.

The mic on the XBA earphones is also impressive. It did a great job of shielding wind noise and capturing my voice. Obviously, the louder I spoke the easer it was for the person on the other end to hear me. But compared to several other mic’s we have used of late, the mic on the XBA earphones did a great job of blocking background noise and picking up voice.

The mic also houses the iDevice controls. There is a pause, volume up, and volume down button. These are easy to use and if you hold down either the volume up or down, the tracks will skip forward or back.

If you have used Sony headphones before, then the XBA’s with Balanced Armature drivers will certainly continue to please you. The smooth sound, detail and non-fatiguing listening impresses. Though, if Sony were to take some suggestions for the next iteration of the Balanced Armature series, we’d like to suggest a bit more extension in the high end and a hair more openness with the mid-range.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uzFhlpKIvM

[From Earsolution's Youtube Channel - please note this is who balanced armature drivers generally work - Sony may have their own specific tweaks.]

The Bose Computer MusicMonitor desktop speakers hold true to the big Bose sound while having one of the smallest speaker foot prints on the market.  The Computer MusicMonitor speakers excel at mid and upper range frequencies.  Their naturally small size limits there bass output and Bose seems to have chosen the more linear path and does not unnaturally boost the low end.  If you enjoy the sound of other Boss speakers in your home you should consider the Computer MusicMonitor’s for your desktop.  You won’t be disappointed.

The MusicMonitor’s transducers are very thin and have a powerful magnet, this allows the speakers to play fast and for you to enjoy dynamic music.  This also means there is very little smearing of the sound.   See a slow speaker will physically smear the sound because it is not able to keep up with the change in the electrical wave that pushes the speaker.  The result is smearing and slow transients.  Sometimes the sound stage will be effected as well and you’ll not be able to hear the space the music was recorded in.

The Bose Computer MusicMonitors may not be very everybody.  First off, they are expensive.  Even with their newer price, $100.00 less, they are still $299.  Also if you crave bass you’ll be dissatisfied.  You may want to consider a 3-way system like Klipsh’s ProMedia 2.1 speaker or the Audioengine’s A2 speakers which are very similar to the Bose Computer MusicMonitor’s but with significantly more bass.  If you like open and natural sound you may also consider the Serene Audio Talisman speakers.