Most music lovers will admit that even the best budget speakers for music you can buy today would probably outstrip the ones you grew up listening to. But we listened anyway and discovered the songs that would become the soundtrack to our lives. But now, thanks to some of the best speakers on the market, there’s no excuse for putting up with tinny mids and thin bass. Muddy Waters doesn’t have to sound muddied, the Stereophonics can live up to their name, and any tin will be outlawed from your heavy metal collection.
Whilst what makes a good speaker varies from ear to ear, there are some things you can gather from the spec sheet - such as whether it's a Bluetooth speaker, what size the cones are and so on. But this is no small task. With so many speakers on the market at so many price levels, it’s easy to get lost in the data and wild promises. But you won’t be lost for long - our experts have found some of the best speakers for music on the planet.
Best speakers for music in 2024 at a glance:
• Best overall speakers for music: DALI Spektor 2 Bookshelf Speaker - View at Amazon
• Best budget speakers for music: Edifier R1280T Active Bookshelf Speakers - View at Amazon
• Best portable speaker for music: Marshall Middleton Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker - View at Amazon
• Best floor-standing speakers for music: DALI Oberon 5 Floorstanding Speakers - View at Amazon
We’ve grouped our pick of the best speakers for music in two ways. Firstly we’ve looked at different sizes. Obviously, whatever you choose you’re going to need to be able to fit it into the available space. But secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is how well-matched the speaker is to the type of music that you listen to.
Some speakers, most notably Marshall, have a reputation for suiting rock and metal better than other genres; while brands like Bose have a dedicated following from classical music fans due to its delicate frequency response. We've included examples from those speaker brands too. So pull your favourite LPs from the shelf and your best CDs from the rack, The best speakers for music are on their way.
Best speakers for music in 2024
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall speakers for music
Description
These DALI Spektor 2 speakers may be compact, but they boast enough bass to fill a medium-sized room. The larger diaphragm of the 130mm bass/mid driver and the 25mm dome tweeter work together to create a soundstage of sheer beauty.
Many bookshelf speakers create their own audio distortion by colliding harmonics. Sound becomes muddied with poor separation with cones and domes closer together in speakers of this size - but not here. The spacious sound in these Spektor 2s overcomes this by design. They not only avoid the cause of distortion in the way they're built, but DALI also recommends that its speakers should not be angled inward towards the listener - another common cause of clashing harmonics. As they sit squarely placed on the shelf or against the wall, they'll look neat too. As you'd imagine, an authentic musical experience is at the heart of the Spektor 2s, with more than enough power and finesse there to deliver it.
Pros
- Enjoy legendary sound from an equally legendary brand
- Excellent room-filling bass and mids from relatively compact cabinets - they'll fit almost anywhere
- The inclusion of wall brackets is very welcome, giving more installation options
Cons
- They may need 'running in' for 100 hours to sound their best
Best budget speakers for music
Description
The Edifier R1280T could very well have taken our spot for best bookshelf speakers for music, but the incredible price is what's placed it here. So, what do you get for less than £100? There's some gutsy audio performance for such a compact pair of speakers. The volume is more than decent and there's some pleasing sonic detail to be heard. A 4-inch bass driver and 0.5-inch tweeter deliver the goods. The tone can be manually adjusted using the treble and bass EQ controls that are thoughtfully placed on the side rather than the back.
Being active speakers they don't require an external amplifier and have Bluetooth for extra convenience. These Edifier R1280T speakers offer the extra flexibility of plenty of connections at the back. Plus the bookshelf size makes for easy placement, so you can enjoy your music in true stereo wherever you need it.
Pros
- The very well-engineered active speakers are ideal for those without a separate amp
- Excellent bass yet understated sophisticated looks is a pleasing combination
- The side panel with manual control knobs maintain usability and uncluttered looks
Cons
- The included cables are a little cheap
Best portable speaker for music
MarshallDescription
It should come as no surprise that Marshall has made it into our list. As a brand that's so iconic, it had a lot to live up to with its range of audio products - and this one absolutely does. In our review of the Marshall Middleton, we found it to be, as the company claims, one of the heaviest and loudest Bluetooth speakers out there. All that power and style in something that can be (just about) lifted one-handed? Yes. Inside the beautifully detailed yet robust case lies two 3-inch 15W woofers and two 3/5-inch 10W tweeters - plus a couple of passive radiators.
There's an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance and the all-important battery life of around 20 hours - so it really does tick the portable box. But the reason you'll splash your cash on this mighty yet mini Marshall is the sound. It will eat rock and roll for breakfast and still have more power left over. Stunning.
Read our full Marshall Middleton review
Pros
- Marshall has perfected containing an expansive sound inside a small yet attractive casing
- A combination of a robust build and solid battery life makes it very portable
- The timeless Marshall design is here in full force - a touch of classic amp styling
Cons
- A little too heavy to be super-portable
Best floor-standing speakers for music
Description
We've looked at prime examples of floor-standing speakers before, but the Oberon 5 speakers from DALI are fast emerging as a popular floor-standing set for multiple uses. The DALI brand is a favourite among audiophiles and casual listeners, becoming synonymous with exciting yet refined looks. What you'll find here is astonishing power and excellent clarity. Rated at 150 watts, these have more than enough punch for room-filling hi-fi.
A deep resonant bass is in balance with well-integrated mids. This is down, in part, to the drivers in the Oberon 5. They're engineered for less harmonic distortion, plus a wide sound field. With that comes even more freedom when it comes to placement in your room. Power, refinement and contemporary design - they're all here.
Pros
- Unrivalled sophisticated yet modern look houses a deep and powerful bass
- Room-filling volume with less harmonic distortion than other floorstanders
- A choice of Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut and White means they'll fit with your decor
Cons
- These require a bit more space to fully appreciate the sound on offer
Best bookshelf speakers for music
Description
We featured the KEF Q150s in our guide to the best bookshelf speakers, but these are another step up from the masters of audio at KEF. The Q350 speakers utilise Uni-Q design technology that places the treble unit in the centre of the woofer. The result is a broad and unified sound field that's exceptionally well suited to stereo listening.
KEF has borrowed much from their premium speakers here, particularly the Z-Flex woofer. This creates a well-defined and detailed sound. Design-wise these are a winner too. KEF have avoided unnecessarily fussy details and offers sleek refinement instead. Your music will sound nothing less than fantastic.
Pros
- The sleek and refined KEF design will suit all music rooms
- The KEF audio know-how and build quality is evident
- The right size for most spaces and rooms - making these a flexible choice
Cons
- If you want to fill a bigger room with sound, go larger
Best speaker for music with bass
Description
Here we have the Marshall signature sound - loud, immersive, and full of mid-range. During our in-depth review of the Marshall Woburn III, we found that it fulfilled its iconic reputation as the go-to speaker brand for rock, metal and any music with plenty of low-end grunt.
The soundstage is extremely wide. You won't be left wanting more volume either. Connecting your phone or tablet to this monster of rock is a breeze via Bluetooth. And when you're done rattling the foundations, you could even hook it up to your TV thanks to the HDMI ARC input. This is a beast of a standalone wireless speaker that projects very well and does justice to all types of music you feed it. And of course, the style and build quality is unsurpassed
Read our full Marshall Woburn 3 review
Pros
- Marshall has engineered these for faithful audio quality inside a hugely attractive cabinet
- Works at high and low volume in terms of soundstage and balance
- Tons of bass for the size
Cons
- No guitar input - so the amp similarity ends there
Best studio monitor speakers for music
Description
Unlike most other studio monitors we've looked at, the Kali Audio LP-6 speaker is sold as a single unit. So, why on earth is it here in amongst the stereo pairs? Well, if you're looking for a monitor that will complement professional audio equipment this is one of the best we've seen. The maximum output is 80W. Yes, you'll find more powerful bookshelf speakers, but the whole point of studio monitors is clarity of sound and a flat unadulterated profile.
Important for any creative sound mixing or professional audio work, here Kali Audio has delivered a speaker with excellent performance, a quality that's reflected in the price. If there is a downside it's that you'll probably want to buy a second one to create the perfect stereo mixing and monitoring environment.
Pros
- If you want a professional high specification across the board - this is it
- Solid build that won't take up too much space
- Accurate output gives a flat profile - ideal for music creators
Cons
- Weight means wall mounting will require investing in decent brackets
- You'll need to buy two for stereo-mixing
Best outdoor speakers for music
Description
These All Weather NSAW592 speakers from Yamaha featured in our expert's choices for some of the best outdoor and garden speakers recently. These hardy Yamahas really showcase the brand's design and acoustic know-how. Perfectly formed for mounting discretely into corners and nooks outside, they'll project 88dB of your chosen music through their dedicated woofers and coated tweeters.
The NSAW592 casing is treated to withstand all weather types, plus the subs are waterproof. So, the whole speaker will keep its high-quality finish, and internal components will withstand even the worst of the British weather. If you're looking to deliver high-fidelity audio with a satisfying amount of bass to your outdoor spaces, this is it.
Pros
- Legendary Yamaha design and build will keep these looking good in the outdoors for longer
- The waterproofing doesn't affect what is an extremely satisfying sound
- The low-profile cabinets won't dominate your outdoor spaces
Cons
- Bass addicts may want more (but will the neighbours?)
Best smart speaker for music
redirect.viglink.com
Description
With the Home Speaker 500 from Bose, what you're paying for is that legendary wall-to-wall Bose sound. That said, the built-in screen is a real bonus too. It'll display artwork and essential info. It also visually sets it apart from most other smart speakers on the market. And while we're looking at smart integrations, the voice pickup is excellent thanks to eight microphones. If you want to ditch the voice control, there are six one-touch preset buttons on the top, so manual control is excellent too.
Spotify Connect integration gives you easy playback through the Bose Home Speaker 500, with Amazon Music supported too. Multiroom listening is also at the heart of this speaker - it's part of the Bose Smart Family. Compatible products like the Bose Soundlink Flex featured here can be paired up easily.
The beautiful black aluminium case also houses Airplay 2 for your Apple devices plus of course the convenience of Alexa. If you want premium audio, you've found it.
Pros
- You can expect that Bose best-in-class stereo sound
- Colour screen is excellent for album artwork - a nice addition over some other speakers
- Works with Bose SimpleSync for easy multiroom setup
Cons
- Cannot be paired with Echo devices for multispeaker audio
Best high-end speakers for music
Description
These KEF LS50s are equal parts extravagance, style and performance. There's a good reason that KEF makes it back into our list of the best speakers for music: wireless active stereo speakers twinned with a sublime design and hallmark KEF build quality. But, specifications aside, the soundscape and clarity are what really counts.
Yes, they have multiroom and streaming connectivity thanks to Bluetooth, plus integration with Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music and more. But what makes these so musical to listen to is the KEF audio know-how inside. Uni-Q speaker tech and Metamaterial Absorption Technology eliminate 99% of unwanted noise from the rear of the driver, resulting in a more natural sound. An ample 200 watts per speaker make for a truly inspiring experience. These don’t come cheap, but as a premium product aimed at audiophiles and anyone with large enough pockets, they're unbeatable.
Pros
- The sound quality is nothing short of incredible with a classy design and build
- The inclusion of wireless and analogue inputs means you have loads of flexibility
- Supports more streaming services than we've ever seen in one unit
Cons
- Very heavy bass lovers may still want a subwoofer
Best speakers for music in 2024: Buyer's guide
Judge for yourself
Musicality is a nebulous term that many people use to describe how natural or warm a speaker sounds. But, for others, it's how faithfully the speaker will render certain instruments or how defined and separated the frequencies are. Build quality and brand aside, this isn’t always about how much money you have to spend. Sometimes a cheap and cheerful smart speaker can hit that sweet spot that suits the type of music that you listen to. Others perhaps in the audiophile category would prefer to invest in the very best speaker technology that money can buy.
There really is no substitute for listening to the hi-fi speakers you’re interested in. There are a number of ways to do this. One is to buy from a retailer that supports easy returns if you’re not satisfied. The second is to find a friend or colleague who has the same or similar speakers to listen to. As always, we recommend taking your own music with you to test with.
Match up your speakers with your amp
If you’re buying new speakers to go with your amplifier the most important thing you'll need to do is ensure that the specifications match up. An amplifier is rated for output and audio signal at a certain wattage. There’s also impedance to take into account. There’s more on these terms in our jargon buster below. However, don’t be tempted by speakers because you like the look of them. Check that they're a good match first. It’s possible to do permanent damage to a speaker or the amplifier if you don’t.
Bigger isn’t always better
Speaker technology has come along leaps and bounds in recent years, and with this has come a boost in performance at all sizes. Some of the best smart speakers and bookshelf speakers we've ever seen have had sound you’d normally associate with floor-standing units of old. Unless you’re going with large floor-standing speakers because they have more drivers inside, such as the outstanding Audio Pro A48 speakers we reviewed recently, the chances are you’ll do just as well with some excellent bookshelf speakers.
All that glitters is not audio gold
As with most tech these days, sometimes the cover is better than the story inside. If you find a speaker from a brand you’ve never heard of, but it looks very premium, it might be too good to be true. Equally, we recommend avoiding speakers with too much cosmetic bling; that raft of useless chrome plastic detailing and flashy graphics are probably hiding some very substandard cones and drivers.
Best speakers for music in 2024: Frequently asked questions
How can I improve speaker sound?
Look for speakers that are well-insulated against reverberation. Some speakers will have spike-type feet that will stop the floor from absorbing bass, others have cushioned rubber feet. As you'd imagine, firmly wall mounting a speaker will massively help to isolate the speaker and you’ll be getting truer, unadulterated sound reproduction. Also, pairing your speakers with the right amplifier in terms of wattage and impedance will make a massive difference.
Where should I place the best speakers for music?
It goes without saying that anyone who angles their speakers facing a wall or corner at close range is going to be ruining their experience. Placing them behind furniture, or having a speaker’s bass ports right up to a wall is a no-go. You should also consider where you’ll be sitting. Some speakers need to be angled inward towards the listener. Others don't. As always, read your speaker manual.
Secondly, look around your room. If you have a very sparsely decorated room without carpets or other things to break up reflections, your audio is probably going to bounce off the walls and create uncomfortable reverb. Solutions include acoustic foam panels, careful furniture placement, or wall hangings.
Who makes the best speakers for music?
Unsurprisingly, this is up to you. But, here at What's The Best, we're huge fans of Marshall. Not only have they nailed the heritage of the brand in an updated and classy way, they really deliver the goods in terms of soundstage and bass. We reviewed the Marshall Acton II back in 2022 and were blown away by the scale of the sound.
What are the best speakers for music production?
As we mentioned above, the Kali Audio LP-6 studio monitors are a solid choice here with great separation and a flat profile so you can mix and monitor with accuracy.
What are bass, midrange, and treble?
Bass, midrange, and treble are sometimes referred to as lows, mids, and highs. These terms refer to the different sound frequencies found in audio.
Bass, or low, is the boomier sections of sound, the frequencies that people can most often 'feel'. Without adequate bass, the audio will sound very empty and 'tinny'. Too much bass and music can sound rumbly, overpowering, and woolly.
Midrange, or mid, is all the stuff that happens in the middle - guitars, vocals, and speech. Balancing this with bass brings audio to life. If you struggle to hear vocals in music or conversation in podcasts, boosting the midrange can bring these out for you without having to play with volume.
Treble, or highs (hi), is higher frequencies. These are important for picking out details in audio, but if they are too high they can annoy and be painful to listeners.
Best speakers for music in 2024: Jargon-buster
Passive speakers
A passive speaker has no active power or amplifier circuitry. So, you will need to route your sound to them via an external amplifier. Some speakers, like the Edifier R1280T, are active speakers. They don’t require an external amplifier.
Active speakers
Likewise, an active speaker is one that has its own power supply and amplifier function. This therefore means that you can hook up any sound source directly to the speakers, usually via an auxiliary input connection; such as an audio jack or twin phono plugs in the case of speakers for a record player. Because these speakers actively power themselves, they can amplify the music you pipe into them. This of course includes all-in-ones like Bluetooth portables and some ceiling speakers.
Power rating
Normally as a range, expressed in Watts, this is the power output through the speaker terminals to each speaker. Therefore, choosing a speaker that requires more power than your amp can deliver will result in weak, under-par sound and an over-driven amplifier. Conversely, too much power from the amp will literally destroy speakers that aren’t built to take it.
Impedance
Impedance is measured in Ohms and tells you how much the audio signal is impeded or resisted by the speakers. A 20-watt speaker rated as 4 Ohm will require a little less power from the amplifier to overcome that level of impedance. Therefore, it’s very important to match up the impedance of your speakers with that of your amplifier. You run the risk of damaging speakers by pushing too much power onto them when there’s not enough resistance.
Watt
Wattage in regard to sound output and speaker power is a measure of the strength of the signal that drives the speaker. The wattage between the speaker and traditional separate amp needs to be compatible to avoid potentially damaging both; but of course with active speakers this is all dealt with for you.
Decibels
Sound is measured in decibels (dBs). While it's an accepted measure of volume, it doesn’t correlate with wattage. Although, more wattage doesn’t necessarily mean bigger or better volume, or quality for that matter. Usually, manufacturers specify the amount of dBs that a speaker can produce with a single Watt of power at a 1-metre distance.
Drivers
A driver is a device inside any speaker, be it the best wired headphones or bookshelf speakers, that converts electrical signals into sound. So it follows, larger drivers tend to be able to deliver a more powerful sound with greater accuracy. That said, this isn’t always the case as build material quality also plays an important role.
Tweeters
A speaker is two components: a woofer and a tweeter. A tweeter is responsible for producing high-frequency sounds. They're often a dome shape and may even be independently positionable.
Woofers
A woofer is part of the speaker that produces low-frequency sounds. You'll commonly see these described by the width of the cone - in inches or centimetres. This will also give you a slight indication of how much range and power they may have.
Frequency Range
This is a measurement, in Hertz (Hz) of the range of sound frequencies a speaker can reproduce. Our ears can perceive 20 - 20,000 Hz, with the lower number being a lower tone and vice versa.
Chris Duffill is a Tech Product Writer for What's The Best and Yours. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.
He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.
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