The 10 Best Hi-Fi Speakers of 2021

Best Overall: ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Speakers

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As far as consumer-focused speakers go, the Elac Debut 2.0 line offers some of the truest, most natural sound stages at its price point. And that price point—only about $260 for a pair of 6.5-inch speakers at the time of this writing—is a truly impressive feat for the research and construction that’s gone into them. The tweeter, a newly developed 1-inch soft dome that gives you response up to an astronomical 35 kHz, and the tightly woven woofer provide a really nice spread. And covering 44Hz all the way to that 35kHz is plenty of coverage for most needs, though you’ll likely want a subwoofer to round out the low end.

The nominal impedance of 6 ohms means that, when paired with the right amp, you’ll get about 120W of RMS output. Even the cabinets, which have been braced internally to limit unwanted resonance, give you a solid foundation. All of this amounts to an even sonic response that will go nicely in a standard stereo setup or alongside your TV. In short, you won’t get a ton of nuance and the speakers look a little lackluster, but everything else is excellent.

_{Wattage: 120 | Driver Size: 6.5-inch woofers, 1-inch tweeters | Frequency Response: 44Hz–35kHz | Powered: No | Wireless Connectivity: No}

Best Design: Q Acoustics 3030i Bookshelf Speaker Pair

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Q Acoustics is a design-forward brand that gives you a lot of incredible power for a comparatively small package. The 3000 range has earned a lot of awards in the Hi-Fi audio space, and it’s led Q Acoustics to use phrases such as “delivering the biggest, most commanding sound ever achieved by a speaker.” Marketing gravitas notwithstanding, the 3030i pair is a solid set of speakers if you can afford the price tag.

Rather than some speaker manufacturers that try to prop up the drivers and ignore the cabinets, Q Acoustics leans into it with a 7.9 x 12.8 x 13-inch enclosure with rigid point-to-point bracing that accentuates the low end of the frequency range while clarifying the stereo image. The actual, on-paper coverage is only about 46Hz to 30kHz, but the effective feeling is a really full, powerful bass response.

And then there’s the look of it—the curved edges and single-piece aesthetic of the cabinet and the white outlines on the exposed drivers feel a lot more like a professional studio monitor than a bookshelf speaker. And, while $400 isn’t exactly the most affordable price point, it isn’t a bad get when you factor in the value of the sound quality.

_{Wattage: 50 to 145 | Driver Size: 6.5-inch woofers, 0.9-inch tweeters | Frequency Response: 46Hz–30kHz | Powered: No | Wireless Connectivity: No}

Best Studio Monitors: Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitor

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As far as professional studio reference monitors go, the Yamaha HS8 is one of the most-used, most-trusted options in the game. But before you pull the trigger on a speaker pair like this, you need to ask yourself if a studio monitor is what you need. Unlike consumer-grade or audiophile-focused products, a studio monitor will offer what is called a “flat response." This means that the speaker itself isn’t doing anything to mold the sound—no bass boost, no on-board signal processing, etc. In these facets, the HS8 does remarkably well.

In terms of construction, these speakers feature an 8-inch cone (important for powerful bass response) and a 1-inch dome tweeter that is tuned nicely to control the higher end. These are also powered speakers, meaning you won’t need a dedicated amp. With that, they offer about 120W total, with a frequency response of 38Hz to 30kHz. The cabinet is made of a rigid, frequency-rejecting MDF, making for a tuned, forward-facing, focused sound.

There are also a couple of controls for room focusing and high frequency softening on the back to tune your speaker for your space. At about $350 for each speaker ($700 for the pair), they are fairly expensive, but for the tried-and-true history and the impressive performance of the HS8, you really can’t go wrong.

_{Wattage: 120 | Driver Size: 8-inch woofers, 1-inch tweeters | Frequency Response: 38Hz–30kHz | Powered: Yes | Wireless Connectivity: No}

Best Affordable Bookshelf Speakers: Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers

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Cheap speakers don’t mean you need to sacrifice quality. If you’re looking for premium sound for a budget-friendly price, check out the Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers. They produce a clear and balanced sound that will be ideal for your home, and they even have built-in amplifiers, which saves you from purchasing additional equipment and makes for a simple set-up process. The R1280T are a stylish set of bookshelf speakers too, with a walnut and matte black design.

Each speaker features a 13-millimeter silk dome tweeter, a 4-inch full-range bass driver, a 21W total power output and a frequency response range between 75Hz and 18kHz. You’ve also got two aux inputs, making it easy to connect two devices at a time, such as headphones. A remote control is also included.

While you shouldn’t expect the same sound as you get from a higher-end speaker, especially when it comes to bass, the R1280T still deliver a strong performance. They may leave your friends thinking you paid more for your speakers than you actually did.

_{Wattage: 21W per channel | Driver Size: 4-inch woofers, 0.5-inch tweeters | Frequency Response: 75Hz–18kHz | Powered: Yes | Wireless Connectivity: No}

Best Affordable Tower Speaker: Polk Audio T50

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There are a few things that stand out as key features for Polk’s T series speakers. First, it’s the classic “Dynamic Response” Polk has spent years perfecting in its pro sound line. Then there’s the rigid, frequency-stifling MDF that’s used to build the enclosures, which gives you a solid construction while pushing all the sound forward to the drivers (no weird resonance here).

The T50 tower speaker is a great option if you have the space because it comes with three 6.5-inch woofers—one dedicated to the main part of the spectrum, with two meant to support the bass end. There’s also a 1-inch tweeter to offer a bit of sparkle. This makes these tower speakers great for TV and movies, especially when put together in a stereo pair.

You’ll get coverage spanning 38Hz to 24kHz, plenty on both ends to support rumbling lows and crisp highs. While the handling for each speaker is set to about 100W total, pushing it that hard might yield some roughness around the edges. But for only about $150, this is a great way to start a home theater system.

_{Wattage: 100 | Driver Size: Three 6.5-inch woofers, 1-inch tweeters | Frequency Response: 38Hz–24kHz | Powered: No | Wireless Connectivity: No}

Best In-Wall Speaker: Polk Audio RC85i 2-Way Premium In-Wall 8″ Speakers

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When space is limited and you have the ability to set up something a little more permanent, in-wall speakers can be a great fixture. The Polk RC85i speakers are a solid middle-of-the-road option, whether you're looking for something in your living room or on the porch (they’re humidity-friendly).

The 8-inch drivers provide a lot of power across the dynamic spectrum, which is important because you normally don’t pair in-wall speakers with dedicated subwoofers. The grill covering is surrounded by a nice rubber seal, which provides two things—decent sound response that doesn’t transfer to the solid wall, and decent protection from moisture. You can even take these aluminum grills and paint them to match your specific color scheme.

Because the speakers are designed with Polk’s tried-and-true audio processing, they will match any other Polk speakers in your system. This makes them a nice choice for surround sound units or a whole-home audio system.

_{Wattage: 100 | Driver Size: 8-inch woofers, 1-inch tweeters | Frequency Response: 50Hz–20kHz | Powered: No | Wireless Connectivity: No}

Best Wireless System: KEF LSX Wireless Music System

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While Sonos and Bose have earned their spot in the consumer-friendly wireless market, KEF is a brand that is less discussed. That is, in part, because they focus primarily on the audiophile space. The LSX system here does cost quite a bit ($1,250 at the time of this writing,) so if you’re considering this purchase you’ll need to make sure that it warrants the hit on your wallet. 

The name of the game with this system is options. You can connect the speaker via Wi-Fi or ethernet for stable connection and seamless integration with your in-home sound system. Or you can opt for the Bluetooth connectivity for a more point-to-point means of playing music. The Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to transmit your lossless audio files, which is a great deal better than the compression-based artifacts inherent with Bluetooth compression.

The sound quality here is also impressive, even though the drivers are only 4 inches. KEF calls these speaker cones “Unit-Q” drivers, which it touts as offering 160 degrees of sound coverage. Paired with the heat sink on the enclosures, you can push these speakers pretty hard and get some decent volume and fullness in your space. The look is also pretty forward-facing and unique, and there are even three color options.

_{Wattage: 70 | Driver Size: 4.5-inch woofers, 0.75-inch tweeter | Frequency Response: 49Hz–47kHz | Powered: Yes | Wireless Connectivity: Yes}

Best Budget Wireless System: Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers

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If you’re in the market for a wireless speaker pair but don’t want to shell out Sonos or KEF levels of cash, then Edifier is here with its R1700BT speakers. Designed similarly to the 1280s that don’t feature wireless connectivity, these speakers bring the Bluetooth option to a small, solid set of bookshelf speakers.

While the frequency responses of 60Hz to 20kHz isn’t exactly the most impressive around, the speakers’ tilt-back design and solid enclosures provide a decent amount of fullness. This is impressive considering the main speaker cones are only 4 inches, a size that usually results in a thinner, less powerful sound.

There are a few connectivity options, including a 3.5mm aux input and the Bluetooth connectivity mentioned above. These powered speakers serve as a great setup for your office, plugged straight into your computer, or great for quickly hooking up wirelessly and playing some tunes at a party. The best part? At under $200, the price point is great for those who aren’t as discerning.

_{Wattage: 15W per channel | Driver Size: 4-inch woofers, 0.75-inch tweeter | Frequency Response: 69Hz–20kHz | Powered: Yes | Wireless Connectivity: Yes}

Best Soundbar: Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar 3.1

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Because a soundbar often features a row of smaller drivers producing sound, you tend to get spectrum that lacks a bit in the bass. That’s why when you’re in the market for a soundbar, specifically for use in a movie room, it’s best to go for one that comes with a subwoofer. The Klipsch Cinema 600 is designed to produce epic sound in a small package.

There are four composite, mid-focused woofers and two suspended tweeters built into the system, as well as some ports on the front for a better sound stage. The separate dedicated subwoofer comes with a massive, down-firing 10-inch speaker to support the bottom end. Because the soundbar features an HDMI ARC input, you can use a single remote to control your whole system.

The enclosure is built of a composite wood painted black, which makes for a classy yet premium look—perfect as the centerpiece of your media room or entertainment setup. And because the whole package comes in under $400, with a brand name to support its quality, the Cinema 600 really is a solid bet if you're looking for a soundbar-and-sub combo.

_{Wattage: Not specified | Driver Size: 3 woofers, 2 tweeters | Frequency Response: Not specified | Powered: Yes | Wireless Connectivity: No}