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 include a number of recommendations at various prices. For each recommendation, I indicate the audio-input options: audio jack (analog), 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.
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:
- JBL Jembe (audio jack; $60)
- Edifier Exclaim e10 (audio jack; $100)
- Creative GigaWorks T40 Series II (audio jack; $150)
- Audyssey Wireless Bluetooth Speakers (Bluetooth, audio jack; $180; officially discontinued, but still available from Amazon.com)
- Edifier Spinnaker e30 (Bluetooth, optical, audio jack; $350)
- Focal XS Book (audio jack; $399)
- Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 (audio jack; $500)
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:
- Pioneer S-MM301 (USB; $49)
- JBL Pebble (USB, audio jack; $60)
- Olasonic TW-S7 (USB; $100)
- XtremeMac Tango Bar (USB, audio jack; $100)
- Nuforce Cube (a single speaker that includes a rechargeable battery, headphone amp, and digital-to-analog converter; USB, audio jack; $119)
- Ultralink UCube Compact USB Digital Loudspeakers (USB; $150)
Studio monitors and 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 also play much louder. 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:
- M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 (audio jack; $150)
- Audioengine A2 Powered Desktop Speakers (audio jack; $199)
- Audioengine A2+ Powered Desktop Speakers (USB, audio jack; $249)
- Nuforce S3-BT (Bluetooth, audio jack; $299)
- Emotiva Airmotiv 4 (audio jack; $349)
- Audioengine A5+ Powered Speakers (audio jack; $399 to $469)
- Emotiva Airmotiv 5 (audio jack; $449)
- Vanatoo Transparent One (audio jack, coaxial digital, optical digital; $499 to $549)
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).
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 that 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:
- JBL Creature III (audio jack; $60; officially discontinued but still available on Amazon.com)
- Energy Power EM-2.1 Multimedia System (tiny woofer module can sit on your desk; audio jack; $100)
- Logitech Speaker System Z523 (audio jack; $100)
- Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Computer Speakers (audio jack; $150)
- Harman Kardon SoundSticks III (audio jack; $170)
- Cambridge Audio Minx M5 (tiny woofer module can sit on your desk; audio jack; $229)
- Harman Kardon SoundSticks Wireless (Bluetooth, audio jack; $230)
- Cambridge SoundWorks Microworks II (audio jack; $280)
- Ultralink uCube Trio Compact Desktop 2.1 Speaker System (tiny woofer module can sit on your desk; USB, audio jack; $350)
- PSB Alpha 1-100 Powered Media System—consists of the Alpha PSA Powered Speakers and the SubSeries 100 Subwoofer (audio jack; $499)
- Focal XS 2.1 (30-pin iPhone dock, audio jack; $599)
- Paradigm Millenia CT (audio jack; $700)
Non-Bluetooth portable speakers: If you want to be able to pack a speaker 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. These days, most portable speakers connect using Bluetooth (see “Bluetooth wireless speakers,” below), but if your device doesn’t support Bluetooth—or if you just want to save a few bucks—you can still find a few decent portable speakers that connect using a simple audio cable. Spend a bit more and you can get a portable speaker with an iPhone or iPad dock cradle. Recommendations:
- JBL Micro II (built-in audio cable, audio jack; $40)
- Nuforce Cube (includes built-in headphone amp and digital-to-analog converter; USB, audio jack; $99)
- iHome iD8 (30-pin iPad/iPhone dock, audio jack; $100)
- Soundmatters FoxL v2 Purist (audio jack; $199)
- Geneva Lab Geneva Sound System Model XS (alarm clock; audio jack, FM radio; $200)
Transportable/boomboxes: Yes, the venerable boombox is still around—a number of companies 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:
- iHome iBT44 Bluetooth Portable FM Stereo Boombox (Bluetooth, audio jack, FM radio; $200)
- iHome iP4 Portable FM Stereo Boombox for iPhone/iPod (officially discontinued, but still available on Amazon.com; 30-pin iPhone dock, audio jack, FM radio; $230)
- Logitech UE Boombox (Bluetooth, audio jack; $250)
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 cradle that charges your device while docked, 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. Recommendations:
- iHome iDL45 (alarm clock; Lightning-connector iPad/iPhone dock, audio jack; $100)
- iHome iDN45 (alarm clock; 30-pin iPad/iPhone dock, audio jack; $100)
- Soundfreaq Sound Step Lightning (Lightning-connector iPad/iPhone dock, audio jack; $130)
- Brookstone Big Blue Studio (Bluetooth, audio jack; $150)
- iHome iDL100 Triple Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio (dual Lightning-connector docks, audio jack; $150)
- Fluance FiSDK500 (30-pin iPhone dock, audio jack; $200)
- iHome iA100 (alarm clock; 30-pin iPad/iPhone dock, Bluetooth, audio jack; $200)
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini (30-pin iPhone dock, audio jack; $300)
- Creative ZiiSound D5 Wireless Bluetooth Speakers (Bluetooth, audio jack; $300)
- Geneva Sound System Model S Wireless (desktop; Bluetooth, audio jack, FM radio; $300)
- Bowers & Wilkins Z2 Wireless Music System (AirPlay, Lightning-connector iPhone dock, audio jack; $400)
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air (AirPlay, Lightning-connector iPhone dock, audio jack; $600)
If you have an Android or other non-iOS smartphone or tablet, a few docking speakers are out there, but most vendors are opting for Bluetooth connectivity (see the next category).
Bluetooth wireless speakers: Just a few short years ago, this annual buying guide was awash with iPhone/iPod docks, with only a few Bluetooth models. Oh, how things have changed: These days, Bluetooth speakers are the most popular option, by far, for mobile devices.
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.
For convenience, many Bluetooth speaker systems provide Play/Pause, Previous, and Next buttons on the speaker itself; 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 necessarily 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 each model’s speaker type, for readers who are looking specifically for wireless options. Recommendations:
- JBL Micro Wireless (portable; Bluetooth, built-in audio cable, audio jack; $60)
- Brookstone Big Blue Live (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $100)
- JBL Flip (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $100)
- Logitech UE Mini Boom (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $100)
- JBL Charge (includes battery for charging your smartphone; portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $150)
- Brookstone Big Blue Studio (desktop; Bluetooth, audio jack; $150)
- Braven 710 (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $170)
- Jawbone Mini Jambox (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $180)
- Audyssey Wireless Bluetooth Speakers (2.0 system; Bluetooth, audio jack; $180; officially discontinued, but still available from Amazon.com)
- Bose SoundLink Mini (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $200)
- Geneva Lab Geneva Sound System Model XS (portable alarm clock; Bluetooth, audio jack, FM radio; $200)
- iHome iA100 (desktop; 30-pin iPad/iPhone dock, Bluetooth, audio jack; $200)
- Jabra Solemate (portable; Bluetooth, USB, built-in audio cable; $200)
- TDK Wireless Weatherproof Speaker A33 (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $200)
- Harman Kardon SoundSticks Wireless (2.1 system; Bluetooth, audio jack; $230)
- Soundmatters FoxL Dash7 (portable; Bluetooth; audio jack; $249)
- Soundmatters FoxL v2 Bluetooth (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $249)
- Logitech UE Boombox (transportable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $250)
- Nuforce S3-BT (2.0 system; Bluetooth, audio jack; $299)
- Creative ZiiSound D5 Wireless Bluetooth Speakers (desktop; Bluetooth, audio jack; $300)
- Geneva Sound System Model S Wireless (desktop; Bluetooth, audio jack, FM radio; $300)
- IK Multimedia iLoud (portable; Bluetooth, audio jack, guitar/mic jack; $300
- TDK Wireless Sound Cube (transportable; Bluetooth, audio jack; $300)
- Edifier Spinnaker e30 (2.0 system; Bluetooth, optical, audio jack; $350)
Note that if you already have a 30-pin speaker dock for an older iPhone, iPad, or iPod, many vendors offer relatively inexpensive adapters that turn that speaker dock into a Bluetooth speaker system. We have a review of a dozen or so such products on the way.
AirPlay wireless speakers: Like Bluetooth speakers, AirPlay-enabled audio systems let you cut the cord, and use the speakers with multiple sources, but they take advantage of Apple’s AirPlay (formerly AirTunes) technology to let you stream music, over your local network, from your iOS devices or Macs. (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. When using iTunes on a Mac, you can even stream to multiple AirPlay devices (including AirPort Express and Apple TV units) simultaneously. The biggest drawbacks 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:
- Pioneer A3 XW-SMA3-K (transportable; AirPlay, audio jack; $200)
- Pioneer A4 XW-SMA4-K (desktop; AirPlay, audio jack; $200)
- Boston Acoustics MC200 Air (desktop; AirPlay, audio jack; $400)
- Bowers & Wilkins Z2 Wireless Music System (desktop; AirPlay, Lightning-connector iPhone dock, audio jack; $400)
- Libratone Zipp Portable AirPlay Speaker (portable; AirPlay, audio jack; $400 to $450)
- Klipsch Gallery G-17 Air (desktop; AirPlay, audio jack; $550; officially discontinued, but still widely available online)
- Cambridge Audio Minx Air 200 (desktop; AirPlay, audio jack; $599)
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air (desktop; AirPlay, Lightning-connector iPhone dock, audio jack; $600)
- Bowers & Wilkins A7 Wireless Music System (desktop; AirPlay, audio jack; $800)
Build your own, or get music everywhere
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 and desktop amps with a built-in digital-to-analog converter for getting quality audio from your computer. 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, and an updated version of that AirPlay do-it-yourself article.
Finally, if you’re looking to get your music all over your house, rather than in just a single location, you’ll want to consider a whole-home audio system. While custom installers will gladly charge you five figures to set up a complex solution, you can instead create your own whole-home system. Such a system is fairly easy to set up using gear from Sonos, or even, for Apple users, by simply adding AirPlay-enabled speakers (or speakers connected to AirPort Express or Apple TV units) throughout your home.
[Editor’s note: This is an updated edition of our annual buying guide. Among other changes, it includes new recommendations and omits previously recommended products that are no longer available.]
[Updated 12/9/2013 to correct the vendor name for the iRig speaker; to remove the TDK Wireless Sound Cube and 3 Speaker Boombox (which were discontinued soon after the article was published); and to add the Logitech UE Mini Boom.]
This story, "Buying Guide: Find the best speakers" was originally published by Macworld.